Lufthansa luggage restrictions

[Cornell]

Well I know that, but still we don’t want anyone romaging through it.

I don't think any of us do. But this is the trade-off you make for checking a bag. You give up control.

Why would you lock a bag that's going through a carryon? What if the inspector wants to search your bag? Then you have to deal with unlocking it which annoys the agents and your fellow travelers.

 

[klpca]

@WinniWoman - have a great trip. These things *will* work themselves out. And keep in mind my friend's adage - almost every problem can be solved with time or money. You are spending the time now, which will probably pay off, but in the end if your bags are a bit heavy and you get charged for that, pay the $$ and let it go. It is small potatoes in the long run. I highly doubt that anyone affiliated with the tour is going to weigh anything. They know that people overpack and are just trying to make sure that they aren't surprised at the airport. They will not bat an eye at a pound or two during the land portion of your travel. As far as airport security, in all of the trips that we have taken over the years our checked bags have been checked by TSA one time and everything was fine. I would put that at the bottom of the "worry-about" list. If they want to go through your used clothes,
let them. They are looking for much more expensive items. We never, ever lock our old crappy bags. They can probably tell that there's nothing in there worth stealing.

I am mostly a carryon girlie, but since we are shoulder season travelers, sometimes I will check a bag because I need to pack for two seasons. One thing that I would suggest (like @lynne ) is a rain jacket with a hood vs an umbrella. Sometimes I have encountered rain so hard that it was blowing sideways. Umbrellas are useless then. Your baseball cap + rain jacket is pretty good alternative, and the jacket can be used on non rainy days as a light jacket, and the whole time your hands are free instead of having to deal with the umbrella. Also something like a lightweight scarf works for numerous things - doubles as a lightweight blanket on the plane, dresses up a plain outfit, and can be used to cover your shoulders in a church.

For me it just a personal preference but I want my passport/travel docs as close as possible to me. I have a dedicated zipper pocket in my backpack for mine. I wouldn't leave those in a carryon bag that may be handled by someone else at some point.

 

[clifffaith]

Next thing: my smaller to be checked bag does not have a TSA lock on it. Do I have to leave it unlocked? I have a combination lock, but not TSA approved.
Ugh.

I mean what is the point of locking it if there’s a master key they can use to unlock it? I don’t get it.

We have had TSA approved locks cut. When we bought new, only then did we see that the company offered free replacement if cut. We don’t lock them now.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Also, can I lock my carryon- which has a tsa lock- while it goes through TSA screening? I intend to put our passports and money belts with money and credit cards, etc. cell phone in there during the screening. Not sure how to handle it.

I hate all this stuff.

You can lock your carry on, but the TSA may need to open the bags to inspect, and will require them to be opened.

In my experience, the TSA will always ask prior to opening and inspecting any carry-on item

If you lock a checked bag with a non-TSA lock, they will simply cut the lock off to inspect the bag. They usually leave a note inside the bag to let you know they opened it an inspected.

 

[Cornell]

is a rain jacket with a hood vs an umbrella

Totally agree with this. Umbrellas are a PIA. They hit other people. Difficult to navigate crowded areas with. They have to be folded and unfolded. A soaking wet umbrella has to "go somewhere" when unfolded. I am going on a trip to London in December and thought long and hard about my jacket. I bought a longer length rain jacket (with large hood) that is lined for warmth. I have one of those large travel scarves (advertised everywhere on Facebook) that is soft and snuggly. Can be used as a blanket on the plane. Used as an actual scarf for warmth. Or to make a boring black pant outfit look different.

 

[rapmarks]

This is making me crazy!
Hearing they weigh carryons. 15 lb restrictions. Well, we could consolidate 2 carryons into one and that would be 30 lbs. The measurements for both carryons are compliant. One carryon looks bigger than the other because it only has 2 wheels. It has a lot more space inside than the other 4 wheel carryon. And that’s not even with expanding it! I traveled all over domestically with it and it held clothes for 8-10 days! But I never weighed it when I traveled.

Anyway, now it’s half empty! We were only able to put one outfit each in each carryon, my pjs, underwear and socks, and some incidentals/ toiletries due to the weight limits.

Because the carryons can’t weigh more than 15 lbs, we have to take 2 carryons which will actually take up more room in the overhead bin than if we took one! Makes no sense to me!

