baggage handling in India
 

is airport baggage handing in India significantly worse than in U.S.? Should I make an effort to travel with just a carry-on?

The Dogster should know this question..woof!

I always check my luggage (I never carry-on other than purse/briefcase and computer). I gave up locking luggage about 9 years ago. (Of course I never put anything valuable in it.) In about 100 trips to and within India, I have never had a problem with lost luggage, broken luggage or anything taken from luggage.

In my experience, the wait time for luggage on arriving flights is the same or better than other airports in the world. There can be a crush at the belt to collect it, but this is manageable.

On some shorter/regional flights you may not be able to carry on much luggage in any event, as cabin space is limited.

The worst waiting time is the line for handing in your little customs chit when arriving on an international flight, but you have to do that whether or not your check luggage.

I posted a reply but it vanished. Kolkata wifi has its quirks.

Basically it's what Cicerone said. Apart from Varanasi airport, I've been amazed at how together the aviation industry in India is, and those delicious cut-price Kingfisher or Jet etc. flights are great value.

Thanks! That's really a help.
Roonie

Me too. This is one of the questions I wanted an answer to. Thanks.