It seems that quite a few of you have flown to Canada on Zoom - what is their attitude to luggage allowances ? I know some airlines seem to be imposing a restrictionon 1 item of luggage in the hold per person - is this something Zoom are imposing ? Also,are there any issues in taking taking childrens car seats over with them ?

Car seats and strollers are freebies (or have been everytime I've flown). One item of hand luggage was a UK airport (Heathrow) rule in October last time I was in the UK in October last year.

I'm going to the UK with Canadian Affair on Thursday with car seats and strollers so I can comment on them next week.

Thanks Ziggy, I thought that may be the case, but just wanted to check. Out of interest did you put your car seat in a bag when you took it ?

Hi

We have just flown with Zoom to Calgary. We took two booster seats and I just used parcel tape to fasten them together. At Manchester they accepted them like that and we took them to the "Fragile items" check-in. At Calgary on the way back I taped them together again and the check in woman put them in a big bag and tied a knot in the top.

With regard to the luggage allowance. We were quite a bit over on the way out, as we took quite a lot of stuff to leave with our friends until we move over. The check-in man told us we were over but wouldn't tell us by how much. He glanced shiftily to either side to the check-in people on each side of him before saying "umm just a bit" so I suspect it was more than just a bit - obviously my OH balancing on the bathroom scales holding the cases up in the air while I tried to guess how much they weighed is not the most reliable way of judging weights!! He did not charge us anything but the flight was only about a third full, so maybe that was why.

On the way back several people in front of us were over on the baggage allowance and they were being charged per kilo. Again that flight was not full by a long way, so I think it must just depend on the check-in staff as to whether you get charged.

The cabin crew were great with our two boys. They gave us extra drinks for them and saved meals for them when they were asleep, so we were very happy with the service.

Have a good trip!

Lisa

Thanks Lisa - you're experience with Zoom sounds pretty good - fingers crossed, I never know what these budget airlines are like !

The car seat went to oversize baggage drop as is with no bag. It did arrive one time in a bag at the other end I think.

When I came back last year people with multiple carry on bags were putting then all in one plastic bag for customs btw.

Two recent flights to Canada - via Heathrow (with BA and AC) - were frustrating ! Both airline websites specifically set out how much luggage, and HAND luggage you were allowed and their weights and measurements - both websites stated TWO items was allowed.

Each time, I was told that you were only allowed to take ONE item on as hand luggage - so my handbag and my laptop bag were not allowed ! I had to shove them both awkwardly into a holdall - which luckily I had a spare one in my suitcase (just in case of emergency shopping you understand) - otherwise I'd have had to go up to a sports shop and buy something.
I did protest about what their websites had said and their excuse was that it was not an airline decision, it was a 'government' policy (now, I don't know if that means all airlines out of all airports) .... pants really .... how hard would it be to amend a paragraph on their website ?

So - waffling somewhat - try and speak to a human being if possible prior to check-in, just to check - things like booster seats or strollers are not normally a problem - a large rucksack plus a laptop bag and/or handbag might be !!!

I cheated on the way home and bought a small wheelie suitcase - the carry on size - which every other bugger seems to have these day - and then conveniently put it all in one carry-on article. And of course, on the Canada side, they did not care anyway