So now we have to lug two of them around in the Munich airport while we wait 6 hours for our connecting flight. Plus our two personal items, which I hear they are strict about also. Had to ditch one very small backpack because when stuff was put in it the bottom was larger than 4 inches. I am ending up using a soft laptop bag instead for stuff which is a pain to carry because you have to hold it as opposed to wearing on your back. We do have another small back pack we are also taking that thankfully seems to meet the restrictions.

We will have one checked bag. Neighbor leant us a hard case one but it seems a bit flimsy. It’s packed to the hilt and weighs 42 lbs. so we are under the 50 lb limit. Feels so heavy. Thank goodness it has wheels.

The smaller carryon is a borrow from the same neighbor. I have a call in to her to see if we could borrow another she has that is the same and swap out our spacious carryon for it since it looks smaller and has the 4,wheels. I don’t want our carryons to be checked in case they lose our checked bag. But we’d need the clothes in both carryons if that were to happen.

I’m also going to borrow a luggage scale from another neighbor to double check all this.

I really hate all this.

It is an 18 pound restriction. But i would try to find out how strict they are about the weight. And of course wear your heaviest, bulkiest clothes

 

[Luanne]

Totally agree with this. Umbrellas are a PIA. They hit other people. Difficult to navigate crowded areas with. They have to be folded and unfolded. A soaking wet umbrella has to "go somewhere" when unfolded. I am going on a trip to London in December and thought long and hard about my jacket. I bought a longer length rain jacket (with large hood) that is lined for warmth. I have one of those large travel scarves (advertised everywhere on Facebook) that is soft and snuggly. Can be used as a blanket on the plane. Used as an actual scarf for warmth. Or to make a boring black pant outfit look different.

I carry an umbrella in my carry on backpack, and it's small enough it can go into my purse. It's from Hammacher Schlemmer and I love it because you can push a button to both open, and close it. It has a sleeve it fits into so if it's wet I can close it up and put it into its sleeve.

The World's Smallest Automatic Umbrella (Plum) - Hammacher Schlemmer

Carried inconspicuously in a purse or trouser pocket, this is the smallest umbrella available that opens and closes with the push of a button.

www.hammacher.com

 

[WinniWoman]

I carry an umbrella in my carry on backpack, and it's small enough it can go into my purse. It's from Hammacher Schlemmer and I love it because you can push a button to both open, and close it. It has a sleeve it fits into so if it's wet I can close it up and put it into its sleeve.

The World's Smallest Automatic Umbrella (Plum) - Hammacher Schlemmer

Carried inconspicuously in a purse or trouser pocket, this is the smallest umbrella available that opens and closes with the push of a button.

www.hammacher.com

We have 2 umbrellas similar to that that we are taking. Plus 2 portable ponchos like the ones you take camping.

 

[WinniWoman]

Totally agree with this. Umbrellas are a PIA. They hit other people. Difficult to navigate crowded areas with. They have to be folded and unfolded. A soaking wet umbrella has to "go somewhere" when unfolded. I am going on a trip to London in December and thought long and hard about my jacket. I bought a longer length rain jacket (with large hood) that is lined for warmth. I have one of those large travel scarves (advertised everywhere on Facebook) that is soft and snuggly. Can be used as a blanket on the plane. Used as an actual scarf for warmth. Or to make a boring black pant outfit look different.

Well it’s too late now to think of trying to find rain jackets and honestly I don’t want to spend any more money. At home we never wear rain jackets. So the small umbrellas and camping rain ponchos will have to do.

It stinks because the whole first week rain is predicted. Just figures.

As for scarves I’m not a fan of wearing anything around my neck, but I do have the neck pillows.

 

[Luanne]

Well it’s too late now to think of trying to find rain jackets and honestly I don’t want to spend any more money. At home we never wear rain jackets. So the small umbrellas and camping rain ponchos will have to do.

It stinks because the whole first week rain is predicted. Just figures.

As for scarves I’m not a fan of wearing anything around my neck, but I do have the neck pillows.

I always bring a lightweight scarf, one I can use around my neck, or as a shawl.

