Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - How strict is Cathay P. with hand luggage in Eco?

I have just seen that their measurements are lots smaller (only 56x35x23cm)than the IATA recomendations of (56x45x25cm).

We replaced all our luggage last year and used the IATA recomendations as a base and now we see we might not be able to use our new luggage because they are too big.

Be nice to hear what is really like on the ground........

Not very strict in my experience.

Usually its HK security who stop me, not CX staff.

Depends where you're originating. First, it's not CX you have to worry about - it's the insane ladies prior to immigration at Hong Kong. In short, NO you have an extremely low chance of getting something larger on board. Quickly, if you're originating at a non-HK airport, you don't have anything to worry about. If you ARE at HKG:

1.) Prior to exit immigration, you must funnel through a few channels, each guarded by ladies whose sole job it is is to spot oversized luggage.
2.) They do their job extremely well. When I first moved to HKG last year I thought I could sneak by...yea right. I have waited for strategic moments like trying to wait until they were occupied with someone else, only to have them chase me down into the exit immigration area itself. I have tried switching from the south entrance to the north entrance. Futile! They have eagle eyes, it's rather terrifying actually, they know exactly when your bag is too big and call out to you as you're walking by...then they put it in the bin there to prove it's too big, and make you go back and check.
3.) You have an option - if you're CX/OW elite you can ask the CX gate agents to give you a special orange tag that muzzles the crazy bag ladies at immigration. They put the orange tag on your "oversized" carry-on when you check in, then you go to the ladies at exit immigration, they tear off a perforated part, and you're good to go. They don't turn you around. The CX gate agents will care more about WEIGHT not size, so if your carry-on bag is really heavy unload a few things before you check in. The exit immigration ladies care about size only.

or print your own orange tags like may Taiwanese I know do

Remember the entire carry-on, including the wheels, must fit inside the measuring container. Otherwise you need the airline to tag your bag.

As far as weight:
* Occasionally the HKG security does weigh the carry-ons. They did that to my wife before.
* CX occasionally also asks you to weigh your carry-on when you check-in, except at HKG F check-in.

Yikes! Did they take pity on me the previous times or have I just been lucky with my very full Samsonite "rucksack", laptop and garment bag?

Can I still get the CX "oversized" tag at HKG landside after arrival for same day departure if on a short biz visit?

Other posters are correct. There is no problem with large luggage at any station other than HKG. There, however, they are very strict.

Yikes! Did they take pity on me the previous times or have I just been lucky with my very full Samsonite "rucksack", laptop and garment bag?

Can I still get the CX "oversized" tag at HKG landside after arrival for same day departure if on a short biz visit?

Your operating carrier should take care of it. If you are departing on CX, you can ask them. They would normally do that if your carry-on is reasonable and if you are an OW elite/F/J passenger.

Your operating carrier should take care of it. If you are departing on CX, you can ask them. They would normally do that if your carry-on is reasonable and if you are an OW elite/F/J passenger.

Thanks. My carriers from HKG are normally CX and KA and I have "elite" status with them so should hopefully not be a problem then.

The exit immigration ladies care about size only.

Don't take that comment out of context... ;)

Don't take that comment out of context... ;)

Ha, wow

For some reason, I've never encountered that in HKG, despite carrying a large rollaboard, a laptop, and a winter coat with me.

It's ridiculously strict in Manila, though. Everywhere else, I get away with it.

If you're transit I have no idea...I'm talking about if you originate at HKG. I promise you, if you're ex-HKG you are not getting around these ladies, period. They can look so nice but just try bringing a bag that is bigger than their little metal bin through. I have seen nothing like it anywhere else in the world, they are just insanely good. Usually you can always get your big bag on...not ex-HKG. If your bag is like one inch too big they call out to you...it's completely futile to try to beat them. Granted they're not counting how MANY you have, they're watching how BIG your bags are. The only way I've thwarted them before was to remove a ton of stuff out of my expanded bag and then carry it with me under my arm, but it's just much easier to obtain an orange pull off thing from CX or KA at checkin.

I really hated those ladies when I first moved to HKG, I was flying twice a week ex-HKG and I had just started MPC so I had NO status. What a disaster...we were adversaries, and I don't think I ever won once. I felt victorious the one time I removed just a ton of crap out of my bag after getting rejected at the south entrance, walked up to the north entrance with half my suitcase under my arm, and went through. My bag was technically the right size then. I missed a flight because of those damn ladies because they made me check my bag. My problem is my standard carry-on is 22" high, which is good to fit in all overhead bins and is okay for most airlines around the world, but NOT good enough for HKG airport without an orange sticker from your airline. 20" will get through.

I have just checked our luggage details and these say that it is a total of 115 cm or 45 inches which is almost exactly the 114 CX require so I guess we should be ok. Have any of you had trouble with these measurements? Sorry but there are just sooo many sizes other there it is just so frustrating when one is trying to abide by the rules

I usually transit thru HK so I don't have that problem, but I find that with certain planes (A320/A330) its whether you can get it to fit in the overhead compartment. I had an experience where the expanded rollaway (when expended) couldn't clear the door of the luggage compartment (window side). I was able to shove it into the aisle overhead compartment with some force.

Sometimes I bring 20-25kg with me, and the rule of thumb is to be able to lift it up into the overhead compartment. If you have a travel buddy, then it's a little easier to sneak more luggage on board.

In my HKG-LAX leg this Sunday, I will be loaded with 2x 32kg checked in bags, and 1x 20-25kg carry on. I should try to break into the triple digits :)

i'm filipino. and were taking CX to the philippines this summer from JFK so of course my family and i will be taking balikbayan boxes with us. anyone know what the weight limit is and how many per person (there's going to be 5 of us)? i remember back in 2004 some of our boxes were over weight we had to open up our heavily taped boxes and take things out and transfer it to other boxes until we got each and every box below or just on the weight limit. i just dont wanna go through that again.

i'm filipino. and were taking CX to the philippines this summer from JFK so of course my family and i will be taking balikbayan boxes with us. anyone know what the weight limit is and how many per person (there's going to be 5 of us)? i remember back in 2004 some of our boxes were over weight we had to open up our heavily taped boxes and take things out and transfer it to other boxes until we got each and every box below or just on the weight limit. i just dont wanna go through that again.

See
http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_INTL/helpingyoutravel/baggageallowance

Answer is 32kg per piece.