doug_stallings

My most recent article on the Web site gives some tips on how best to be a carry-on traveler and avoid checked-bag fees. Here's a link: http://www.fodors.com/news/story_3445.html

I'd love to get more feedback from fellow Fodorites on how you have managed to avoid paying check-bag fees. What kinds of bags do you use? Any useful tips you could add to my list of 10?

Thanks, Doug

suze

Sorry but I think no. 6 "one pair of shoes" is HORRIBLE advice (even if you really mean two, one on your feet & one in the suitcase). When you're traveling nothing is more important than being able to walk comfortably for miles every day. You can rinse out the same t-shirt and wear it over and over again, no harm done. But if your single (or one of only two) pair of shoes wears a blister on your foot the first day, you're basically screwed.

suze

I also disagree with no. 4 saying to leave your shampoo and conditioner at home and just use what the hotel gives you. No way Jose! Obviously this article was written by a man (sorry 'bout that Doug). I can take every single product I would normally use at home, enough for a 2-3 week trip, by decanting each product into tiny 1 oz. or 2 oz. plastic travel containers that easily fit into my 1-qt. ziplock allowance.

Therese

Generally good tips, Doug. I agree with suze that there's no need to cut down on the number of toiletries you bring, just scale the amounts back to the minimum needed. Me? Travel without three different types of perfume? If you're in the mood for some heavy reading, click on my name and look for my numbered packing threads (up to eight at last count).

I have to disagree with your suggestion that one use either eBags or seatguru to find airline carry- on restrictions. The info is readily available from the airlines, and can change pretty much at the airline's whim.

toedtoes

I agree with the others regarding shampoo and conditioner. I've tried using the hotel products and they dry out my hair to the point of being brittle. However, I can get everything in a 1-qt. ziplock bag.

I could limit my shoes to two pairs total. Depending on the destination, I may add a pair of sandals (but never substitute them for one of the other two pairs).

As for #10, that's where I fail horribly. I don't take a laptop, but I do take a 22lb carry-on bag of photography equipment. No way will I skip taking any of it.

Of course, I don't let that cost me more. I fly AirCanada. Last year, they started cutting free checked baggage, but they offer a minimum of 2 checked bags again for all flights. 3 for executive class. So, I can check my bag of clothes and not worry about having to cut everything else out.

Since they also allow me to carry on one standard item (21.5" max), one personal item (17" max) and one purse (12" max), I can bring back a bag of souvenirs/gifts and my camera gear without risking either as checked baggage.

suze

no. 10 is one I'm really good at (lol).

I travel with -zero- electronics, unless a flashlight counts! no cell phone, no ipod, no digital camera, no video, no laptop, no blackberry, no GPS... really makes things simple.

Therese

I'm also very good at number 10. I bring a phone, a GPS, a video player, a music and podcast player, digital dictionaries-translators, language learning programs, web access (for email but also for just about anything else that's web-base---I'm using it to write this post, for instance, and have bid on Priceline to find cheaper, better accomodations en route) and probably some other stuff that I haven't figured out yet.

It's my iPhone and I love it. I am still carrying a camera but am seriously considering replacing it with my iPhone.

yk

I'm a woman and I have no trouble with using the hotel's shampoo and conditioner. Within the US I usually stay at 4* business hotels (via Priceline), and I'd say 99% of them provide decent shampoo and conditioner. 3* hotels and/or oversea hotels are harder to predict, so I'd at least bring my own hair conditioner, but I can deal with el cheapo hotel shampoo.

I have easy-to-manage shortish hair and I never blow-dry my hair at home. So I never have to worry about whether my destination offers hairdryer or would I have to pack my own. As for straightener or haircurler? What's that?

For other toiletries such as eye cream, face cream etc, instead of bringing those in 3oz containers, I just squirt a small amount into old contact lens cases (it was another Fodorite's idea). It's brilliant - I can have the Left eye case filled with eye cream and Right eye case filled with night face cream - and it takes up minimal space in my 1-qt ziploc.

I also use free samples I get from Sephora or other online stores. I usually get face cream samples - those tin foil thingies. IME, each has enough cream to last me for 3-4 days, and I just toss them out as I use them up on the trip.

Regarding shoes - if it's a short 4-5 day trip, I don't have problem with ONE pair of shoes. ONE. For longer trips that involves lots of walking during the day and fancier outfits at night, I bring TWO. I don't remember the last time I brought more than two pairs of shoes. All my shoes are comfy that I don't have problem walking in them for 10 miles a day, everyday.

