Checking vs Carrying On

Thanks for posting, Frank. It’s all the basic arguments that people discuss here, but I was surprised at the lost bags statistics posted. One out of 200 bags mishandled or lost seems high. But that issue is what keeps me almost always doing carry on. It has happened to me or someone I’m traveling with 3 times over the years so maybe that 1 out 200 stat is accurate. Hmm…..

I did not watch it. It comes up enough on here. Maybe not as an outright A vs B topic but is expressed in other ways. It is set. There is no swaying the other side. And that is what it is, the other side. There is passion, and underneath, privilege, resentment, expectations, and superstition, and a big lot of, it’s all about me. It is part of travel in this day and age of huge masses of people moving themselves out and about. It is altitudes. It is overcrowding. It is all of us trying to break ourselves free in some way to temper the trying experience of flying. It is the wolves and the sheep.

Both made some fairly silly points though..I mean, who is going to need to go out shopping for shoes? Wouldn't you take your activities into account before you packed and not need "just in case" shoes? And the carryon gal says she is worried some of the things that are important to her might get damaged if she checks a bag...seriously, don't take stuff that is very important and apt to be damaged.

I, too, was astonished at the stats on the mishandled bags. I'm usually a Delta Flyer and yikes on the American Airlines statistic. It also doesn't take into consideration that Delta, United and American have many more flights than Hawaiian, Allegiant and Frontier.

TBH, I think most regular readers of the forum are miles ahead of these 2. Discussions here help folks make informed choices whether they are Team Check or Team Carry on.

I agree that the points have already been brought up in forum discussions. The word I don’t agree with is “debate”. I don’t care if someone else on our forum decides to check or carry on their bag, or if they flip back & forth on those options for specific types of flights. I am not winning points or trying to convert someone into the lightweight carry on backpack Cotopaxi Allpa 35L - 13.5 pounds total weight & I’m breezing through lots of trains for a month through Europe! LOL! But, if somebody likes to talk specifically how they could just do carry on, there’s lots of great advice over the years on this forum to help them.

And yes, the graphic of the number of lost bags should also have shown a second column with percentages per bags checked for each airline to be meaningful.

Well this discussion is always new to somebody.

I really think that focusing this "issue" on the flight is only part of what should be considered. Getting through the airport and the flight is only a small part of the trip. Packing light is the real point, as it frees you up for the whole trip. And it's a different consideration if you're going on a business trip, a resort vacation, and a two week tour, and whether it's a direct flight or multiple connections.

Critiquing the video: I've given up on carryon only, because of the "competition for overhead space." I picture the "pro-carryon-only person" as being the one who fills a whole bin up with her bag, giant personal item, coat, and computer bag. They didn't pursue the "lost" definition enough. I've had checked luggage delayed, but never lost. Sometimes I wish they would lose it, so I could get compensated and replace the old clothes I prefer to take. Lounges and superior credit card perks is a discussion beyond the scope of most casual travelers.

Really, why is this a debate? Why should I care, take an interest in, or become personally invested in how another chooses to pack or organize their baggage? And why should anyone care about me?

”I picture the "pro-carryon-only person" as being the one who fills a whole bin up with her bag, giant personal item, coat, and computer bag.”

Stan, fortunately the experience on my most recent flights is that the gate check is being much more thorough now and forcing travelers to have only two items total. The carry on suitcases I saw seem to be much more in line with the actual dimensions, too. We can only hope it continues. ; )

I hope so Jean. My tone is from multiple bitter experiences. A lot of things would go easier, including de-planing etiquette, if airlines enforced their existing rules.

I flew recently on Southwest which I do not fly on. I carried my bag on as I usually do. I was shocked at the at least half empty luggage compartments when we landed.

Apparently, there are lots of people who would check their bags if the airlines didn’t charge them!