One of the most stressful aspects of traveling on a commercial plane is luggage. Each company and each class of ticket has its own rules, not to mention the rules regarding the maximum quantities and the shape of the luggage, and the unpleasant incidents, when your suitcase accidentally ends up in Myanmar, although your ticket is for Mexico, already paints the picture of an absolute nightmare.

Fortunately, private flights are exempt from such inconveniences.

The restrictions are also reduced, coming down to a few very important ones. The main factor that dictates baggage conditions is the limited space inside the aircraft.

You will be spared headaches if you investigate all aspects and, after informing yourself in advance, you can decide on the right aircraft.

Here are some things you should consider:

Will I have access to cabin baggage?

For some partners, it will not be necessary. For others, this may be a reason for inconvenience. The longer the range of the aircraft, the more important the problem becomes. If you have documents in a suitcase or clothes that you have to change, which you urgently need during the flight, it is important to know whether or not the aircraft has access to the baggage compartment in the cabin.

Is the luggage compartment pressurised?

If it isn’t, the last thing you want to do is put an aerosol can or any other type of spray in your luggage. At high altitudes, the air is much colder and thinner, which means that hairspray tube or the asthma inhaler will explode.
It’s the last thing you need while flying!

How much luggage can I take with me?

On small aircraft, large items – such as golf or ski equipment – are definitely not compatible. Even on larger aircraft, you may have problems with irregularly shaped items. If you’re going on a golf trip with eight other friends, a jet/light plane is definitely not recommended. In the situation where the cabin mates are the type who travel “on a large foot”, with a lot of suitcases, bags, trolleys, purses, packages, etc., to reach the maximum allowed margin, you may need to think twice or whether or not you will shop during the trip.

Which type of jet is the most “luggage-friendly”?

Some aircraft allow the passenger seats to be removed, in order to gain additional cargo capacity. Others even have larger access doors for loading bulky or irregularly shaped items, such as the Pilatus, Cessna and Kodiak. They are specially designed to have a higher cargo capacity.

A typical jet has six or seven passenger seats and an average luggage capacity of 55 cubic meters. With all seats occupied, each passenger is allowed one small roller bag and another package for personal items such as a backpack or briefcase. Skis and golf clubs may not be allowed, although Cessna has created a special ski rack for the Citation II.

Beyond these details, all other rules apply for any other flight as follows:

• liquids in hand luggage (aerosols, drinks, toothpaste, cosmetic creams and gels, etc.) must be transported in containers of maximum 100 ml, packed in a transparent plastic bag with a maximum capacity of 1 liter. Containers with a capacity greater than 100 ml must be carried in checked baggage. The volume restriction does not apply to medicines and baby food.
• THERE ARE FORBIDDEN :
  – sharp objects (e.g. corkscrew, cutter, scissors of certain sizes);
  – weapons of any kind;
  – the transport of explosive and flammable substances (e.g. fireworks, paints in pressurised aerosol containers, other flammable and toxic substances such as acids).