Check vs. Carry-On
 

I am going to London in two weeks. I'll be there only 3 days, so I can cram all of my clothes into a hiking backpack that'll fit in an overhead bin (I'm a guy :-). I would rather not lug the thing through O'Hare though in between flights on the way there (have a nonstop on the way back). Would you check it, or carry it on? On a related issue, how long does customs take at Heathrow?

JFM, <BR>Carry on, carry on, carry on. If you checked it and your bag didn't make your connecting flight, you'd be home before the airlines found your bag and got it to you in London. Why risk it? <BR>My husband left today for London and the first leg of his trip was delayed an hour, cutting his connection very close. With the airlines so flaky right now, why count on them to take care of your bag?

sounds like neither of you have travelled since 9/11. if you really have to carry it on-go for it, but i can tell you that all airlines are enforcing the one bag only rule and are trying to get people to bring on very small bags only. the reason being: all carry-ons are being hand checked before you board and it really backs things up, the bigger the bag...you get the idea. further, you won't be allowed to bring some toiletries on board (remember, sharp objects). personally, i think if we can all just try to cooperate a bit more than we're accustomed to right now it will save the everyone a hassle and a lot of time.

Definitely carry it on. Until the airlines improve their record on delayed flights and delayed or lost luggage, it makes no sense to let your stuff out of your sight unless forced to. <BR> <BR>Too bad if it takes longer to get thru security, I don't want to spend the first day of my vacation -- of one of the two days of my business trip -- shopping, trying to replace stuff that was lost or delayed. I've done it enough already and will never volutarily check anything again. <BR> <BR>And JFM, don't be such a sexist, I never travel with more than one wheel-on and a tote bag.

I just got back from London and had no trouble with my carry-on. Just be sure it fits the size that the airline allows. And of course you can't carry knives, razors, etc. (You can check them) But we just purchased needed items there and abandoned them after. Customs took very little time, too. I suppose it depends on how many passengers are coming through at the same time.

I'm afraid the carry-on international traveler is becoming a thing of the past. <BR>What airline are you taking? Check with them. International air carriers are now typically restricting carry-ons to one bag of not more that 18 pounds(or less) total weight. (My bag weights 7 pounds empty.) <BR>You also cannot bring sharp objects, airesol cans ect. I immagine it is still possible to bring a few things for a short trip. But, the days of the carry-on traveler alla Rick Steves are gone. <BR>

American Airlines is not limiting international carry-on weight; it's one carry-on plus a personal bag, same as the FAA domestic limits. Check with your airline before packing, or even before choosing which carrier you'll buy a ticket from!

Check your bag unless it is regulation carry on size. We went from London to Paris on Air France and these 4 people would not budge until they checked their baggage was checked - they were so rude and made such a commotion - and guess what? The guys bag had to be checked. It looked to me as a small suitcase. I'm all for checking anyway - no lugging - especially if you get to the airport early - and my luggage has been lost and found 3 times all and only domestically. <BR> <BR>Liz

joanne- <BR>you sound like the typical rude traveller. airlines i've experienced are asking people to limit carry ons to small bags because they want to go through everything and you're more concerned with yourself than backing up a line of passengers, most of whom are complying with the new regulations. i hope i never have to wait behind you on a security line with all your belongings.

JFM, <BR> <BR>I'm the lightest packer you ever saw, and it's SO worth it, to avoid the conundrums described above. <BR> <BR>Unless you're going somewhere formal (I've been known to airmail formal clothes to my destination) why not just put fresh underwear and a shirt in a briefcase and go? You can grab shampoo, etc in the airport on arrival, and for three days, what more do you need? <BR> <BR>PS Wear your coat. Have fun! <BR>

xyz, I am not proposing to ignore the new FAA regulations, which allow one carry-on in addition to a small personal bag, handbag, laptop, or whatever. I am willing and able to travel with whatever size carryon they choose to permit. <BR> <BR>And, yes, too bad, I would rather be thought rude and hold up a line of strangers rather than lose my belongings. I've had that happen a couple of times, and won't put up with it again. <BR> <BR>Instead of complaining about me, why don't you demand that the airlines hire enough screeners so the lines DON"T get so long, and hire competent baggage handlers, so they stop losing luggage? THEN I'll check it.

For those of you who think that it is not a problem having carryon luggage rather than checked-I suggest you sit in line at security at O Hare and see how things are going.Do us all a favor and check the thing. The airlines are definitely not being lenient as they were before Sept 11th with the problem of too much carryon.

