Possible to carry on?

My advice is to play it safe and pay the extra for a checked bag on the tighter limit budget flights. Typically the penalties are not worth the risk or the worry, and you just don't know when they will weigh every bag (Easyjet used to weigh every carryon at check-in) or when specific airports may control it tighter than others. Most of the budgets are point to point, so no worry of losing bags, and the claim process in the smaller airports is typically quicker.

Carolyn, In my experience, the airlines are somewhat "relaxed" when it comes to dimensions of carry-on luggage. If a bag appears to be about the right size, you shouldn't have any problems. However they may decide to check in a sizing frame, so bags that don't fit will be a problem. If the "ideal bag" that you found is soft-sided luggage, it's probably close enough to the "approved" size to fit the sizing frames as long as its not packed too full. You'll be able to compress it enough to fit the sizing frame. Unless Air Transat has tightened their regulations since the last time I travelled with them, you won't have any problems there. I haven't had any problems with EasyJet although I have seen others that have had their bags checked for size. I haven't flown with the third airline you mentioned, but suspect they will be much the same as other budget airlines. One point to mention regarding the budget airlines is that many have a limit of one carry-on bag. That doesn't mean one plus a "personal item" such as a Purse or Laptop case, it means ONE ONLY. Happy travels!

This one is 21x13x9. Many don't like the CAMPMOR name, but that can be deleted with a black marker. http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___60795 This one is 21 3/4 x 14 x 9. If you are willing to wait a couple of months this one goes on sale at times, so you might get it at a reduced price. http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/51615?feat=506074-GN2 If you underpack you can likely cinch either of these down to your 20" max.

"How do people travel with just a carry on with the the dimensions as strict as they are?" It's called discipline. Have the discipline to limit your stuff to things you absolutely need, not what you think you "need". For instance, for my last two trips, I learned to shave with a disposable razor and saved the 1# weight of my rechargeable. If you hand wash a few clothes every night, you can get by with two changes of clothes. No one needs a curling iron or hair straightener. The Essential Carry-on is 2560 cu in. When I returned from my 14 day trip to Europe in 2009, I felt that my EC bag was understuffed, so I measured the contents - 1400 cu in - and about 11#, full.

Paul - although on point-to-point flights you may have a lower chance of a lost bag, since there is only one loading and unloading, instead of two or three, bags go astray all the time. While I have never (yet) had a bag get lost, I've heard several first-hand stories, none of which had connecting flights. In one instance, the bag was simply never offloaded and was returned to its owner weeks later. And there was one time that a bag was inadvertantly taken by another passenger (and restored to the owner a couple of days later) - a good reason to have some distinctive mark on your checked bags.

Hi Carolyn - I had a difficult time with packing until I started using Rick Steves' packing list for women. If you go here (http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/tips_menu.htm) you will find links to Packing Tips for Women and Women's Packing List. I modify the list a little for my own needs (i.e. I don't wear dresses or skirts on trips and I bring more socks and underwear than he suggests) but all in all his list is excellent and really helped me pare down what I thought I needed.

A few things to ensure your bag fits regardless of the airline. 1. Use a soft-sided bag. When needed they can squish into smaller spaces. 2. Leave extra room in your bag. Even the right dimensions, if overstuffed, won't fit where they're supposed to. 3. Either go without wheels or makes sure the bag is short enough to leave a couple extra inches (that can't squish) for wheels and the handle. A 21" bag with wheels will be at least 22" long (maybe longer) and can't be made any shorter.

I typically bring one bag to check and pack a second (empty) soft sided duffle bag for a carry-on to pack any souveniers we might purchase in our travels. When flying on Easyjet last May I carefully packed the duffle to comply with Easyjet's requirements (I used a tape measure to be sure). My bag was checked for size at the gate. I'm sure it if had not passed, I would have been required to pay a fee to check it. My advice is to make sure your bag complies with every airline.