Checking a bag

Gate checking on little planes where they hand it to you at the bottom of the stairs isn't the end of the world. Checking a bag isn't the end of the world either. I do carryon to skip the ticket counter line is all. And in the winter that isn't akways possible.

Direct flights should never be a problem with checked luggage. I just ensure my carry-on has the toiletries and a change of underclothing just in case.

It is nice, however, to arrive at the airport with your flight pass and head straight for security, and then upon arrival straight to customs.

A quick google search shows through various surveys that 55% of passengers check bags-these surveys were done last year. I have to wonder what kind of chaos is going to happen if even 5% of those change their minds and decide carry-on is the way to go? It's already becoming a battle for overhead bin space.

We rarely check a bag. My husband has to for work due to the items he has to bring along and so he will do most anything to not check a bag for personal travel. I’ve had to gate check my bag once, through no fault of my own. I was panicked the entire time as my bag had all original trust documents etc I only had a purse with me so couldn’t grab the huge notebook as I had nowhere to put it.

I am fortunate that time is my friend. If I have to wait 30 minutes for a bag, it’s not a big deal. I no longer hurry. And I am also fortunate that I have not yet had to travel with anything irreplaceable in a checked bag.

I am developing the mindset (and packing process) that if my whole suitcase goes missing, I can replace it and its contents - and also be fine (I want to channel my inner Dave leaving his suitcase on the plane) - another adventure. But I know not everyone is as fortunate as me.

The odds of your luggage getting list are so remote that it's never a worry. If it does get lost Europeans have these things called clothing stores. Of course my bag cost $130, not $350.

Yes, while I prefer to carry-on most times, I also have to "valet check" my bag quite often, seeing I fly out of a regional airport (where they collect the bag as you enter the plane, then have it waiting for you when you get off at the gate) with never a worry, unless I forget to retrieve it.

Same with direct budget flights within Europe (or any intra-European flight actually); being a direct flight, there really is little opportunity for error, the greatest risk occurs in the handling from one flight to another. Many stress over trying to meet some miniscule weight limit on theses airlines, just pay to check a bag, the total cost is still dirt cheap.

I also will check a bag, almost always, on my return flight to the US. If it is delayed, I am at home anyway, and after a long trip, being able to wander the airport without a bag in tow seems like a luxury.

What does YMMW mean?

where they collect the bag as you enter the plane, then have it waiting for you when you get off at the gate

I always see the long line of people "waiting" for their gate checked bags as I walk by, not the other way around...

Judy, I believe it stands for Your Mileage May Vary which can mean your experience is different from mine.

YMMV- Your Mileage May Vary. Your experience may differ from that of the poster.

It is rare that I DONT check a bag, unless I'm taking a very short trip. Have I ever had a bag lost? Not in over 40 years. Have I ever had a bag delayed? Yes, but I can count them on one hand. But every time it has arrived within 1-2 days and had no impact on the trip, other than the time it took at the airport luggage counter.

And as a wise person upthread noted- should a bag go astray for longer, I'm perfectly happy to throw money at the problem.

YMMW=your millage may wary

He is pronouncing the V in vary like Olie in Gimmelwald pronounces the V in village.

It's vierd because in German, a W is pronounced like our V, but a V is pronounced like our F. It should be Fillage, Olie.

Frank II, like I, wants everyone else to start checking bags so there is more space in the overhead bins (for us).

If everyone adhered strictly to the airline's size limitations, particularly the height of rolling suitcases, then there would be enough room in the bins, and people wouldn't be hunting around for space.

Paul, Wizz is 10kg each for trolly and personal item. Ryan is 10kg on the trolly and no limit on the personal item. Some of the more liberal weight restrictions. Lufthansa limits me to 8kg total on the way over.

If you start checking bags, then 30 euro tickets can easily reach 100 euro.

I have had trouble finding space in the overhead 1 time in 20 and because I am economy light, I board last.

But again, I'm no fanatic on the subject. Just happens to work for me most, not all, of the time.

We try to only do carry ons, but often we go on trips where we plan to do some kind of outdoor activity like day hikes, so we end up checking a bag that contains outdoor wear, maybe boots, trekking poles, water bottles, daypacks, etc. If we do just a city trip then we can do only carry ons.

We always check bags for 2 reasons:
1. My spouse has some health issues which requires extra supplies and thus more luggage space is needed. (A reason that may be more common than many folks may realize in the ongoing debate about checked versus carry on).
2. My spouse has quite a large shoe size which also takes up some extra room.

