I will be studying abroad in England for three months this fall. I'm going to be flying on United from MSN-ORD-LHR and in reverse for return. I can only fly economy and being short don't plan on upgrading to E+.

My question is about carry-on restrictions. I only get one checked bag which I'm a little worried about considering I'll be gone 3 months. I was originally thinking on taking one carry-on and two checked bags, but now I'm not so sure. I bought a new bag to be my carry-on but am wondering if I might be able to use it as a personal item and use a bigger bag(still within the regulation size) for my main carry-on. The bag is a satchel by dakine. Dimensions: 19" width across the middle x 7" depth x 13" height. If I were to use it for my personal item, I wouldn't pack it as full so it seemed smaller.

http://www.zappos.com/dakine-satchel

Thanks in advance for any help and tips,
Jenz

First - on international flights you get one "free" checked bag on United - you can always pay $50/bag for the additional checked bag(s). That may be your best bet if you need to bring more stuff with you.

Second - Untied limits carry-ons to 9"x14"x22" or a total of 45 linear inches. Your bag measures 7"x13"x19" seems to fall within these guidelines. Because of it's size (about the same as a standard rollaboard) it will be consider as a "primary" pice of carry-on luggage and will not pass muster as a "personal item" which are usually described a briefcase, garment bag, laptop computer, purse or small backpack. If the gate agent or flight attendant notices you are bringing two large carry-ons they will make you check one before boarding the plane. You are going to be at their mercy - telling them that someone on a travel forum told you it would be OK won't mean a thing.

Consider packing real light because when you get to London you may find that you are not wearing the "In" clothes and eventually you will need to haul everything back home.

Leave the white sneakers and anything with the name of a college on it at home. Ditto anything - like irons and hair dryers - that draw a large current.

You don't need to bring everything you own with you.

1. England has a lot of shops so you can buy stuff there. Then you can send the extra things home by post if you want to keep everything.

2. Are you staying in a dorm room or renting an apartment? In a dorm room you are unlikely to have enough space for lots of clothes and stuff. In an apartment, you may need to get household things, but you can buy them in England.

3. You say that you are short. I'm short, too, and I wouldn't want to drag around three (your checked bag, your carry-on bag and the personal item) large bags filled with clothes, even if they had wheels. That satchel doesn't have wheels and will get really heavy after a few hours. Sure, you could put it on top of a wheeled bag, but you're going to have problems keeping track of everything. Think of trying to get all three bags with you into a small toilet stall. Are you renting a car for your stay? Or will you be using public transport?

Thanks for all the help and tips.

RoamsAround- I was thinking it would be too big. United has increased the 2nd checked bag to $70 as of yesterday so I'm saving that as a last resort.

wally- I do plan on packing light but I don't really have the money to be buying a new wardrobe especially in England.

alanRow- Leaving the sneakers at home is going to be my biggest problem. I might bring a pair for exercising but I've been researching some comfortable shoes like Clarks and Dansko. My college sweatshirt will be waiting for me safe at home.

anyegr- I plan on buying most of my toiletries once I'm there. I'm staying with a host family so luckily I'll have a little more room than a dorm and won't need to buy household items besides sheets/towels. The program includes transport from/to the airport so I'm not too worried about lugging three bags around.

Luckily I have until September to figure everything out. But right now, I'm thinking the satchel will be my carry-on and maybe I'll take a purse as my personal item. Once I start packing I'll find out if one checked bag will be enough.

Lordy, I wish people would get over the white sneaker thing. I saw several pairs on my last trip to Europe and they weren't being worn by Americans. I'm referring to the white Converse style. In Europe and in Great Britain, they sell all the popular brands ( Nike, Adidas, New Balance etc) that they sell here. The styles vary a bit form their American counterparts but are essentially the same. No one really gives a hooty about your footwear anyway.

I would leave your school sweatshirt at home. Remember they do have washing macines in England

take any sort of shoes you want. No one will care one way or the other. But - since you are staying w/ a family, you can cut way back on clothes. They'll have a washer/dryer. I travel for 3 weeks or 3 months w/ carry on only. Now, I'm not advocating that for you. You will want a bit more clothing than I take on a typical trip --especially if you'll be dating or clubbing.

But one reasonably sized checked bag, a 21 inch rollaboard, and a normal sized personal item should be enough.

That bag looks like a personal item size bag to me.

Here are a couple of (rough) sizes of briefcases:
18x13x3
17x12x4

19x13x7 is just a thick briefcase.

