Hi,
My one experience with checking a backpack on a plane was bad, straps and zippers destroyed. We, family of 5, have a 2 month trip around Europe with 3 Ryan air/whizz flights. Any tricks for checking backpacks? We did 2 months last year with trains, so are comfortable with back packs and would like to continue to use them, but this summers destinations will require flights.
Thanks.
I use a RS back-door or convertible backpack, where the straps and waist belt stow away, so baggage handlers have to use the intended grip handles. I have an assortment of new and older ones but tbh prefer the latter (tough cordura vs polyester, YKK vs generic Asian zips). They've been indestructible for me and I don't baby them. There's usually several for sale on ebay at any given time. They aren't ideal for long wilderness hikes though.
Look for a "luggage cover" or "flight cover" that fits your pack, basically a nylon cover that zips up and contains everything.
They are lightweight, can double as a laundry bag. The one thing to watch out for, is that many covers are rain covers, elastic covers that go over your pack like a fitted sheet, leaving the straps exposed so you can wear the pack, that is not what you really want.
You can also "wrap" your bag at the airport. We did this several years ago when we headed over to hike the TMB. They basically saran-wrap your bag for you. There is a fee and I can't remember how much. If you can purchase a lightweight bag to stow it in, I'd recommend going that route intstead though...
If you buy a backpack cover, which will be cheaper than buying new bags, just make sure it can be put on and off easily in case you have to remove it at airport security.
I take it that these are rather large backpacks and exceed the Wizz / Ryan carryon size? You could pack lighter? I used a RS Back Door bag for the first 15 years of travel. Great bag.
A full bag cover is a good idea. Also you can cinch down all your straps as for a they go and if your bag has hip or chest straps, buckle those together. The last couple of time I checked my 32 liter hiking bag I was asked to drop it off at the oversize/bulky luggage drop zone (can't recall the airline), but hadn't been asked to do that when traveling with it many times before. I assume this was due to it being a pack with loose straps since it was neither oversize or bulky. You may ask if you can do something similar. I've checked backpacks many times with none receiving damage so hopefully all goes well for you this time!
Just yesterday I saw an instagram where someone used the IKEA duffel bag FRAKTA to check their backpack. They put the backpack in the duffel, locked the two zippers together and cinched it up in the middle with a luggage strap.
I've checked my Osprey Fairview 40L multiple times on Ryan and both the transatlantic and regional Aer Lingus planes without issue. The key may be that the shoulder straps and hip belt all zip into their own compartment so nothing gets caught in any machinery and as mentioned above, baggage handlers use the grab handles.
I have two backpacks for travel use, and both have detachable day packs (carry on) and a stowable harness system (straps fit inside a zippered compartment).
On a trip several years ago, the airline agent asked me to leave my pack unlocked, as the baggage area X-Ray machine was out of service so they were using hand inspection. I expressed concern about the zippers opening in flight, so the agent placed the pack inside a large plastic bag, which solved the problem. I kept the plastic bag and it turned out to be very useful later in that trip.
