Sakae

I belong to a group of travelers, who are really unable to avoid LH, thus I have to align my plans with the airline. Assessing worst possible scenario, I have to assume, that LH at some point will change internal regulations for their carriers, since they endorsed the initiative, and I think they will go with IATA's cabin size (50 x 35 x 20), despite that is merely recommendation at this point of time.

Whilst it is true process has been suspended for re-evaluation, but it is hardly dead, and the airline can do as they like. Manufacturers began re-tooling and I expect smaller bags on the market soon. My old trusty 22" Rimowa Topaz was confiscated by my nephew, and I need therefore a replacement. Challenge is in reading a crystal ball and plan for next a few years, not a next week, especially when a suitcase of the Lufthansa World-shop is running in the range EUR 500 - 700, and I really do not cherish to buy one case today, and before I manage to return from (extended) the trip, I will have to buy a smaller one or accept penalties.

Sakae

On Rimowa website, under "partnership" tab:
- partnership with LH
- conformance to IATA norms (probably mis-statement)

Sakae

Totally agree, but regardless of size, the weight limit (8 kg on LH) is simply something else. The suitcase net weight with my 15" Mac in it is enough to get me close to the cabin weight limit. On long hauls I have to then either travel first class, buy a new bag on the destination, or whatever, but I cannot travel without one, because of planned short trips on the trains, and long stay. I am little bit ashamed to admit it, but on last two trips I was taking my Rimowa for all practical purposes empty on board. All my stuff was in my briefcase and checked bag. I am reading in here how Ninja people survive regulations, but I haven't figured that out yet.

Sakae

Hi, would you have a link to Rimowa statement on this issue? I actually approached them over the weekend with point blank question, if and when smaller suitcases will be available? Now I have to wait for a response, if I get one at all.


Well, I got it, and as someone already pointed out, Rimowa is distancing themselves from this initiative, however, without telling me how proactive they are, what I was told, that if and when the airline shall accept such dimensional restrictions, Rimowa will support it, and make necessary changes on their product line. Nothing however in advance. I must of course thank Rimowa for prompt and kind response to my inquiry.

Mellonc

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...after-backlash

and I quote:

Two US senators criticised the idea, saying it would require passengers to pay more and buy new luggage. A top US airline group that includes the world’s three largest air carriers – American, Delta and United – also formally came out against the proposal on Wednesday.

Mellonc

http://www.flyertalk.com/articles/ia...criticism.html

another article.......

Sakae

I am not sure about relevancy what US based airlines decide, and how it affects LH. This is an airline which has tighter control over cabin carry on for years. I think they simply will do whatever they decide traffic will bear, without loosing much of their business as a Star Alliance member. I might meanwhile end up getting Rimowa kiddie trolley. For a while I thought about it as a joke, but since I am a minimalist anyway, 20" mini could carry enough of my stuff for one or two business days, and I might get this issue out of my sight.

MSPeconomist

About a month ago I had a long conversation with an apparently very knowledgeable Tumi store manager. He said that Tumi's plans to make new sized pieces were on indefinite hold because the major USA legacy carriers weren't planning to adopt the new standards.

Sakae

I was actually checking Tumi as well, and I would not mind to get their CFX carry on. Problem is, even today, since it is 22", I would not be allowed to board the plane with it, because it might not fit into a sizer neither in Frankfurt, or Narita. I wonder how many flyers are really buying those beauties in EU. Otherwise very light, durable, and innovative - but BIG. Maybe they are really only after NA market, but then, why do they advertise it in EU? I am however taking with me their Marina CFX.

Mellonc

Actually the sizers in the Narita location which I personally tried is about 23.25 inches long. Yes. they fit.

Sakae

Hmm, OK, but it is strange. Last time a person I dealt with at Narita, she was measuring and weighing my stuff, while apologizing that she had to do that, since she was at LH counter, and was so ordered by a LH supervisor. That's weird how experiences do vary. I paid of course penalty (not first time), but that was best I could do under those circumstances, never-mind that part of my stuff was placed into a cardboard box, which upon arrival I have found sitting in the middle of a large room without any supervision, and when I picked up, no one asked me, if I actually have any right to it. Now I had enough, and I am pretty much determined not to take too many chances anymore.

gobluetwo

The impact of the North American carriers is that they (and others) have effectively forced IATA to put a hold on this Cabin OK initiative and to reevaluate. This means that the size recommendations likely will change. If you are very concerned about it, there is not much you can do except wait until IATA itself makes a new recommendation and LH subsequently (again) states that they will follow said recommendation.

http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/Pag...-06-17-01.aspx
Or if you're not one to wait, just get a bag that is already very close in size to the recommendations. My Victorinox Mobilizer NXT 5.0 20" suitcase is measured at 51x36x20, making it, relative to the initial proposals, 4cm shorter, 1 cm wider, and equal in depth. I seriously doubt anyone would quibble over 1cm in width. Victorinox have other similarly-sized suitcases. Here are a couple of examples:
http://www.victorinox.com/ch/product...ry-On/32340201 (same size specs as my bag)
http://www.victorinox.com/ch/product...ry-On/31318219 (3cm wider, otherwise specs equal to new IATA recommendation)

Sakae

Thank you, nice recommendation, and extensive reply. I tend to agree with you, that recommendation will probably change, but if you think about it, in perfect world, it should not, because recommended downsizing was a mathematically derived conclusion to allow storage of bags for all travelers, assuming all of them accepted this recommendation. Put it differently, per IATA, as I understand it, anyone storing a large suitcase basically taking things out of balance, and in full load, last load of passengers would have consequently some bags checked.

Victorinox is a good company. I had several bags from them, all gone now, but one - 24" Tourbach upright, my checked luggauge of choice. At the end, there is really no point to worry about that, because I will have to get something, and move on. Proactively I thought I will play agressive defense with my selection of travel gear, but point is, I am not going to win this one.

Mellonc

I am not I following your logic here. Are you referring to weight or size? Many international carriers have strict limitation on weight. I was replying to your size comment on the 22 inch Tumi bag. The weight will simply depend on how much you put in there and the empty bag weight.

The OP is dealing with the size of the bags which IATA was trying to impose to very little fanfare.

Weight is a different thing altogether. If you were concerned about weight then perhaps you'd go with an all fabric bag like a Tom Bihn, RedOxx, REI bags, or even a hybrid like a Tumi Super Leger or Lipault.....

Sakae

Concern is about both, weight and sizes, since both are regulated, and deviation has its consequences. Working for a foreign airline, Japanese are very diligent in performing checks as airline ask them to do, such is my experience.

I am not expert on this topic, however it stands to a reason, that a sizing frame for standard applicable to NA airlines (allowing 22") should not be of the same size as one for LH with a different requirement (21.7 x 15.7 x 7.9). I have my sizes checked in hand, and weighed as any other passenger.
From technical point of view objects aren't perfect geometrical bodies, and together with manufacturing tolerances of sizing frames it stands to a reason, that such gauge has to be large than nominal sizes stated by the airline. How much that is, of course I do not know, and it can somewhat vary from a station to station. Several months ago I send enquiry to Lufthansa, requesting information regarding permissible variances on the luggage, and they responded that I should follow instructions on their website, which of course states one number. Whether it is a nominal or max. limit, I have no clue, but that's what it is, and enforcement of that standard seems depending how it is measured, actual size of the case, actual size of the frame, and if measured in hand, add also perhaps mood of the person who does the check. Definitely it is not a precise process.