Can a full plastic bag be checked in as luggage on an airplane?
In a trip I bought some items that cannot fit into my suitcase. My ticket allows for 1 more luggage.
Can I just buy a plastic garbage bag, fill it with clothes and check it in as luggage?
It is easier, faster and cheaper than buying a new suitcase.
I want to understand if there is any legal, safety or other restriction that prohibits using simple bags as luggage. Edit: More specifically I am thinking of checking-in multiple plastic bags, one inside the other, that are a very durable, yet not solid, "package" of clothes. Nothing fragile. The durability and "resistance to mechanical stress" of this package would be comparable with most bags. However I do understand that it would look like a "cheap" thing. (Because it is.) My intention is to avoid buying a suitcase to carry my laundry back home.
The plastic bags I have are the ones used to throw rubbish. It might sound silly bit they are durable and cost effective.
Best Answer
It will depend on exactly what you mean by a 'plastic bag', the airline involved, and potentially the specific check-in agent, but the general answer is NO, they will NOT accept it.
Airlines will generally not accept "luggage" that they do not consider to be suitable to survive the trip without damage - and a plastic bag would normally fit within that criteria. At a minimum they would make you sign a waiver releasing them of liability if the bag or it's contents were lost or damaged, but in general they would more likely simply say no.
As an alternative, airlines will generally accept boxes (presuming they are made from suitably strong cardboard and are properly sealed), or nylon canvas bags (sometimes known as "Red-White-Blue" bags) such as these which can often be purchased very cheaply.
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What Cannot be packed in checked luggage?
9 Things You Should Never Pack in a Checked Bag- Lithium Batteries. Lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries are only allowed in carry-on baggage. ...
- Electronics. ...
- Medication. ...
- Matches and Electronic Lighters. ...
- Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Devices. ...
- Jewelry. ...
- Alcoholic Beverages Over 140 Proof. ...
- Film.
Is a plastic bag a personal item?
Yes (unless the airline specifically forbids it). Plastic bags are pretty normal on flights: for example a lot of duty free stuff gets carried that way. Weighing practices vary from airline to airline.Can you take a plastic bag as a carry-on?
3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3.4 ounce (100ml) container size is a security measure.Can you take full size bottles in checked luggage?
These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. Placing these items in the small bag and separating from your carry-on baggage facilitates the screening process. Pack items that are in containers larger than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters in checked baggage.Don't Put Coffee In Your Luggage and 23 Other Tips
More answers regarding can a full plastic bag be checked in as luggage on an airplane?
Answer 2
Most airlines will not accept it, because of the high chances of it getting damaged - at your destiantion, you would probably find an empty ripped bag (if anything), and your stuff will be gone.
As you can file a claim for the lost content with the airline, and they would have to pay for it, they deny instable packaging right from the beginning.
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