Over many years of travel to Europe with various connections we have had 3 close calls. One suitcase got caught on the conveyor belt just behind where suitcases come out but was eventually found by a staff person. A connecting flight in Frankfurt was too brief (because of delays of our first flight) for our luggage although we made it. Our luggage was delivered the next day and we had basics in our carry on. Plus we had AirTags in our luggage so we knew where it was for the 24 hour period. A connecting flight in Heathrow was too tight because of a delay. Our suitcases were delivered to us at home 1.5 days later on Christmas morning, organized by British Airways.

We will always need/want to check baggage.

I've been checking bags more and more frequently, just because I don't want to deal with an extra bag at the airport. I don't have to try and cram 2 bags into a bathroom stall or worry about walking away from them for a minute, or maneuvering them down a crowded aisle on the plane. It's just easier.

That said, if I had a tight layover, I would probably carry it on, but I really don't mind spending 10-15 minutes at the end heading to the baggage carousel and waiting for my bag.

Mardee, agree waiting 30 minutes for our suitcases. It is typically the jet lag day and we actually aren’t in a big rush, particularly if we have arrived earlier in the day and will be waiting for our hotel room anyway. Thirty minutes out of a multi week trip isn’t a big deal IMO.

I too had to check a bag recently (brought home Calvados). It went smoothly. It didn't even slow us down because we had to wait for our ride anyways.

I still will continue to carry on.
I just like to have all of my stuff with me.
I don't want my beautiful back pack abused by the handlers.

I pay more for a more comfortable seat and it comes with guaranteed bin space.

We almost never have a direct flight from where we live to our destination. Often, our choices are between a very tight layover or a ridiculously long one. Doing carryon only can mean the difference between making our second flight or not. (We've done "The Amazing Race" through Frankfurt airport at least twice.) Also, it's much, much easier on trains and buses, and in accommodations with stairs. It's also nicer in the rooms, which, in Europe, are often small.

Yes, we've done turboprop flights (e.g. Flybe, when it existed), and sometimes we've chosen to gate check when volunteers were requested (if we were flying to our final destination or had a comfortable layover time). Of course the world did not end.

However, having travelled both ways (carryon only and not--still do "not" sometimes, out of necessity, for particular trips), I know that I much, much prefer to do carryon only.

That doesn't mean everyone has to. In fact, the more that people check bags, the easier it is to find space in the overhead bins. It used to be much easier before airlines started charging for checked bags (which was years after I started travelling with carryon only).

As you say, YMMV, but I know what works best for me.

Those who check bags have been reported to the webmaster.

LOL, Mister É.

Checking a bag and avoiding the boarding/bin space struggle is well worth the small risk in lost luggage. I dont take things that cant be replaced.

Doing carryon only can mean the difference between making our second flight or not. (We've done "The Amazing Race" through Frankfurt airport at least twice.)

The above doesn’t make sense to me. How does carry-on help with a short connection? It is much easier to dash through an airport when you don’t have luggage.

I’m one of the few on this board who now always checks their luggage for transatlantic flights. I have a rollaboard that is acceptable for carry-on on for most U.S. airlines, but a little too large for the European discount carriers. After 9/11, I got tired of bringing a bag through security and getting stopped for random bag checks while TSA rifled through my bag. I find it very freeing to drop off the rollaboard and go through the airport with just my purse and a daypack. If I want to pack a hiking pole or a corkscrew or some extra liquid, I don’t have to worry about it. I don’t have to stress about whether there will be room in the overhead. I have enough clothes for 3 days in my daypack, so in the unlikely event that my luggage goes missing, I am good for a while. I can walk quickly to immigration or my flight connection because I am not dragging a suitcase behind me.

Between 1997 and 2000, my bag got ”lost” by the airlines 5 times. All but once, the luggage arrived the following day and was delivered to my hotel. SAS lost my luggage for 5 days, but ultimately found it and delivered it to my office. I haven’t had my luggage lost in the last 23 years (keeping my fingers crossed) and hope that continues.

I understand why people want to carry on their bags; however, I don’t get why people think it will be the end of the world if they have to check. It annoys me that boarding takes so long because people try to carry everything and the kitchen sink onto the plane. On my last flight to Lisbon, the flight was completely full. The gate agent announced that at least 20 people would be required to gate check their carry-on because there would not be enough room in the overheads for everyone’s bag. They announced that people needed to remove their electronics, meds, and anything needed for the flight in case they were required to gate check.

