Still only taking carry on luggage?
 

Just wondering if anyone has travelled since the new restrictions with only carry on. My initial response was just to check the small carry on bag so I could pack shampoo, lotions etc.. but now I might still carry on the bag without such items. Is it worth the hassle at check in to not have to worry about lost luggage? We'll be leaving from Houston connecting in Newark then on to Milan. Has anyone done this?

If you don't mind paying for these basic items when you get to Milan, then why check anything? Personally, it's more an issue of lost time and not lost luggage. I looked at another travel board and it sounds like the system is overloaded with so much more checked luggage -- the whole process sounds like it's taking longer than it usually does. I don't want to risk waiting hours at the airport for my shampoo, lotion, and perfume.

If these restrictions are still in place when I travel, I plan on only checking luggage on my return.

If you can manage with ony a carry-on for all your clothes and shoes, etc., for a trip, I certainly would. The whole shampoo etc thing wouldn't make any difference to me, as I never took any of that stuff in carryon, anyway. Now that I think of it, I don't think I have ever typically carried on anything they don't allow, so the new rules don't make any difference to me.

The only liquids I ever take with me (in checked luggage) would be shampoo and hand lotion, but most hotels provide that, anyway. I wouldn't check a bag just for those two things, I'd rather use the hotel's products or even just buy some small sizes upon arrival (especially hand lotion).

What kind of hassle are you talking about that would be such a big deal that you'd rather not carryon anything? They might search your carryon bag, but that shouldn't take that long if you don't have banned items.

What about liquid makeup and lipstick and masacara and toothpaste and a number of other liquids (contact lens solution)? I suppose one could buy all this on the other end but it would sure cut into "enjoyment" time.

Darnwright:
please make sure that your carry-on does not exceed the sizes allowed. I didn't see any wheeled carry-on suitcases on my Wed. - Thurs. trip from Seattle - Heathrow - Zürich with BA because they weren't allowed. Nothing larger than a laptop case was officially accepted although I did see backpacks that I thought were quite a bit larger.

Of course, size restrictions can, and most likely will, change again in the future.

Personally, I really love going into Italian pharmacies for hand and facial lotions, hair styling products, etc. They have good prices for EU brands that are much more expensive in the U.S. Try not to buy American brands like Loreal and Nivea which will cost more -- try something Italian or French, of course.

The problem might be with finding makeup which is harder to replace IMO. All of this needs verification of course but there have been other threads with good links for updates.

1. Solid tube lipstick is O.K.
2. powder compact foundation O.K. (no creme compact foundations which are too gel like, I suppose)
3. no mascara last I heard -- maybe bring an eyelash curler and replace mascara in EU.
4. There was a whole thread on here regarding contact lens solution and one guy even explained how to make your own saline with airline bottled water and a little salt. I sleep in my contacts anyway so it's not a problem and I'd buy solution when I'm at a pharmacy.

Make one pharmacy stop and they're everywhere in larger cities in Italy with big green cross signs out front. I also pick up bottled water for the room while I'm there. I don't consider shopping at an Italian pharmacy as cutting into my enjoyment but I would be cursing myself if I were stuck at the airport for hours for a bag of toiletries. Checked baggage doesn't come on time at Malpensa as it is.

We are hopeful to just carry on for our upcoming trip to Italy. Since we are not flying into London we should be able to carry the bags we have normally carried on (keeping our fingers crossed). Our connection is so tight in Munich (on to Milan) that we would be quite concerned about our bags if we had to check. We are leaving Milan immediately for the Lakes Region so catching up with lost luggage would be a drag. Really not too concerned about what can't go in our bag, we should not have a problem getting those items once there. But since I am quite short I really don't like the idea of having to try to buy all new clothes (since everything always must be altered) for the trip once we are there and they determine our bags are gone with the wind! 21 days and counting! Shirley

Since the OP isn't flying through the UK, he's alright.

In fact, I was planning to check my luggage for my European trip in two weeks (also flying CO, also from Houston), but now that they allow 4oz of contact lens solution, I will revert back to just a 21" rolleraboard and a camera bag, carry-on.

The only thing I'll be missing is toothpaste, but I'll pre-paste my tooth brush to use on the plane, and then buy some once in Europe. My solid-type deodorant should be okay.

? you say no creme foundation. What is powder foundation?..do you mean pressed powder?..

Thanks...

Romalover..We're flying into Milan too and taking a train to Varenna..Maybe one of us will have makeup if the bags get there.

loisco,

MAC, Lancome, Bobbi Brown, (and even drugstore brands) make powder foundations -- they aren't creamy in consistency but they offer much more coverage than pressed powder. Pressed powders are generally used to blot oil and minimize shine but they don't do much to provide coverage.

The problem with powder foundations is that with age, they settle into my wrinkles now. But when I was younger, I loved the MAC powder foundations which did a good job of evening out your skin tone and covering blemishes. They also have a pressed powder (for just shine) called Blot and it's great.

I have a small amount of creme foundation left in its tiny container -- smaller than 2"x2" and 1 cm thick. I may pop it into my bag just in case it gets through. If I have to toss it, no big loss since it's almost empty.