For Rule No.2, that's the reason why I prefer buying the suitcase in person rather than online. I actually bring a measuring tape to the store and measure it right there. I know Heathrow has a stringent sizer - a lot more stringent that US ones - so I downsized my carryon to an 19". It measures about 20" including wheels and handles.

I think the bottom line is, one has to make some sacrifice if one wants to go carryon. For me, it means using hotel shampoo, wearing a limited selection of clothes. However, the upside is I don't have to worry about losing luggage, paying checked luggage fee. But the BEST THING for me, is that I am fully capable of handling my 19" luggage (which weighs around 20lb full) without ever worrying if I can lug them onto a train, or shove it into the overhead bin, or carry it up 4 flgihts of stairs.

Fodorite018

We do carry on only. I have a 21" rolling bag (Rick Steves) that weighs just 7 pounds. The bag works great for me and is very durable. We just got back from a weeklong trip to Paris and DD (18) and I had no trouble packing. Going over, we each of our bags only weighed 17.5 pounds. I had plenty of clothes for the week and even had a few things that I never wore. I make sure that clothes are all color coordinated so I can pretty much close my eyes and put outfits together. I had 2 pairs of shoes in my bag, and wore another pair. I wear my jacket on the plane. For cosmetics/hair I prefer my usual products so bring my own shampoo,etc but use the 1 oz bottles. I use contact lens cases for my moisturizer and foundation. Mascara that comes in the gift with purchase from Clinique, etc works great and sometimes you can get pretty close for your usual blush colors, etc. For clothes I roll most items, and make sure that nothing I take is prone to wrinkles.

Last year DD and I flew halfway across the country for her to attend her BF's prom. We did carryon for that too, with a prom dress. Since that would tend to wrinkle, we carefully laid it out with plastic covers from the dry cleaners and then folded/packed it. It came out beautiful and did not need to be pressed at all.

I do not take a hair dryer with me as everywhere we have been in the last 5-10 years has them. This includes hotels, apts, and even cabins.

suze

Especially if I am on a non-stop flight, I prefer to check my suitcase, even though it's small and weighs 20-25 lbs.

Because I travel solo, it's much easier to get thru airports without hauling something along behind me. I don't mind paying the fee. It's worth it to me, not to be rolling my little suitcase into the bar, into the restroom, etc.

november_moon

My tip for avoiding baggage fees - fly often enough on the same airline or their partners to qualify for premier status

jetsetj

I use this for 3 weeks in Europe.

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/v...y-Lori-Greiner

I bring 4 shirts and 3 pants. 1-2 pairs of shoes. 1 sweater.
I dont wear alot of makeup.
Only blush, lipstick, powder and mascara.
I can get by with just these HABA items.
Shampoo, creme rinse, qtips, soap, toothbrush and paste, lotion, and deodorant.

The only electronics I brings are, IPOD and speakers, camera and charger, and very small electronic translator.

goddesstogo

I agree with leaving electronics at home (except for a small, lightweight camera) but that's because I don't carry a lot of electronics here. I don't have a cell phone for example. Shampoo and conditioner? Are you kidding? It's taken me years to find a brand I like and there's no way I'm undoing all that work by three weeks use of the hotel product.

I don't like baggage fees but to be perfectly honest, if I'm going overseas for three weeks, I'm not interested in carry-on. I want what I want while I'm away and if that means taking checked luggage and paying for it, well, that's just another cost added to my trip. If I felt I had to, I'd cut back somewhere else. One of the great moments of traveling for me is that moment when I check my luggage and I'm free as a bird to browse the bookstores! (Oh, but I do only take reading material and travel info that I can throw away as I finish with it.)

yk

jetsetj, that bag of yours looks small in the photos, but when I read the description, it is actually:

<i>Approximate bag measurements: Closed 15"H x 19"W x 12"D</i>

So total linear inches is 46 inches, which is too large for American Airlines carryon limit (45 linear inches). And the overall rating for that bag is a bit too low for me.

yk

I forgot to answer Doug's question "<i>What kinds of bags do you use?</i>"

I use a discontinued model - TravelPro Crew 5 19". It looks exactly the same as this TravelPro Crew 6 19"
http://www.amazon.com/Travelpro-Crew.../dp/B000NOZKRG

Dimension is: 19" x 14" x 9"

But as I wrote in my earlier post, the length in reality is 20" when I include handles and wheels. But even at 20", the total linear inches is still 43 inches. It fits within the American Airlines sizer, as well as the Heathrow security sizer bin.

jetsetj

I havent been on american airlines with it, but it was ok on Northwest and USair...

annw

Regarding bags, my Tumi wheeled bag didn't last as well as I'd hoped; more recently I have been using Rick Steves carry on bags--either the wheeled bag or the non-wheel bag with stowable backpack straps and shoulder strap. They are "soft style" bags and I'm thinking of getting a firmer fabric for my next bag.

