USVI-On-Line

I have joked about being an overpacker however I have never had to pay for an overweight suitcase. I like to change my clothes a lot on vacation especially if its hot and I am sweating a lot or have sand all over my clothes. So with all the over packer bashing and rolling eyes for those of us who need or want several changes of clothes here's something to think about:

You all can hate on me for saying this but last year someone brought up a good point to me when I was checking my bags. Do the airlines take into account the differing weights of passengers? I mean, if I weigh 50 lbs less than the person standing next to me are they giving me any credit for that? Are they taking into consideration the total weight of my person and baggage? Of course not. I could be 250lbs and have two bags weighing 50 lbs or 100 lbs and have two bags weighing 50lbs but if I go over the baggage weight limit I will get charged extra. How does this make any sense? It's just something to ponder. I am not suggesting that they start discriminating against heavier people. I just think it is laughable the way airlines figure their prices and weight limits. One bag heavier? Just move an item or two to your other bag?! Stupid.

Just my two cents.

We use a second suitcase packed with our snorkeling gear and a soft-sided cooler with frozen meat and stuff. On return we put bargain STT booze in the cooler (inside the suitcase) Makes it home fine.

The $25.00 second suitcase charge will cause people to abuse carry-on even more. Those overhead bins will be jammed.......

mrsb - I hear what you're saying, but I'm guessing that it's not really a matter of how much bags weigh. I sort of feel like it's the airlines way of getting people to bring less luggage on board. If you have to pay $50 or $100 for that extra bag, you might think twice about bringing it.

Case in point: Gasoline is now so expensive that people are cutting back on how much they're driving. When cigarettes went up in price, a lot of people quit smoking.

Please believe that I'm not ragging on you, but you brought up a good point. We are a nation of over indulgence, maybe it's time we all cut back a little here and there.

CG- I don't think you are ragging on me. I understand the luggage can get ridiculous sometimes. I've been trying to take less when packing. I don't travel much so it takes more time for me to evolve on that front

I do feel the gas pinch though. I've been walking to many more places lately. Got my eye on a smart car too

good...i'm tired of paying for the fuel on two bags when i'm only using one. let people who need 10 pairs of shoes or 3 outfits per day pay the extra costs!!! resources are limited and if you think this fee is bad...wait till they put the carbon tax in place. $4/gal gas will seem cheap, anything made out of plastic or packaged w/plastic will go through the roof (computers, fords, tv's, etc...), heating your home will become more expensive, and people will go banana's

Welcome to Reality

I think someone is in need of a "Vay Cay"

mrsb wrote:You all can hate on me for saying this but last year someone brought up a good point to me when I was checking my bags. Do the airlines take into account the differing weights of passengers? I mean, if I weigh 50 lbs less than the person standing next to me are they giving me any credit for that? Are they taking into consideration the total weight of my person and baggage? Of course not. I could be 250lbs and have two bags weighing 50 lbs or 100 lbs and have two bags weighing 50lbs but if I go over the baggage weight limit I will get charged extra. How does this make any sense? It's just something to ponder. I am not suggesting that they start discriminating against heavier people. I just think it is laughable the way airlines figure their prices and weight limits. One bag heavier? Just move an item or two to your other bag?! Stupid.

Just my two cents.

I can't agree more. I don't think the day will ever come when they put you and your bags on a scale, but does the luggage really add that much weight (when you consider the size of people)? I guess every ounce counts, but it gets me when seemingly arbitrary things are cracked down on to make an impact.

For example; Raleigh, until recently, was in a serious water crunch. They told us to stop flushing and showering before they told people to stop watering lawns. So...I have to "let it mellow" but I can water my lawn all day? I kinda see this the same way.

Last night, my wife and I were discussing how we could definitely do a week on StJ with carryons only...except for the cooler. It weighed in at 48lbs last trip. I was ready to start shuffling non-perishables to a suitcase.

I think the airlines are just rationalizing here. "Hey, we gotta get some more revenue. Why don't we charge for checked luggage and tell them that its because they are resource hogs? Yeah, that's the ticket, its their fault we are raising prices."

Is the real answer fuel surcharges on tickets? Or, a change in fiscal policy that boosts the dollars value? Uh oh, no more tax conversations.

Mrsb, I'll take your extra big bag down in November! It sounds like I'll need to borrow some clothes from you to keep up with the (un)dress code.

Cheers, RickG

Or we could drill for the billions of gallons of oil that is out there and build more refineries. OMG.....I didn't just say that.

Forgive me, for I know not what I say. I'm from an oil town.

Doesn't it feel good to say what you really feel? My family is often amazed at the things I say and I tell them that they should try it sometime. It's liberating.
It doesn't win you friends but I'd rather say what I mean than kiss up to others just to look good.

Just imagine not being able to bring your ski gear due some insane charge on the second bag and having to wear some sweaty rental boots-eewww. All in the sake of baggage weight.

mrsb wrote:Doesn't it feel good to say what you really feel? My family is often amazed at the things I say and I tell them that they should try it sometime. It's liberating.
It doesn't win you friends but I'd rather say what I mean than kiss up to others just to look good.

Just imagine not being able to bring your ski gear due some insane charge on the second bag and having to wear some sweaty rental boots-eewww. All in the sake of baggage weight.

Unfortunately, I'm way too good at it.

One bag apiece I can live with. What frosts me is when one of the bags weighs in 2 lbs over the 50 lb limit and you're stuck having to redistribute your items among your other bags while standing in the check-in line - isn't everything going to the same place anyway Assuming this happens to roughly one in every four or five check-ins, we're talking lots of (wasted) time here

This has happened to me more than once, not because I overpack, but because my favorite and most awesome hard-sided Samsonite suitcase weighs almost 20 lbs empty. Arghh!

Okay, end of rant...

We weigh our bags before we leave. I bought the girls RickSteves.com bags that are quite light at 6 pounds empty. My Samsonite carryon is about 8 pounds empty.

On trips to Europe we each take a 22" carryon rolly bag. To St. John we've started sharing one. On the way out, these bags weight less than 30 pounds. It's hard to get much more in a carryon bag unless its all books.

I know we pack lighter than most. Maybe that should change, since we seem to wear the same clothes on each trip and the photos are starting to look the same!!

Cheers, RickG