<BR> First off, I think the anonymous xyz just has a bee in their bonnet and I'm guessing doesn't travel enough to truly appreciate the down-side odds of how easy it is to become separated from one's luggage when it's checked, especially with a flight connection involved. <BR> Also, don't think it's so much the amount of carry on luggage as the nature of the often humongous and/or weirdly shaped items--even those rolling suitcases which will fit overhead UNLESS they are so overstuffed and extended they need a flatbed truck. Being somewhat tall and fit, I am often up out of my seat to help some pathetic creature CRAM these in so people can get by and we can get going! Most of the European carriers insist on checking any bag remotely big/heavy but are fine with any reasonable looking carry-on. I think the domestic carriers are headed this way and I applaud them. <BR> Finally, having travelled numerous flights since the new regulations have gone into effect, I'd like to mention that my carry-on (about the size of a gym bag) has not once been gone through. I appreciate that the x-ray machine is actually stopped on each piece that goes through and that the 2 people looking at it are indeed looking toward it and not gabbing away while the luggage speeds through. They are using the wand on just about every person. They are (at last, since this has been a rule for some time) making everyone demonstrate the workability of computers, cell phones and other electronics. These are good things and will take about as much time to accomplish as it takes for the luggage to go through the machine. The bags that were being hand-searched were off on side tables inside security and were not really impeding anyone.

I've been on 3 flights since the 28th of sept. Not one time was my husband or myself wanded, nor were our carry on bags opened. My cell phone was never checked either. I flew out of JFK, Heathrow and CDG

Some airlines are very thorough. On flying from Glasgow to Amsterdam all carry on things had to be in a see through plastic bag and essentials only

On 2 flights from SFO all passengers were wanded and both times my carry-on was opened and inspected. On the international flight(Lufthansa) all carry-on bags were weighed. Anything over 18 pounds was summarily taken and checked. Also had to show my passport to get through the security check point. <BR>It sounds to me that JFK security is pretty laz. <BR>I think they should go back to the days before the wheel-aboards. Then you could only take on a flight bag with things you would need on the flight. Everyting else was checked. It worked then, why not now?

Robert, it didn't work then, either. My personal history of lost luggage dates back to 1981.

Joanne: <BR>I've been flying since 1955(as a child then) and have never lost a bag for more than a few hours. I guess I'm just lucky. It does seem, though, that lost luggage has become an increasing problem over the last few years. Maybe we need an incentive to make the airlines improve this. How about they have to pay you say $50 a day until you get your bag? I would then check everything and just hope they lose it! The problem now is that there is no incentive for the airlines to do the job right. <BR>But, I think most people avoid check in more to avoid the time waiting to get their bags than for the fear of losing them. What's in there anyway except some cloaths that you'd just as soon replace with some new stuff.

Robert, I have to congratulate you on your good luck with checked luggage. <BR> <BR>My experience in 1981 was arriving to give a presentation at a conference, and all my materials were in the suitcase that got lost. I had no slides, handouts, poster, etc. on the day after I arrived. (Remember, this was in the days before e-mail, Kinkos, or perhaps even FedEx.) <BR> <BR>I've also ended up without my business-meeting clothes and on a vacation without my vacation wardrobe. Believe me, shopping for a bathing suit to replace the three that were in the suitcase was NOT a treat, and certainly I had NOT envisioned spending my whole first morning in Honolulu shopping. <BR> <BR>So, I'll say one last time -- If I can't carry it on , I just won't take it. <BR> <BR>Finally, even though I am not one of the people who you imagine prefer carry-on because they don't want to wait for their luggage at their destination, I have to ask: Why is it that you expect them to be patient, waiting for luggage at the destination, but you can't be patient while people get their luggage screened?

Not sure how big your hiking backpack is? If its on the smaller/daypack size I would carry it on. I have a larger (75l) pack that I will check-in when travelling and carry on a smaller detachable daypack with essential items to get me through first 24 hours in case of main luggage going astray.

So Joanne, in your first post you said you had experienced lost bags a "couple of times" than in your last post you said it happened once in 1981. So..in 20years of traveling it only happened twice? Damn good odds to me!

I think Janine's advice is really sensible. If the backpack is big or heavy enough that "lugging" it around O'Hare in between flights on the way over seems like a big nuisance, then you're better off checking it--it's probably too big and heavy to fit the guidelines anyway. But for only 3 days in London, you could, as she says, pack very light into a small daypack that wouldn't be a pain to carry and would fit easily into an overhead bin without stuffing. (Say, two lightweight drip-dry shirts, one extra pair of socks, windbreaker, a very few toiletries.) And if you decide to buy a few souvenirs there to bring home, which you surely will, you can always either pack along a light folded-up bag inside the backpack or buy a cheap fabric bag in London, and check that extra piece of luggage on the trip back. <BR> <BR>Q.P.

xxx, since you're keeping track, in my earlier post I detailed three luggage disasters -- the one in 1981, the lost business clothes, and hawaii vacation stuff. Considering that in the years since the third event I simply haven't checked anything, no, I don't think that's very good luck!

Okay, so this isn't _strictly_ on-topic, but having just returned from our holiday in Poertugal, I have a pithy observation after participating in the luggage -carousel dance in 3 airports each way: If you want to take it on your trip, DO NOT expect anyone else to lift it on/off up/down for you- especially strangers- if you can't lift and carry it yourself, don't bring it!! I'm sorry, but I saw too many people literally demanding that other passengers "help" them with their very unwieldly, grossly heavy luggage items. Once again, my apologies for straying off-topic.

