Difficult to fly without luggage,if only for a weekend! However, some rules are important to know, to travel serenely and not have unpleasant surprises at the time of boarding.
Checked baggage
You can place any object you want in a checked bag,apartfrom "explosives, chemical liquids, diving bottles and mercury thermometers",which could explode or toxically contaminate areas during flight or handling.
In terms of weights and dimensions,each company has its own criteria and restrictions,which you will find mentioned on your e-ticket or on the website of your airline. In general, from one to two pieces of luggage are allowed per person, in economy class,depending on the length of stay.Each of these pieces of luggage must not exceed 1.5 meters by summing all its dimensions (height + width + depth > 1.5 meters) and weigh at most 23 kg on regular company and 15 kg on charter and low costcompanies. In business class and first,passengers can carry up to 30 kg per bag. Excess weight is payable in addition,often very expensive: it is necessary to count at least 10 euros per excess kilo,to be paid at the counter of the company at the time of check-in.
When presenting checked baggage, avoid padlocks and locks: in theory, any luggage should be easily opened for control.
Place two labels with your names and addresses,one outside and the other outside,so that we can quickly identify you in case of loss of your luggage and possible removal of the outer label.
Good to know: the cargo compartments of the planes are pressurized and heated like the cabins of the passengers.
Carry-on baggage
In the cabin, it is traditionally allowed a hand luggage and an accessory, i.e. a purse, a laptop or a coat. The dimensions to be respected are harmonized at European level: the luggage must not exceed 55 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm,and must not exceed 5 kg on a charter or low cost airline and 12 kg on a regular airline.
In your cabin effects, it is forbidden to carry with you sharp instruments (scissors, knives, metal files) or prickles (long needles). Liquids, gels, pastes and aerosols are allowed in the cabin under certain very strict conditions: the packaging of each product must not exceed 100 ml and the total capacity of the vials must not exceed 500 ml. All these articles must be placed in a closed transparent plastic bag, of 20 cm x 20 cm maximum. Only one bag is allowed per person. For this purpose, you can use a freezer bag.
Be careful, the pressure is less in an aircraft cabin. So beware of accessories that could leak,such as cartridge pens or creams with a low-watertight tube.
Note that duty-free purchases are not affected by these measures, provided that they are not opened before arrival at their destination.
On the Air France website, you will find the following recommendations:
"For your safety, some items are strictly prohibited on board. If necessary, they will be confiscated during the control of your luggage:
- Bladed weapons and any sharp, blunt, metallic or non-metallic object that can be used as a weapon (examples: nail scissors, razor blade…).
- Firearms.
- Cartridges and ammunition for hunting or sports weapons.
- Printer cartridges.
- Perfumes beyond 100 ml per bottle.
- Aerosols for cosmetic use beyond 100 ml per vial.
- Lighter fuels.
- Batteries with electrolyte.
- Lithium batteries with a power of more than 160 Wh.
- Fireworks, firecrackers, Bengal fires, distress flares, dummy pistols, fire starters, tear gas.
- Camping stoves, gas cylinders, oxygen diving bottles.
- Paint, varnish, lacque.
- Toxic, infectious and radioactive materials.
- Chemicals, fertilizers, weed killers, pesticides, insecticides.
- Strippers, bleach, chlorine, laundry.
- Flammable liquids such as fuel, diluent, solvent, acetone.
- Mercury thermometers and barometers."
Lost suitcases…
This happens on all companies, even regularones, with more or less different frequencies (1 chance out of three when arriving in Cuba, for example!). In 2006, the record loss was attributed to… British Airways! So keep the check-in coupon of your suitcase and that of the boarding pass carefully. These two elements are indeed essential to file a declaration of loss,to be completed at the airport, with the baggage service of the airport of arrival.
The company has 21 days to find the luggage. Beyond that, it must compensate the passenger with a lump sum of €1200,according to the Montreal Convention, adopted in 1999 by all the airlines of the European Union. Outside the Union, it is the Warsaw Convention that applies,which provides for compensation of 20 € per kilo of luggage carried.
Also check the insurance terms of your credit card,which can also grant you compensation.