air india carryon regs

salima · Sep 16th, 2003, 09:02

hi there-
i was told two carryon bags were ok, but when i read what is on the website that is only for first class and business-all others are allowed only one. does that mean i can carry my laptop and nothing else? or do they think a lady's purse is not a piece of luggage but an article of clothing so i am allowed to carry a laptop and a purse but no luggage on board?

my flight is on continental into chicago, then on air india straight through to bombay (refueling in london i think).

if only one bag is allowed, i can put the notebook in my checked baggage and hope for the best. either that or carry the notebook with a toothbrush and some undies, still hoping for the best.

two weeks left and after two years of planning, i am beginning to sweat the small stuff i guess...i wish i was gone already!
salima

-m2- · Sep 16th, 2003, 09:17

I don't think a reasonable sized purse counts, but you could always pick up a little daypack that could hold them both.

salima · Sep 16th, 2003, 09:41

hello m2! are you in goa? i didnt expect to hear from you...

what kind of bag to carry both-you mean put the laptop in another bag that i can carryon the plane and stuff a purse and the essentials in with it somehow?

do you think only one carryon is allowed on air india then?

i think i am having a breakdown ... i decided to buy a travel towel at the last minute because i have no idea how many or what kind of towels they will give me in a hotel and what is the good of having quick drying socks and underwear if you roll them in your towel and then you cant dry yourselfd off when you come out of the shower?

i plan to spend next week packing and probably leave behind half of what i thought i would take-and none of this really matters a whit. none of it...

-m2- · Sep 16th, 2003, 10:24

hi salima, no I'm still here in BC until november. I don't know for sure, but I think this is partly a reaction to a lot of Indian passengers who bring amazing amounts of stuff as carry-on. I believe what they mean is one legit carry-on bag is permitted and that they wouldn't worry about a duty-free bag or purse extra, at least that seems more reasonable to me.

whether or not towels will be provided in an Indian hotel is roughly related to the cost of room. bringing a (thin) towel with you a good idea. as for clothes, what you don't bring you can easily find when you get to India. I can imagine winding up your affairs at home must be a complicated business, hope all's going well. And, right, once you're on the plane you've put it all behind you.

rickshawwallah · Sep 16th, 2003, 10:27

Gleaned from the back of an Indian Airlines (domestic branch of Air India) ticket:

Articles which may be carried free in addition to the free baggage allowance (subject to security regulations)

an overcoat wrap or blanket
an umbrella or walking stick
a lady's handbag, lady's pocketbook or lady's purse
a reasonable amount of reading matter for the flight
a small camera and/or a pair of binoculars
infant's food for consumption in flight, infant's carrying basket.
a fully collapsible disabled's wheelchair and/or pair of crutches and/or braces or other prosthetic device for the passenger's use provided that the assenger is dependent upon them.

For the straight scoop, though, why not call Air India? 212 751-6200

Also, if you're paring down your luggage, put that travel towel at the top of your "leave behind" list. Few things are easier to come by in India than hand towels.

salima · Sep 16th, 2003, 10:46

thanks....
no wonder i am going crazy, i also read on the website that umbrellas are not allowed (weapons you know)....but i think to be on the safe side it will have to be a purse with luggage things inside (cosmetic and toiletries i mean...essentials) and laptop. then i can still check two bags. i dont want any surprises at the last minute and have to wonder which things to do without if i have to pick what i cant take onboard with me.

calling is a good idea-i thought of that, but my lifelong experience with that is that i get told the wrong thing more often than not. i like to see things in writing...makes me feel more confident.

actually i was planning on buying almost all new clothes-most of what i pack will be things like mother's day card my son made in school...music...very few clothes. i will look like i am running away to join the circus probably.

so amazing when you try to unclutter your life-not just for a trip, but permanently i mean. and you try to pick what to keep and what not to-originally i was going to take two sets of dumb bells. then one...now i dont know...there are many things i think would make more sense to buy when i get there-but do indians use dumb bells? somehow i think they would be too sensible to spend money on a piece of metal just to do exercises with.

wonderwomanusa · Sep 16th, 2003, 12:46

Salima, relax!

