Middle East - Ben Gurion Carry-On Policies by Airline?

I recently flew Austrian Airlines and was shocked at the behavior of their check-in people. I have flown on about 20 airlines this year with the same setup - standard size rollaboard and a briefcase. The Austrian airlines people weighed my rollaboard and determined that it couldn't go on because it weighed 11kg instead of 8. The explanation given was "It's a small plane" (an A 319). Nevermind the fact that the A319 luggage racks are bigger than ElAl's 757 and 737. Nevermind the fact that the luggage racks and my suitcase are the same size at 8Kg and 11Kg. I had a 55 minute connection in Vienna and didn't want to lose my bag since I was only staying at my final destination for about 12 hours before flying on to somewhere else.

Anyway, when I explained to them that I have taken this same kit on every other airline on earth, including Austrian from LHR-VIE-TLV just 3 weeks ago, they didn't care and told me "we're only following orders". When I explained to them that I had a choice of airlines and that their obsession about 3Kg would make me less likely to fly another airline, they didn't care. When I told Nimrod, the Austrian check in supervisor that I would write a letter about this to the Airline and to Laufer, he told me "Go ahead - I'll be happy that they know I'm doing my job".

While I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised by poor customer service in Israel, (I did write to the airline) my question to the group is - since I am now likely not to fly Austrian in the future because of their stupid carry-on policies, which other airlines are equally strict out of TLV? LH seems to be one despite having much bigger planes so that is clearly a dumb excuse. Can anyone else relate their experiences with bad carry-on problems at TLV?

Note to the moderator, this is a question about policies of all airlines at TLV, so please don't move it to the Austrian Airlines forum.

El Al has been enforcing the 8kg limit for carryons also.

El Al has been enforcing the 8kg limit for carryons also.

I have flown ElAl three times in the last 3 months and nobody ever asked about it. They seemed more concerned about size than weight. Did they change in the last 6 weeks or so?

While this isn't a policy of Austrian, and might not belong in the M&M forum (questionable whether or not that's the case,) it's certainly not an EL AL issue.

If you were given an issue at check-in, then it's an Austrian issue. If you were given an issue at security, then it's a TLV issue. It sounds from your post that this all happened at check-in. My advice for the future: ignore them. If you're so sure that it'll fit, and that it's never been a problem in the past... then simply go with it. Security won't stop you.

You sure that OS's A319s have larger overhead bins than LY's 757s? I'm not so sure that's the case

Air Berlin would not allow a bag over 8 kg, but Continental seems to not care at all. Air Berlin also refused to check my bag through to Brussels because it was a different airline, despite the fact I had tickets and boardings passes to show them. They were nice about it(don't know what the dig about bad customer service in Israel is all about) but they were extremely rigid and no amount of cajoling/arguing would change their mind.

Size, weight, all airline policies. It may have been that other times or other airlines allowed you despite the rules. We can't count on rules being ignored and then be upset when they are followed I suggest your check your airline's website and see what it says.

KLM is very strict on size but not on weight, and woe did I have have a fight with them last week!

The size restriction for carry-ons I totally understand - when I fly easyjet I have a special suitcase that's slightly smaller that I use to meet their size restrictions, but the weight restriction just doesn't make sense - that weight is going on the plane anyway, it's just a question of up top or down below.

Travel BA. As long as the case is a reasonable size and you can actually lift it into the overheard lockers yourself there is no weight limit.

I have flown ElAl three times in the last 3 months and nobody ever asked about it. They seemed more concerned about size than weight. Did they change in the last 6 weeks or so?

Almost a year now.

I think its a Ben Gurion airport thing (the staff is contracted out to alot of airlines)

I have never had any other airline/location check size or weight before.

I fly out of TLV just about monthly, and I find that the staff is usually pretty good about carry ons.

Then again, I usually try to place my 22" rollerboard under the check-in desk, away from the agent's eye. They ask me if I have anything to check, I say no, and we move on.

It's not up to the check-in desk whether or not the carry-on is allowed. Security has the right to say no. If it passes security, and there's no room on the plane, AND the bag violates carry-on rules, then it should be gate-checked for a fee. Otherwise, it's up to the gate agents to make that call.

