reasons to not check bags
 

I just returned from a lengthy trip - just in the US this time, but full of good reasons why carry-on luggage is a good way to go.
First, checked my bag on my outbound trip, and when I retrieved it, found that it had been standing in about 6 inches of water at some stage of the trip! This is a really nice, supposedly waterproof (not resistant, proof) bag, but the bottom 6 inches were sodden, and moisture had wicked up through a lot of the contents. All clothing had to be laundered, books were ruined, shoes - well, the jury is out until my shoe repair guy works on them.
Coming back - flight delayed overnight. But checked baggage could NOT be retrieved to take to the hotel with us; the staff handling the baggage had gone for the day and nobody else was authorized to handle the baggage. Happily, my essential personal items were in my carry-on briefcase, but I would rather have liked a change of clothes...
Any idea of how someone checking luggage can avoid these kinds of issues?

Sorry for your bad luck. I don't know if there is any way to avoid that sort of thing. It sounds like a bad run of events.

I did do carry-on only for this trip, and this worked for 3 out of 5 flights. We did have two flights with a 7 kg limit, so carry-on didn't work for those. On one flight, my bag weighed exactly 10.0 kg, so I was cleared to take it aboard. Luckily and coincidentally I had transferred one item to my son's backpack before we set out to the airport. I have to say I did miss my nail scissors, though, as I couldn't take them with me.

I will never check bags again, with the exception if hubby brings golf clubs. We have done well with our 21" roller + 1 small backpack for several trips now.

On smaller planes (US domestic), they will tag your bag and load it in the storage, then you pick it up on your way into to the terminal.

We have not yet tried the interEurope budget airlines, and I understand the rules change for that game.

Do realize that some carriers from U.S. to Europe (British Air) have carry-on weight restrictions they enforce. So unless you can travel with only a 13 lb. travel bag, you may have to check.

Pack a change of clothes in your carry-on tote along with all true essential items, when you use checked luggage for your suitcase.

This "to check or not to check" is getting out of hand. I have made over 30 plus trips to Europe and Asia, traveled all over the US on business in last 30 years and check my bags. Domestically, I walk on board with my book to read. I have never lost one bag completely and have been delayed less than 10 times...the bag showed up the next day. This just happened to me going from SFO to Florida. No big deal. I got my bag in plenty of time.

I always take my essentials in my small carryon for European flights and put the rest in checked baggage.

It is getting to be a hassle boarding a plane and watching all those people drag their entire household on their back and try to cram it in the overhead. Most of them travel one time a year and make it miserable for the ones that have to use planes frequently. You will soon see a massive cutback on carryon luggage....just wait. The rookie traveler killed it.

Yo yo yo, dawg... I'd say 9/11 and the increased security is what's bringing carry-on changes.

And as for "rookie" travellers, I'd say it's the "rookies" that travel with 2-3 huge checked suitcases per person for a 3 week trip that have it all wrong. It's the savvy travellers who know how to pack lightly enough that their entire 3 week wardrobe CAN fit into a small carryon. Whether or not they check it is up to them... personally I've always been a carry-on person, simply because of the tight connections my trips often entail.

I certainly did not fit a 3-week wardrobe in my carry-on. During our 16-day trip, we did laundry twice - once in Paris, and once in Berlin. As always, these were very interesting experiences and allowed a bit of down time.

Doing laundry is always a hassle for me . . . I am like that commercial with the clothes hanging all over the house . . . I like to hang dry many things! I couldn't imagine doing it abroad, but we may have to when we go to Ireland next summer.

When we went to Paris for a week, we brought one carry on and checked two bags, not b/c we packed so many clothes, but b/c we wanted room to take home all of the things we knew we would take home!

Uh, Oh!

All this time I thought I was so brilliant because I was going to NOT check-in any bags on my trip to Italy. I was only going to take 1 rolling suitcase, the kind that can be placed in the overhead and one pocketbook.

I have even started to buy clothes that can be squished and rolled into a ball so that I can take only the one bag. But I don't think I can do this under 13lbs! I'm used to the size of the bag being an issue, not the weight.

I don't know what airline I will be on yet so please tell me there are some that allow more than 13lbs?

