Carry-On Baggage on Emirates ?

[Ricardo]

I had thought that Emirates allowed one bag, either a pull-along or a small-rucksack of 7kgs, plus either a handbag or a laptop-bag, as carry-on in Economy.

However I'm now re-reading their website, and seeing just one bag permitted.

Does anyone have any recent experience, of what they allow in practice, as opposed to the theory ? Are they strict, or flexible, when it comes to carry-ons ?

[Upnotover]

I regularly take a rolling cabin bag and a laptop bag, never had any issue with them.

[CNXBKKMAN]

I find EK to be quite strict in economy. You get 30kg for check-in bags and 7kg making 37kg in total. My hand luggage weighed over 7kg. I had to take my camera out and put it around my neck and my netbook had to come out and go in an EK freebie bag for laptops. Check-in wanted my hand luggage weighing 7kg or less. This was at Manchester. Once away from check-in area those items went back into my bag.

[Gsxrnz]

I take a roller camera suitcase that's positively huge plus a heavy backpack that contains a laptop, more camera gear, plus personal items.

I also check in a suitcase that can weigh anything from 15kg to 25kg+.

Never had a problem with Emirates with baggage except that they let prats on the plane with huge amounts of hand luggage that get in my way down the aisle.

In light of the above post re the UK, I should point out that my experience is with Emirates at BKK, SYD, and CHC.

Edited June 19, 2015 by Gsxrnz

[bprinceuk]

been flying Emirates for several years, I only ever have one carry on back pack, but every light I see passengers with two or three bags and they are never questioned

[mikebell]

I too had a problem at MAN tho' I was going KLM to BKK. I never understand why I got charged 89 UKP overweight baggage when the fat guy behind me got away scot-free despite being 50 kgs more than me. Invariably he gets the seat next to me!

[Chivas]

Sooner the better that all Airlines have a one bag no exception rule of 7kg no messing no exceptions. Nobody needs 7kg as hand luggage anyway. Laptop Bumbag/Manbag Book and Meds. No reason to have anything else

[yermanee]

To reply to OP's question I can only say that I always have a separate laptop bag, and I never had any problem with that on the many different airlines I used.

Emirates however is on my blacklist for personal reasons so cannot comment on their luggage policies.

However I guess a lot depends on the airline station manager at any particular airport.

So it's the luck of the draw I guess.

Yermanee

[xen]

Had a problem with EK a few years ago when i had a carry on full of books that i had bought just after the GST was introduced on books in Australia and i started buy my reference books in BKK at considerably less. They weighed my carry on case at check in and made me empty my case of half the books and leave them with relatives who had come to the airport with us. Then when i went to the boarding lounge they weighed my carry on again as obviously they thought i was a shifty bugger who would double back and refill my case with the books i had taken out . I hadn't done that at all as i was returning back to BKK and i knew i would bring them back later. The smug prick who weighed my carry on case was so disappointed that he couldn't confiscate my books it bought a smile to my lips and made it all worth while. Never ever had that problem again either with Emirates.

[Roger Lee]

They allow one carry on and one personal item.

I'm skipping Emirates for a trip or two, the lady charged me for check in luggage being over even though the first part of my itinerary from the USA covered the luggage. No talking to the gal at the counter, didn't understand their policy and wouldn't listen to my pleas. It states plainly in their policy that my luggage should have been covered. Lost my business for awhile....

[nong38]

At Heathrow I took my cabin bag through at 7kg, on its own it weighed 3.5kg so did not leave much and they were being strict. I had been out once before to see how strict and some people were really taking the piss, big bags way over the weight were going through but I did not take the chance and I did get weighed, 7kg. It does seem rather odd that they ask you take things out of a case, put it into another bag and board the plane with 2 bags which are over 7kg, what is the point of it.

[Bellacissa]

I've only ever seen it enforced when the flight was completely full. Then, they'll go around the gate area and make people gate check things that are overweight or oversized. I always go through with my carry-on bag (a backpack) and my laptop bag with no problem.

[Ricardo]

Thanks for all the feedback ! Very helpful !

I'll advise 'her indoors' to go-for-it, but not to use one of her (many) bigger handbags, and to keep the pull-along/day-pack close to 7 kgs, just-in-case !

[WhamBam]

UK to BKK. April 2015

Carry on luggage weighed well over 7 Kilo. They asked if I had my laptop in there. When I affirmed I had, they let it pass through.

Edit, for information.....

Do not pack ANY rechargable batteries in checked luggage. They will ask you to remove them. Classed as a fire risk.

Edited June 21, 2015 by WhamBam

[xen]

Another interesting event , although off topic that i witnessed on a Emirates flight was at BKK at boarding time and the plane was packed . Hot steamy night and the flight was full. We were right down the back of the plane and there was a Aussie guy who had boarded and gone to the toilet and on his return to his seat he went to get something out of his bag. Well his bag and laptop were gone and this Indian gentleman had replaced it with his own bags in the overhead locker. A few more than heated words about where his bag was and words to the effect that it was theft and then the Indian gentleman's travelling companions decided to join in and were chattering and carrying on in what i would have interpreted as a threatening manner (Four against one). Eventually the stewardess calmed everybody down and had the indian gentlemen show the other guy where he had stashed his belongings . It was half way down the plane from his seat and the lap top was even in a different overhead locker to the rest of his stuff. A long boarding process that night and no apologies and quite a tense feeling for most of the journey.