But you might want to look for a bag that slips over the handle of a rollaboard. I don't know what they are called, but they have a strap to hold it onto the handle, so that it piggybacks on top of the rollaboard.

It looks like your bag has a shoulder strap, which is good, but you would have your carryon rollaboard in one hand, your checked rolling bag in the other, so I think it would be clumsy to also try carrying a bag that is slung over one sholder. A small backpack would also be a good option.

"19x13x7 is just a thick briefcase. "

That holds twice as much as a thin briefcase.

Don't bring the hair drier. They use 220 current in England. Check the back of all of your electric plugs that you bring. Unless they say 100 Volts to 240 Volts, leave them at home because they won't work.

Also, don't bring a voltage converter. They burn out quickly.

good point about a hairdryer/curling iron/flat iron. Don't bring anything like that -- even if the ARE dual voltage. Just buy inexpensive ones after you are in the UK (or your host family may have a spare hairdryer they'd loan you).

A UK/European spec hairdryer will work better -- and won't blow the circuits in your house.

And if you do buy a flat iron there -- don't ask for a 'flat iron'. They won't know what you are talking about "Hair straightener" will get your point across.

Things like computers/battery chargers are OK -- they are usually dual voltage and work w/ a plug adapter.

Thank you all for the great advice! I'm pretty low maintenance with my hair so I wasn't planning on taking a blow dryer just because I don't use it enough to justify packing space. But thanks for the heads up on the voltage differences. Does anyone have a preference when it comes to plug adapters? Is there a brand that's better?

There's really no difference between the brands of "plug adaptors" - they are essentially all the same. Go to your local Radio Shack or even in the "travel department' at stores like Wall-Mart, Target, etc. and pick up the least expensive plug adaptor kit you can find.

FYI - the kits are inexpensive and usually consist of several different adaptors (and a small bag to store & carry them) allowing you to easily convert a US style plug to fit any foreign outlet.

Note: The adaptors are not the same as voltage converters.

Here's my take on trying to bring the most without paying for 2nd checked bag:

Go ahead and take that very large "personal item" along with your larger "carryon". Chances are you won't be stopped until you get to the gate. Now, make sure you don't put anything valuable in your larger "carryon".

MSN-ORD is on either a CR7 or ERJ. The gate agent won't allow EITHER of your two bags to be carried on-board. The smaller "personal item" will be gate-checked and returned to you at the gate at ORD, but the agent may check your larger "carryon" all the way to LHR. Even if that agent let you just gate-check both items, chances are you won't be able to take that larger "carryon" onto the ORD-LHR flight anyways.

But, chances are ALSO that none of the agent at MSN or ORD will care to charge you for 2nd checked bag, even if they take your larger "carryon" and check to LHR. So, you will indeed be able to take all your things to LHR without paying any more fees. But chances of both bags accompanying you in the cabin is next to nil. Therefore, keep all your valuables in only the smaller "personal item" case.

Have a good semester - you will want 2 checked suitcases and it is worth the hassle and expense - bringing things and paying is cheaper than buying them there. My daughter struggled with what and how much to bring to South America study abroad for 6 months - and she had to deal with 3 seasons. (She is accustomed to stuffing an entire car with her things each year, so 2 suitcases was a challenge). Hauling 3 bags thru an airport was a pain - but she only had to do it once for a short distance - and felt it was more important to have her stuff.

Bring only shoes that are 100% perfect in condition and comfort - if they hurt your feet here, they do not improve after an overseas flight. Save some space for a little gift for your host family. My daughter invested in a quality water repellant jacket with zip-out fleece that could be worn separately - she lived in one or the other of these pieces. Try to find out what college students generally wear where you will be studying. She found in Argentina everyone wore jeans, but during a briefer study in Greece, black was the universal color choice.

Make sure your carry on or a bag you pack will work for weekend trips while there - you will undoubtedly be doing some traveling. Same for some sort of bag to haul around during the day for classes. A small power strip with a convertor plug on one end will accomodate several items at host family - just make sure they are not high electricity usage things all at the same time.

Thank you rkkawn. When I do my final packing, I will keep your idea in mind.

And thank you, thank you gail! It's so hard to find advice from people who have or who know students who have studied abroad. Your advice is very much appreciated.

Liljenz- Both my daughters did study abroad, and one item they both ended up buying abroad was a backpack. Not a backpacker type, just your regular school bookbag style. Jansport makes one that is the same length and width as the rest, but is very deep, so it holds enough stuff to go away for a long weekend. If your purse is small or flexible, you'll be able to stash it in here as you board the plane as well.