 

[WinniWoman]

@WinniWoman - have a great trip. These things *will* work themselves out. And keep in mind my friend's adage - almost every problem can be solved with time or money. You are spending the time now, which will probably pay off, but in the end if your bags are a bit heavy and you get charged for that, pay the $$ and let it go. It is small potatoes in the long run. I highly doubt that anyone affiliated with the tour is going to weigh anything. They know that people overpack and are just trying to make sure that they aren't surprised at the airport. They will not bat an eye at a pound or two during the land portion of your travel. As far as airport security, in all of the trips that we have taken over the years our checked bags have been checked by TSA one time and everything was fine. I would put that at the bottom of the "worry-about" list. If they want to go through your used clothes,
let them. They are looking for much more expensive items. We never, ever lock our old crappy bags. They can probably tell that there's nothing in there worth stealing.

I am mostly a carryon girlie, but since we are shoulder season travelers, sometimes I will check a bag because I need to pack for two seasons. One thing that I would suggest (like @lynne ) is a rain jacket with a hood vs an umbrella. Sometimes I have encountered rain so hard that it was blowing sideways. Umbrellas are useless then. Your baseball cap + rain jacket is pretty good alternative, and the jacket can be used on non rainy days as a light jacket, and the whole time your hands are free instead of having to deal with the umbrella. Also something like a lightweight scarf works for numerous things - doubles as a lightweight blanket on the plane, dresses up a plain outfit, and can be used to cover your shoulders in a church.

For me it just a personal preference but I want my passport/travel docs as close as possible to me. I have a dedicated zipper pocket in my backpack for mine. I wouldn't leave those in a carryon bag that may be handled by someone else at some point.

What I’m saying is when you go through security you can’t have money belts or passports, or anything on you. You have to put them in your personal bag or carryon so I was wondering if I could lock my bag before it goes through the xray machine.

As for scarves, I don’t do scarves, I don’t like things around my neck and I find them annoying to wear- except in blowing snow. Lol!

We don’t have rain jackets and I don’t know that we could find decent, cheap ones in time at this point.

 

[WinniWoman]

It’s funny, all I’ve heard about for months is how Sicily is going through a severe drought. We go and it’s going to rain every day.

Lol!

 

[PigsDad]

What I’m saying is when you go through security you can’t have money belts or passports, or anything on you. You have to put them in your personal bag or carryon so I was wondering if I could lock my bag before it goes through the xray machine.

Yes, you can lock it, buy honestly -- what are you worried about? You are literally standing right by your bag as it goes into the x-ray machine and then you are standing there as it comes out the other end. I'm not seeing the issue.

As for locking your checked bag, we always do (with TSA approved locks). The main reason is that on occasion, we used to have issues with the zippers working their way open a bit as they went through all the baggage handling belts, people, etc. If it's raining on the tarmac, that could mean your stuff getting wet inside the bag. The little locks prevent that from happening. Those locks are really no real security -- if someone really wanted in your bag, a little lock is not going to stop them.

Kurt

 

[klpca]

What I’m saying is when you go through security you can’t have money belts or passports, or anything on you. You have to put them in your personal bag or carryon so I was wondering if I could lock my bag before it goes through the xray machine.

As for scarves, I don’t do scarves, I don’t like things around my neck and I find them annoying to wear- except in blowing snow. Lol!

We don’t have rain jackets and I don’t know that we could find decent, cheap ones in time at this point.

Here you go: https://www.amazon.com/Womens-Water...ons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1&psc=1

And Kurt said it well - your personal items will be in sight the whole time that you are going through security. I just prefer to have mine in their special pocket in my backpack because I will need them at other times and I want them within reach at all times. If my carryon gets gate checked I would have to go get my passport & travel docs out and move them. It is more efficient to have them in the backpack from the start.

 

[pedro47]

Sometimes hard shell luggage is better if you feel your luggage will be expose to the rain for a long period of time, when traveling.

 

[pedro47]

Here you go: https://www.amazon.com/Womens-Water-resistant-Raincoat-Outdoor-Windbreaker/dp/B08DHP95ZJ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Pg-JdCE2Bpd8UhREz8ZCGKjMFZu6IygUF7L_QT5H8VE-Wx0pW-X72DC1BlygUaa-DoBA5Fs8IBtwvATg8SEt47V8pTKZsfd34Gk8PUKEqFDqpFO0CC9vXfaEPksqxYesVCnNVbOfbnX6iD8x7oucgECT4pDOBUDfb21NOyaY7ntX2wcvK-2To8uvrCQA4127LJRz9JI7963MPS3XUVDPXmjQYtek_8wCH1nFoET36LkKW_GIh9bd3jjY0DgFZVU1raUWW3dfSyYPD174VtZEm-thok_Y2XakK1LZHqIg6To.m9nFIDNrQwzqehjYf03io2tXE6RWEBk4UPHOotrUUAs&dib_tag=se&keywords=rain+jacket&qid=1729185408&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1&psc=1

