luggage: check in or carry on?

I tend to carry on if possible, since lost luggage at the beginning of the trip could really put a dent in your travel plans. The posters on this site will direct you to past threads etc, etc. I can offer my opinion. I love the freedom of getting off the plane and not having to wade through baggage claim. On the way back, we have always checked luggage since we had so many souvenirs and we were tired. I do suggest you take less than you think. Travelling tends to cause once light and lovely items to suddenly gain weight and along with that a certain resentment. Have a wonderful trip!

If you don't have to check your luggage than don't. You will be happy you packed light!

Lost luggage concerns aside, I like saving the time needed to claim luggage upon arrival. It also allows me to catch an earlier Leonardo Express into Rome. I always carry my small suitcase onto the plane unless forced to check it.

We're both Flight Crew and we are carry-on travellers only.
I take a small but sturdy zippered nylon folding bag to check on the return portion if needed.

Just be sure to check your carriers website for the demensions of carry on cabin luggage. It does vary from Airline to Airline. Luggage labelled as "Carryon or Airline Approved" is only a guideline marketing tool. I always ask: "Which Airline Approved it?"

My carry-on is a tiny 17" Pilot Case. I know that it will fit into any measuring box regardless of which Airline I'm deadheading with throughout Europe.

We choose not to check for the freedom factor. When we used to check, our luggage was very seldom delayed and neither of us have had our luggage permanently lost.

F/A

By all means carry your luggage. Last year I spent 10days in Italy and my luggage finally showed up the day I was returning to the states. The one positive outcome of this is that I know now I can travel light as I spent the entire 10days with one outfit that I washed out every other night. I didn't buy new clothes as I was always promised that my luggage was arriving tomorrow.

Diane, today in the news American Airlines is charging for checked luggage... and soon others to follow. AA has made this effective June 15th (isn't that father's day?).

So, to save cost, pack light and carry on.

Limit yourself to carry-on only. You'll save time after you land avoiding the wait at the baggage carousels, but more importantly you will make your life so much easier. You will be hoisting your luggaage much more than you think you will be - up into overhead storage racks on trains, in and out of taxis or public transportation, up stairs in buildings in no elevator, etc. After years of overpacking I finally limited myself to carry-one for a two week trip last fall and was amazed how much easier it was, you'll thank yourself over and over.

American Airlines new policy only applies to domestic travel wholly within the US. For travel outside of the US the 2 free checked and one free carryon still apply

We returned earlier this week from 16 days in Italy with one carry on each. It was delightful to hop off the plane, head for the Leonardo and be at Termini in under 50 minutes--- not to mention hopping on and off trains and the metro with one bag.

I had a Jansport half pint back pack that made a great purse/daypack and two zippered canvas totes that became our carryons on the way back and the suitcases were packed with wine olive oil and other souveniers.

The key to one bag packing is to plan in advance your laundry strategy. For us, planning two laundromat stops, one in Florence and one in Rome worked GREAT. It takes about an hour and by combining it with some takeout food (and in Rome Onda Blu has an internet point so we each did some internet)

What makes it work for us is two things
First organizing a wardrobe that works together and is relatively easy to pack--- travel knit, cotton knit etc and where all of the pieces work together. A few accessories , a necklace and some earrings, a nice scarf or pashmina--- those can dress up a plain jane outfit for a nice restaurant. The pashmina can be tied around the waist for walking around then turn into a shoulder covered shawl for entrance into churches that don't allow bare shoulders-- or wrap it around you on the train for a nice nap.

The second is geting it organized beforehand--- I already knew where the Lavandria was in respect to our lodgings, knew which day would be washday, had large trashbags to hold dirty and clean clothes.

Some people swear by hand washing in the room, but for rooms there are small enough without having to dodge hanging clothes, and if you are only staying overnight there's the risk of having to pack wet clothes the next morning.

And be sure to check with your carrier about weight restrictions for carry on. I was surprised that it was as low as it is on a lot of them - about 17 pounds, which you can exceed pretty quickly if you're packing anything more than clothes.

carry on for sure and pack light..we took a 22" carry on for 2 weeks and it was still too much..but i was so glad to have my luggage when we arrived after hearing horror stories..jo