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I flew Iberia a lot and they never lost my checked-in backpack but anyway the companies don't have their staff to deal with the luggage, it's the airport staff. Although the companies might print out wrong stickers for the luggage, that's true. Everything else is a matter of scanners, automatized process (conveyor belts) or possible theft. Later happened to me in Barcelona when my Swiss army knife was missing but it was my fault because I put it in an outside pocket and really easy to take itIf you fly Iberia, do not check your pack! They are notorious for lost luggage and for not caring. If your pack is too big to carry on an international flight, you are bringing too much! I agree with checking it out of Santiago as I love my pacer poles and Santiago airport security will grab them in a heartbeat.
Not to worry--a 48L pack will fit in the overhead just fine. My Gregory 48L pack did on both US and International flights. Be sure to not have things hanging from it and cinch it down. But there's plenty of room. The only time you'll have to check it would be if you're flying on smaller "commuter" jets in the US to connect, but even then, gate check it, do not check it at the ticket counter. Might want to put things you'll need during the flight in a stuff sack for under your seat. If you'd like more advice on the Camino, please see my blog: CaminoJoe.com. Buen Camino!Hello Pilgrims! I'm planning on taking a 48L bag on my camino, and based on all my research, I'll have to check that bad boy in once I get to the airport. I figure I should take a-Dry sack for my electronics, toiletries-just in case of a delayed/lost bag situation. Do any of you do this, and if so, how big of a carry-on do you use? Thanks to all who chime in.
Not to worry--a 48L pack will fit in the overhead just fine.
Ah, true, David! I was basing my comment on an internal frame or frameless pack. External frame packs are considerably longer and won't compress.It depends on the pack. For the camino I am about to embark upon, I am limited to "carry on only". I checked the posted dimensions for carry on luggage and measured the backpack I took on my last camino (30 or 35L). It wouldn't fit. It has a very rigid back and the length was a couple of inches too long. With the rigid back, it wasn't going to get any shorter. The pack my teenage son took (about the same volume) wasn't quite as tall. It will fit. I've been wearing it (fully loaded) on my training walks and expect to take it with me.
I always check my bag and just take the ‘neck wallet’ with me... Carries my important stuff, like passport, phone etc...Hello Pilgrims! I'm planning on taking a 48L bag on my camino, and based on all my research, I'll have to check that bad boy in once I get to the airport. I figure I should take a-Dry sack for my electronics, toiletries-just in case of a delayed/lost bag situation. Do any of you do this, and if so, how big of a carry-on do you use? Thanks to all who chime in.
Hi MeandIan,Yesterday we checked in our big luggage and walking sticks. Ian’s backpack was carry on. He has a 50 litre bag. The total weight is just under 9 kg and carries all of his stuff, excluding his luxury item, his iPad. This was in Melbourne and Paris. We flew to Rome
Thanks! Gonna look into that bag.I carry on my Gossamer Gear Mariposa, which meets all the measurements. It has a 40 L main bag which can be extended to 65 L. For Camino, it is only about 1/2 full. The pack itself weighs just under 2 pounds.
I never check my backpack since the time I flew in for a backpacking trip and the airlines lost the pack with all my clothing and gear. I had to scramble to replace everything, much of it heavier and inferior to what was lost,f in order to get to the trail head on time.
That's horrible! That's my fear. Thanks for sharing.Yesterday we checked in our big luggage and walking sticks. Ian’s backpack was carry on. He has a 50 litre bag. The total weight is just under 9 kg and carries all of his stuff, excluding his luxury item, his iPad. This was in Melbourne and Paris. We flew to Rome
I agree. It is an inquiry quite common on this forum, and so vague in question that it is impossible to answer. Not all 48L backpacks are the same size when packed by different people. Not all 35L packs are, or 30L packs are etc etc etc.I do not understand why people keep asking if a backpack of particular volume (L) will be allowed. The starting point for this prediction is simply to measure and determine if you fit within the prescribed dimensions. If you don't, then you know you need a Plan B in case the airline staff enforce their rules.
LOL! Great idea!I check my pack. Cash, electronics, meds, and shoes go in a carry-on. I use Saskatoon Samsonite for this. Most people mistake this elegant type of jet-set carry on for a disposable plastic shopping bag.
Buen Camino!