Instead of taking a towel, when you get to India, buy a couple of sarongs. They are lightweight and you will find that you either wear them (nice to sleep in), put them over the hotel sheets to sleep ON, use them as towels, etc. They are much handier than a towel, and weigh a lot less.

Remember that you are going to be carrying your bag around -- you won't need your weights. If you have to take any, get the plastic ones that you fill up with water (1 liter = 1 kilo). That way you're not carrying 5 extra pounds with you wherever you go.

Sometimes you are limited to one bag, so try to stuff your purse into whatever bag you're carrying the laptop in (no, don't check it) and whatever else you need in carryon luggage.

rickshawwallah · Sep 16th, 2003, 13:22

I changed my mind... put the dumbells at the top of your "leave behind" list!

salima · Sep 16th, 2003, 20:31

thanks rickshawwallah! the only dumb bell i should take is me...
i have a feeling someone will inherit a printer and a scanner before i leave too. who knows, maybe even some suitcases...

and wonderwoman, i love the idea of the plastic ones....not only that, but looking for them gives me something to do until i leave so i try to keep my mind from going off on a tangent!

p.s...are sarongs really one size fits all? even big mama?

wonderwomanusa · Sep 17th, 2003, 00:56

Not the ones the ricksha wallahs wear, but the "nice" sarongs bought in various state emporia measure about 71 to 75 inches long. You do, of course, need a bit to overlap .. these can be tied or wrapped: you'll figure out how to make them secure enough for your comfort level.

If that is not quite long enough, buy a cheap saree and cut off however much you need to be decent!

salima · Sep 17th, 2003, 05:45

say, i found those plastic dumbbells are a bit pricey! i think i will use some appropriately shaped water bottles instead. after all, i only use three pound ones ... hey, i'm an old lady!

Amit · Sep 17th, 2003, 14:33

but, honestly salima, why Air India? Atleast to fly out from here, it is a pricey airline...

salima · Sep 17th, 2003, 19:04

amit,
no one told me that...i had looked for tickets on the web and it was the cheapest straight through fare i could find at the time, about four or five months ago. i realized later i could have gotten a cheaper flight if i had gone to an agent but it was too late. one of the difficulties is that i will have a hard time on the flight, i dont fly well. i even looked into taking a boat, but since i would have to fly to the coast to get one it wouldnt help much.

it may have been a better idea to try and get one of those really long flights that stay overnight as part of the ticket somewhere, but i wanted to get it over with as soon as possible-i am not an experienced traveller. this is more of a life move for me...or at least i am looking at it that way. let's call it a very long trip!

having to come back to the states, i would look into different options and have some experience to go on. any suggestions?
salima

Amit · Sep 17th, 2003, 19:12

definitely, try the northwest-klm combination to fly back to the US, and if u are in mumbai then try asking Akbar travels for a quote, they are apparently the cheapest I have ever come across, and I have used them.

-m2- · Sep 18th, 2003, 05:18

I thought you were from California and wondered why you were flying Air India as well. Much better to fly via Pacific from the west coast; a rt from LA or SF with Singapore Air would have set you back around $1k and you would have had a choice of 6 cities to fly in or out of, and a free overnight in Singapore to break up the trip. If you only bought one way and will be looking for a flight home, try the agent Amit suggests but check the fares for one of the asian airlines that fly via the Pacific from Mumbai like Cathay Pacific, Singapore, or Korean -- all of which are first rate.

