Just thought I'd share our recent experience flying home from Madrid this weekend and why travelers should seriously consider carry on only!!
Spent our last night in Madrid with a noon flight the next day. I'd injured my hand two days before we left on our trip and so handling my carry on and personal item was a bit challenging - as were other things- through our trip! So we decided to "splurge" and take a cab to the airport. However, the hotel staff informed as that there would be no taxi service or bus to the city center the morning of our departure due to a marathon!
Which left the metro!! Normally not a big deal but with one hand virtually out of commission (and a trip that would require two line changes) the prospect was a bit daunting even with a small carry on and a personal item (21 inch bag unextended and a 15x6x9 inch travel briefcase). Do able but with two flights ahead of us, not ideal.
Fortunately, the staff was able to arrange for us to get a cab outside the immediate city center which meant only one line on the metro! Still a bit of a hike to the metro and lots and lots of stairs but def better than two line changes!!!
If we had had large and overly heavy cases (or more than one each) this would have been virtually impossible to do, So, the moral of this story is that when considering your travel plans consider that you may have to schlep yourself and your luggage a great deal farther than you plan for!!!