I just did carry-on only to Italy for 16 days with the non-wheeled bag. (For one thing, I had a one hour connection to make at Atlanta.) There were times where I wished I had had my wheelie bag and was tired of carrying this one, but generally when I carried it using the backpack straps it was fine. And I could much more easily schlep it into the overhead bins, up and down train steps, and the like.

I think the two pair of shoes idea is doable. I wore one pair of shoes every day except for one day in Rome when we had rain and I wore the closed toed, black Paul Green walking shoes I had brought. The shoes were Naot black sandals; look great and feel great and were slip on so I didn't need flip flops for "around the house" or going to the pool at the villa where I stayed part of the time.

I do use the hotel shampoo, but I need to bring an "anti frizz" hair product which I put in a small container that I purchase. Ditto skin creams what was said above--samples from the stores, put in old contact lens case, etc. I can recommend the Container Store for excellent small containers (as well as for their Eagle Creek packing envelopes, etc.). I pack enough for the trip and can toss the little 79 cent containers at the end if space is short.

I also found some "tissue thin" shirts at Garnet Hill recently which pack down into nothing at all, as well as a tissue thin soft tshirt style dress which I ended up using for sleeping and to go to above mentioned pool. I used two packing cubes--one for clothing, one for undies. I have a small travel dryer but no longer bring it--there is always a hair dryer anywhere I stay. I bring a small lightweight european current/plug flatiron which fits easily along the side of the suitcase.

This trip I did use the two space-saving bags I brought (that you squeeze all the air out of) for purchases and for dirty clothes toward end of trip.

Reading material takes up room, so I definitely worked on finishing a book I wanted to leave over there, "Brunetti's Venice" (left it in the little "library" where I was staying). The other book was a small but thick detective novel, and I didn't bring the heavy mags I usually take for the plane.

I too rely on the Iphone for basic computing needs now. I get the data roaming package from ATT for the duration of the trip only and use the Internet set up where I'm staying. I also get off all my mailing lists (cooking stores, Red Cross, etc.) before leaving for the trip to avoid data roaming charges for junk mail. I do take a good small digital camera--takes better photos than the Iphone and takes up almost no room. I do take chargers for both but they take up minimal room and the Iphone works for email, internet, phone calls, and ipod/music.

One of the friends I was meeting over there had a lost bag for 2 days, and he just emailed that on his Italy trip in July he is going to travel light like I did.

For people who want to check in I think having one good well-contained wheeled bag plus the handbag/tote would be a good way to go.

For me the challenge remains being very selective about buying anything on the trip and just getting shipped anything I must buy but can't fit in the bag.

yk

annw - regarding purchases one makes while abroad, these are my 2 methods:

1) Sometimes I pack clothes which I don't like anymore and was going to donate them anyway: I just leave those at hotels as the trip progresses, so at the end of the trip, I actually have extra space for purchases

2) I always pack a collapsible duffle bag - mine folds down to the size of a very very thin cushion (1/8" thick). If I buy lots of things, I simply check my suitcase on the way home and carry the duffle bag on the flight with me. If my suitcase end up being lost for a few days, it's not the end of the world since I'm heading home anyway.

Of course, neither method works if I were to buy something large - but I never do anyway.

annw

Thanks yk; I like these methods too. (Though, has a hotel ever helpfully mailed something back to you? I always wondered about that.) In fact I actually packed a Bagallini fold up bag for extra purchases just in case, but then that one hour connection at Atlanta scared me into not checking a bag and thus not buying more than I could flatten into the main carry on bag. I think next time I will revert to my earlier method which is a smaller, parachute fabric tote bag instead of the heavier bagallini bag, because in case I still had to carry on only I could use the tote for the personal item.

A duffle sounds heavy-- is it? Does it take up much room on the way out?

yk

Hi annw -

It's an el cheapo folded duffle with zero reinforcements, so it's very light and takes up no room. I've had two for over 20 years now, and since I only use them for this specific situations (flights on the way home), they are still in pretty good shape. This is what it looks like:
http://www.madeinchina.com/2684181/t...le-32024.shtml

(you can see how small it folds down to)

As for "discarded clothes" - I fold them up, place in a plastic bag, then put the bag on top (or right next to) the trash can. I think my intentions are pretty obvious, no? I've done the same for really worn-out shoes too.