It is fine to carry-on, but some people just need to concede that their bag is too large or heavy and check.

How does carry-on help with a short connection? It is much easier to dash through an airport when you don’t have luggage.

Plus if you are forced to gate check a bag, you have to wait on it, and that could be disastrous for the short connection.

I’m one of the few on this board who now always checks their luggage for transatlantic flights.

We check bags on all transatlantic trips, so I am one of the few, too...

Laura, we totally agree with you - we nearly always check our bags. The freedom of movement between bag check and retrieving it at our destination is priceless to me. The onboarding/offboarding bag rodeo is getting worse and worse. Having to make everything I take fit into TSA requirements for screening is a pain. Each to their own, but bag checking reigns for us!

I love this post Frank

And love your comment James ! Excuse me, Mister E

At least in one case, people had to get their luggage, go through security again, etc. (because there weren't enough gates available, and we had to get off on the tarmac). We would never have made our next flight, in that instance.

When we've volunteered to gate check our bags, in most cases, they are waiting for us as we get off the plane.

I prefer carryon, and as my bag is smaller than the maximum (it's called an "underseater"), I'm not one of those trying to sneak a huge bag through.

We've had luggage lost on an 80 minute direct flight (i.e. 4 people's luggage made it, 1 person's didn't). I've also had people take my bag, mistaking it for theirs. In fact, this just happened getting off a bus at Union Station in Toronto, even though I had a piece of cloth tied around the handle to distinguish it. (Fortunately, in that case, I caught up with the person before she had left the area.)

We don't always stay at hotels, so waiting for our luggage to be delivered could mean taking time out of sightseeing.

Oh, and last year, in Dublin, the lineup to check bags was several hours long.

Anyway, I prefer to travel with that size of luggage, regardless, so why should I check it if it meets the size requirements for carryon?

Not sure why anyone else would care.

I'm a retired airline employee and quite often had to deal with passengers with lost luggage. When I fly on my outbound flight, I try everything possible to carry on my luggage. My travels almost always include at least one and sometimes two connecting flights, so I know the chances of my bags being lost will be much higher than someone who is flying nonstop to their destination. Now when I'm flying home, I am much more willing to check a bag as long as I have a change of clothes in my personal item.

I check bags because I am short, and it's not always easy for me to lift a bag into overhead storage. I am also a firm believer in the if you can't lift it, check it school of airline travel.

Plus, I hate the scrum for space

BB, you make an excellent point about why anyone else would care. I wonder, if in theory, the economy cabin can hold all the (correct size) carry on if everyone chose to do that? I am fortunate enough now to travel Business Class so overhead space is available. But I remember being very frustrated when it has been difficult to find overhead space for my 1 small carry on knapsack because a lot of folks had carry on sized suitcases plus the personal item that didn’t always fit under the seat. Particularly for long flights, this all gets quite challenging. Which I suppose is why the checked versus carry on debate/discussion will continue on forever:)

Anyway, I prefer to travel with that size of luggage, regardless, so why should I check it if it meets the size requirements for carryon?
Not sure why anyone else would care.

BB, I don’t think anyone cares whether other people carry on (or check) when they follow the rules. I certainly understand why people choose to carry on.

The problem is that there seem to be a lot of people who don’t follow the rules. It seems like at least once a week someone makes a post along the lines of, ”Will (insert airline name) weigh/measure my bag?”. The people who try to carry on more than what is allowed make things worse for everyone.

It is definitely frustrating when people try to skirt the rules. I often see people with a huge backpack (at least as big as a carryon), PLUS a larger "carryon."

We had something interesting when we checked our bag yesterday on our Alaska Air flight. The agent accepting the bag ran through the list of “does your bag contain any…” and the last question was, “medication” I don’t ever remember that before. Usually they just ask about flammables and lithium batteries.

For domestic flights we usually check and on the flight home from international, but unless we have a couple of days in our arrival location we do carry-on.

According to the "travel expert" on the morning news today, airlines are starting to become more strict with sizes and weights of carry-on bags, so I suspect I'll also be checking bags in future. I expect there will be a charge for that.

Hey, I've just completed an analysis of aircraft bin space.

I limited this analysis to two-aisle aircraft (every trans-Atlantic flight I have ever been on was on a two-aisle aircraft). They are either 2-4-2, 2-5-2, 3-3-3, or 3-4-3 configuration. Assuming that these aircraft now have modern bins that are at least 14" high (the regulation width for bags on most (all?) trans-Atlantic airlines, and enough depth that a "regulation" height suitcase can fit in, wheels, or bottom, first, there is more than enough space for every passenger to have at least 9" (usually a lot more) of bin length. That is enough space to fit a regulation size bag. There is plenty of space in the overhead bins for every passenger's luggage.

