Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Are you a Carry-on hog?

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- - Are you a Carry-on hog? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/are-you-a-carry-on-hog-188138/)

The big problem is with the airlines...sometimes you have to wait for 30 minutes for the first piece of luggage at the carousel and then it can take almost another half hour before all the baggage is off....if they had any competence or gave a damn, the most you would wait for baggage to come off is 5 minutes.

Our local airport has one gate (both departure and arrivals) and you can indeed get your checked luggage in 5 minutes, as there is only one baggage belt... it also costs much more to fly out of it, as only Delta and US Air flies here.. (Gainesville)

Well, ok, while I am not as bad as the offenders mentioned above, and I am loathe to admit it for all the abuse I assume I'll receive, but wanted to explain since I am an OCCASIONAL (and polite) carry-on hog, since so many have asked "what are they thinking?" So, what am I thinking when I do it? 1. It's the airline's job to monitor the carry on requirements. I don't think that the rules "don't apply" to me, I KNOW that the rules just normally aren't enforced. If I have a reason I want to carry more stuff onboard for a particular flight, I think it's their job to disallow it if I've carried too much (and I am always aware they could say no - if airlines never, ever allowed it, I would never, ever try it. But they do. So I do.). 2. I am always polite and courteous when I do it, and so far have always been able to store under and above my own seat. I always arrive, check in, and line up early. Why do I sometimes want to carry more on? 1. I've suffered from drastically delayed luggage numerous times. This has caused incredible inconveniences and a horrible fear that the bag is permanently lost. For this reason, I try to pack as much as I can in my (regulation size) carry on. 2. I live in China, and there is SO MUCH stuff we can't get here that we always stock up & do a lot of "everyday" shopping whenever & where ever we travel. 3. We also like to buy other stuff while travelling. And, like "Oink" above (the joke explanation post), I buy things on vacation without worrying about how I'm going to get it home. I don't worry, because I am confident that I won't get stopped (and am prepared to check it if I do get stopped). 3. I also then sometimes buy my fill at the duty free shop. There is a SIXTY PERCENT import duty & tax on wines into China (and that's before the distributers and merchants add their mark-up), so it's a HUGE savings for us. So, there you go. I (occasionally) abuse the system basically because I'm a serial shopper and a heavy drinker. :)

Andrea - ( I just posted a similar response to Siobhan on another thread) What makes the fact that you WANT IT, ok? What is the difference between your packed carryon and all the stuff you buy at duty free? Aren't you CARRYING IT ON the plane? It is people like you, that forced BA to have such a ridiculous 5kg limit, and will eventually force the other airlines to keep reducing carryon allotments. I am all for taking stuff on the plane, but I truely believe if a rule is there, it SHOULD be enforced, and EVERYONE should have to play by the same rules. I am sick and tired of following the rules ( because it never fails, if I DECIDE to flaunt the rules , I WILL BE THE ONE who gets nailed for it) - while people like you and Siobhan think the rules don't apply to you. Don't you think the airlines / flight attendants have more important things to do , than patrol every single person, like a kindergarten teacher?

I have been a carry-on hog before...but in my defense it was when I was very naive about the whole thing. Now I carry on only 1 bag and it goes down by my feet. Our entire family has gone to Europe for 3 weeks, each with 1 carry on only, and we managed just fine. I think it takes everyone a trip or two to learn the ropes.

I don't know why people like to lug their bags around airports anyway. The first thing I do when I get to the airport is unload my bags on the porter or airline bag check. I can then walk unencumbered through the airport. I once checked a small duffle bag at curbside check-in, and the airline attendant said "Is that it? You don't want to carry that on the plane?" I don't care if my bag is lost, it's only stuff.

I think that everyone can have an occasional trip where they want to bring a little something extra home. From reading the boards, Andrea travels a lot. I doubt that she "breaks the rules" every time she travels. Most of my friends seem to think a small bag on board is fine. I personally wouldn't have a problem with the occasional person bringing along a bit more. The problem developed when everyone seemed to think they had to carry all their belongings with them.

My problem comes when I can't fit my small "regulation" size carryon in the overhead , because someone seated 10 rows behind me has put their oversize duffel/ backpack in the compartment above my seat. This then requires that I put my bag under the seat in front of me. Result? No leg room for me for a LONG flight, even though I made sure to bring a SMALL carryon. I think that the overhead compartments should be numbered for a series of rows ( say 3- 5 rows at a time) and that you can't put your things in another sections compartments until everyone is on board, and the people in those rows have had a chance to stow their gear. Would never work - but still a lovely idea.....

Steve - you said it! Geez - if the airlines can't count to 2, when letting people on the plane , how would they ever monitor which compartment people are using for baggage? never happen.

Absolutely Steve! It doesn't really annoy me when people have "too much" stuff. What does annoy me is that the airline staff doesn't monitor boarding (ie people boarding before their rows are called) and then they use bins above other seats. I'm fairly tall and I plan the same way you do. I bring a small bag that I can put in the overhead bin. If the bins were assigned, there wouldn't be a problem!

You would think that since they have to check your boarding pass to be sure you are on the right plane, they could check to make sure the right rows are boarding when called!