LX does exactly the same. I recommend bringing a friend to hold your carry on off to the side while you check in so they don't see your bag.

although not @ TLv the other week @ KRK LO wasnt gonna let me board with my carry-on since it was way over, once I produced my UA 1K *A *G card she said no prob, then the next day @ WAW had the same problem with AF once she saw DL Plat she said OK and tagged it so no one else would question it

Ive also had QF @ SYD say no way and EK out of AKL

so unless you have a high enough status level with that Carrier or its Alliance or are flying in C or F, you will be running into that alot more going forward unless you are on a US carrier and then I can see them hitting the non Elites as well

although not @ TLv the other week @ KRK LO wasnt gonna let me board with my carry-on since it was way over, once I produced my UA 1K *A *G card she said no prob, then the next day @ WAW had the same problem with AF once she saw DL Plat she said OK and tagged it so no one else would question it

Ive also had QF @ SYD say no way and EK out of AUK

so unless you have a high enough status level with that Carrier or its Alliance or are flying in C or F, you will be running into that alot more going forward unless you are on a US carrier and then I can see them hitting the non Elites as well

The check-in supervisor told me he didn't care if I was *A Gold or not. Just a jerk who was very happy to be enforcing this nonsensical rule. In the future, I'm sure I'll end up playing the game of putting more weight in my briefcase for the "weigh in" and then swapping stuff around after I get my boarding pass. It's too bad they don't have check-in kiosks at TLV where you don't have to deal with an overzealous human.

I believe the official reason for weight restrictions is what happens when for some reason or other it falls on top of the person seated below the bin (has happened to me on occasion...) - some airlines, as posted, don't really seem to care and if the bag fits sizewise, you can fill it with lead bars for all they care.

I too have found my carry-on weighed more often in TLV than anywhere else. I flew TLV-WAW LO C class and my bag was still weighed... I have also found that in TLV ground staff are rather less impressed by FF status than other places.

Last time I flew TLV-EWR with CO the plane was full, and thanks to the perhaps over-generous CO carry-on policy (re size/quantity) the bins were completely full as well - quite a few people had to check their carry-ons or place them in the business bins (no access during the flight - so pretty much akin to checking).

Moral of the story - if flying from TLV then take the lead bars out of your carry-on and place them in your pocket. Replace them after checking in. :)

D.

Moral of the story - if flying from TLV then take the lead bars out of your carry-on and place them in your pocket. Replace them after checking in. :)

D.

Unfortunately, I'll have to do that - in the winter it isn't hard - stuffing a pair of shoes and a few items in the large pockets of my overcoat. In the summer, it's a little more difficult, although maybe I'll have to start traveling with a coat in summertime as well!

Unfortunately, I'll have to do that - in the winter it isn't hard - stuffing a pair of shoes and a few items in the large pockets of my overcoat. In the summer, it's a little more difficult, although maybe I'll have to start traveling with a coat in summertime as well!

And that won't set off security bells there ;)

http://www.scottevest.com/

It is something I wish I could afford!

The check-in supervisor told me he didn't care if I was *A Gold or not. Just a jerk who was very happy to be enforcing this nonsensical rule. In the future, I'm sure I'll end up playing the game of putting more weight in my briefcase for the "weigh in" and then swapping stuff around after I get my boarding pass. It's too bad they don't have check-in kiosks at TLV where you don't have to deal with an overzealous human.

But QF couldnt care 1 bit that I was OW Elite (AA Plat), yrs ago @ LHR it wasnt the Carrier that didnt allow it but when you had to go thru Security at the 1st stop where they checked your PP if you bag didnt fit into the box off to checkin you went

But I have to say Im very surprised that it was being enforced at TLV of all places , where usually they couldnt care about anything that wasnt a security risk

And although I showed some wallet candy, I will admitt I thought since I wasnt an elite with them it wouldnt help but had nothing to lose.
Depending what Country 1 is in another way is to simply keep the carry-on off to the side so that it appears you dont have any. Might not work with LO or AF where they tag it, but Im sure at TLV no one could care less except maybe when boarding. Was your bag tagged at TLV (not talking about the security sticker)? If not then shouldnt be a problem

http://www.scottevest.com/

It is something I wish I could afford!

I bought a 16 pocket photographers vest for $20 on the web, from a company called Photodiox. It has oversized pockets and you can literally stuff almost an entire carryon into it including shirts and even pants in the full length back pocket

You don't need more than this and it solves all your weight problems

Anyway, when I explained to them that I have taken this same kit on every other airline on earth, including Austrian from LHR-VIE-TLV just 3 weeks ago, they didn't care and told me "we're only following orders".

Boy, that's a bad choice of words. An Austrian said that to a passenger heading to Israel?