New Tumi Luggage & Over Head Bin Limits?
 

I like Tumi's new luggage design, coming out in April, and am trying to figure out what the largest luggage size (22, 24, or 26") is for practical travel using overhead bins. I am primarily considering first class internationally in carriers like BA and JL, but also FC domestically on AA.

See: http://www.suitcase.com/B2002Tumi6445.php

I am hoping the 26" model will fit, which is technically 27" x 20" x 12". IME, the defining/limiting factors on overheads is: (i) the height -- and 12" should be OK, and then (ii) width/depth (I think most overheads are 22" deep).

I therefore think 12" high by 20" deep will fit in an overhead and therfore that a 26/27" length is pretty irrelevant, given the fact that one would lay the bag down horizontally in the bin, not put it in head to toe.

FOr ther record, the new Tumi T3 24" model is actually 24" x 18" x 12", which is the same height as the 26" model, but is two inches shorter and two inches narrower.

Their 22" inch model, which is "standard carry on size", is: 22" x 14" x 11", although at 47" combind it slightly exceeds most airline's 45" combined limit.

Despite most airline's published standards, my real question is what size are the overhead bins themselves and what sized bags can they accommodate? For purposes of this discussion, let's ignore older, small bins and focus the majority of bins on 757's, MD-80's, 767's, 777's, and 747's and their Airbus equivalents.

As you can see, this luggage is sleek and looks like it is designed for overheads...I know many people's pet peeve is large suitcases in overheads, but I have a long trip coming up and will be in first class on AA (BOS-ORD), JL & CX, and would like to not have to check my bag.

Your thoughts?


[This message has been edited by nologic (edited Feb 18, 2004).]

No airline even in first class is going to allow you to carry a 26" pullman onboard.

Well, I don't know about "pullman", but 26" is really the length.

I have travelled wwith a folding wheeling garment bag that is actually larger, like this: http://www.tumi.com/products/index.c...Link=Details).

I was reading a post from a guy that says he always travels with a 26" bag w/o a problem.

Rolling bag like the one you showed. that bag is huge and doesn't meet carry on requirements. That bag full will be well over 50lbs. I don't want anyone lifting that over my head. Learn to travel lighter if you only want to carry on.

Even if the FAs do let you on board with it....taking up so much room in an overhead is going to leave you with some really ticked off nearby pax. Ask the FA to put it in his/her closet and they will most likely make you gate check it.

I have a 26" and while it doesn't weigh 50 lbs when full...I don't even want to think about having to lift that into an overhead...or anyone else having to either.

My thoughts are why should everyone else have to check their small bags because the overhead over a whole row of seats has been taken up by one enormous bag.

And why should the people underneath run the risk of either being scalped as you put it up or down, as prncess674 describes, or injured if the aircraft gets into serious turbulence, the bin doors open, and the contents falls out. Not a problem with coats, etc, but with this .....

On the practical issue of overhead bin size, they do not have a standard size, and vary by aircraft type, and even by year of production and/or customer option as this is one thing the manufacturers tend to restyle from time to time. Something that has cut down bin size from the back recently has been the installation of additional cable trunking for IFE systems, and also putting extra insulation in to shield the aircraft wiring systems from mobile phones inadvertently left on in coats. The wiring to the aircraft radio aerials is right behind the overheads.

A note of trivia about "Pullman" bags is the name derives from precisely this issue generations ago in US trains. If you look at old Hollywood movies of Pullman cars, the seats converted into beds for overnight travel, with those big heavy curtains pulled across. Your luggage space for your overnight clothes was under your seat, and a "Pullman" case was precisely sized to fit under there and maximise the space usage. And yes, big baggage went in the baggage car.

I have the 'classic' Tumi in 20", 24", 26", and 29". Not the 22".
The 22" is actually larger than the maximum carryon limit on international airlines, but sometimes on SQ & CX they allow them.
I don't want to risk having to re-pack or check my carryon.
In this case, you are talking about the 26" T3, which is very large. Fill it up with magazines, clothings, etc. etc. and it will easily exceed 40-45lbs.
By the way, the T3 doesn't look that great in reality - saw some in Neiman Marcus earlier this month.

StarG

Well, I checked out some sizes in person: the 26" is much bigger than I thought.

I think the 24" is ideal, although technically illegal.

Will CX allow international First Class Pax to wheel this (24 http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif on board?

I would think: no.
I remember reading a letter in Business Traveller magazine, a reader complained about not being allowed to bring his large suitcase onboard CX First Class. He actually snapped at the check-in staff for insisting to check his bag.
22" is already at the very borderline between "OK" and "NOT", so I think 24" will get you into trouble most of the time-it is just not worth it.

StarG

Duplicate post...

[This message has been edited by StarG (edited Feb 21, 2004).]

I'm w/ prncss674 on this one. I nearly had a huge carry-on hit me in the face on the way to the London Do a week ago. Some (tiny) person brings on big carry-on that's packed full; she tries to lift into the overhead bin, staggers backward & falls forward. It falls to the spot where my head was & I jerk to the left to avoid getting hit. I was livid. I would have been hurt if I hadn't moved quickly. The FA didn't see it cuz she was in the galley, and some guy then got up to help the woman put it in.

If I had my way, no one would be bringing carry-ons (other than laptops, briefcases & small bags for essentials) on a plane, but that's a different thread/topic.

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Sharon

Frnakly, you don't need to put the case in an overhead on a 747, at least; there are plenty of other storage areas in closets.

It's funny, because I just messured my wheeled garment bag, whcih is about 24x22x11, and I have ONLY ONCE had been refused as a carry on. Thatw as checking in on BA in Milan to LHR in Club Europe.

I can't image not being able to bring it on a 747?

For the record, I was able to fly with it on BA:

BOS-LHR;
LHR-MXP (but I was connecting and didn't have to go to LHR check-in); and
LHR-BOS.

About the only thing I can say about this bag, which is Tumi's small wheeled garment bag (they call it a 3 suiter), is that one can unzip it and open it up, or even technically hang it.

Sounds like you're making 2 assumptions here:
1) You're only going to be using it on a 747 (What are you going to do if you get to the airport and there's been an equipment change...not easy to change down from a 747 but I'm sure it's been done before....and the one rule of air travel is NEVER say "never"!)
2) That you'll never get on board and have the FA tell you "Sorry but the closet is full"...seen it happen.

I just think you're making some pretty big assumptions that a FA would not have a problem with letting you bring a 26" bag on board. I've seen them refuse bags that size. You're also assuming that security will let you through with a bag that size...and yes I've seen them turn pax away at ORD with "too big" bags.

I suppose you can try it if you want...but you've been forewarned about the possibility of FAs making you gate-check the bag, and also the reactions of your fellow pax (probably a harsher reaction than the FAs....and do you really want to sit surrounded by ticked-off pax for a transcon or trans-ATL or trans-PAC flight?) JMHO...

Another obstacle that no one has mentioned - we were refused passage through a security/ID screening line at SFO because my bag didn't fit the template they were using. Note, this was the AIRPORT staff, not any airline staff - I have flown with this carry-on for years, and always gate check it for United Express, but never had a problem putting it in the overhead on any domestic and some international flights.
I just bought a new bag, and took a measuring tape with me, to insure it really was only 22" long. I am tired of the hassle of dragging the bigger bag around.
Kate

I'm off the 26" an on the 24".

As for security...my understadning was that they had the bag sizers removed from the x-ray machines nationally a while ago.