Will I really be able to carry on the RS 21-inch Roll-Aboard?

BA has "templates" at the check-in desk and at the gate. These are boxes that your bag must fit in. They may (or may not) ask you to try your bag if they suspect it is too large. It will just depend on your check-in and gate agents.

I am 60 and there is no way I'm using a backpack.

That's just an excuse. I've made 3 trips (6 weeks) with a backpack since I turned 60.

I usually fly Lufthansa, and they always have a "sizing" box by the gate. I've never seen them make anyone use it, but they could, and you wouldn't have any recourse. I've tried my convertible in it a few times. My non-roller bag is very flexible and fits easily.

You can buy the Essential Carryon bag from Campmor for about $30. It's under regulation size, feels comfortable to me, and only adds 1-3/4# to the weight. If you can't easily carry you bag backpack style, you are taking too much stuff.

Lynda, there is no definite answer to your question. It depends on the mood of the checkin staff. I thought BA has a low carryon weight limit. My guess is you will probably be OK but, contrary to Lee's experience, I have stood in two Lufthansa's line and watch them put every rolling bag into the sizing box and they all failed. You will just have to take your chances.

PS. We are 67 and 65 and are still using backpack style carry-on bags. I know we will have to change some year but not now.

Lynda....BA will be be hit or miss. They might let you on board, they might not. If they don't, it's not the end of the world. You'll just be delayed an extra 15 minutes at baggage claim in London.

Flexibility is the key to happy travels. No trip goes exactly as planned. The more flexible you are, the better time you'll have.

My suggestion would be to put all valuables, electronics, jewelry and medication in the Civita Day Bag which you will be able to carry on even if your rolling bag is checked. Do not keep those items in your checked luggage. Thefts have been known to occur.

For all those airlines that now charge fees for each checked bag....I believe they lean toward being stricter about luggage policies than before....because of the economy. They can make more money if more bags are checked!

Thank you everyone for your response. Those of us who haven't been overseas really, really appreciate all the experience, knowledge and help found on the Graffiti Wall.

I haven't flown British Air, but I had the same concern on my recent trip when I flew Continental. I have a 22" bag, but when measured with the wheels and handle it measured closer to 24". I didn't have any problems carrying my bag on and was never questioned. On the other hand, they did question my husband who had a smaller bag than mine. His was red, mine was black. He still was able to carry on through.

I haven't flown BA, but took the RS roll-aboard on every flight (6 total) with no problems last September. Do look up how much weight you are allowed. The weight limit on Air Lingus was more of a problem than size. My husband had the backpack, and he was questioned because his was over the limit. He looked over at me (it's my job to be sure we get by) and I said "take out the sweater and parka you stuck in there- you were suppose to wear it on the plane." At that point the clerk laughed and waved him through. We had maxed out our weight and he really wasn't suppose to put that stuff in. I wore a t'shirt, sweater, and coat onto the plane. (once you are through everything, you can take them off and put them is the compartment or even stick them in you luggage)

From the ba.com site: "The following allowances apply:

* one standard-sized bag - maximum size of the bag must not exceed 56x45x25cm (22x17.5x9.85in) (including wheels, pockets and handles)
* In addition, one laptop sized bag, handbag or briefcase
* A 23kg(51lbs) maximum bag weight applies and you must be able to lift the bag into the overhead lockers in the aircraft cabin unaided."
I think you'll be ok!

2 points: I just bought this bag last week and the guy at Rick's Travel Store told me he had often taken it on BA for the flights to and from Europe. He was less successful on flights within Europe though.

My husband took our 22" Tumi - just a tad bigger than the RS rollaboard - on BA last summer. Carryon was fine going to Europe, but he had to check it when returning from Turkey.

Have a great trip, Lynda! Let us all know how your trip turns out, and if BA allows the bag. My husband and I have taken the same bag twice, on American and Continental, with no issues about carry-on. You will be so glad you packed light!

