I'm in big trouble and don't know what to do. All I can think of is that my dream will not come true.
I have an 18" and a 21" Eagle Creek Switchback carry ons (add 2" for the wheels)
I've been dreaming for years of traveling to Europe and have only one 18" carry on with me.
Today, after printing out the very well thought and revised packing list, I started testing my packing for my 26 day Switzerland and England trip. I'll be hosteling about 11 days (I've been traveling each year but not to Europe and not with only 1 carry on)
To my horror, I can't fit everything I need in that 18" carry on. And I only bring 2 pairs of pants!
I don't know what to do. If I use the 21"(23&quotcarry on, is there a possibility that they'll make me check it? I'm flying Swiss Air. The whole thing weighs about 20 lb. or may be a little more (I didn't weigh foods and fruits). I don't know how to make it lighter and smaller.
I'm only 5' and can't carry a backpack because I have lower back problem. I need my bag under the front seat so I can rest my feet there. My feet are too short and don't reach the floor. So I do need my carry on as my foot stool.
I need help badly! Thank you very much in advance.
Here is my packing list:
On my body:
Black Jacket
Pants
Tank Top
Bra
Underwear
Cardigan
Socks
Black Walking Shoes

In the Money Belt
Passport
Swiss : Plane tickets, Swiss pass, Jungfrau tickets
England: Plane tickets, Haggis Tour, bus pass
2 Visa Cards
$200.- cash
2 Personal checks
Driver?s License
Health Insurance info
Youth Hostel Card

In Carry on bag:
Front parts:
1. Eye Gel and Eye Drops
2. Anti bacteria hand lotion
3. Wet Wipes
4. Daily Lactaid
2nd Part:
1.Neck Pillow
3rd Part:
Fruits and food
Camera
foldable day bag and foldable duffel bag(in case I shop)
foldable rain jacket
Calculator& Compass(very very tiny)
Bottled Water (I think I'll carry this in my hand)
1 pair airline slippers
2 Thin Hand Towels (I have long hair)
1 Sarong
Neck Pillow
2 Pants
5 Tank tops
Umbrella (light 6&quot
foldable Hat
5 Pairs Socks (Thorlo walking socks: pretty thick)
5 Pairs very light Panties
2 Bras
1 Flip Flops
1 Retractable cable Lock
2 Combination Locks
Ziploc Bags: various sizes
3 Big Trash Bags: rain
Sun Glasses
Prescription Glasses
Pens
Note Book
Glue Stick
Sticky Note
Extra Passport photos
Photo copies of passport

If you're not backpacking thru Europe then just take a suitcase with your carry on. Did you plan on bringing home any souvenirs? If so, where were you planning to stuff them? Bottled water is available on the plane and in Europe so leave yours at home as well as the fruits. Why do you need a gluestick?

Well - IF you take a hand bag then your problem seems to be solved.

Many of the things you list in your carry-on would be better packed in a medium sized handbag (you will need one since you can't carry an 18 or 21 incher around w/ you everyday.)

So if you put the water, food, eye gel, hand wipes, airline slippers (why do you need 2 pairs of those?), hand lotion, wet wipes and all the little bits. Then place the handbag under the seat to use as a footrest and place the carry-on in the overhead.

You should be able to easily get all of this stuff into an 18 incher and a handbag or healthy back bag.

Doesn't sound like that much to me but I would leave the two extra bags behind.
I would use the 18 inch bag and take a sports style bag that you can lock, heavy nylon, about 14 inches long, this size fits on the floor under your airline seat. Make sure either it or the wheelie have room left for other purchases. You can then use this bag on it's own if you are only staying one or two nights in a place, lock the wheelie away in a train station or bus station locker just taking out what will be needed for your stay. Then if you over buy, purchase a light nylon day pack, in fact they are easy to pack anyway and then wear that on your last few days, easy to manage and little weight. Put the light stuff into that and the heavier into the wheelie, that will save your back.
Leave the handtowels behind, you can always buy one if necessary. I find them too bulky. Consider the jacket, if you are going in summer does it need to be a heavy one or will the rain jacket do?
If the wheelie has a compartment on the outside keep the jacket in there, I carried one for two months and only used it on the last few days and that was winter. I used mostly a sleeveless warm vest with a zip up the front.
Post home any brochures or thin books, paper weighs heavy and becomes a nuisance.
You might get away with taking both bags on board but be prepared if not to check the wheelie bag.
What's the point in carrying bottled water when they have it on the plane?