Yes, I'm planning on getting Trekking poles in SJPP.A backpack in the 48L size range is small enough to be a carry-on on most flights. I have done it several times. The only time I have checked it on is on a short, regional flight on a smaller airliner with bins in the cabin so small you would have a difficult time putting a 25-30L pack in them. For the larger airliners, the ones you fly 99% of the time, it is doable. Mind you, that is if it is not packed to the gills. Then you may have some problems, and quite honestly you may be carrying too many things to walk the Camino.
I have recommended to friends who go walk the Camino to completely avoid packing any of the things you can purchase upon arrival. Soaps, toothpaste and other toiletries. Also I tell them to simply purchase a set of trekking poles upon arrival. That is assuming they want to use trekking poles.
It is nice to just be able to board the aircraft with a bag small enough to fit in the bin and not have to be concerned about retrieving it upon arrival or with dealing with security before boarding about what or what cannot be carried on. It is in a small way liberating.
If you absolutely must for some reason have those things with you when you travel to walk the Camino, simply put them in a cardboard box/cheap duffel and check it on the flight and dispose the box or duffel upon arrival.
If you fly Iberia, do not check your pack! They are notorious for lost luggage and for not caring. If your pack is too big to carry on an international flight, you are bringing too much! I agree with checking it out of Santiago as I love my pacer poles and Santiago airport security will grab them in a heartbeat.
Thanks! This is what I'll do. I appreciate the help!1. I purchased a 4-inch / 100mm x 42-inch /100 cm shipping tube, cut it in half, and taped the two pieces together with duct tape. I put my wife's and my trekking poles in these tubes, along with our liquids and my Swiss army knife, applied a label with my I.D. information and my US and Spanish telephone numbers (I purchased a SIM card ahead of time), and checked this in at the airport.
2. I carried my backpack (OspretKestral 38L) on the plane as cabin luggage. Before boarding, I removed select items -- cell phone, camera, a few snack bars, and a change of underwear and socks -- and placed them in a small, very lightweight daypack I bought at Walmart for less than US$10.00. I carried this on the airplane and stowed it under the seat. This accomplished three things: a) I was able to compress my main pack down to a size that ensured it was withing the carry-on dimensions; b) made sure my phone, camera, and basic change of clothing was always with me in case for some reason the airline made me gate check my main backpack; and c) the daypack compressed down to a small ball about the size of a large orange, so I had it available for shopping around towns and carrying raingear while on the Camino.
3. I carried my main backpack in the airplane cabin and stowed it in the overhead bin, as did my wife, who had a similar daypack and similar-sized main backpack.
I've attached photos of all the above.
View attachment 45996View attachment 45997View attachment 45998
So you don’t state your route for flying , I am in Burgos now arrived 2 days ago with AC to LHR checked my pack 48lt kestrel, have a daypack for carry on , next was BA to Madrid £65 to check bag so I bundled the daypack inside the kestrel and carried it on at no charge, next flight Madrid to Bilbao Iberia Airlines no way allowed to take carry on that doesn’t fit underneath your seat, since I was the last passenger to arrive the staff checked it for me no charge.Hello Pilgrims! I'm planning on taking a 48L bag on my camino, and based on all my research, I'll have to check that bad boy in once I get to the airport. I figure I should take a-Dry sack for my electronics, toiletries-just in case of a delayed/lost bag situation. Do any of you do this, and if so, how big of a carry-on do you use? Thanks to all who chime in.
Estelle, I'm flying into Madrid from Miami. I think that I may have found the best solution in using a Hyperlite 2400 bag. These bags are much easier to compress and cinch tight than the Osprey that I was looking at. If I pack it right,-(not beyond the tops of the shoulder straps)- it should meet airline carry- on requirements and I won't need a daypack. Thanks for the info.So you don’t state your route for flying , I am in Burgos now arrived 2 days ago with AC to LHR checked my pack 48lt kestrel, have a daypack for carry on , next was BA to Madrid £65 to check bag so I bundled the daypack inside the kestrel and carried it on at no charge, next flight Madrid to Bilbao Iberia Airlines no way allowed to take carry on that doesn’t fit underneath your seat, since I was the last passenger to arrive the staff checked it for me no charge.
My point is this time of the year airlines are full and they don’t like big carry on bags. Worth mentioning that the poles were never an issue. Madrid airport is a nightmare !
Pack I'm looking at.My 36 liter Marmot is just a couple of inches/cm too long to meet carry-on requirements for most airlines. As there is a rigid backpiece I can't "squish" it down to fit. I haven't had any problem with United and Lufthansa - they really didn't even look at it, but this year I had a Ryanair flight, so I brought a NorthFace 32 liter that fit their size restrictions.
