Helpful Information For Missionary Moms
Luggage

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Table of Contents

Note 1:  Ecuador Luggage Help
Note 2:  Luggage
 Note 3:  Luggage Regrets
Note 4:  Suitcases
Note 5:  Suitcases Bags Shoes
Note 1:  Ecuador Luggage Help

I just read the information and questions about the luggage. We also followed the information given in his papers and bought the 2 big suitcases, then a small carry on. He also had his book bag he was going to carry on with him.

Two days before leaving for Ecuador, he found out that when he switched planes in Miami, the new carrier would not allow the bigger carry on! So he just stuffed all his extra stuff into the smaller carry on, then put it inside the bigger suitcase. He did not go over the weight limit. I did buy those "space bags" you can get at Wal-mart and sent them to him in the MTC and he was able to put his extra garments, shirts and other things into those, roll out the air and then they took up less space. I am amazed that he fit it all into those 2 cases! He also said that when he got to Ecuador, they were selling different back packs at the mission home. These worked great for more humid areas, so he bought one of those. He sent a picture and it hangs lower on their backs and doesn't make them sweat as much. He loves it and said he will just save his other one for his younger brother when he leaves on his mission!

Rinda

Elder in Guay. North

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Note 2:  Luggage

We bought Philip a Samsonite hard shell on wheels. It has a combinaton lock to open it. I was thinking of his camera, and other things during his mission; and items he might bring home with him that might be breakable.

Locking suitcases is a great idea. Things have been stolen even at the MTC.

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Note 3:  Luggage Regrets

Our son is in the MTC and just received his travel plans. We thought we understood the information sent in his packet and had been careful when purchasing his luggage to make sure it would fit the dimensional standards for both carry-on and checked. He even weighed it carefully as he packed to make sure he wasn't over-weight (even packing one shoe in his carry-on to SLC). When he received his travel papers this week, he found out that when he changes airlines on his way to the Philippines, the rules change. Here in the US you can have one carry-on, plus a purse or briefcase, so the bookbag they buy in the MTC for all the books is okay--he has been given about 12 lbs of books in the MTC. He found out that one of his airlines allows 1 carry-on and it can weigh no more than 15 lbs. He found he had about the lightest carry-on bag available, and it weighs 11 lbs empty. We are arranging for him to get things to his Aunt in Provo. If missionaries have a call that will send them on airlines different from what we are used to (like many that go to Asia), they may want to try packing without a carry-on, if possible. My son said everyone there is in a panic trying to decide what to unload to be able to go. I wish we hadn't bought the extra piece of luggage now!

Janet in Tempe, AZ
son in MTC 6 more days
(as of 4.4.06)

Addendum:

I called the church missionary travel dept. They called the MTC and suggested: Have the missionary pack his checked bags for weight so the carry-on would qualify as part of the checked luggage. I pulled up my son's itinerary, looked up the airlines he is flying, which I would imagine would be the one used or at least typical for the Philippines. The itinerary shows that Delta from SLC to LAX they can have 2 checked bags weighing under 50 pounds each for free. If they weigh 50-70 pounds, there is a $25 per overweight bag charge. Carry-ons are allowed. When they transfer in LA to EVAair, the checked bag weight goes to 70 pounds each for free, the carry-on is limited to 15 pounds and there is only 1, not one and a briefcase. I don't know what they do about women's purses. My suggestion to my son is pay the excess weight with Delta, as I couldn't begin to ship 40 pounds of stuff to Manila for $50. My suggestion to missionaries who haven't bought luggage yet would be to not plan on an extra carry-on, unless it was a lightweight duffle bag their MTC bookbag could fit into.

I hope this adds clarity. I also noticed a posting on the Philippines group, where an MM said her son found out about the restriction in Taipei but didn't have to pay, so who knows.

Janet in Tempe, Az
son leaving MTC in 5 days

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Note 4:  Suitcases

The suitcase I bought Philip for Christmas is a hard Samsonite on wheels that locks thinking he needed something to lock valuables in and to protect things that he brings home with him. I am glad I picked out a hard suitcase.

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Note 5:  Suitcases Bags Shoes

Greetings sisters! If you can make contact with someone who served in the mission where your son or daughter will be, they may be a big help in deciding about shoes and suitcases. The advice to my son was to take duffle bags since he would have to balance his suitcases on his bike during transfers and because in Japan, there is no place to store suitcases...the duffles just roll up. This has been great advice...we bought military strength with the plastic inserts. To solve the locking issue, we bought those bright flourescent straps and heavy duty combination locks to go on the outside. He loves them...they also have the backpacking straps so he can pack one while the other is perched on the seat of his bike as he walks. Good system. He'd never be able to do that with traditional suitcases. He wears Docs shoes and he loves his Docs but has only been out 6 months...our jury is still out on that one.

Jenny took the more traditional luggage to Europe and has also been pleased. We made sure she could hook all pieces together and that they can be wheeled as one unit since she makes multi-hour train trips by herself when she transfers. Even for her we bought unique straps and a Winnie the Pooh koosh to decorate the outside so that she can tell her luggage from all others even at a distance and with just a glance. She's also wearing Docs...on the cobblestone streets, they are wonderful. That sole gives her lots of padding. They're also high enough, they keep her feet above the water and from getting soaked all the time.

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