carry-on vs. check-in luggage

Andrea, While I haven't connected internationally through Philadelphia, I believe that you will still have to retrieve your bag there on the way home. When I have connected in the U.S., typically the airline will put a tag on the bag for the entire route (e.g. FCO - PHL - DCA), but your bag comes of the plane at the first U.S. city and you have to retrieve your bag to go through customs. Once through customs, there will be a place where you recheck your bag before you continue back to DC. Otherwise, I think your plan is fine. I typically check my bag in both directions, but always carry-on a few days worth of clothes. I have had my bag delayed (5 times) and in all but one case, the bag was delivered the next morning.

If you can fit what you need in a carry-on and don't have anything that must be checked, then carry it on. One thing to verify on the return is whether you need to go through customs in Philidelphia. Generally, you go through customs at your first US stop.

You have to go through customs at your first stop in the US regardless of whether you carry on or not. If you check your baggage you have to pick it up go through customs and then recheck it. I typically carry on to my destination and since I always end up bringing home wine or something else that I end up needing to check, I check my bag on the way home. Packing light and carrying on is absolutely the way to go (at least on the way there, not necessarily on the way home).

Okay.. I think I have my decision! I'm planning on packing pretty light because it's a short trip (4 nights in Rome) so if I have to claim my bag, go thru customs, and THEN check it back in I might as well just carry it on in the first place for the return trip. No point wasting time if I don't have to. I'm just getting a little nervous. The reality of taking my first international trip completely 100% solo is creeping up on me (last trip I met with a tour group).

4 days and checking bags gets you kicked out of the Rick Steves club for sure.

I would carry on for the flight to Italy and check it on the way back. My husband and I recently returned from Italy and this is what we did as we were afraid Alitalia would lose our bags and it was a short trip of only 11 days. On the way back my checked suitcase was loaded up with olive oil and pesto and my collapsible carry on was full of ceramics and terra cotta. On longer trips we have taken to Europe we have checked our bags but our family of 4 will put a few clothes in each others bags as we have had lost suitcases. Have a great trip!

LOL... I figured. Actually, I think my bag is probably too big for my trip but if I consider buying souvenirs it won't be too bad. I was only considering checking it in on the return flight for convenience but having to get the bag before going thru customs and then rechecking just seems to make no sense. I'm learning to travel light. My last (and only) trip to Italy I packed way too much. I now know better.

Doesn't have to be ONE OR THE OTHER. Pack all the stuff you really don't NEED, but WANT, and can LOSE, in the check-in to country. Carry on what you NEED. On the way back I check-in everything but the passports and camera.

I was always a heavy packer but tried the Rick Steves way and found it completely liberating to just have a carry-on. I've traveled to Italy twice this way and still had unused items in my bag, plus room for souvenirs to take home. Only problem is the liquid limit, since you can't take home wine this way. But it's a wonderful feeling to walk off the plane, stroll through customs with your carry-on and be on your way while everyone else is still waiting at the baggage claim area. I also spent time in Rome on my own and had no problems; just play it smart and you will have a wonderful time!

Hi Andrea - I always carry on my bag, no matter how long I am going for. We returned last month from a 4 week trip. I took one wheeled carry-on sized bag and a large purse. I also pack a folding tote bag in my suitcase, which I can use on the way home if necessary. So far, in 4 trips to Europe, it has NOT been necessary only one time. ;-) For a 4 day trip I wouldn't bother to check a bag either way...unless you are planning to bring liquids home with you.

It seems that coming back is a good time to carry on too because we usually come back on a day that everyone traveling to Europe comes back. Lines for customs and or passport check can be brutal. If you only have 2 hours between flights, then being stuck in line on a busy travel day can be high anxiety. It happened to us when we returned from Paris to DC. We checked our back, had 2 hours to catch a plane. Got stuck at passport control for 1.5 hours. Got stuck in the security line for 30 min. Oh by the way, had to retrieve bag, go thru customs, and recheck it. Not sure what order this all was done in. We missed our plane. I was sick physically, mentally, emotionally because all I wanted to do was be home. Could checking my bag make that day better for me? Maybe.

Philadelphia is our airport and the luggage is notoriously late getting out to the baggage claim. I don't know what they do but it is really the longest wait so I would check your bags just don't put anything of value it them. (It is a bit of a walk from International to domestic terminals in Philly) Have a big fold up carry on in your suitcase so you can carry on any purchases and just leave the dirty laundry and non valuable purchases in the checked bag.

Since you are only staying four days in Roma I would do carry-on. You are allowed a personal bag also and you could bring a backpack, which would provide extra space. Buon viaggio,

You are transfering in Philly?..... and only have two hours? don't check your luggage, in fact, change your flight! I hope that you are NOT flying US Air. Add the two together ( US Air and transfer in Philly) = disaster. We were warned about transfering in Philly on our return leg from Paris this June. We had more than 3 hours, but the 5! checkpoints ate up all the time. This is typical in Philly; especially if you come on with a bunch of other planes. And sometimes the walk from one end to the other end of the airport cannot be accomplished in less than an hour. If we had not flagged down a cart that tranfers people with disabilities, we would have missed on next flight. Philly+ transfer= never again!

unfortunately I can't change my return flight.. it was booked thru a travel agency. Originally I wasn't flying via PHL on the return flight but a couple of months ago my original flight route, which had a 3 hour layover, was cancelled and I was given a new route with 1hr 40min layover. I expressed my concern to them but they told me if I miss my connection I will be booked on the next flight at no additonal charge. Fortunately I'm traveling alone and don't have to worry about anyone but myself. I have a pretty good seat near the front of the plane at least so disembarking the plane shouldn't take too long once they start allowing us off.

Here is what I would suggest: given the likelihood that you won't make your connecting flight, give your travel agent a heads-up that you may well be calling her/him that day to make alternative arrangements if you miss your connecting flight.
If instead you go to customer service at PHL, you will wait a long, long time to be served and may then miss other, reasonable connecting flights. That way, you can relax and have a drink and a snack while waiting for your travel agent to sort things out for you instead of standing in line for what can be hours only to discover that the nonstop you could have been on just left the gate five minutes ago. (And if it sounds like this is not purely a hypothetical situation, well, you're rightit's not. Like many here, I've had my own Philadelphia airport connection disasters.) Situations like this one are exactly why travel agents can still make sense, even in a world where internet booking is so simple. For me, having someone whose job it is to cut through red tape and inconveniecne if things go wrong is worth the 25 dollar fee mine charges. As always, YMMV. But since you have already used a travel agent, why not take advantage of that?

Don't check your bag, esp. since you're going to Rome for only 4 days. You could probably fit everything in a backpack and not even bother with a suitcase. We flew Chicago-Philly-Manchester, UK on US Airways (which only allowed one carry-on) with one checked bag each. The plane to Philly was late and we had to run for it; our checked bags missed the flight and we were without our luggage for our whole 2-week vacation. On the way home, the plane to Philly was late and our checked bags didn't make the flight to Chicago. My bag was "in transit" to me in St. Louis for 5 days. Philly is the perfect storm, the Bermuda triangle. Carry on your bag!

Although her connection may not be a big deal. When I flew back from Frankfurt last year to Philly, I had 2.5 hours between my flights. But my flight was delayed 5 hours total. So that is another thing that could happen. Which may be in your favor! Yay Philly Airport!