You are correct the two Ospreys are giving me a headache! Buen CaminoEstelle, I'm flying into Madrid from Miami. I think that I may have found the best solution in using a Hyperlite 2400 bag. These bags are much easier to compress and cinch tight than the Osprey that I was looking at. If I pack it right,-(not beyond the tops of the shoulder straps)- it should meet airline carry- on requirements and I won't need a daypack. Thanks for the info.
My 16 liter Sea to Summit Shoulder Bag does triple duty ++ as my fly-over and back carry-on bag. It contains my electronics, documents, valuables and medication. Everything else is checked.
When I arrive at my first night's destination, this handy sack compresses down to the size of a kiwi fruit. It rides in my right hip rucksack pocket. While on Camino, it is my shopping bag when I come into a town and need provisions, a day-bag if I am on a rest-day, a laundry bag if I am seeking a coin-laundry, and an outer cover to my ziplock bag(s) if and when I need to share a shower in an albergue situation.
I don’t know where you got your info about Iberia being notorious for losing luggage. I fly Iberia and they have never lost my checked backpack.If you fly Iberia, do not check your pack! They are notorious for lost luggage and for not caring. If your pack is too big to carry on an international flight, you are bringing too much! I agree with checking it out of Santiago as I love my pacer poles and Santiago airport security will grab them in a heartbeat.
Yesterday we checked in our big luggage and walking sticks. We flew to Rome
Three fellow pilgrims experienced this first hand. Not a nice way to begin. Read reviews from several years ago. Not only was their lost luggage percentage high but customer service was terrible if you were not Spanish. Once you been one of the unlucky ones (or witnessed the crisis of a lost backpack by a friend), you become more circumspect. Hopefully they have improved because I am flying them this fall but I will still not check my pack before I walk.I don’t know where you got your info about Iberia being notorious for losing luggage. I fly Iberia and they have never lost my checked backpack.
I don’t know where you got your info about Iberia being notorious for losing luggage. I fly Iberia and they have never lost my checked backpack.
I surrender!! I realize just because i’ve never experienced my pack being lost probably ups the odds that it will be. As the saying goes” there’s a 1st time for everything” next trip I’ll just check my poles much easier to replace. Thanks for the common sense advice.In 2010, British Airways bought Iberia. There were lots of news reports at the time about how Iberia workers, who were NOT in favor of the merger, were trying to sabotage things by having lots of bags from BA and other code share partners "go missing." I don't know that that was ever well established, but rumors like this tend to make their way into our consciousness.
More to the point, though, I would never check my backpack on any airline on my way to the camino. Sure the odds of loss are minimal, but having to buy everything new in Spain would be such a nightmare that I would never chance it. Iberia lost my checked poles once, which is why I never check them either, because it was a huge hassle to replace them on my way to the Vdlp. I was so thankful it was only one item. Imagine having to buy everything new right before starting out. I am not trying to be a fear monger, but we see occasional posts from people in this situation and it is not a good way to start a camino. I always check it on the way home, though, because the consequences of a lost backpack are so unimportant.
p.s. Here are some statistics, and this was before the merger
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/5560131/Iberia-worst-airline-for-losing-luggage.html
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Major US airlines reported at 2-4 bags "mishandled" per thousand. And Iberia, in 2009, had more than 15 per thousand. Even though 3 per thousand seems tiny, that's one on every two or three big planeloads. I desperately do not want to be that person!
I surrender!! I realize just because i’ve never experienced my pack being lost probably ups the odds that it will be. As the saying goes” there’s a 1st time for everything” next trip I’ll just check my poles much easier to replace. Thanks for the common sense advice.
There seems to be lots of discussion about dimensions of carry on luggage. It is worth noting, however, that there is also a weight limit. It is usually 7Kg for we Economy travellers. In recent times, in Australia at least, the airlines have become more strict about the weight than they used to be.
Weight and size restrictions are airline dependent. You always need to check with the airline(s) that you are not flying with. So far most US based airlines don't have a carry on weight requirement, other than your own ability to lift it up yo put in the overhead bin.There seems to be lots of discussion about dimensions of carry on luggage. It is worth noting, however, that there is also a weight limit. It is usually 7Kg for we Economy travellers. In recent times, in Australia at least, the airlines have become more strict about the weight than they used to be.
