These days, the carry-on cabin bag is a necessity when flying. After all, lithium batteries and even portable battery chargers are no longer allowed in the checked in baggage.
But most of us do not actually know what the cabin bag weight allowances and dimensions allowed on board.
Airlines do not have a consistent carry on cabin baggage policy which makes it more confusing for travellers. Thai Airways allows travellers to carry on piece of cabin baggage up to a maximum of 10kg while Cathay Pacific allows passengers to take up to 7kg onboard. KLM has a more generous offering of 12kg while Singapore Airlines lets travellers bring on board a cabin baggage of up to 7kg and one accessory on all its flights. So it is best to check with the airline you are flying on. Also check whether there are any differences for connecting domestic flights if your journey includes one. Airlines usually have a different checked-in baggage allowance for domestic flights as well.
Some airlines are stricter in enforcing this over others. You may end up having to pay additional charges. Luckily for us, not many airlines that I have flown with have enforced the weight restriction. But if you are travelling on smaller aircraft flown usually for shorter flights such as the ATRs, airlines may weigh your luggage and on one occasion in the Philippines, even I was weighed.
With the popularity of budget travel, many travellers do not want to spend the extra buck on checked-in luggage. Instead, most would carry up a cabin bag which explains why the limited cabin space is so sought after. For shorter flights such as between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, many travellers save the hassle of waiting for checked in baggage on arrival.
With this increasing trend, airlines have reacted accordingly offering reduced cost options for travellers without checked in bags.
KAYAK.sg has put together a very useful infographic about the carry-on bag restrictions on short and long haul flights flying from Singapore. The infographic also shows the potential extra costs if the weight or size allowance is exceeded.
Four Light Cabin Baggage You Should Get
We picked out some of the lighter cabin bags that you can get for your travels.
Samsonite’s Lipault Original Plume 55 Spinner
The Original Plume is made of ultra-lightweight nylon or vinyl fabric. It is priced at S$359 and is defined for its bright fashionable colours such as anthracite grey, bright orange, duck blue, purple, navy, black, chocolate, ruby and two seasonal colours including Emerald Green and Imperial Blue.
TUMI Vapor® Lite Collection
TUMI’s Vapor® Lite collection is the lightest of TUMI’s hard case range. Made of a unique polycarbonate alloy, it comes in two sizes. The 20″ retails at S$840 while the 21″ retails at S$870. It also comes with the X-Brace 45 handle system which protects the three stage telescopic handle, four recessed dual-spinning wheels and TUMI’s signature monogram patch.
RIMOWA SALSA AIR Ultralight Cabin Multiwheel
RIMOWA’s Salsa Air combines minimum weight with maximum durability weighing 1.9kg for the cabin size making it one of the lightest in the industry. The SALSA Air Ultralight Cabin Multiwheel measures 55 x 40 x 20 cm and is available in purple, light green, light blue, dark blue and white at S$850.
SALSA AIR is perfect for shopaholics! There is a mini size SALSA AIR for the little ones.
G-RO Revolution Kickstarter Luggage
We saw this G-RO Revolution luggage on Kickstarter with a patented low mass “all terrain” wheels that looks amazingly easy to manoeuvre. It may not be light compared to the other three baggage above but it feels lighter because the centre of gravity of the load is closer to the centre of the wheels. It rolls easier because the big wheel perform better over all terrains, and glide effortlessly on smooth surfaces. There is more interior space than other bags of similar weight and volume, hence packs smarter.
The bag is made with the strongest and smartest materials including ballistic nylon, aerospace and firearm-grade polymers, top quality YKK nylon zippers with a unique and patented “roller coaster” design that distributes any stress and a waterproof base and arched belly to stay dry and avoid scrapes.
It features a built in tablet stand, flat back interior, easy access pocket fore essentials, arched belly design, an optional electronic module with 23,000 mAh battery, location tracker and proximity detector, charging station with 2 USB ports, exterior work pocket for 15″ laptop or tablet and easy access pocket for carry-on liquids. The handle is made of aircraft-grade aluminium and is stronger and longer, extending six inches further than the industry standard.
At time of publishing this article, G-RO is available from Kickstarter for US$279. The G-RO is not really a lightweight carry-on luggage, weighing at 3.6kg. But with all its unique designs and features, it is worth considering.