Sep 16th, 2003, 09:02	#1
salima Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: america today-new delhi in a week Posts: 189	air india carryon regs hi there- i was told two carryon bags were ok, but when i read what is on the website that is only for first class and business-all others are allowed only one. does that mean i can carry my laptop and nothing else? or do they think a lady's purse is not a piece of luggage but an article of clothing so i am allowed to carry a laptop and a purse but no luggage on board? my flight is on continental into chicago, then on air india straight through to bombay (refueling in london i think). if only one bag is allowed, i can put the notebook in my checked baggage and hope for the best. either that or carry the notebook with a toothbrush and some undies, still hoping for the best. two weeks left and after two years of planning, i am beginning to sweat the small stuff i guess...i wish i was gone already! salima

Sep 16th, 2003, 12:46	#7
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dhaka Posts: 3,568	Salima, relax! Instead of taking a towel, when you get to India, buy a couple of sarongs. They are lightweight and you will find that you either wear them (nice to sleep in), put them over the hotel sheets to sleep ON, use them as towels, etc. They are much handier than a towel, and weigh a lot less. Remember that you are going to be carrying your bag around -- you won't need your weights. If you have to take any, get the plastic ones that you fill up with water (1 liter = 1 kilo). That way you're not carrying 5 extra pounds with you wherever you go. Sometimes you are limited to one bag, so try to stuff your purse into whatever bag you're carrying the laptop in (no, don't check it) and whatever else you need in carryon luggage. __________________ The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

Sep 16th, 2003, 20:31	#9
salima Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: america today-new delhi in a week Posts: 189	dumb bells thanks rickshawwallah! the only dumb bell i should take is me... i have a feeling someone will inherit a printer and a scanner before i leave too. who knows, maybe even some suitcases... and wonderwoman, i love the idea of the plastic ones....not only that, but looking for them gives me something to do until i leave so i try to keep my mind from going off on a tangent! p.s...are sarongs really one size fits all? even big mama?

Sep 17th, 2003, 05:45	#11
salima Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: america today-new delhi in a week Posts: 189	dumbbells say, i found those plastic dumbbells are a bit pricey! i think i will use some appropriately shaped water bottles instead. after all, i only use three pound ones ... hey, i'm an old lady!

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Sep 16th, 2003, 09:17	#2
-m2- . Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,577	I don't think a reasonable sized purse counts, but you could always pick up a little daypack that could hold them both.

Sep 16th, 2003, 09:41	#3
salima Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: america today-new delhi in a week Posts: 189	hello m2! are you in goa? i didnt expect to hear from you... what kind of bag to carry both-you mean put the laptop in another bag that i can carryon the plane and stuff a purse and the essentials in with it somehow? do you think only one carryon is allowed on air india then? i think i am having a breakdown ... i decided to buy a travel towel at the last minute because i have no idea how many or what kind of towels they will give me in a hotel and what is the good of having quick drying socks and underwear if you roll them in your towel and then you cant dry yourselfd off when you come out of the shower? i plan to spend next week packing and probably leave behind half of what i thought i would take-and none of this really matters a whit. none of it...

Sep 16th, 2003, 10:24	#4
-m2- . Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,577	hi salima, no I'm still here in BC until november. I don't know for sure, but I think this is partly a reaction to a lot of Indian passengers who bring amazing amounts of stuff as carry-on. I believe what they mean is one legit carry-on bag is permitted and that they wouldn't worry about a duty-free bag or purse extra, at least that seems more reasonable to me. whether or not towels will be provided in an Indian hotel is roughly related to the cost of room. bringing a (thin) towel with you a good idea. as for clothes, what you don't bring you can easily find when you get to India. I can imagine winding up your affairs at home must be a complicated business, hope all's going well. And, right, once you're on the plane you've put it all behind you.