I always travel with a couple of large cases - I'd be amazed if you can really enjoy a long holiday with so few clothes. As for damage in transit, so far I've never had any problems, but if I did, I'd have lots of insurance money to replace the garments. As for the wait - an hour long wait is nothing compared with the inconvenience of having to have garments laundered, only to wear repeat outfits.

Our trips usually involve multiple flights of stairs with luggage and public transit with luggage and budget airlines. So the less the better certainly. If you have no objection to paying for taxis and porters and not being able to take budget flights, by all means pack heavily.

gor
We travel a Lot and that has happened to us once.
About 5 years ago, maybe, Continental/Air France to DeGaulle..our luggage was soaked, everything inside was soaked.
Thank goodness for good dry cleaners on the Left Bank and for a lady in Customer Service at the Airlines. They paid for the dry cleaning and we got vouchers for First Class on our next trip.
But I would still always check my luggage, nothing is worth that hassle!

Yo-yo Skatterfly! If you are worried about security check the bags and walk on with no junk in your hands. The plane leaves sooner and you make your connection better.

Plus, how come everyone in the US leaves the good clothes at home (if they have any) and looks like a blue jeaned bum in Europe? They all dress as if they were going to spill something on themselves so want their worst clothes when it happens. Not to mention the fanny packs and the wrinkled shirts.

Just check the bag and let the airlines do their thing. If they lose your bag lie about the contents and collect some money to buy more Target clothes for the next trip.

I just can't envision lugging around a bunch of luggage on this trip.

I do agree if I were going to be staying in ONE place for the entire trip that a couple of suitcases would be no big deal.

However, since we will be in multiple places, with travel involving planes, trains and automobiles and two elderly travel companions, that each of us having a small rolling suitcase SOUNDS like a good idea.

I for one do not wish to look poorly dressed that is why I am being so careful picking out stylish yet low maintenance clothing.

I travel frequently, both domestic and international and, unless it's just a 1 or 2 day trip, always check my suitcase. I have never had lost, misdirected or damaged luggage.

I prefer sitting towards the front of the plane and it's one of my pet peeves that by the time I board, all the overhead space is taken because of the "carry-on space hogs".

I wouldn't mind at all if the airlines were more strict on enforcing their carry-on limits. I've seen people trying to cram dufflebags large enough to hold a dead body into them.

I reserve my carry-on luggage to valuables (camera, jewelry), things I need in-flight (book, water bottle) and any breakables I happen to pick up on vacation that I don't want in my checked bag. I keep it light because I'm the one who has to haul it around the airport. I check the heavy stuff. And as a general rule, I don't pack any more than I can handle myself.

It is interesting...

This bs of loading a plane from the back and by rows is simply not done on most European airlines. First come first served and it takes no longer to load the plane, not a single second longer and of course I don't have the problem of sitting towards the front of the plane and finding there is no room in the overhead compartments by those inconsiderate people who don't respect the rights of others by loading their suitcases which should be checked into all the overhead space so that I am forced to put my carry ons, a brief case and a small pack on the floor in front of me.

Of course the airlines could help by making an effort to load baggage off the plane so as not to keep folks waiting at the carousel for as much as 20 minutes before baggage starts coming down.

It should be a rule that within 10 minutes of arrival at the gate, baggage is on its way to the carousel.

If you are doing carry-on only, of course you should follow the airline's rules about what and how much you are allowed to bring on. Actually this applies to people with checked luggage too, since they also carry stuff on in addition. And of course people should use commonsense and courtesy about placement of their bags in the appropriate area of the airplane.

<i>&quot;This bs of loading a plane from the back and by rows is simply not done on most European airlines.&quot;</i>

But this is very common practice in the US. Whether or not it saves time (and I'm sure there have been studies), it is commonly done here.

And, yes, if everyone followed all the rules the world would be a better place. :)

PLMN... As point of reference my same 22&quot; was fine carry-on from Seattle to both Mexico and Hawaii many times. Just recently (2 years back) British Air Seattle to London enforced the 13 lb. rule and into cargo it went. Now that I am used to the idea, I really favor checking it rather than drag it around with me thru airports, bathrooms, restaurants, etc. while in transit, especially if you happen to be traveling solo. So I would still say pack light and have only one wheeled suitcase, just pack it knowing it may be checked.

