This article from a British travel trade publication sums it up:
Basically, with staff shortages and other disruptions, if you can avoid checking luggage and check-in online you will save yourself a lot of hassle this summer. Not just in Europe but everywhere.
You're free to do whatever you want but they wanted to warn you that travel may not be easy this summer.
I agree. We learned this by experience a few weeks ago.
I rarely check a bag on the way over (it would only be for a second bag with items that won't make it through security), but nearly always check on the way back. Other than completely losing the bag, a delay is not a concern then, so probably won't change my ways.
I always check my bag. The reference by the OP is concerning England. Huge lines. Lots of waiting. Cancelled flights. I could see not checking your bag, but then you have the added concern of dragging your bag all over the place while all the chaos is going on. Since most people’s carry one are regular size bags this is a problem. It is not an over the shoulder bag. No, it is a roll around and a backpack, maybe a third bag. That is a lot of stuff to get around with. And since everyone else seems to do the same way, the problem of space in lines and restaurants, etc is aggravating.
Then of course, if you are waiting at your gate and then that gate changes, you will not be able to move to the other gate as easily or as rapidly. So maybe you miss something there.
All in all I like to be as free and unencumbered as possible, especially when dealing with connecting flights. And through airports such as London and Amsterdam with terminal changes, busses, escalators, stairs, and crowds, it seems to be best to be able to move efficiently around.
I checked a bag coming and going the past couple of weeks without trouble. YMMV.
Hah! One of bigger problems with airlines is too many carry-ons and stupid people standing in the aisles forcing a 5 sq ft bag into a 3 sq ft space. They should charge for carry-on and check bags for free.
TSA check time could be cut in half. saving staffing and thus more money.
My checked bags arrived before me. Staffing shortages hit pilots too!
We recently flew from Colorado Springs to Edinburgh, and four of our five flights were delayed/cancelled. We did check in online, so airport check-in went smoothly, and we did opt to check our bags.
Our outbound flight from Chicago to Dulles was delayed due to mechanical issues, at which point we were moved to another plane. Our flight to Edinburgh from Dulles had to be held for us (there were around 60 of us on the ORD-IAD flight that were booked on the IAD-EDI flight), but once we had been in the air about 1 1/2 hours, the plane was turned back to IAD due to mechanical issues, landing back at IAD at 3:30 AM. The flight was cancelled and rescheduled for 9:00 that night. The airline couldn't get us into hotel rooms at that point (leaving us to attempt sleeping on benches), but thankfully we had United Club passes, so once it opened we were able to take turns napping in the much more cushy armchairs. We eventually got on our flight, and landed in Edinburgh a day later than planned.
On our return trip, our flight from Heathrow was delayed by about 2 hours (due to a medical emergency on the previous flight on the plane we were using), which would have caused us to miss our connecting flight in Denver, so I quickly rebooked us on a later flight out of DIA. When we landed at DIA, there were additional delays due to weather, and we ended up spending 5 hours there (65 miles from home).
As I mentioned, we did check our (carryon) luggage both ways, and I'm glad we did, because between running for tight connections and being stuck in airports, it was one less thing to deal with. I just had my daypack, which was easily managed, and since we knew to carry our medications and overnight items with us, it was no big deal to be without our bags. They were waiting for us in Edinburgh and at DIA, no problem. With the new electronic tracking on the bags, there's far less likelihood they won't arrive at your destination, let alone be lost forever.
Oh dear...Laurie, that is a travel story you will be telling for a good long while!
I hope you enjoyed your holiday otherwise!
Hah! One of bigger problems with airlines is too many carry-ons and stupid people standing in the aisles forcing a 5 sq ft bag into a 3 sq ft space. They should charge for carry-on and check bags for free.
Couldn't agree more, quite a few flights that I've been on have been delayed because there was insufficient space for all the bags people were trying to cram into the overhead bins.
I've been watching the airport chaos in the UK with interest and trepidation however I've flown twice from Heathrow over the last two months and both went without a hitch however there were probably a couple of reasons for this. My first flight was to Mallorca, we flew economy but because of our status with BA we could use the priority check-in and fast track security which saved a lot of time. Our luggage is tagged 'Priority' so they were on the carousel ready and waiting when we got there.
