Baggage Check

With a nonstop flight there's little chance that your bag won't make the flight with you. I always check a bag and have never had one lost or delayed. The only reason I could think of for not checking one is if they charged a lot for checking one.

The only way to absolutely know your luggage will be there when you arrive is to have it with you at all times.

Is your flight direct from Seattle to the final destination? One of my first three times to Europe, the flight was not ending where I was getting off. Somehow my bag was not taken off at the first stop. Fortunately, some other passengers, whose luggage also was not taken off, spoke the language of the baggage handlers, and they went out and got our luggage.

How do you know that the luggage handlers in Seattle will not misread the tag and but it on a flight to the orient, instead?

Mind you, the chances of this happening are not great, but the consequences are. Why take a chance?

The downside is that your luggage might not arrive when you do.

I always check my bag when I travel to Europe because I travel solo and I hate carting the bag around the airport for several hours (despite the fact that I could carry it on). However, I also always carry-on a daypack with a change of clothes plus other neccessities that will get me through a few days of travel. I know that there is a risk that my bag might not show up and for me that means I will end up buying some clothing in Europe. I've decided that I'm willing to take that risk.

I've had my luggage lost 5 times in the last 20 years. Four times, my luggage was delivered to me the following day. Once it took five days for my luggage to arrive. The time that it took five days was on a direct flight from Geneva to Stockholm which had no particular anomalies (I checked in early, flight departed normally, etc.). Another time I was travelling with a friend from Stockholm to Paris. Our bags were put onto the conveyer belt in Stockholm at the same time. Hers showed up and mine was delayed a day. Go figure. To be fair, I use to travel substantially more than the average person.

If you do decide to check your bags, I always recommend that you carry on enough to get you through a couple of days. If you are travelling with a spouse, you might want to divide your clothes among the two bags (e.g. you each put some clothes in the others bag) so if one bag is lost, you each have something. Also, look closely at the tag that they put on your bag and make sure that it has the right airport code. Put your name and phone number on a card inside the bag as well as on a luggage tag (in case the luggage tag gets ripped off). If your bag is lost, ask the airline if they have anything for you. Many will give you at least a toiletries kit; Air France's included a T-shirt.

Having your bag lost/delayed is not common, but it can happen.

In addition to all said by the others, I'd sure rather be safe than sorry. In spite of the experience of some over many years of travel with no lost/delayed bags, I'd propose that luggage handling isn't what it used to be. All the airlines are trying to save money everywhere they can.

If you're taking carry-on to travel light, I don't think you'll have any trouble finding space in overhead bins -- they're bigger on wide-bodied aircraft.

And even though you're not in a hurry on the other end, we've always been so happy to be able to walk off the plane and straight to customs -- especially after a 9-10 hour flight. At that point all I want to do is get somewhere to freshen up and not have to deal with anything extra.

I have had luggage not arrive on direct flights. I'd rather worry about finding space in the overhead bin than what I'm going to do if my bag never shows up (or only shows up after a few days). If you know what airline you're on, you can ask on the forums or call them to find out their boarding policy. Since you probably don't want to borrow a small child to take on your trip, you can choose seats so that you board early in the cycle (assuming you are flying economy).

You know, in 30 years of living here, and many, many trips in the US and to Europe I can't think of a single time our bags were lost going out of SeaTac (coming back in, Yes - but not out of SeaTac).

One other consideration: What airline are you flying? We've never had a problem with BA or KLM re luggage with probably...30-40 flights total, always checked.

My husband flew twice to Europe this past December/January and lost his luggage each time. First time it arrived after 10 days in Europe, second time after 2 days back home. However, both were flights with connections. Over twenty years of regularly (about once per year) flying to Europe I had "delayed" luggage on about 25% of flights with connections, never on direct flights.

My suggestion: do carry-on on your flight TO Europe as it can really put a damper on your vacation if you are without your luggage for a period of time. Check it in on your way HOME.

Patty - Flying international or domestic, I always carry on.

In the Air Force we always said, "Flexibilty is the key to airpower!... Which translates loosely to always carry-on your luggage."

Thanks everyone for your very helpful and experienced replies! We are flying direct from Seattle to Amersterdam via Delta, and I think we'll carry on, just to be on the safe side.

Another consideration is that when you carry your luggage on, you know it will arrive in good shape, and it will arrive when you do. I've had checked luggage arrived damaged, & I've had it arrive at the right time but somehow not come out on the right carousel, forcing us to spend extra time looking for it. If you pack light, it's not that big a deal to carry it with you through the airport.