I guess BA is the most strict from other threads on this topic. You can find the restrictions on any airline website, but difficult to say how it will be enforced. My 22&quot; was WAY over the weight limit, they didn't even put it on the scale merely picked it up and gave me an &quot;oh brother&quot; look and checked it thru.

I find it interesting to note that you find BA the strictest. I always have heavy bags and they never comment on either the checked cases on handluggage. I once flew BMI (after their overhaul from the British Midland Diamond logo airline) and they made a terrible fuss about handbaggage, I will never fly with them again.

In 10 years of travel to Europe, one suitcase has worked for me. No lost, delayed or damaged suitcases. No waiting at the carousel. (Except for Ryan Air and the cheap ticket was worth it). Of course, this may change if they implement some of the changes they are talking about. We will have to wait and see. It still won't stop me from exploring Europe.

I suggest the airlines assign a baggage handler to each passenger, double the size of the overhead bins and half the number of seats. By halving the number of seats, luggage could be kept in the passenger compartment where each passenger could monitor his own luggage after it is placed there by his personal handler.

Since prices would have to rise substantially many fewer people would fly and congestion at the terminals would ease.

Or you could fly First with a larger hand baggage allowance and priority baggage handling. Although this priority baggage handling rarely comes off the carousel first.

There ya go... problem solved. :D

rj007, note that Ryanair now allows you to take 10 kg of hand baggage carryon. EasyJet is now also the same. So if you fly Ryanair or Easyjet, you can probably get away with no checked luggage now.

There's no wrong way or right way. One way is not better than the other way. Whatever works for you.

WillTravel

Thanks for the update. I am glad to hear that.

I'm an American expat living in the UK, but travel back to the US each month for work. In the 50+ trips I've made overseas, my luggage was delayed once. It was brought to my house about 3 hours after I arrived home.

I'm with traveldawg. I board the plane armed only with my small (purse-sized) backpack, which usually contains my MP3 player, a book, wallet and passport, and a bagel. Unless you have kids, there's no reason to travel with anything more. Never have to worry about room in the overheads because my bag easily fits under the seat without taking up any leg room.

Also, not all European airlines have abandoned the practice of loading from the back of the plane. And for those that have, I can tell you from experience that it does take much longer to board the plane. It's completely chaotic, and I've learned just to wait until final boarding is called to even attempt to board. There's no point in even trying before that. And besides, I'll be on the plane for 8 hours anyway. Why prolong the agony?

Nothing is much worse than sitting on a plane, at the gate, and watching people trying to stuff all their worldly goods into the overhead. HOWEVER, the airlines do NOT routinely enforce carry-on limitations so who can blame people?

I'm amused at the posts above that include the words; &quot;I can't imagine....(doing this or that)&quot; All I can say is that traveling with you, whether you packed it all into a carry-on or not must be pretty dull!

I am simply too old to deal with &quot;much&quot; carry-on.
Other than the (international) delays in the late PM at IAH, I don't mind waiting to get my bags which seldom contain anything of real value.
M

I would love to wait till the end of boarding but...

you have people who are considered elite flyers who jump on and hog the overhead space

you have the pre boarding crowd many of which are no more of need of extra time than the man in the moon and they also hog the overhead space.

The problem does indeed reside with those who take large parcels onto the plane and take up the overhead space forcing me to uncomfortably put my carry ons, very reasonable, on the floor in front of me.

One time. I had put my stuff in the overhead consisting of my lap top computer and attache case along with my coat. Along comes somebody from the back of the plane with a large case the size of which I checked and the flight attendant has the gall to ask me to take my stuff out of the overhead and put them on the floor making me uncomfortable while this whatever takes up my overhead space with his carry on that should have been checked.

The nerve. Of course I refused which caused a bit of a ruckus. And you know the result, he was forced to check his bag as there was no other overhead space. And he looked at me as if I was crazy.

Sorry, I'm a checker. I want what I want when I want it...my caveat to myself is only &quot;can I lift and carry it&quot;. I've never heard of the water-logged luggage problem...I believe you...of course, yuck... probably would make me say &quot;fudge&quot;!

