Carry-On Bags

PattiK I agree there's nothing wrong with checking bags. People who promote carryon-only have legit reasons for that preference, but many of us who prefer to check bags also have good reasons.

I think it comes up so much because there are a lot of folks who have never considered traveling light to be an option. So it's offered as a suggestion, whether it's taken or not.

I applaud you for your decision!! While I am a carry on person and am always willing to help those who need it to store their bags, I wish more people in your situation would do what you are doing. I think that is very self-aware of you and it sounds like you are happy with your choice.

After our first trip to Europe, we were a carry-on couple. Then when we needed to bring our hiking poles, I checked a bag and she still did carry-on. Now it's slow travel and we both check bags.

Yes.......................... (except I help strangers all the time .... but only the ones that dont ask).

Yes.......................... (except I help strangers all the time .... but only the ones that dont ask ... okay the others too).

Check your bags or dont. Whatever floats your boat. Even when we travel with carry on compliant bangs, we still check them. And sometimes we (gasp, oh the horror!) bring a bigger bag. Depends on the type of trip. As long as you dont interfere with or rely on anyone else, it's none of their business.

We were a happy carry on family for several years. However, on a mother daughter trip to Paris earlier this year, for the return trip, I was alone as daughter joined friends in Budapest. I then realized that I could not comfortably wrangle all my stuff in security (jacket, personal item, carry on, passport, etc.) and then doing it again in Atlanta. Then once on the plane standing on my seat to put things overhead. Moreover, on previous trips to Europe, we had friends give us some kitchen items that we had to ship home; so we have regrouped on suitcase strategy.

On our most recent trip to Europe, hubby and I each checked a 24 inch spinner. It was nice to have a little extra space, but not so big as to be unwieldy or cause issues walking on cobblestone streets and onto trains. The 24inch spinners actually fit perfectly in the overhead bins on the frecciarosa trains. We also both had an under seater - just for a couple days worth of clothes and toiletries, then I had my purse. The under seater fits nicely on top of the checked spinner suitcase and made for easy transport. For future short domestic trips we may carry on, but we have found a system that works better for us for longer, overseas trips.

We always check our bags, no matter what size. We sometimes use a 24” bag depending on the trip. If we will be taking a few trains or buses a smaller suitcase is easier to handle.

My new goal is for my under the seat carry on bag to be as small and light as little as possible. I no longer carry bulky headphones, no extra clothes, no books to read, no snacks, no toiletries, just the basics (medicine, phone, a charging cord). I even put my small purse in this bag. Just like salbeachbum above, it’s just too much trouble going through security with too many items. Also, after being pulled over 2x at Heathrow, it’s an experience I want to avoid.

A goal I did reach was carrying as little as possible around during the day. I just use a very small, very light converter crossbody or even just a wristlet. I find carrying around too much was giving me a backache.

I take a carryon sized case but check it.
I use a smaller case as it’s easier to manage on and off trains , on stairs, etc.

Does anyone else find that on the really big airplanes flying long-haul now, you can barely reach up into the overhead bins?
Have I shrunk, or are the bins higher up?
I’m 5’6” tall, but if I put something like a daypack in there (if there’s room, of course) ,I can’t even see it from below, much less reach it to get it back out.
I don’t want to stand on a seat to get up there!
Thankfully there is usually someone who sees the struggle and offers to help.

People try to be absolute and say never do this, never do that, but honestly, it comes down to risk evaluation.

First, saying carry-on, to me, means you are restricting yourself to a set amount of packed things. I can say that if you are moving about, the less you have, the better off you are. Has nothing to do with checking or not checking, but everything to do with ease of movement from place to place, use of public transport, and general ease.

If you are flying to one city and staying in an apartment for a month, that may not be a concern. Have needs for specialized clothing, appliances, whatever, than maybe not a concern, just a situation you have to live with.

For example. my wife and I like to land, get out the door, and get on with our trip. Carry-on and the limits work.

If we are staying in the city we land in for 3-4 days, then checking is not a problem. If we land and are off someplace a 100 miles away, then lost luggage becomes a concern, so we carry-on, staying in the landing city, the bags should find us.

On the way home, we almost always check the bags, they will get to us eventually, the exception being some "treasure" my wife found, then she carries that on if possible.

Proponent? Not really. It's what I choose to do, because that's what works for me. If checking a bag works best for you, then that's what you should do. I don't worry about what others choose to do. In fact, because I was travelling with carryon only long before airlines started charging to check luggage and many others started to do the same, making it more of a race for space, I'd be thrilled if most people stopped doing it.

I don't think I've ever seen anyone here suggest that we should count on other passengers or flight attendants to help with our bags. That thought has never crossed my mind. I'm 67 and petite, and I can manage it myself very well. If that changes, then I'll change my packing style.

