Will I be able to avoid check in and just carry on

This did happen to us two years ago. We flew Denver to Atlanta on United with our 21" carry-ons. While we were sitting at the gate in Atlanta waiting for our Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt, with our suitcases beside us, a gate attendant said the flight was very full and all "large" suitcases would have to be checked. (These were the same suitcases we have carried-on multiple times on Lufthansa.) So she put a tag on them, and I think we dropped them off at the end of the gateway, just before boarding the plane. We picked them up at the baggage claim at our final destination (Split). If I were you, I'd carry the bag on in Portland and just see what happens at JFK. I think the worst that could happen would be that they would gate-check it; or you very well may get away with carrying it on. Good luck!

As Charlene says, It just depends on the gate personnel. We had a Lufthansa leg and the gate attendant had the dreaded sizing box and almost every wheeled bag failed the test. And they were very strict.

We had a connecting flight in Frankfurt a few years ago, switching to a flight into Rome on Alitalia. They came over the loudspeaker and announced that people would be allowed only one item per person, counting your "personal bag" as one item, and that you would have to check any other bags. We dutifully checked our carry on bags, and then noticed that all the Italians ignored the announcement and took onto the plane the 2 (or 3!) bags that they had with them. You just never know.

It 'might' work in your favor if you'll be seated in the early group (you'll definitely get space in the overhead bins). It's Alitalia - take ANYTHING that will ruin your trip not to have with you and put it in your for-sure-legal carry-on. Sorry about that. Say a prayer for the safe return of your luggage. Don't make eye contact with anyone you don't want to 'have a conversation with' - people at security, gate agents, etc. This makes it easier for them to pick you out for secondary security checks, or gate-checking your bag. This strategy won't work if they're making everyone put their luggage in the bag sizer... Certainly don't ever look like you're struggling with your luggage, even if you are. Make it look like it weighs 4 lbs. And let it be the only bag you're dealing with, if possible. If you have a smaller bag (and you'd better after reading the tea leaves...), stick it in the larger bag. Perhaps you'll get more leeway if you're not schlepping the maximum onto the airplane. Do your best to look like you're no trouble. OR - do as Michael learned and blend in with the Italians!

My bet.. you will get away with it. I don't know for sure, but often on these flights in Atlanta the gate crew is not Alitalia, or Air France etc.., but Delta agents covering the flight. So they go by thier rules. And if they do 'catch' it they can check it at the gate. No big deal, they had to check BUNCHES of bags on my flight Friday from LAX to ATL due to the size of the overheads on that plane!

One trick for the weight limit is to put the heaviest items in your personal bag or even your pockets and then switch them back into your carry-on once you're on board. Some of the European airline weight restrictions are pretty crazy low. Do this before your first check-in, as that may be when they decide to weigh your carry on.

I use a knapsack as a carry on and have never had any problems. We ran into that pesky problem of everyone getting their carryon measured flying from Paris to Barcelona. When they asked about my carryon I just pointed to my back. I was one of the few who got to keep their bag. Believe me, my knapsack holds as much as most carryons. I like it because my hands are always free. Hope this helps.

if you are flying business or first you can bring two carry on bags--hope that helps

Thanks for all your help. I'm still undecided. I may just check the bag and not worry about it; put a change of clothes and enough to get by on in a small carryon.
Then I wouldn't have to worry about it until I get to Rome, and just hope it will arrive with me. If not, I guess I'll discover what packing light really means. I bought the bag because I thought it would fit size requirements, not event thinking of international standards. This is definitely a learning experience: I'm finding travel to foreign lands is not an exact science.

Elane, whatever you do, take Eileens advice! Plan on never again seeing anything that you check on a Alitalia plane. If they do loose it, don't count on them forwrding it to your destination. Make sure that all your important things are in a carry-on that meets their requirements.

One more question. If I do try carryon, and end up having to check my bag at the gate at JFK, will it more likely to make it to FCO than if I'd checked it in Portland. I have only a two hour layover at JFK, and have to change terminals and presumedly have to go through security, so I'm not optimistic about getting there real early. Thanks for all the advice!
I hate to think about never seeing my bag again. I can also imagine it being something that puts a damper on my trip, especially since I have an apartment rented for my first four days in Rome so there wouldn't be a hotel desk they could deliver it to in the off chance it was found and needed to be delivered.

"...proceed to board with confidence and without hesitation." (as in...) Don't make eye contact anyone LOL! What you should do with ALL of your luggage (because you never know when you might be forced to gate-check a bag, no matter the size) is take a sheet of paper and write on it your name, flight # and date of travel (I put dp/ar times, too), email/phone # (however you can be reached on that particular trip - maybe a phone number/email address of someone back home), and the addresses and dates of your accomodations while on vacation. IF your bag goes AWOL, be sure to let the hotel/B&B/hostel know about it and that you've put THEIR name, phone #, and address on that sheet of paper. Tuck it under the cinch straps so it can't fall out when your bag is opened, but very visible to anyone looking for it. IF your bag doesn't make it to the baggage carousel as it should, it can be forwarded to you...eventually. Some airports' baggage systems are less forgiving to outside nametags than others; of course, use those, too. Chances are, your checked bag will arrive just fine. If you can, though, carry-on - confidently, with the impression of one lightweight and tiny bag and no eye contact ;-)

Elane, keep your carry-on with you. Keep it light, I usually leave with about 10kg for long trips. Aim, at worst, to have your bag gate-checked (just like the strollers). Your bag should then be hand-stored below and delivered to the arrival gate's jetway, just like the strollers. I fly internationally and domestically, at minimum, 30 flight segments a year. My RS rollaboard is now 4 years old and is holding up well. It is however a bit on the larger side of the carry-ons, so I've had it gate-checked several times, without any problems. I just make sure that it's treated the same as a stroller... I have a small daypack that holds my notebook, camera, stuff that I need for the flight and stuff that I'd cry if I lost. This daypack sits inside my rollaboard. After I go through the boarding check-in point, I take it out, stash the rollaboard in an overhead bin on the way to my seat, and keep the daypack close to me. If the rollaboard gets gate-checked, I take the daypack out and quickly use a tie to secure the rollaboard, before I turn it over to the gate agent. Tip: wear your heaviest shoes, keep your heaviest book and your jacket in hand, and proceed to board with confidence and without hesitation.