Austrian Carry-on size limits in Economy - how strict on size
May 15, 2023, 8:41 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 105
Austrian Carry-on size limits in Economy - how strict on size
I have this bag: Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-on luggage with spinner wheels: Case Dimensions: 21 inches x 14 inches x 9 inches; Overall Dimensions: 23 inches x 14.5 inches x 9 inches
Official Austrian carry-on luggage policy is as follows: max. 55 x 40 x 23 cm - i.e., 21.6 x 15.7 x 9 inches max. 8kg
So the wheels take it over the overall height limit. Last time I flew to Vienna I saw lots of people with these types of bags, but I also heard that sometimes the Austrian and Lufthansa staff can be very strict. I really want to avoid checking in my bag. Assuming I keep it light in terms of weight and nicely/tightly packed, can they force me to check it in? Any thoughts or better yet recent experience with this?
Official Austrian carry-on luggage policy is as follows: max. 55 x 40 x 23 cm - i.e., 21.6 x 15.7 x 9 inches max. 8kg
So the wheels take it over the overall height limit. Last time I flew to Vienna I saw lots of people with these types of bags, but I also heard that sometimes the Austrian and Lufthansa staff can be very strict. I really want to avoid checking in my bag. Assuming I keep it light in terms of weight and nicely/tightly packed, can they force me to check it in? Any thoughts or better yet recent experience with this?
May 15, 2023, 4:41 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VIE
Programs: SAS EBS / *A Silver, Hilton Diamond, Radisson VIP, IHG Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 3,840
It goes down to how full is the flight. Fully booked Embraer? It will be gate-checked even if it's within the limits. 100 people on 737? You can essentially bring a sink on board and no one will stop you.
May 16, 2023, 8:38 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 642
Purposeful steps towards security and adopting a bit of an attitude may help minimizing that risk.
May 16, 2023, 9:27 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VIE
Programs: SAS EBS / *A Silver, Hilton Diamond, Radisson VIP, IHG Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 3,840
That is if and once you dodge the agents lurking in front of security access in VIE who may want to hustle you into weighing your bag. They are, however, mostly concerned with weight and not size IME.
Purposeful steps towards security and adopting a bit of an attitude may help minimizing that risk.
Purposeful steps towards security and adopting a bit of an attitude may help minimizing that risk.
May 17, 2023, 2:57 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 642
They (used to) address passengers before the security access in OS' T3. It helped approaching (fast track on the left) from the Business Class check-in area as they (used to) hang around by the large windows towards the airfield and thus covering also the foot traffic from the Qatar and other airlines check-in walking up to security. I always kept my head down and inreased my step frequency to avoid them.
Strictly speaking I doubt they even have a case, as I believe baggage weight is only relevant upon boarding (and theoretically one could shed weight between security and the gate).
May 17, 2023, 3:16 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,151
VIE used to be my home airport, I haven't frequented it landside in a couple of years.
They (used to) address passengers before the security access in OS' T3. It helped approaching (fast track on the left) from the Business Class check-in area as they (used to) hang around by the large windows towards the airfield and thus covering also the foot traffic from the Qatar and other airlines check-in walking up to security. I always kept my head down and inreased my step frequency to avoid them.
Strictly speaking I doubt they even have a case, as I believe baggage weight is only relevant upon boarding (and theoretically one could shed weight between security and the gate).
They (used to) address passengers before the security access in OS' T3. It helped approaching (fast track on the left) from the Business Class check-in area as they (used to) hang around by the large windows towards the airfield and thus covering also the foot traffic from the Qatar and other airlines check-in walking up to security. I always kept my head down and inreased my step frequency to avoid them.
Strictly speaking I doubt they even have a case, as I believe baggage weight is only relevant upon boarding (and theoretically one could shed weight between security and the gate).
British Airways allows for a 23kg overhead item, by the way. they can't expect everyone to adhere to stupid low 8kg limit.
May 17, 2023, 3:43 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 642
May 17, 2023, 4:15 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VIE
Programs: SAS EBS / *A Silver, Hilton Diamond, Radisson VIP, IHG Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 3,840
VIE used to be my home airport, I haven't frequented it landside in a couple of years.
They (used to) address passengers before the security access in OS' T3. It helped approaching (fast track on the left) from the Business Class check-in area as they (used to) hang around by the large windows towards the airfield and thus covering also the foot traffic from the Qatar and other airlines check-in walking up to security. I always kept my head down and inreased my step frequency to avoid them.
Strictly speaking I doubt they even have a case, as I believe baggage weight is only relevant upon boarding (and theoretically one could shed weight between security and the gate).
They (used to) address passengers before the security access in OS' T3. It helped approaching (fast track on the left) from the Business Class check-in area as they (used to) hang around by the large windows towards the airfield and thus covering also the foot traffic from the Qatar and other airlines check-in walking up to security. I always kept my head down and inreased my step frequency to avoid them.
Strictly speaking I doubt they even have a case, as I believe baggage weight is only relevant upon boarding (and theoretically one could shed weight between security and the gate).
It's definitely a weird approach since there are plenty other airlines flying out of T3.
May 18, 2023, 7:15 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 105
Sorry that I forgot to mention that - but this is for the long haul flight from JFK to Vienna and back on 767-300ER (both legs).
May 19, 2023, 6:18 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,151