Sep 16th, 2003, 10:27	#5
rickshawwallah I know cheap and best! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York City, USA Posts: 204	Gleaned from the back of an Indian Airlines (domestic branch of Air India) ticket: Articles which may be carried free in addition to the free baggage allowance (subject to security regulations) an overcoat wrap or blanket an umbrella or walking stick a lady's handbag, lady's pocketbook or lady's purse a reasonable amount of reading matter for the flight a small camera and/or a pair of binoculars infant's food for consumption in flight, infant's carrying basket. a fully collapsible disabled's wheelchair and/or pair of crutches and/or braces or other prosthetic device for the passenger's use provided that the assenger is dependent upon them. For the straight scoop, though, why not call Air India? 212 751-6200 Also, if you're paring down your luggage, put that travel towel at the top of your "leave behind" list. Few things are easier to come by in India than hand towels.

Sep 16th, 2003, 10:46	#6
salima Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: america today-new delhi in a week Posts: 189	thanks.... no wonder i am going crazy, i also read on the website that umbrellas are not allowed (weapons you know)....but i think to be on the safe side it will have to be a purse with luggage things inside (cosmetic and toiletries i mean...essentials) and laptop. then i can still check two bags. i dont want any surprises at the last minute and have to wonder which things to do without if i have to pick what i cant take onboard with me. calling is a good idea-i thought of that, but my lifelong experience with that is that i get told the wrong thing more often than not. i like to see things in writing...makes me feel more confident. actually i was planning on buying almost all new clothes-most of what i pack will be things like mother's day card my son made in school...music...very few clothes. i will look like i am running away to join the circus probably. so amazing when you try to unclutter your life-not just for a trip, but permanently i mean. and you try to pick what to keep and what not to-originally i was going to take two sets of dumb bells. then one...now i dont know...there are many things i think would make more sense to buy when i get there-but do indians use dumb bells? somehow i think they would be too sensible to spend money on a piece of metal just to do exercises with.

Sep 16th, 2003, 13:22	#8
rickshawwallah I know cheap and best! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York City, USA Posts: 204	I changed my mind... put the dumbells at the top of your "leave behind" list!

Sep 17th, 2003, 00:56	#10
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dhaka Posts: 3,568	Not the ones the ricksha wallahs wear, but the "nice" sarongs bought in various state emporia measure about 71 to 75 inches long. You do, of course, need a bit to overlap .. these can be tied or wrapped: you'll figure out how to make them secure enough for your comfort level. If that is not quite long enough, buy a cheap saree and cut off however much you need to be decent!

Sep 17th, 2003, 14:33	#12
Amit Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Mumbai Posts: 112	but, honestly salima, why Air India? Atleast to fly out from here, it is a pricey airline...

Sep 17th, 2003, 19:04	#13
salima Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: america today-new delhi in a week Posts: 189	amit, no one told me that...i had looked for tickets on the web and it was the cheapest straight through fare i could find at the time, about four or five months ago. i realized later i could have gotten a cheaper flight if i had gone to an agent but it was too late. one of the difficulties is that i will have a hard time on the flight, i dont fly well. i even looked into taking a boat, but since i would have to fly to the coast to get one it wouldnt help much. it may have been a better idea to try and get one of those really long flights that stay overnight as part of the ticket somewhere, but i wanted to get it over with as soon as possible-i am not an experienced traveller. this is more of a life move for me...or at least i am looking at it that way. let's call it a very long trip! having to come back to the states, i would look into different options and have some experience to go on. any suggestions? salima

Sep 17th, 2003, 19:12	#14
Amit Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Mumbai Posts: 112	definitely, try the northwest-klm combination to fly back to the US, and if u are in mumbai then try asking Akbar travels for a quote, they are apparently the cheapest I have ever come across, and I have used them.

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Sep 18th, 2003, 05:18	#15
-m2- . Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,577	I thought you were from California and wondered why you were flying Air India as well. Much better to fly via Pacific from the west coast; a rt from LA or SF with Singapore Air would have set you back around $1k and you would have had a choice of 6 cities to fly in or out of, and a free overnight in Singapore to break up the trip. If you only bought one way and will be looking for a flight home, try the agent Amit suggests but check the fares for one of the asian airlines that fly via the Pacific from Mumbai like Cathay Pacific, Singapore, or Korean -- all of which are first rate.