Lynda, I have never used a backpack and I never will , some of us do not have strong backs,, and yes, I am a fairly fit person ,, I took the stairs up the Eiffel Tower, and I would do that again in a heart beat before I would wear a back pack. I think the rollibng bags are great, use them all the time. Yes, you will have to carry it up and down some stairs, but its not difficult.

Keep bag, pack lightly,, and sorry, but if worst case scernerio is you have to check it don't sweat that,, most bags do not get lost, we only hear about the ones that do... millions do not.Tag it well, inside and out and cross fingers. Do not over stuff it . Have fun!

Your 21" will be no problem if it's not stuffed. Many of the European carriers (I've flown BA but don't recall if they had a strict policy) allow only one carry-on, unlike US carriers that commonly allow a carry on and a personal item (which many take to mean two carry-ons). You will be fine if you have room in your roll-on for the shoulder bag and both together weigh under 20 pounds.

I prefer the convertible carry-on and (less overall weight) while my wife prefers the roll on (easier to lug through airports, train stations). I pack a civita day pack inside my carry-on to use on tour days but don't carry it on as an extra item. My wife doesn't carry a personal item (her purse stays home on trips). We both keep it light and haven't had any problems on any airline.

Frank,

When I was in the Air Force one of our frequent quips was, "Flexibility is the key to airpower ... loosely translated, that means always carry on your luggage."

Brad...in the travel business, the one word we are taught is more important than others is....flexibility.

Somewhere along the line reservations will be lost, luggage will be redirected, roads will be closed, buses will break down, weather will divert you.

Meaning, no matter what is thrown your way, just deal with it. (And always have a contingency plan.)

And trying to avoid many of the European airlines with restrictive carry-on policies.

Well Im 70 and flying Lufhansa which has a 8KG(17.8pound)limit.I can carry on and be below the weight limit.No wheels for me.My wifes roll bag is smaller then mine so she can easily carry it up steps.I take a few of her things in mine.

There was an interesting article in today's (Tues) WSJ on this very subject. The bottom line is that your are at the mercy of the gate people. They get to decide and their decision is law. Discussed a couple of people who were using slightly oversized carryon bags on multi-leg trips. Some were forced to gate check even on the same airline and on the same equipment. The article suggested that sometime a plane could be late, the crew is in a hurry to turn it around, so they will really crack down on carryon because they know that carryon delays boardings. It is the luck of the draw

I think the main point is that by now you should know that airlines have maximum size allowances and that these sizes are posted on the websites. You knew, or should have known, that your bag is bigger than the maximum size allowed, but you bought a ticket anyway. Now you are trying to cheat and bring it on. At least be honest and tell the counter people that you believe it is oversized and ask if you should check it.

The problem with a lot of these oversized bags is that the 24" dimension won't fit into the overhead bins from the back of the bin to the door (across the cabin), so they have to go in sideways, particularly wheeled bags that are not flexible. They effectively take 24" instead of 14". That might deprive an honest person, who has a legally sized bag, of his right to carryon.

Lynda, as has been stated earlier, it's really going to be up to the gate agent.

Of course, you should go for it. How boring life must be for those who insist on following every rule to the letter.

My attitude has always been...laws are meant to be obeyed, rules are meant to be broken (or at least tested.)

Airlines don't make laws, they make rules. I test them all the time. It's fun. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. That's part of the game of life.

One little trick with a wheeled carry-on bag...while it's easier to stow it wheels first, some fit better with wheels out. Many bins are smaller in the back than the front, and the wheels make most bags bigger at the wheeled end than at the handles.

I can't speak for BA, but I took the RS rollaboard on a Southwest Boeing 737 last year and it fit wheels-in with no problem at all. I was shocked! I wasn't even sure they would let me carry on (the two legs of the flight were not sold out, but every window and aisle seat was full, and some of the middles) but nobody said anything and I had no problem stowing it in the overhead.