Wow! That must have been stressful! Glad you had the ability to recover and keep moving! How are you feeling these days? I'm off in less than 2 weeks. I'm so excited to do my first Camino! Thanks for being so inspirational and helpful!!Just to reinforce your new decision: a few years ago I had to fly out-of-state in order to get to a trail head for a 3 week backpacking trip in the Colorado Rockies. Up to that point, I had always checked my backpack as luggage, containing all of my gear and clothing, whenever I had to fly to a destination for a backpacking trip.
This time it was lost. To this day, it has never been recovered. The airline suspected that it was stolen at some point during the baggage handling process. Since then, I have talked to other backpackers who have had their backpacks lost -- not necessarily stolen -- when flying.
So, here I was 24 hours prior to needing to start the hiking trip. I was tired, and had been hoping to rest up for a a good day at altitude (11,000 feet), in order to get a bit of a head start acclimating because of the hike being above 9800 ft for most of that trip.
Instead, I had to spend much of the day replacing gear and clothing. Some, I could do a direct replacement. For other stuff, like my tent and sleeping quilt which were special ordered, I had to make due with something heavier and less efficient. Plus, I had to replace all of the freeze dried food I had packed.
Below is my backpacking gear list. That was what was lost and needed replacing within 24 hours.
View attachment 52082
Wow! That must have been stressful! Glad you had the ability to recover and keep moving! How are you feeling these days? I'm off in less than 2 weeks. I'm so excited to do my first Camino! Thanks for being so inspirational and helpful!!
HI, just wondering how much the airlines charged for this small bundle of checked goods? Or did your ticket include a checked item?1. I purchased a 4-inch / 100mm x 42-inch /100 cm shipping tube, cut it in half, and taped the two pieces together with duct tape. I put my wife's and my trekking poles in these tubes, along with our liquids and my Swiss army knife, applied a label with my I.D. information and my US and Spanish telephone numbers (I purchased a SIM card ahead of time), and checked this in at the airport.
2. I carried my backpack (OspretKestral 38L) on the plane as cabin luggage. Before boarding, I removed select items -- cell phone, camera, a few snack bars, and a change of underwear and socks -- and placed them in a small, very lightweight daypack I bought at Walmart for less than US$10.00. I carried this on the airplane and stowed it under the seat. This accomplished three things: a) I was able to compress my main pack down to a size that ensured it was withing the carry-on dimensions; b) made sure my phone, camera, and basic change of clothing was always with me in case for some reason the airline made me gate check my main backpack; and c) the daypack compressed down to a small ball about the size of a large orange, so I had it available for shopping around towns and carrying raingear while on the Camino.
3. I carried my main backpack in the airplane cabin and stowed it in the overhead bin, as did my wife, who had a similar daypack and similar-sized main backpack.
I've attached photos of all the above.
View attachment 45996View attachment 45997View attachment 45998
This may be out-of-date information, but the last time I traveled internationally with checked baggage from the US in 2017, the airlines were required (perhaps by some sort of international agreement) to allow each passenger to check two pieces of luggage at no additional cost. The only limitation was the normal size limitation. We were also allowed two carry-on items, one in the overhead bin and one beneath the seat. That was our backpacks and a small daypack with essentials. The tubes with the poles were the only checked items, so they traveled free also.HI, just wondering how much the airlines charged for this small bundle of checked goods? Or did your ticket include a checked item?
This may be out-of-date information, but the last time I traveled internationally with checked baggage from the US in 2017, the airlines were required (perhaps by some sort of international agreement) to allow each passenger to check two pieces of luggage at no additional cost. The only limitation was the normal size limitation. We were also allowed two carry-on items, one in the overhead bin and one beneath the seat. That was our backpacks and a small daypack with essentials. The tubes with the poles were the only checked items, so they traveled free also.
That wasn't even true in 2017. Right now, (as in 2017) most major US airlines do allow one checked bag, one full sized carry on and one personal item for transatlantic flights. However, they are now selling what they call Basic Economy fares, which don't include any checked bags. Passengers with "status" on the airline or who hold certain airline credit cards may get additional free luggage.This may be out-of-date information, but the last time I traveled internationally with checked baggage from the US in 2017, the airlines were required (perhaps by some sort of international agreement) to allow each passenger to check two pieces of luggage at no additional cost. The only limitation was the normal size limitation. We were also allowed two carry-on items, one in the overhead bin and one beneath the seat. That was our backpacks and a small daypack with essentials. The tubes with the poles were the only checked items, so they traveled free also.
Air travel is much cheaper now, compared to incomes and other costs of living, than it used to be. Now we have more choices, which include some rock-bottom fares without baggage, meals and refundability.have a starting fare which seems to me the same price as what used to include the bags
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