Swiss hand baggage size & weight

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
http://www.swiss.com/gb/EN/prepare/baggage/hand-baggage

SWISS Economy: 1 bag

maximum weight 8 kg

Circumference max. 55 x 40 x 23 cm

Usually I fly with Easyjet which has 56 x 45 x 25 and no weight restriction. But I'm going now with Swiss, and I've found out that most of my trolley bags have too much depth. Then I took out an old Samsonite one from my honeymoon which is fine for size, but weighs already 4.9kg empty!

Does someone have any experiences to share regarding Swiss and hand luggage allowance?

TIA

2
We usually carry a backpack that fits the measurements of the airline limits.this way the bag is lightweight and we can carry more of our stuff. Disadvantage no trolley ; one needs to compromise somewhere.

3
The guaranteed baggage allowance for Easyjet is now only 50 x 40 x 20. Above that, up to the old limit, they reserve the right to treat it as hold baggage.

Swiss seem to have a similar policy but don't advertise it very prominently. They wanted to put my hand luggage into the hold on one flight. When I advised that I had fragile valuable items in it and asked for details of their insurance cover, they relented and let me keep it on board

4
Swiss sometimes does check for weight and they wont let you take it as hand luggage unless its less that 8kg. It happened to me once. Had to stuff a lot of things in my handbag to make the limit but it worked. They never check the weight of handbags

5
I took my Easyjet sized trolley bag on a return Swiss flight a few months ago. I was worried that they might spot it, but I had no problems. I guess if the flight has a lot of hand luggage they might pull it... but if not them seem to let them go!

6
My experience is that Swiss only enforces the hand luggage rule when the flight is full. Or, when you are flying an Embraer, as some rows only have a very very tiny overhead locker.

7
We only travel with hand-luggage bags (regulation size with wheels) and no big luggage for the hold.

Have never been asked to weigh them.

8
In my experience with both Swiss and EasyJet, the key is not to stuff it so it looks over-sized. Most airline employees can't spot a 1-2 cm difference that easily. The folks that look like they're hauling a small hippo in the bag are the ones that get pulled aside.

9
Thanks to all who replied. I'm flying on an Airbus so there is no reason for reduced bag size really.

10
Depends if the flight is full.or if it's the max pax with smaller baggage bins.

11
Swiss also allows either Laptop or handbag measurements (max 40 x 30 x 10) with exception of Italy & USA I believe

The hold luggage allowance is up to 23kg and also 23kg for infant under 2 years.

higher allowances for hold luggage in Business class.

Must admit it does drive me crazy to have to measurge bags for different airlines and I do usually carry one of those compact luggage scales with tape measure. Sometimes take hand luggage without wheels, but again hard work with the long walks at many airports

12
Good to know in case I ever fly Swiss...

BA, USAir, AirBerlin have never checked..

I usually come back from the US with my hold luggage maxed out and my carry-on stufffed with all the small but heavy items. Last time, the TSA people were shocked at my 22 kilo backpack, when they had to verify the contents of a 6.5 kilo bag of baking soda, lol

When boarding the plane it's a struggle to act like it's not heavy...

13
The only item of baggage Swiss has ever questioned is the size of my dog's crate, and they are the only airline, from Zurich, in 3 years of frequent traveling who has done so

The vehement Swiss employee assured me that is because they are the only airline that takes responsibility to insure the animals safety and comfort His cage is for a dog at least 10cm taller and 15kg heavier. She only backed down when my furry beast crawled in, spun around, and sat down. I could tell she really disliked having to admit an error of judgement, but couldn't resist the temptation to find fault...

This always baffles me as I am most often flying SAS between Scandinavia and CH, outward check-in no problem, efficient cheerful affair. Returning on SAS from ZH, I rarely get to security not having broken into a sweat and hoping the Sprüngli salesperson handing out samples

14
The employees by check in are not from swiss but swissport... common mistake though

15
If you take large hand luggage onto a flight then it is worth being Senator (or above) - that way you'll be able to get your bag into the overhead bin before everyone else tries to get their big bags into the bins - and no you can't move my stuff halfway down the plane.

I get a perverse pleasure from watching them have their bags put into the hold or miles away from where they sit - meaning they have to wait for the entire plane to unload before they can get their bag.

If you fly into Zurich - there is a good chance that by the time you have got to the luggage belt (having passed by the convieniances) the bags have started to arrive.

In my experience:

- Zurich: luggage retrieval so bloody quick putting in the hold costs <5mins

- LCY: flights arrive in waves meaning passport control now seems to always have a queue. Waiting for a bag is again <5mins

- LHR: Swiss flights now arrive 20miles away from the terminal and require an expedition worthy of Fiennes to get to passport control and then baggage

- US: If you aren't US or Green-carded - you really have nothing to worry about - you'll not be waiting for your bag. Your bag will have plenty of time to wait for you.

16
Check-in 1, are they also Swissport? On the other hand, most of the ground-staff I have encountered at baggage collection and border police quite friendly and helpful if required.

17
Quit flying commercial and take what you can/want

18
Update: they did make me check in my trolley bag (at no charge) because of size. They weren't weighing hand baggage.

19
Yes