Carry On Luggage - IMPT for traveling soon!!!

We basically has the same with KLM. Both our day packs and Rick Steves' Roll Aboard were over...they did not even weigh them. We carried both on.

I'm happy for you that you got your large bags onboard and sorry that you were stressed about leaving things behind. But consider what stress you would have had if they had enforced the rule: you would have been at the airline counter frantically trying to rearrange things into your day pack (if it would have fit additional stuff) or throwing things away or having to check a bag and worrying that some of what was in the checked bag probably needed to be in carryon. It's quite possible, maybe even likely, that you'll get 3000+ cubic inch bags allowed on board on a particular flight, but the direction that things are going means it will be more and more of a risk. Some airlines are stricter than others. (For example, think Lufthansa, all the discount European lines, and Air New Zealand--Air New Zealand has enormous overhead bins and nevertheless weighs carry-ons every time, which it limits to 7 kilos.) Other airlines may well become stricter over time, either by reducing the size and/or weight of carry-ons or by enforcing the rules they have. So it's a gamble--go small and regret the clothing and stuff you wish you'd taken, or go big and risk not getting to carry-on.

And I haven't even mentioned the matter of dragging a 3000+ cubic inch behemoth bag and its contents around once you get where you're going. Probably not a problem if you're renting a car, but not much fun if you're using trains and subways. I suspect most folks on this site will continue to find packing light a better option, regardless of whether an airline will let you get away with larger and heavier suitcases.

I find the U.S. carriers fairly lenient on overseas flights since the newer widebodies have larger overhead bins.

It's the European carriers, especially those flying within Europe, that are strict. And many of them, who also fly across the pond, bring that strictness along.

However, with the big push to pay for checked bags, I doubt it will be long before more limitations are put on carry-on.

Those "huge" overhead bins aren't just for YOUR bags, they are for everyone's. You luck out if a particular flight isn't full or if a particular gate crew is lenient, but the above poster is right in suggesting what could happen if either of those isn't the case. I'd rather know that I was within the guidelines (even going so far as to purchase a new bag for an upcoming trip because it was slightly within the regs rather than use an older one that might be risky) than take a chance on having to jettison anything or check/rearrange at the last minute.

JB.....tell us all about your trip. Remember you had so many questions and was sooooo excited about the trip.

I agree with Frank- USA airlines ( and airports) are not as strict as other airlines. Since we are sharing anecdotal "evidence" of whether you can "overpack" I will share the following: My husband and I worked and worked to just bring carry on for our first trip to Europe. We flew from Seattle to Montreal=no problem. In Montreal, my bag (a roll aboard) could not fit through this "plastic thing" they had at the security screening. (it had to be small enough to go under.) My husband had a Rick Steves backpack that made it through fine. With very little time and in a unfamiliar airport, we were forced to rush down and check my oversized bag (keep in mind, it met the requirements for carry on luggage for the first airline we flew on) So...it's always a risk to take more than you are allowed. (in my case, I was right at what I was allowed.) Also, this trip was before 9/11 when things tightened up even more. In hindsight, I now know that you need to check requirements for all airlines and airports you are flying with. (in my case, we flew to Montreal on an American carrier and then switched to Air Canada. A rookie mistake, I admit.)

I flew NWA last fall to Amsterdam. We were on a very small plane with 1 aisle & 3 seats on either side. I wouldn't think that type of plane would have a huge amt of space for carry-on especially as more of us are now carrying on instead of checking. My understanding is that they're going to use more of that size because of gas prices. My husband is booked on one this fall to England. He's going to carry on for the 1st time because an airline lost (not misplaced) his bag this summer.