Check luggage or carry on?

Checking or carrying on is such a personal question. In early May, we did a BA flight to Heathrow and then to Milan. For me, the convenience of walking off the plane and out the door is tempered by the need to schlep everything around. On our flights, there was no shortage of overhead bin space which was good. However, we checked our bags to our final destination and there were no problems. There are a few reasons why I am glad we checked.

1) At LHR, it was a looooong walk from the international terminal, onto a crowded train, through crazy security lines and into an equally crowded transit terminal. I was glad I only had a small backpack and a purse. We had a 4-hour layover and it was nice not to need to shepard anything else. It was pretty tight shopping at Fordham and Masons.

2) The fluids check was very, very, very strict when we went through security to get to the next terminal. I've transited through LHR before but this time it was e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g in the baggie. This included toothpaste, lip balm and even the tiny bottle of sunscreen I always keep clipped to my backpack. I was embarrassingly unprepared and that seldom happens to me. If I was doing a carry-on, I'd plan for that in advance. Next time, I will diligently segregate and carefully repack any fluidy items used during the flight. I'm glad my favorite conditioner, creams and argon oil were in my checked bag.

3) At the terminal we left for Milan, the gate assignments were made very close to the flight time. The area was packed and the seating limited. We sat way out on the edge of the terminal. Depending upon where your gate ends up, it could be a haul.

4) Don't know about Naples but baggage pick up was very easy in Milan.

Hope that helps and you are as lucky in baggage as we were!

I flew from Pittsburgh to Heathrow and then on to Lisbon this summer on British Airways which is the flight I assume you're taking. I took only a carry-on. A friend who works at PIT told me that the flight often departs late, although looking at the flight history it doesn't seem bad lately. Anyway, the plane parked on the tarmac at Heathrow and we had to wait for buses to arrive. From there it was a long way to the terminal to catch my flight to Lisbon--and included a security check with a long line. In the end, the British Airways flight was nice (had an empty set next to me), but navigating Heathrow was not fun (it never has been). I don't know if my luggage would have made it and I was glad that I packed light.

) The fluids check was very, very, very strict when we went through security to get to the next terminal. I've transited through LHR before but this time it was e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g in the baggie.

We had a similar experience in June at LHR. I have a clear plastic 1 qt bag that I carry liquids in but they gave each person a plastic 1L bag and everything had to be put into it.

As someone said above, this is a strictly personal question. My personal preference is carry-on on the way to Europe, since if the airline loses my luggage I usually won't be in one spot long enough for it to catch-up with me. On the way home, I generally check my luggage since I don't want to deal with suitcases at that point anymore ;-)

I recommend carry on. I’m in Italy now; my friend arrived the day before me (last week) and BA lost her bag and she’s had no help at all. When they do respond it’s to say sorry and ask her to submit her info again. She’s been told her bag is In Naples, in Spain and in Amsterdam. She bought travel insurance but they say they are the secondary insurer and she has to go through the airline’s process. Consider carefully the cost, hassles and vacation time you’ll have to spend buying clothes and other items because if your bag is delayed or lost it may be months before you get it back or have your claim processed.

It seems to me that most of the mess at large airports this summer is with luggage handling. Even in prior years, I've had delayed luggage problems transferring in LHR. In your shoes, I would do everything in my power to not check a bag.

Ever since LHR started thorough security checks about 20 years ago, it always took me an hour just to get through security on transfers. Why - long lines and incredibly thorough searches (I've had them take everything out and examine it piece by piece).

Thank you everyone for your replies, we are going to stick with our plan and do carry-on luggage.