So, why is there a problem? Considering that over half of passengers check their luggage, there should never be a problem.

But, I've seen some people try to bring onboard a carryon that is too long (more than 22") to fit in the overhead bin across the cabin, i.e., wheels or bottom first. So they have to put in in sideways, where it take the width for 2½ normal bin users.

In my opinion, any bag put in sideways should be taken out and shredded, or at least put on the next flight to the destination. Ok, at least gate checked at a higher fee for the extra service.

Maybe airlines should have kiosks installed in all of the gate areas. Passenger put their "carry-on" in the kiosk, wheels or bottoms in first, wide side (14") down. If they can't close the door of the kiosk, red lights flash, sirens blared, and gendarmes appear to take them to the place of execution. OK, maybe not, but they can't get approved. After they get the door closed, platens come in from the sides to make sure it doesn't exceed the maximum width. Then a platen comes down to assure it does not exceed the allowed cross-section, 14"x9" or 126 sq in.

If your bag passes, it is automatically affixed with a non-removable sticker (color and pattern changes daily, like ski lift tickets) to show that you can carry it on. Otherwise it falls to the floor below to be gate checked with an additional fee, payable at baggage claim.

Lee, thank you for answering the question in my comment about enough space! The rest of your answer made me smile too:)

I still remember the flight I took when a woman brought her wedding dress on board and it took up the entire bin space. No one else was allowed to put anything in it. I assume she had never heard of a hand steamer before...

Well, I still remember the flight I took to Frankfurt in the early 2000s. I remember in the boarding area were two, maybe three business men who had checked all of their luggage and were waking around hands free, fat, dumb, and happy. We had an hour to make a connection in Detroit to a Luftahansa 747 to Frankfurt. Our flight to Detroit was an hour late taking off because it was snowing, and they had to wait in line to de-ice the plane.

Once we were airborn, I mentioned my 1 hour connection in Detroit to the flight attendant. She checked the manifest and found that there were 13 of us, including the business men, on the flight, who were transferring to the Lufthansa flight. The airline met us at the gate in Detroit and drove us around to the international flight. I wasn't worried; my carry-on bag was sitting on my lap the whole time. We made the connection, but I doubt that any luggage did. That was the last flight out of Detroit to Germany that day. Unless the luggage was flown down to Chicago to be put on one of the many later flights from there to Frankfurt, the checked luggage probably remained in Detroit until the next day.

After landing in Frankfurt, the businessmen were going on to near Stuttgart. I've always wondered how the felt when they arrived in Stuttgart, without any luggage - still fat and dumb, but no longer happy?

After landing in Frankfurt, the businessmen were going on to near Stuttgart. I've always wondered how the felt when they arrived in Stuttgart, without any luggage - still fat and dumb, but no longer happy?

Are you sure they didn't get it? Many years ago I had to check a bag for work. My arriving plane was late and I had a few minutes to make the connection. I was told my bag probably wouldn't make it. It was waiting for me when I arrived at my final destination. That was 30 years ago. Baggage systems are more advanced these days.

Luggage gets loaded onto the plane even after the passenger door is closed.

When we landed, the F/A asked everyone to remain seated until the 13 of us got off the plane. We were immediately taken downstairs to a waiting van and rushed over to the international terminal, where the Lufthansa plane was already boarding. We were probably already in the air by the time the baggage handlers knew which bags in the first plane's hold went to Frankfurt.

I had to wait 5 minutes for my bag

Five minutes?!!

One time I landed in Munich. In the seat next to me on the way over was a young German woman with whom I conversed during the flight. When we landed, we went straight to immigration, then down the elevator to baggage claim. I had no baggage to pick up (I was strictly carry-on), but there is an ATM in the baggage claim room. After using the ATM, I walked out through the "nothing to declare" aisle, headed for the S-Bahn station. I looked back to see the young lady still waiting at the baggage carousel. No bags had yet started to come out.

I honestly love checking our bags. I just don’t want to bother with them and love to walk around fat, dumb, and happy. We’ve never had a problem with lost or delayed luggage, and I don’t mind waiting a few minutes at the baggage carousel. If they do get lost, Amex will reimburse us for our shopping spree, so it’s all good. Happy travels everyone!