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Part 1 - by Anne-Marie Dingemans
Suitcases & what you pack in them
This paragraph is most relevant for travelers from the USA as their domestic and international baggage allowances are the most lenient. If you are traveling from the USA to Quito, for example, you can take up to 100lbs (depending on the airline) for free, plus 40lbs carry-on luggage. However, if you later want to fly from Quito to Cuenca, or to Buenos Aires for example, you have a baggage allowance of only 50lbs! If you don't anticipate these restrictions, you're faced with hefty excess luggage charges.
The same goes for the size of the carry-on luggage which can also bring unpleasant surprises. Within the USA, and on US carriers, normally the maximum height of a carry-on suitcase is 22", however, in Europe this maximum is only 20", sometimes 21". If you're lucky the staff at the check-in counter won't notice, but more and more do they make you (try to) fit your bag in those racks. So if you're planning on traveling with a lot of luggage, or only carry-on luggage, please check the luggage restrictions of all the airlines you'll be flying with and choose your luggage and pack your bags accordingly.
... More tips to come
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