Curious.. do most people find 1 checkin bag to Japan enough?

[Sausage]

I never do because I go shopping for models, so they're quite bulky

do most people find 1 bag enough? What do you usually buy?

Used to take ANA but switched to JAL after they changed to only 1 check-in bag

 

[evilerniex]

I never do because I go shopping for models, so they're quite bulky

do most people find 1 bag enough? What do you usually buy?

Used to take ANA but switched to JAL after they changed to only 1 check-in bag

i know some ppl remove the models from the box and then flatten or throw away the box. or just buy lesser stuff lah

 

[Sausage]

yah i used to do that but i also collect the transparent bubble part inside that cannot be flattened
anyway 1 23kg bag is really small coz i also buy artbooks and 1 book is already 1 kg

what do you buy

 

[evilerniex]

yah i used to do that but i also collect the transparent bubble part inside that cannot be flattened
anyway 1 23kg bag is really small coz i also buy artbooks and 1 book is already 1 kg

what do you buy

how about shipping some of the stuff back using the post office?

 

[dreamcloud]

lol no i find that 1 luggage not enuff! i went there with 2 came back with 4 big bags so i actually choose airlines with 2 check in rather then 1

 

[kifo]

I always fly SIA. Just like TS, I also buy models and artbooks. I hand carry my luggage when going to Japan, but I stuff another 35 litre backpack inside my handcarry. On my return trip, I check in my handcarry luggage and then carry my backpack. I will also have another large shopping bag where I place all the fragile models.

But I suspect TS is a bigger shopper than me so this strategy doesn't work for him.

 

[Sausage]

actually i always go there with 1 backpack carried, + 1 suitcase with camera equipment and 1 empty suitcase for shopping
then when i return everything is bursting full already

 

[kifo]

Still have 1 suitcase of camera equipment? Are you being paid for the job? Maybe you should ask for extra luggage allowance?

 

[Sausage]

i do my own potoshoots

 

[kifo]

Wow your dedication is admirable. I cannot imagine carrying my entire Canon system on a holiday. If I were to do serious photography on my holidays to Japan, I would do as anyhowsaysay. Convert my system to Sony A7R and bring 3 prime lens with a small light tripod. Perhaps I can get away with half a haversack for all these equipment.

 

[Deathskull88]

In 2012, I bought one of those cheap extendable China-made luggage, that has a wooden base with 4 rollers. About 3000+yen Can really hold a lot of stuff but very hard to handle and damn noisy on the pavement. Had to throw away some of the model boxes, but I try to keep those of the more expensive models. Took SQ.

In 2013, I bought a 40L adidas sports bag, stuffed it full with boxes and risked it by checking it in. Turned out 2 boxes got dented a bit.
Bought a lot of artbooks too, stuffed them into my carry on bag and brought them on board. Definitely weighed more than 7kg which was the limit, lol. Took MAS.

In conclusion, I did 2 check-in luggages for both trips, one for my own stuff, one for my models. So no, 1 check in is not enough, haha.

 

[Sausage]

last time i used SAF duffel bag and by the time i got back all the model boxes were crushed and torn! crush i can understand but I don't understand how the cardboard and plastic blister pack can get torn when inside the duffel bag unless they put a fridge on top of it

 

[Sausage]

usually my backpack carry on is about 12-14 kg but they don't check so is alright

 

[anyhowsaysay]

I don't buy much stuff~

Mostly tea and cookie etc so normally when flying back from Japan (2-3 weeks each trip), my luggage only 20kg~

 

[evilerniex]

last time i used SAF duffel bag and by the time i got back all the model boxes were crushed and torn! crush i can understand but I don't understand how the cardboard and plastic blister pack can get torn when inside the duffel bag unless they put a fridge on top of it

regardless whether urs is duffel bag or normal luggage, they will still stack luggage on top of luggage. so if suay suay urs is at the bottom, then things sure kanna crash one

 

[asiafrenz]

so far for my japan trips, it has always been check-in one 24" hardcase with 1 empty 50L backpack inside hardcase on the outward journey to japan, and check-in both hardcase and backpack on the inward journey back to Singapore, provided you are travelling on the regular airlines with no restriction on the number of pieces of luggage but based on weight.

 

[Deathskull88]

Most important is the figurines themselves, those made with fragile material like cold cast definitely have to be in the carry on. Of course, if u want the whole thing, including the box to be in mint condition, then I think hardcase suitcase is the best solution. But how many can u fit inside? Hehe. Some of the boxes can be damn big.

 

[coldkey]

1 osprey farpoint 40 backpack for me and 2 foldable backs L size from Tokyu Hands.

The backpack is small enough to carry on and can be converted to check in mode with straps hidden.

On return, I move all the clothing items into one of the foldable bags and put the more sturdy stuff into the backpack, then hand carry more fragile stuff with the other foldable bags.

 

[zetsueix]

What I do is I purchase the biggest box from the hotel reception (Ta-Q-Bin services are readily available at most hotels) I buy quite a bit of figurines and yes, Gundam model kits for my bro and frens and it is a challenge to keep everything well intact with their boxes and everything. I had followed the example of a fren who had very expertly bought masking tape and bubble/foam wrap from Daiso, wrap everything cushioned with bubble wrap. They really made a difference to the boxes and I stick by bubble/foam wrap now. I will check-in a whole box filled up and secured with MORE masking tape, I try to secure items and boxes packed closely kept in place as much as possible.

So far, all the airlines I took to Japan all allow me to check in 2 luggages and in fact, Cathay only allow 20kg but they let me pass at 28kg once!

 

[Sausage]

y u so lucky
they always don allow me to exceed the 23kg
is it my face