Empty Suitcase
Nov 17, 2019, 5:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Plymouth, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,159
Empty Suitcase
I realise that this is not necessarily a BA topic but it is on a BA flight so here goes...
I am travelling to the USA for Thanksgiving and taking 2 suitcases full of Christmas Pressies (unwrapped to pass security!). This means I will have 2 empty suitcases for the return. Has anyone flown with empty suitcases? Any issues?
I am travelling to the USA for Thanksgiving and taking 2 suitcases full of Christmas Pressies (unwrapped to pass security!). This means I will have 2 empty suitcases for the return. Has anyone flown with empty suitcases? Any issues?
Nov 17, 2019, 5:36 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Plymouth, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,159
My baggage allowance is 3 cases at 32kg and there are 2 of us so we'd need a lot of stuff! We will be bringing back pressies and some bits and pieces but I expect to have at least 1 case totally empty... possibly 2.
Nov 17, 2019, 6:23 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,155
I realise that this is not necessarily a BA topic but it is on a BA flight so here goes...
I am travelling to the USA for Thanksgiving and taking 2 suitcases full of Christmas Pressies (unwrapped to pass security!). This means I will have 2 empty suitcases for the return. Has anyone flown with empty suitcases? Any issues?
I am travelling to the USA for Thanksgiving and taking 2 suitcases full of Christmas Pressies (unwrapped to pass security!). This means I will have 2 empty suitcases for the return. Has anyone flown with empty suitcases? Any issues?
Enjoy your travels.
Nov 17, 2019, 7:16 pm
#10
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
No problem at all. I do this frequently. However, I tend to do Russian Doll suitcases to reduce the hassle of carrying multiple cases when possible.
You might get comments like 'ohhh, shopping suitcases?' at check-in.
You might get comments like 'ohhh, shopping suitcases?' at check-in.
Nov 17, 2019, 7:49 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Hard cases are actually marginally more likely to be damaged if they're empty as the shell will collapse/crack under weight with nothing inside. Put one inside the other, use rolled up t-shirts to fill gaps, worst case maybe even a bag of beans or rice, it's the US so finding some ludicrously large bag of food shouldn't be an issue
Nov 17, 2019, 8:18 pm
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,155
We Americans buy lots of stuff on Amazon, that arrive in ridiculously oversized cardboard boxes with lots of air filled plastic cushioning. Stuff your cases with these empty boxes and packing material to help cushion the weight of other bags while in the cargo hold
But I still say go shopping at Costco and elsewhere, our economy will thank you!
But I still say go shopping at Costco and elsewhere, our economy will thank you!