My son and I leave tomorrow from Dulles to Paris. We have managed to fit all we need to live for 10 days into 2 carryons. I hope they meet AF's requirements, but that is not my question.

Assuming our carryons are at their limits, how do we bring back souvenirs? Could we have them all in one department store type bag and be allowed to bring the bag plus our carryons on board?

Or should we pack a third bag to check tomorrow with just a few things in it, like a couple of pairs of shoes and a few extra outfits? That way when we come back, we will have a lot of room for souvenirs. And if the bag gets lost on the trip over, it doesnt really have anything important in it anyway.

Thanks for any advice.

Could you pack one of those nylon duffles in your carry-on (the kind that fold up very small) & then pack your dirty clothes in the duffle & check it on the way back & keep the souvenirs in your carry-on?

that is a great idea. I hope we have something like that in our closet. I will go check right now!!!

Carry-on only on the way over & on the way home, check the suitcases thru and carry-on a nice shopping bag of some sort with all the goodies.

Both ideas are good ones. I have found an old Academy Broadway nylon bag which has one zipper and will fold up nicely into my carryon. Only worry is that it doesnt have locking zipper. I guess I can decide before we come back whether to check it with dirty clothes, or to check the other bags, and use it as a carryon when the time comes

I have a heavy duty duffle bag from Academy that folds nicely in my rollaboard carryon for the trip over. Then, I put shoes and clothes in the duffle on return and carry my purchases in the rollaboard.

I figure I can always replace clothes and such if they get lost, but I can't as easily replace all the European shopping that I did.

Locking luggage is kind of a thing of the past. I wouldn't worry about that.