I think it really depends upon your individual situation. I too need to be very careful how much I carry. I liked Paul's comments. And, It depends. If you can easily manage your own bags that are within the limits of all the airlines you're flying, and want the convenience, why not? Last springtime on a short 6-day trip to Germany, my bag weighed 12LBS and I was happy to have just carryon, and as others have said, to be able to just get off the plane and go.

OTOH, when I fly between ARN & SFO for months at a time, my carryon is less than 5LBS - meds, my pillow, & a change of clothing plus at this time of year my winter jacket in case I'm stranded. I check a bag because I don't NEED anything in it anytime soon. I was pretty sure 2 petite ladies flying with me business class to CPH recently were heading on an RS tour, (based upon some RS luggage), almost max weight, they struggled to lift bags, hit another passenger on the head with a large personal item, and basically looked like they had a horrible time getting into their seats. IE, it just depends.

I bring my lightweight Cotopaxi backpack bag and love it! When people want to know more about packing light (14 pounds total), I’m happy to help them. But, if somebody wants to check a bag, or bring two large cruise-size suitcases, I don’t care. Everyone has their own travel style.

During my last flights home from Italy, there was a short woman who couldn’t reach the overhead bin. I helped her with her lighter bag, but I declined when she wanted me to also put a heavier suitcase up there. I wasn’t going to risk hurting my back.

Patti, since you have shoulder issues, try to be kind to yourself and select the lightest empty suitcase that will work for you. Some of them can be quite heavy before anything is even placed in them.

Not sure how the carry on devotees will manage when the European airlines clamp down on the weight and size of them even more.

Won't affect me at all. My previous carryon was a Samsonite "underseater." My current one is an "international carryon."

I have seen people dragging questionably-sized luggage onto the plane, but I doubt very much those travellers are the "carry on devotees." Those are people trying to get away with carrying on without actually packing light. LOL.

We do not travel light, so we check bags. They have always arrived with us (hot thus continues). If you can travel with carryon good for you.

However, if you use carryon please respect the size and weight limits. I have very little patience with those who wish to do carryon with an oversize and over weight bag. I wish the airlines would enforce their own rules and makes those who do not comply pay and also be the last people to board.

However in North America it appears the scofflaws win due to poor enforcement of their own rules rules.. (sorry for the rant)

For some folks, to be sure, carry-on-only is a religion.

There are many great reasons to travel with carry-ons only. But there are also many great reasons to check a bag.

This Thursday I'll be leaving on a two-month trip to four countries. I'm hoping to fit everything into a rollaboard size bag, but even then, I may decide to check it for some of the flights. (I may have no choice, because some of the weight limits are very stringent.) I find if I use a larger suitcase, I end up bringing more stuff.

The issue, for me, is not whether to check a bag or not, but how to avoid overpacking. Smaller hotel rooms accommodate smaller bags better than large ones. Pulling a heavy bag off of the carousel, out of the trunk of a taxi, carrying it up a flight of stairs, or lifting it onto a luggage rack is a pain.

My view is that there's a lot of projection, and the demand for absolutism outstrip the actual supply. I believe that people are just quick to take umbrage when they are presented with concepts that challenge their boundaries and advocating for a particular technique isn't absolutism.

Back in 2022 I started checking an empty carry-on sized bag. Carry-on only was easy, but I didn't want to pack like I were in an origami competition when going home or judiciously select souvenirs. I've never felt, and no one posting has ever made me feel like I had to to select one option over the other.

> The issue, for me, is not whether to check a bag or not, but how to avoid overpacking. Smaller hotel rooms accommodate smaller bags better than large ones. Pulling a heavy bag off of the carousel, out of the trunk of a taxi, carrying it up a flight of stairs, or lifting it onto a luggage rack is a pain.

That's a great comment, Lane. The benefits of carryon-only aren't just about getting on/off the plane. It's about packing light and reducing the burden on yourself for the whole trip. And sometimes it doesn't work, or other factors overrule.

"And it's definitely not the job of the flight attendants"

I would have thought it is part of their job if the passenger has carryon luggage within the weight and size guidelines and is genuinely having difficulty.

I fly about once a month and on almost all flights I see cabin crew offer to assist passengers having difficulty - at least Singapore Airlines crew do (and I've seen Qantas and Jetstar crew do this as well). And I would always offer to help as well.

I would have thought it is part of their job if the passenger has carryon luggage within the weight and size guidelines and is genuinely having difficulty.

In the United States, it is not part of their job description and is actively discouraged because the airlines are tired of paying Workmen’s Compensation claims because the flight attendant got injured, lifting the steamer trunks into the overhead bin. If you request help, they will quite often help you by tagging it to your final destination and putting it under the plane.