What plagued me most about this whole incident is that I rarely check luggage! The airline that we flew was (for some undisclosed reason) being really strict about carry-on luggage, and taking anything more than a briefcase from people as they boarded the plane and &quot;valet checking&quot; them. (not sure what that meant - apparently, that you luggage gets to stand in water for a few minutes).
I managed a 5 week business trip to 7 European countries with just a rolling bag and a briefcase, so it's not like my luggage was excessive. But given no choice...
Also, we're still waiting for financial settlements regarding the cleaning bills, and I think our night in the hotel without luggage is just going to have to be written off as an annoying inconvenience.
For what it's worth - there was no place to shop at my destination - hard to imagine, but there are not stores EVERYWHERE in the world...

TopMan,

Dull? Have we met and I found you so uninteresting that I can't remember antything worthwhile about you? (Oops, I'm stooping to your level, quick..let me stop now.)

Why is it that sincere questions regarding travel by the internationally unitiated must be met by some people on this board in such a rude manner?

Yo yo yo Dawg. Sorry... hope it didn't seem like I was slamming you... I was having a strange &quot;Randy Jackson&quot; (of American Idol) moment... he always said, Yo Dawg. My poor sleep deprived attempt at wit. No offense intended.

BTW, I didn't say I was &quot;worried&quot; about security... just that I think it has played a role in the changing rules about carryong because, like you said, it is certainly delaying things when people carryon their entire lives. And with the recent Annie Jacobsen &quot;dry run&quot; incident (was posted about here on Fodors) it certainly made me rethink the whole carryon issue. Maybe, GASP, they shouldn't allow on ANY carryon and every bag should be checked so it can be scanned.

Another poster mentioned that they were &quot;too old&quot; for dealing with all that carryon, and I can admit that at 34 I'm starting to feel that way too. It's true that when I started my &quot;carry on&quot; preference I was in my 20s, travelling with a bag on my back (that was certainly heavier than 13 lbs but the right &quot;dimension&quot;.) Of course now also I have a baby, lots of gear, and a nicer wardrobe, and I'm resigned to checking the luggage. It'll probably grow on me and I'll wonder why I ever made such a fuss about getting it all into one bag. But I don't think it'll ever be an excuse to overpack... because I still prefer to travel lightly while on the ground.

And granted, when I said I could travel with 3 weeks of clothes in a carryon, that's with doing laundry at least once, maybe twice, on the trip. And wearing a lot of the &quot;Fodors&quot; black. :)

This has been an interesting topic... I think my opinions on carryon are certainly changing.

~k

Easyjet just changed their handbaggage policy. This ought to make those cramped little flights even more cozy...

From www.easyjet.com:

Introducing Europe's best hand baggage allowance!
easyJet today announces another pioneering development by introducing Europe's most generous hand baggage allowance. It will be better than that offered by any other airline in Europe - even the Club Class allowances of the dinosaur national airlines!

From Monday 12 July 2004 easyJet is removing the weight restriction on hand baggage for all passengers. The only stipulation is that you must be able to lift your bag safely into the overhead lockers yourself without assistance (or giving yourself a hernia!), so the weight must be within reason.

In order to comply with safety regulations of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, and to reflect the limited space in the overhead storage bins, there will be a size limit, which means that your bag must not be bigger than 55x40x20 cm - but this is 40% bigger than the current allowance! Our fantastic new hand baggage rules will give passengers the freedom to carry more than they can on the Club Class of traditional airlines - but without the extortionate fares!

This new allowance will be particularly attractive to easyJet's many business passengers who already fly with Europe's number one low-cost airline, benefiting from conveniently located city airports (not airstrips miles away), 30 minute check-in times, high-frequency routes, great punctuality, and some of Europe's lowest fares!

Can't think of any.

I just flew two flights on EasyJet on July 18 and July 23. For the July 18 flight out of Paris Orly to Berlin (SXF) the clerk was abiding by the old 7 kg policy. For the July 23 flight from Berlin SXF to London Luton, the clerk seemed to using a 10 kg or less policy (my bag was exactly 10 kg and the clerk let it go onboard). Neither was using an &quot;all-you-can-carry&quot; policy.