The second flight was with BA again and First Class to Barbados. No queues at the First Class check in, fast track security and bags first off in Barbados. On the return we were able to go straight to the E-Gates with no queues and picked up our luggage that was just appearing on the carousel.
The major problem with the airports (not just in the UK but across Europe) is a lack of baggage handlers and security/border staff because so many were made redundant during the pandemic. This is causing major backlogs and resulting in flights being cancelled. If you can secure priority boarding and fast track security it makes a big difference. Alternatively I would go with the suggestion of taking carry on (small one!) only.
My default airline is EasyJet and they reduced the hand luggage size last year to something not much bigger than a laptop. I don’t fly during the summer season and hope that the issue has disappeared when I next fly in October. I am not planning to change my checked bag policy.
The are issues across Europe, not just the U.K..
@Laurie So thankful you were able to keep up good spirits during such a challenging time. I was curious when you kept referring to DIA so I looked it up and learned that this used to be the code for Denver airport. Then it made sense. It was changed to DEN in 2015 but I can well imagine you have been flying out of there for longer than that.
We never check bags unless we are carrying hiking poles. But on our trip to Europe this summer, we are carrying...hiking poles. I wish TSA would take hiking poles off their list.
I travel with hiking poles once a year too. I think this year I'm just going to mail them ahead.
It’s funny to see this pop up now. It’s as if the world is healing.
Prior to Covid, Carry on only vs checked bag and hotel vs Air BNB were two hot topics that would always generate passion on both sides.
What Mary said.
I plan to check my carry-on from Seattle to Dublin via London on British Airways and Aer Lingus.
Why? Hiking poles which are actually a medical device for me. TSA doesn't have that option.
"Hiking poles which are actually a medical device for me" -- I've tried canes and they are not ergonomically correct for me.
And you have a doctor's note certifying that -- I did, but I didn't bother this year because I was going to put them in my checked bag.
and that you require those same poles to aid your daily movement i.e. grocery shopping, and the like! -- nope, I use the grocery cart for that. In the airport, my roller bag suffices.
I can walk okay for most normal daily activities. I do use the poles to increase my speed and for stability while walking on the dirt roads where I live.
And as I discovered on a few trips, I can't keep up with the group or walk confidently over the kind of terrain often encountered on an RS tour or other excursions without them.
I just found an older discussion about preparing and checking the poles and only the poles. I'm going to do that and carry on my carry-on for my British Airways and Aer Lingus flights as I normally do. As I said in response to that discussion, the luggage issues at LHR and DUB have convinced me that the potential loss of the poles is not as bad as the chance that a checked carry-on will go to Dubai instead of Dublin.
It's nice to just have carry-on, tickets printed out from a kiosk, and just walking straight to security. No more checked luggage for us. The lines can be ridiculous.
The airlines need to enforce carry-on bag sizes. Our bag was a bit too large returning from Iceland, so as we were ready to board a flight attendant told us the bag would be checked, and it was gone, my friends.
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Our bag was a bit too large returning from Iceland, so as we were ready to board a flight attendant told us the bag would be checked, and it was gone, my friends.
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Big Mike, does that mean that your bags were gone and never to be seen again?
The airlines need to enforce carry-on bag sizes.
Yes please. But I feel sorry for them as more people break the rules and get angry if airline staff challenge them.
The Air Force motto is: Flexibility is the Key to Airpower. We used to add, "that roughly translates to always carry-on your bag."
If a flight is canceled, nothing makes the ticket agent, trying to rebook you, happier than you traveling with only your carry-on bag.
Rick Steves just sent out an email to those that are scheduled for tours in the upcoming months. Here is an excerpt
"We're excited about your upcoming tour and looking forward to giving you the best travel experience possible for your 2022 vacation.
Like the US, Europe is struggling with staffing shortages — and that includes airports. Delays and cancellations are on the rise. But so far, the vast majority of our travelers have managed fine in spite of the chaotic airport situations you may have heard about in the news.
Here are my tips: Arrive earlier than usual for your flight and do your best to avoid checking any bags. (Many of the travel headaches these days seem to involve delayed or lost bags. If you can carry on your luggage, you're more likely to steer clear of those frustrations. And, regardless, it's always smart to pack light.) See my packing tips."