I used to assist. And then I met grandma. Grandma was probably close to 80 years old and she could not lift her luggage into the overhead bin so I volunteered to help. It took me and another man to lift this monstrosity. she had, it was not a big piece of luggage, but apparently she was packing lead weight. I don’t know how she got it down because the other passenger and I agreed we weren’t touching that thing again but I learned my lesson. I’m not willing to risk injury because you decided to pack everything you owned in a suitcase

We are currently in Rome for a few weeks and leave Friday for a transatlantic cruise. Because I knew we would stay in Rome and “move” only once to the ship, and because we need some cruise-use only gear (pool stuff, a few dress up outfits), and because “we have the space”, I threw in a few extra shirts and shoes into our checked larger bag. Mistake. I forgot how small this apartment is (were are staying at my sister’s) and I’m really tired of moving it from place to place in order to eat, sit down or reach the balcony. It’s like another piece of furniture. I’ve also found that we’ve accumulated a few things that we never would have when we traveled with carry-ons only. While it was freeing to board with only personal items, next time, we’re going back to carry-ons only and we’ll dress down for dinner. However, the bathing suit stays!

The first post, by Stan, summed up my thoughts.

Patti, with shoulder issues I would definitely check a bag. Why risk hurting yourselves.

We do carryon only as much as we can. A trip this summer though, we had to check because the weight limit was 13# and ours were 16#. The bummer on that one was my husband's bag was left behind for 5 days. If we could have carried it on, we would have had our insulated pants etc as we were in Greenland. We were in a very small town and it was difficult enough just finding socks and underwear for him. Plus we were on the move to another village, so he just had to make do for 5 days. Not anyones preference of course.

I am short, but can lift my own bag. We are always size/weight compliant with the airlines. One trip, about a month post op from knee replacement, and my mom had died that week, so I was a bit of a mess. I was sitting in the handicapped seats waiting to board, and an agent offered to check my bag. I couldn't as I had mom's things with me. I explained, and the agents went out of their way to help me. One took my bag down the ramp and put it above my seat. I was shocked, but very appreciative. I could have done it (did for the flight down), but their help was great. Another agent walked down the ramp with me, and they made sure I was the only one walking down there so that I was not rushed. I was the first person on the plane, and obviously their generosity in helping me has not been forgotten. Several passengers offered to get my bag down for me once we landed, and again I was grateful. We landed on the tarmac so had to go down the steep ramp etc and another lady took my bag for me, and even all the way back up into the terminal. I will help others as much as I can, as you never know what someone is going through. It is never expected to have to help others, but if possible, why not.

We leave this week for another trip and my packed bag is 16.8#, only because I was indecisive and kept throwing more clothes in.

That said, if people want to check bags, that is not a bad thing. We just all have our preferences and those change over time, change for the specifics of a trip, etc. Do what works best for you, in every aspect of travel.

A time and place for everything.

While I love traveling with a carryon and my sling back daybed, there are times when variable such as planned activities and a vast range of anticipated weather require checking in a bag. Fortunately, i have never had an issue going over but my return trips routinely lose my bag for a day or two back home. Frustrating as all get out.

Interestingly, on the last couple of trips I have availed myself of the hotel laundry service which is something my budget traveller mindset never allowed in the past. Now I really consider myself a posh traveller.

Stan, Carol and mikliz pretty much summed up my attitude. I did help Grandma recently. She had absolutely no business trying to bring that bag on. I will probably not do so again. I have asked for help with my weight and size compliant carry on bag. But that was because it was a small lightweight duffle bag that had slid all the way to the far back of a very deep bin and I'm 5'2" and couldn't reach it even though I was standing on the arm rest.

We always check bags. We are not light packers. Also, we like the ease of walking through the airport and settling into the plane with just personal items.

We are actually more careful if train travel is part of our itinerary. Then we need to be prepared to lift and carry the bags longer distanced.

We're also big "carry-on only" travellers, being absolutely paranoid about lost luggage which has happened to us several times in the past. However, it all boils down to the nature of your trip and what you're comfortable with. Plus how much extra stuff you think you'll want to bring home. We've done 5 weeks in Puerto Rico with just carry-ons as summer clothes are lighter and we did laundry every 10 days or so. But on a month-long trip flying with AirTransat, which has very small carry-on allowances, we checked and took slightly bigger bags. I love not being at the mercy of baggage handlers or waiting (and waiting!) for the bags to roll down the chute, and so have assembled my perfect combo of a 21" roller and an under-seater that rides on top of it. But when the situation calls for it, we check.

I support the "Do what works for you"

We both have RS Classic bags. When we worked and had to cram as much vacation as possible into 3 weeks we did Carry-On, but after we retired we just take a few more days and check the bags.

