gracie

I'm taking my stepdaughter and step daughter-in-law (both in their 20's) to Montego Bay this weekend. We only have three days in Jamaica, so we want to make the most of every minute. My question is whether we should check our luggage or carry on? I never check luggage anymore because I am a light packer and have suffered through delayed, lost and stolen luggage in my 50+ years of flying..
We fly out of ATL on Delta on a non-stop flight, arriving in Montego Bay around 2:00 pm. It is an hour ride to our hotel. (DH and I flew to Montego Bay two years ago and stayed at the same hotel, so we know the real length of time to the resort.) Does anyone know the average wait time to retrieve checked bagged on a Friday afternoon at the Montego Bay airport? I think the girls would like to check their luggage, but they won't if it will significantly delay our getting to the hotel.
Thank you for your advice.

qwovadis

Personally never check bags these days too expensive/risky.
www.onebag.com pack light and keep your stuff with you.
quotewright.com trip cover still wise.

RoamsAround

Gosh, if you are only going for three days why on earth would anyone need to check luggage. You and your step-daughters should be able to fit EVERYTHING you need for such a short trip in a single standard 21" roll-aboard and one "personal size" bag for each of you.

Follow the old adage, take less clothes, bring more money.

To answer your specific question, luggage can take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes to reach the carrousel. Keep in mind, you'll be spending at least part of that time clearing Immigration.

tejana

We always try to carry on going TO vacation. Even with a non-stop flight, there is always a chance that your luggage could get lost (or opened, or broken, or otherwise messed with). I know of one instance where a certain unnamed airline managed to lose checked luggage on a non-stop international flight -- the bags ended up in another country for three days before they finally tracked them down and got them where they were supposed to be (and that was a first class passenger - if they can lose that they can lose anything!). Then of course there is the more common problem of waiting for bags when you land, when all you want to do is start your vacation (somehow knowing that yours will probably be the last bag off the plane). Keep it with you going, and you can check it coming back (because it doesn't matter how long the bag takes to make it back).

sharona

I answered on your other thread in the Lounge.

The wait for luggage wasn't noticeably long. I'm pretty sure we had our bags within 15-20 minutes after going through immigration. I agree that with a 3-day trip your step-daughters should try to pack in a carry-on. Why waste even that small amount of time waiting for luggage if you don't have to. You have such a short amount of time on-island that I would try to maximize my time. I suspect Friday afternoons might be very busy.

gracie

To RoamsAround -- I agree 100%. However, I have noticed that when my stepdaughter(DSD) or step daughter-in-law(DSDIL) visit us for the weekend, they seem to pack for two weeks. As I am now 53 years old, I would coordinate my clothing to take only one pair of shoes. However, they want to bring multiple pair, as well as curling irons, hair dryers, and so on. I was just as bad at their age. Back in 1979, when I was 21, my best friend and I were fortunate that our parents paid for us to take a three week escorted tour of Europe on a bus. I carried a large hardcase Samsonite suitcase and tote and a large garment bag. This was before softside luggage or suitcases with rollers were readily available. My friend and I divied up some responsibilities. She brought the hair dryer and travel iron and I bought the hot curlers and a Radio Shack electrical converter. Turns out the concerter wasn't strong enough for the hair dryer, so we only used it when fellow travelers would let us borrow their adapter, which was not often. So, I have learned a lot about packing in 53 years, but my DSD and DSDIL have not traveled that much.

KVR

I always check bags. I've had a few issues, but I'm a chronic overpacker with the mind set of "but, what if I need this". Plus I'm packing for DH also, so one bag for clothes for the both of us and one bag for shoes and essentials.

There are usually no bag fees for one bag per person flying outside of the US. I rather not drag luggage through an airport if I don't have to.