Something to be aware of:
Twice in the last 6 months I have flown SWISS and they have not allowed me to bring a daypack and handbag as carry-on items (2 items). I had to put my handbag into my daypack, and then it was OK - so make sure if you bring a handbag that it will fit into your roller bag.

I agree with Kathy: ditch the jacket. A sweather and the rain jacket should be enough (it WILL rain).

Make sure some of those tank tops have sleeves. I take running tops made of high tech fibres (Coolmax etc) as they fold down to nothing, and dry immediately after hand washing.

Could you take the bigger one and check it in, then carry the smaller one on as your footrest?

I thought Swissair went bankrupt. Do you mean Swiss International? If so, according to their website, www.swiss.com, you are allowed one carry-on, 22x16x8 inches. It can't weigh more than 22 pounds. You are also allowed to take on board "property necessary for your comfort on the flight, e.g., a blanket and some reading material."

It appears that your 21" carry-on meets their requirements. I don't think you need to add 2" for the wheels, but perhaps someone else can clarify.

You listed "neck pillow" twice (once in the "front part" and once in the "3rd part&quot. Are you really taking two of these? I guess if they are the inflatable variety they don't take up much space, but you might reconsider.

I stand corrected about including the wheels in your measurements. I did a Google search and most airlines instruct passengers to include wheels, handles, and sidepockets in the measurements. So yes, there is a possibility that you will be asked to check your bag, but my experience is that this rule is often not strictly enforced.

I have a case that is 21x13x8", and is 23" including wheels and handles. I have schlepped it all over the world to six continents and never been required to check it (except for little commuter planes where I checked it on the tarmac). However, I always put it in the overhead compartment.

My guess is that the airline would probably let you on the plane with your 21" carry-on as long as it doesn't weigh more than 22 pounds, and the total inches (ht+wt+depth) don't exceed 46" (22x16x8). However, it may not fit under the seat.

A 21 inch is NOT going to fit all the way under your seat so you are not going to be able to use it as a foot rest.

Fruits. You can only take fruit you are eating on the plane. The Swiss do NOT want you importing fruit. We won't let you import fruit from Europe back here. So one or two pieces will be plenty. (They won't starve you on the plane!)

Now I don't know how you are packing, but I am pretty sure except for the neck pillows I could get this into an 18 inch. Are you rolling your clothes or what?

I'm missing something, I guess. I'm with BlingBling.
Why not use the 21", it's still pretty small, pack it, check it. It's unlikely even the 18" bag will be allowed as a carry on--there are usually weight restrictions in addition to size limits on overseas flights.
Use a nylon carryon as both a purse, day bag, etc.

Also, since you are bringing extra bags, why don't you just put some stuff in one of them, and bring that on the plane with you?

An 18" suitcase probably won't fit under the seat anyway, so I wouldn't rely on being able to use it as a footrest even if you don't check it.

BTW - this is a minor logistical problem, certainly not something I'd categorize as being in "big trouble". Relax, or you will be so uptight in Europe you won't have any fun.

Have fun,
Karen

Do you need to wear a bra and take two with you? Do you need 5 pairs of socks? Five tank tops? And two towels? You can always take one bra, two tank tops (you are wearing one) and 3 pairs of socks and wash out in the sink when needed. Also, are you taking complete copies of your passport? You can take just one copy of the biographic page and this should be good enough for replacement if needed. Do you have a jacket you can use for warmth and rain? This would eliminate an extra jacket. Also do you need 3 trash bags? I took a carry on to Europe for my first trip last fall and will be going back again this fall. I am already cutting down on my previous list