And Kurt said it well - your personal items will be in sight the whole time that you are going through security. I just prefer to have mine in their special pocket in my backpack because I will need them at other times and I want them within reach at all times. If my carryon gets gate checked I would have to go get my passport & travel docs out and move them. It is more efficient to have them in the backpack from the start.

We carry our passports, cash and credit cards with us, just to safe.

 

[Luanne]

We carry our passports, cash and credit cards with us, just to safe.

And medications.

 

[Snazzylass]

i have to ask, why do they think you are German?

I can only speculate. It's quite surprisedly really that it has happened multiple times in various situations.

 

[clifffaith]

Sometimes hard shell luggage is better if you feel your luggage will be expose to the rain for a long period of time, when traveling.

After having damp belongings inside our luggage six hours later when we arrived home from a layover in Miami, I’ve always lined our suitcases with black trash bags before packing.

 

[WinniWoman]

Yes, you can lock it, buy honestly -- what are you worried about? You are literally standing right by your bag as it goes into the x-ray machine and then you are standing there as it comes out the other end. I'm not seeing the issue.

As for locking your checked bag, we always do (with TSA approved locks). The main reason is that on occasion, we used to have issues with the zippers working their way open a bit as they went through all the baggage handling belts, people, etc. If it's raining on the tarmac, that could mean your stuff getting wet inside the bag. The little locks prevent that from happening. Those locks are really no real security -- if someone really wanted in your bag, a little lock is not going to stop them.

Kurt

Not true. The bags are lined up on the belt and you have to go through the machine with your back to it.

I don’t trust the tsa people I guess. My neighbor says her husband holds her bag as she goes through and he holds up the line until she does and then puts her bag on the belt so she can see what’s going on and grab it afterwards. Lol!

 

[WinniWoman]

We carry our passports, cash and credit cards with us, just to safe.

Thanks.

I am talking about when you go through tsa you can’t have money, passports etc on your body to go through the machine.

Anyway, I normally order a lot my clothes on Amazon, but if that jacket doesn’t fit me I really am not in the mood at the last minute to have to return it, etc. And if it doesn’t come on time that’s another issue or even if I just don’t like it.

A big problem I have also is I’m fat, but I’m also petite at under 5’4” with short arms and legs, but a long torso.

 

[WinniWoman]

Sometimes hard shell luggage is better if you feel your luggage will be expose to the rain for a long period of time, when traveling.

That’s what our larger suitcase my neighbor leant us is.

 

[pedro47]

Thanks.

I am talking about when you go through tsa you can’t have money, passports etc on your body to go through the machine.

Anyway, I normally order a lot my clothes on Amazon, but if that jacket doesn’t fit me I really am not in the mood at the last minute to have to return it, etc. And if it doesn’t come on time that’s another issue or even if I just don’t like it.

A big problem I have also is I’m fat, but I’m also petite at under 5’4” with short arms and legs, but a long torso.

I order a special black passport wallet to carry my passport, credit cards and cash. It has four (4) zipper pockets. I carry my medication in a clear ziplock bag. I can watch both items going thru the x-ray machine at any airport.

We have two TravelPro carry on bags that are over 15 years old; that has a special outside protection fabrics from heavy rain.

 

[davidvel]

Not true. The bags are lined up on the belt and you have to go through the machine with your back to it.

I don’t trust the tsa people I guess. My neighbor says her husband holds her bag as she goes through and he holds up the line until she does and then puts her bag on the belt so she can see what’s going on and grab it afterwards. Lol!

Now you are just worrying about things that do not exist. TSA will never open a carry on bag without telling you and having you there, whether you trust them or not.

 

[elaine]

Take your bigger carry-on and 2 collapsible tote bags (Aldi bag, cloth, etc.). Keep everything in carry-on bag until you are in boarding area, then pull out clothing and split into 2 tote bags as other carry ones (assuming they are free). Then repack into tote back when you get to Munich. I have done this several times when weight limit.