By: Sahil Luthra
Bookonboard.com
More often than not you will be traveling with some bags on an airplane.
The thing is, most airplanes have only a limited capacity of space inside their luggage hold, and they have to burn more fuel to lift each pound of extra weight.
For this reason, it is extremely important that you know how to measure the size and weight of luggage you have packed, and see if they are under your airline size and weight restrictions.
Generally, luggage sizes are published in per-side multiplications, like length x width x height. But airlines do realize that your luggage may be of odd shape.
For this reason, airlines now prefer to publish size restrictions in total linear dimensions instead of each-side dimensions.
This is the total number of inches or centimeters you count when measuring the bag from three directions. It is generally written as the sum of length + width + height.
An airline may tell you they allow checked bags up to 22” x 14” x 9” – which indicates the length, width and the height of the luggage.
They may say that the maximum checked bag size in their flights is 45 linear inches – meaning the addition of the ad-hoc length, width, and height of the luggage (22 + 14 + 9).
There is a saying going like this, “right tool for right job.” That’s true in case of measuring luggage as well.
Straight ruler are good for measuring small or straight surfaces directly.
Tape measure can be very long, and be either self-retracting or manual.
Luggage Scale for weighing your bags. A standard body weight scale may work as well.