When we stay 4 days or more, we stay in an appartment with a washer.

Each to their own.

I've always checked my larger luggage (previously a Backpack but now a medium Spinner) and thankfully never had a problem with that approach. I've never felt the need to travel with carry-on only.

These days I'm using a small Duffle for my carry-on, as it's the right size to handle my camera gear and other items as well as fit under the seat. I also have to travel with a "personal item" now, as I use a CPAP machine. My belief is that everyone should use whatever method works best for them.

I took a short trip last month and tried using AirTags this time, and was quite impressed with the performance. The updated AirTags that will be released sometime this fall are apparently going to be even better.

Airline employees love it when people check bags. Recently, I flew home from Budapest and was wishing I could check my bag, but because it was going to cost over 55 euros, I reluctantly decided on carry-on. My bags fit the measurements of the airline, so I wasn't worried. But the evening before, I got a message from KLM, telling me that the flight was full and letting me know that if I wanted to check my bag, I should take it to the check-in counter in the morning, and it would be checked all the way to my final destination.

I chose to take advantage of that and the next morning headed for the check-in counter. I had already checked in online, so all I was doing was checking the bag. The lines were packed, but one of the agents told me to head over to a single lane for people checking bags only who were already checked in. There was no one there, so I got in right away and checked my bag.

The gate agent thanked me profusely, saying that she wished more people would do this instead of them having to take bags away from people at the gate and face all the repercussions from the angry customers.

Mardee, the irony of this is astounding. The airlines pricing structure is, in large part, what drives many travelers to avoid checking a bag. Then they have to gate check because the overhead bins are full. Boarding takes much longer when people are having to perform Tetris-like maneuvers to fit their bags into the overheads while lines of people are stuck in the aisle waiting to get to their seats.

If airline employees really prefer we check bags, we should be incentivized to do so. Checked bags should be free, and carry-ons should cost. I suppose that would be difficult to enforce, though.

That last sentence from Lane really makes a good point!

I've had the same experience as Simon. I've not been on one flight in the past few years where someone has not offered to lift my bag into the overhead compartment.. It's usually a flight attendant but very often, a fellow passenger. I almost always fly on airlines other than US carriers, so perhaps that's the difference. Same is true on the return, getting the bag down from the compartment.

I do think that the overhead compartments on some airlines are much higher than they were in the past. coming home from Italy east week, on ITA, I could barely reach the place to open the compartment, no less lift my hard-sided bag up to store it. I'm small, though. I guess I appear to need help!

My local German airport is notoriously strict with weighing hand luggage. It is also served by a lot of small planes where you have to gate check almost anything with wheels, so struggling to hit 7/8kg hand luggage limits feels like wasted effort at times, especially since I prefer my personal item to be a backpack and so can't easily go wheel-less.

Height is also a factor. I'm very short - I will kick off my shoes and climb on my seat to put a bag up if I have to, but I'd rather not make it a habit! But even very short people don't have endless leg room in economy, so there's a limit to how much I am willing to put under my seat.

As a result, I no longer bother to attempt carry-on only trips longer than a few days.

What have I learnt? I've discovered I actually much prefer travelling with a slightly bigger checked main bag containing all my luggage items + a carry on bag with only actual day to day essential requirements (jacket, water, book, medication) and emergency clothes over trying to minimise the size of my main suitcase but then having to keep my personal item full of overflow stuff. I really dislike having to rearrange or redistribute things if I'm putting my main bag in a locker or hotel storage on the road but want to head straight back out for the day.

(I once had to keep flippers and goggles in my backpack all day in Aix because I didn't have anywhere else to put them, and my hiking poles went to the movies with me in Stuttgart. Funny in hindsight, but annoying.)

I've also noticed that my preferred "everyday carry" bags are not the ones best suited to maximising personal item dimensions. It's more important for me to have the perfect day bag for a particular trip (I am fussy!) than to pick based on capacity alone. Every time I've gone with a compromise and picked a secondary bag based on its ability to fit my overflow hiking boots, souvenir mug and random not-quite-dry-yet shirt rather than the perfect placement of the water bottle holder, the zip pocket exactly the size of my fleece, or the comfy straps, I've regretted it.

All that being said, though, my approach works for me. I'm willing to pay for the convenience of a checked bag and to take the risk of it going astray (it has happened to me, but not often). If other people aren't, that's fine too. Just don't take advantage. Unfortunately, that part seems to be the hardest to fix.

(No, you can't put your extra bag in my leg room because "I don't need the space". And please don't drop your too-heavy bag on my friend's head while trying to wrestle it in. [It missed by millimetres.] Plus, if I'm in an exit row, please don't take my bag out because yours is a bit bigger - mine can't stay under my seat, but yours can go under yours, since you're actually sitting six rows back anyway.)