Lo, if you have to check, you have to check. If you need poles, you need them and no, TSA isn't likely to be flexible on that.
I really miss a Swiss-army knife. I used to keep one in my carry-on. Post 9/11 that's a no-no. At first, I bought a new one shortly after landing then gave it away before flying home. Now I've just learned to make do without it. I pack a tiny pair of scissors and a tiny nail file (which nearly always flags my bag for checking by TSA). I still don't have a good substitute for a corkscrew, though.
I always carry a corkscrew and it's never caused a problem. It's a small plastic one that was a liquor store hand-out.
The cabin crew may not like carry on luggage, but the airlines usually do. While the checked baggage is loaded, watch for the money-making cargo pods also being stuffed aboard. More checked baggage, less cargo.
LeatherMan sells a pocket tool (model PS) that is TSA OK without a knife but includes scissors, etc. I usually open it up and put in basket for security screening.
naalehuretiree, our bag made it fine. I just meant that when the staffer saw my carry-on, she told me it was too large and checked it. This was Icelandair. No problems.
Richard is right. Pack light. It will make your travel less stressful.
Hiking poles…. I usually put in bag and check the bag. This year I think I will need to do carry on and will purchase souvenir hiking poles upon arrival. I’m okay with checking on the way home.
I don't know if this posting by Nigel will affect the luggage situation at Heathrow at all, positively or not:
"The strike scheduled at Heathrow by 700 BA check in staff has been suspended after the company made a vastly improved pay offer.
If a ballot of the two unions' members, "Unite, the Union", and GMB Union, accept the offer the strike will be called off completely.
Source - the BBC and others"
I guess I have about 11 days to see if it does and make a decision about checking my carry-on with the poles in it or not.
Of course, today I ordered this little duffle in orange from Amazon to put the hiking poles in along with a few other carry-on forbidden or bulky items to pad the poles. Unless things dramatically improve, I'll stick to that plan, hoping that the duffle makes it to Dublin okay and knowing that my carry-on and personal item will be with me and not in some giant pile of bags waiting to be transferred to Aer Lingus from British Airways at Heathrow.
Now I can worry about Aer Lingus's tiny (13x10x8) personal item measurement limit vs. the actual size (17x12x6) of the packable daypack I'm using as my personal item. Based on info I read some time ago, I understood that the reservation being on the same ticket, Aer Lingus would need to accept the British Airways sizing because BA is the originating SEA to LHR airline and Dublin is the final destination. Yet here on the Forum many are saying it ain't necessarily so.
I won't be too concerned if they make me gate check my carry-on. That would turn the backpack into my carry-on and the little purse inside it would become my personal item.
Based on info I read some time ago, I understood that the reservation being on the same ticket, Aer Lingus would need to accept the British Airways sizing because BA is the originating SEA to LHR airline and Dublin is the final destination. Yet here on the Forum many are saying it ain't necessarily so.
There are two different things in play......if you had CHECKED luggage that was accepted for your BA flight, then it would be accepted for your Aer Lingus flight. (Baggage handlers move bags but don't weight or measure them.) However, the airline that flies the metal makes the carry on rules. In ths case, Aer Lingus. But I've flown Aer Lingus a few times and have never seen a personal item measured. Perhaps someone else has.
@SJ Our trip was amazing, once we finally got there! And yes, I'm sure we'll get plenty of mileage out of the story.
@ Carol now retired I didn't even think about the actual airport code for Denver - we've just called it "DIA" since it opened back in the mid-90s. Back then, there were all sorts of jokes about what DIA stood for, as it opened almost a year and a half late and $2 billion over budget ("Denver's Imaginary Airport" and "Dead In the Air" are the two I can remember).
Any idea of what percentage of checked luggage on international flights becomes lost or missing?
Our family just returned from 3+ weeks in Europe. We each packed one carry on (sizer checked and compliant) and one backpack (which are book bag size). For us, and this is our personal preference; we were hands free in the airport and this makes train travel much easier. We paid for the exit row on easyjet for the leg from Venice to Amsterdam, and again we were able to carry on. It made customs quicker and easier too. Friends of ours (family of 5) just returned from Spain and none of their luggage made it to their home airport with them.
Most people have an amazing trip minus a few glitches, which is normal. Just go with your gut instinct and roll with the punches. You'll be fine.