Wear this as you board the plane. This is your "personal item", so now you can bring another regular carryon. I've done this using my daughter's old pack to do this several times. The trick is that the gate agents don't really "see" the backpack, so are less likely to make you gate check your big carryon. If you end up taking your satchel + a bigger carry-on, try the same thing...wear the satchel, no matter how stuffed- on your right shoulder like a purse and pull your suitcase with your left hand. Separating them makes them look less massive.

Do try to get in line and board quickly though. The last passengers often can't find overhead space for their bags that end up having the bags gate-checked. Luckily, even if that happens most airlines can't be bothered with charging you at that point.

It is very likely you will do some traveling to other places while you are living in London (I hope you do, you're so close to so many great places!) and the backpack will come in handy for weekend trips.

Both my daughters kept an eye on the type of clothes they took abroad. You may be doing your laundry in a sink or having to pay for drying time at a laundromat . Choose items that can withstand commercial washing and drying, plus ones that dry quickly if you are having to hang dry. Skirts and lightweight pants are a lot easier and less bulky than heavy denim jeans, for example.

Two lightweight sweaters out of a warm fabric plus a lightweight rain jacket can be layered for warmth or worn separately vs a heavy jacket. Bring shoes that can do double duty, such as a pair of shoes that can carry you for a full day of walking AND be worn with a cute dress into a club.

Have fun!

Both of my kids are living in England as a result of doing their masters degrees there so I thought that I would offer some info.They both studied abroad in several different countries as undergrads so I know what you are going through in regards to packing and living abroad.Personally I would pay the extra fee and just take two checked bags along with your carryon.

If you are going to be living in London versus Bristol-there is a major difference.What city are you going to be living in or what university are you studying at?

Here is my take on things as a flight attendant and a mom:
England is VERY expensive so buying a wardrobe over there is ridiculous.If you are living in London your wardrobe will definitely have to be more hip than the countryside.I am sure that your family will have a washer and dryer in their house but be aware that things that need to be in a dryer take FOREVER so bring clothes that you can hang dry-the washer/dryers are so much smaller than what we have that sometimes you can only do 2/3 pairs of jeans in a load.Electricity is expensive so keep that in mind!

Scarves are really big overseas for everyone so be sure to bring some that you can dress up or down sweaters,jeans,etc.Have a decent raincoat,shoes that hold up well in wet weather(you might want to spray any leather shoes with water repellent),several umbrellas(they always break or get lost?).I would also bring a purse that goes over your shoulder and hangs in front so you don't get pickpocketed when you are in larger cities and you have your hands free when shopping and traveling.
If I read correctly that you are coming from Madison Wisconsin you will find that their fall season is not as chilly as ours are here(I live in Chicago).Bring clothes that you can layer and you will be fine.

There are alot of toiletries that you cannot find over there that you have here in the US-my daughter loves DOVE shampoo and we haven't found it over there(lots of Dove soap and handcreme but no shampoo).Things that we like as cold remedies(dayquil,etc.) have been hard to find too.Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen proxide are some of the things that we found to be expensive there-about $5 USD there versus 49 cents here in the states.

As to stores over there-ASDA is like Walmart but they are far and few between in the UK. Primark is a cheap clothing store and is like a Walmart,Target combo-its hit or miss on what you find.
TK Maxx is like our TJ Maxx but not always easy to find in towns.
Boots is the big pharmacy and has lots of goodies-some of their cosmetics and skincare are found at Target now.
Tesco is both a grocery store but also has a home store with great goodies that are reasonably priced.
Argos is kinda like the old Service merchandise store where you order from a catalogue and then they retrieve it from the back room for you-cheap for electrical appliances,etc.

There is a great carryon(that you can get both online,at Kohls department store or currently at my TJ Maxx )that I would recommend for studying overseas-its a combo mini suitcase/backpack with wheels by High Sierra. It holds a ton of stuff and my daughter has used it for years traveling in Europe.Its selling for about $79 right now at TJ Maxx .It allows you to pack alot of stuff but also if you need the wheels you have them or if you are struggling with other bags you can put it on your back for trains,tube travel etc.Buy some of the little locks that are TSA approved for your luggage.Our ziploc bags are much better in the US and alot cheaper if you use them for packing and for storing things.

I would also recommend bringing a good UK and Europe guidebook.Something like Lonely Planet,Rough Guide or Let's GO are perfect to have for planning weekend escapes from the UK.You will have a great time studying overseas and it will truly change how you think of the world-have fun!