Sorry, anything that I listed twice was not intentional. I was too uptight to see it correctly.
I don't like wearing closed shoes but I'll have to wear them for a lot of walking. In fact I have SAS sandals that I like but I'm not sure if they are good enough for walking all day. Plz advise.
I'll bring only 1 handtowel. It's very thin and old.
The water, food and fruits are just for eating on the plane.
I'll bring only 1 bra (plus 1 on me)
I was thinking about the mountains in Switzerland when I decided to bring my jacket. It's from Travel Smith and can be folded into a pouch. I guess I should find a way to ditch it.
Too many socks and tank tops? I'll get rid of them.
I will bring only the front part of passport photo copy.
I don't know why glue stick! I read about it somewhere that it's useful to stick info or something to your journal. Ditch that too?
I'm not rolling my clothes. I put them in stuff sacks. Will rolling them help?
None of my tank tops have sleeves. They are coolmax. Do I need sleeves? I planned on using 1 stretchy cardigan. May be I can use the cardigan as my sweater too? Ditch the jacket and just use the rain jacket?
I'll put all the little stuff in my day bag(that'll be my handbag) and put it in the wheelie and use the wheel bag as carry on. Once I'm on the plane I'll take out the day bag.
I'll try again today with all the advise in mind. I'll report to you all if I can do it.
Thank you so much!

I would love to hear how your packing comes out. I always take too much. I am concerned about train travel, not airtravel as I usually ck the larger bag but have difficulty getting it up stairs. Since I have lots of allergies I need to take all my own soaps, lotions, meds, etc. Is 2-3 prs of slacks enough for Paris, Spain and England. I usually take a pr of slideon shoes on the plane as my feet swell and I have had it happen that I couldn't get my regular shoes on.Last yr in Paris it was freezing and cold when I arrived. I bought a large scarf at one of the vendors for

I would love to hear how your packing comes out. I always take too much. I am concerned about train travel, not airtravel as I usually ck the larger bag but have difficulty getting it up stairs. Since I have lots of allergies I need to take all my own soaps, lotions, meds, etc. Is 2-3 prs of slacks enough for Paris, Spain and England. I usually take a pr of slideon shoes on the plane as my feet swell and I have had it happen that I couldn't get my regular shoes on.Last yr in Paris it was freezing and cold when I arrived. I bought a large scarf at one of the vendors for $5 & it kept the wind out. I cant travel without 3 prs of shoes to keep my feet from hurting.I tried to get everything someone else posted or Rick Steve's pack list and I couldnt get it all in. Iwill be gone 6 wks. Appreciate all help. Thanks. Johanna

Being a girl, I noticed you forgot to include such personal items as toothbrush, toothpaste, deoderant, brush, soap, etc. which are not usually provided in hotels. You may want your own shampoo/conditioner as well. Are you planning to take these or perhaps buy them when you get there? Unfortunately, these things take up a lot of room as well as weigh a bit. For the hair towel, you might want to look into getting one of those super absorbent ones made especially for drying hair, unless you think it would be too thick and take up too much room.

As for the sarong, will you be wearing that as a skirt or as a bathing-suit cover up? It likely won't be hot, summer-like conditions over there so perhaps your few pairs of pants may suffice.

Susie, I think you have already made good inroads on your trimming down. Yes, Iwoule trade a couple of tank tops for those with sleeves and lose the jacket for the sake of bulk.

I noticed you are bringing ziplock bags and am therefor assuming that you are using them to eliminate air and bulk at this stage of your packing. Then rolling becomes an optional. Two bras should be plenty (they dry easily)but I am with the poster wo inquired about "personal stuff": its especially hard to find in hostels and, in fact, I am assured by reliable sources gets stolen frequently: bring minis of stuff like that. Bon voyage!

susie, my SAS sandals are jet setters!!!!They are the only sandals I use when i travel to Europe..I always bring with me 2 pairs, differents colors of course, and i alternate them..also i bring SAS walking shoes, I use them in the country, or when the weather is nasty .

For our last trip we puchased "Travel Space Bags" from LL Bean. They cost $15 for two bags (one medium, one large). They are like big ziploc baggies, but you push all the air out of them. Thus your clothes are smooshed really flat. They cut out about half the space. We thought they were great. However, if you are worried about wrinkles, they might not be the greatest.