I've been on 4 flights from the UK since 09/11, and on every one, they have taken anything larger than a tote bag from people and made them check it .... so you may not have any choice!

Jenny, which airline did you fly? I wonder if the variations we're hearing about are specific to certain countries, airports, or airlines.

Joanne: <BR>On my pre-9/11 international flights, Lufthansa had an 18 pound carry on weight limit and Alitalia 12 pounds. They said that this was determined by international treaty and that international flights were much stricter that US domestic travel. It is pretty standard for non-US airlines to have these restrictions. I don't know which, if any, US carriers are now or will be adopting this practice. <BR>Also, they told us that you could not carry on anything that would not fit under your seat and that nothing "heavy" could be put in the overhead bins. They said that this was for safety reasons. On our flights the bins were not even half full and their was no clutter in the cabin.

Took four flights coming back from Frankfurt Sunday with some looney connecting times. Checked bagged arrived home with me, and all the bottles of wine packed in it were unbroken. Sure was nice not having to haul that thing around, even with wheels. Send your stuff fedex or UPS. In fact, if anyone here is a fedex or UPS employee, suggest to your employer a luggage service. Surely they can get space cheap at airports these days. And a return packaging/mailing service at the airport so I don't have to worry about wine bottles breaking in my suitcase.

I've used Go (British Airways)(Edinburgh - London - Barcelona rtn), British Midland (Birmingham - Edinburgh) and Air 2000 (Glasgow - Palma Majorca rtn). My parents have also used Aer Lingus (Edinburgh - Dublin - Boston rtn) and have had the same thing happen. This hasn't only happened at UK airports, but also at others. I'm not meaning to appear selfish, but, I can't stand it when people bring the absolute most they can as carry-on luggage, as it means there is often hardly any room for anyone else's things (this happened to me before, when *I* had to check my small rucksack, as there was *NO* room left in the overhead lockers, and because I was sat at an emergency exit, I couldn't put it under the seat.) I don't see why I can't take my small bag on, because of other people's selfishness ... (probably get flamed for that!! <BR>Still ... it's worse in Asia, what people try to get on as carry-on!

Jenny, no flames for you here! BUT if people are carrying on on so much that there isn't room for everyone's stuff, then at least part of the blame should do to the airline: They should be limiting carryons in such a way that everyone, even the last person onto the plane, can stow their stuff. <BR> <BR>In your example with the rucksack, I think the flight crew would have been justified in simply choosing some large piece of luggage that was already stowed, and sending THAT of the plane to be checked, rather than your single carryon.

I am a carry-on person, no checked luggage on an outbound flight. With experiences similar to others (like arriving for 5 days in Milan - I had carryon only, but companions had checked full-sized suitcases - to find that their luggage was still in Chicago and didn't arrive until ONE day before we left), I don't want to take the chance. Sure, maybe it only happens 1 out of 10 flights, but that one time is so miserable and can ruin a vacation that it's not worth taking the chance. Secondly, while everyone elbows, pushes, shoves and whacks each other at the baggage carousel, I'm on my way through customs/immigration. I'm also not getting smashed in the Achilles' tendon by some moron who isn't paying attention to his luggage cart while bitching about the loooong lines to get through customs/immigration. With a small carryon, I can take a bus, subway or train which is cheaper by far (for one person) than a shuttle or taxi. <BR> <BR>Buuuut, these new security measures have changed my practice. For one thing, I always pack little scissors, a Swiss Army knife, small corkscrew, etc. - which means if I still want to take them, they have to go into checked luggage, so I have no choice but to stand at the dumb carousel and watch my bag NOT come off the plane. <BR> <BR>Now, I have a beef: why do I have to pay $2 for a luggage cart at the airport?? Why aren't they FREE? Jeez Louise, I cough up $600 for a ticket, spend $9 to get a small coffee and a packaged sandwich, spend $7 for a paperback because the plane's delayed two hours and I've run out of reading material, and they want TWO FREAKIN' DOLLARS to rent a cart for, what, an hour???? Do they think I'm going to take the cart HOME?? "any baggage to check, ma'am?" "yes, two small suitcases and this filthy baggage cart with screwy wheels". <BR> <BR>And I, too, object to the duty free bags that people haul on board; more than once I've seen passengers hit by either things falling out of the bag when the overhead is opened, or by the bag itself when some nimrod yanks it out of the overhead and the 13 bottles of Jack Daniels swing out of control. A twenty pound backpack full of clothes is a no-no, but 50 pounds of bottles is okay???? <BR> <BR>Okay, that's my rant for the day. The nice nurse says it's time for my meds...

well i'm glad there are others who are pointing out that here in europe airlines are enforcing the light carry one rule. and to the poster who suggested i rarely travel-sorry you are completely wrong-which is why i know about the bag searches. i travel once a month and have had my bag gone through and recently heard about a friend who waited on a one hour security line in the states. <BR>perhaps all the naysayers on this board will start travelling internationally and have their bag allowance enforced.