I'm certain that if these restrictions stay in place, airport shops will start selling cosmetics like mad! Trial sizes would be great in case I dont want to check on the way home.

Had anybody tried to bring a carry-on aboard, and to check a tiny-tiny bag with lotions to see if it made it?

Hmm..well I have Clinique city base but it's creamy so I will look at Mac and Lancome this week. Someone told me about Clinique Perfectly Real New Makeup???...

Thanks for all your help.

We are only taking carry on.
My sister and I have decided that it is not worth the risk of losing our bags, or as romalover mentioned, waiting in long lines, just for a few HABA items.

It will be fun trying to find shampoo, lotion, toothpaste....ect...

The carryon restriction is 45" over all and that includes wheels and handles , even a 22" might not get thru if you've stuffed the outside pockets.

Depends on the airline. The OP is flying Continental, which has a more liberal 51" carryon limit. And CO has historically been very lax in enforcing carryon rules.

The OP does not say he is flyig Continental , another poster further down . rkkwan, says that HE is, so HE is not worried. I wouldn't count on any lenenicy at this time.

jody - Sorry for the assumption. The OP says he's flying Houston-EWR-MXP and I forgot that Alitalia also operated EWR-MXP. My mistake.

Actually we are flying Continental. We have one 21" and one 22" so I think we'll be o.k.. I forgot about the additional time needed for more checked luggage. Great point. Continental did say that you could take 4oz. of contact solution so I'll just buy the rest there. Thanks for the help.

Do go to the USAToday website which is www.usatoday.com/travel. Their article "Reinventing the carryon" will give you some good ideas of how to bring cosmetics in your carryon.

I've been thinking how to modify my packing class and my own system in the "new world" and I really don't have to change too much.

I use bare minerals foundation/blush/etc. so no liquid there. I never take liquid prefumes (had a REALLY unfortunate spill in my suitcase once - can you say "smelled like a French wh**e: ) ) I have some powdered tooth polish that would work. Plus Brush-ups work in a pinch. Most hotels provide mouthwash. And I use face cleansing towelettes.

Moisturiser would be a problem - but I could make do w/o and just buy something inexpensive overseas. That USA Today article reminded me - I bet Maybeline reintroduces their cake mascarra.

oops - that should be " . . . unfortunate spill in my suitcase once - can you say "smelled like a French wh**e :) ) . . . "

Hi janisj, may I ask what the brand of your tooth powder is and where do you buy it? Your comment about Maybeline possibly reintroducing their cake mascara, that is what we used when I was in HS. Aren't I showing my age, lol.

But anyway, I am most interested in the powdered tooth polish..thank you!!

Hi Loveitaly, we used the Maybelline cake mascara too, you had to spit on it and really scrub the cake to work up a good lather! We used it when we were modeling, good stuff, I hope they do bring it back!

I think cake mascara is about the same product as cake eyeliner, and they still make that, I think. Not sure as I don't use it, but I thought so.

Now that someone mentioned the disposable cleansing cloths, I was thinking -- don't they have some wipe product like that for hand lotion? I would think perhaps they do, but maybe there hasn't really been a market for that so they haven't made any.

As for tooth powder, I think I've seen that in some health food type stores, or maybe even a grocery store like Whole Foods. I'm sure lots of places to buy it online, but if people only want a little for the flight, you can just mix up a batch yourself. Just use baking soda with a little salt in it.

Baking soda and salt...sounds yummy! :-P LOL

I flew out of LHR two days ago to the states. Security was really tight. While you waited in line lots of reps came by asking for any liquids, including makeup like mascara, eye shadow...basic cosmetics. Lip balm was okay. We had a shopping bag that was full of stuff for our kids and it did NOT fit in the smaller bag compartment so we had to transfer it to a plastic bag. No biggie really, but they just were very strict about the size of the bag/carry on. It had to be small.

The bright side of this new policy...we got on and off the plane in record speed without anyone having tons of carry-ons! And all our bags made it just fine.

Good luck!

FWIW, we flew from Baltimore BWI to Philadelphia to Milan last Thursday. On advice of US Airways, we arrived at BWI three hours ahead of flight time - this turned out to be totally unnecessary.

We drank our OJ before going through security. There was an air-puff bomb sniffing machine, then the usual "everything off/out", x-ray, and scanner. Line was minimal and TSA staff efficient and seemingly competent. We ended up with way too much time to hang around in the terminal.

Because we were returning home to Lake Como after three weeks in the US, I didn't have much choice about what to bring with me. My carry ons were a large backpack (containing laptop, videocamera, still camera, books, non-liquid toiletries, iPod...) and a nearly-empty purse. Weirdly, it was the purse they decided to swab for bomb-making chemicals. The TSA agent apologized for the delay and said it was "something about the way things were laying in it." Possibly the metal coil on a small spiral-bound notebook looked strange on the x-ray.

At the gate there were recorded announcements that you couldn't take liquids etc. on the plane, but no one was actually looking at bags, so I could easily have gotten away with buying something in the terminal and carrying it on.

We had a three-hour layover in Philadelphia - plenty of time for a security check which we didn't actually go through - depending on what terminal you switch to in any given airport, you may or may not have to go through security again.

At the gates, again there was a recorded announcement about liquids, but no actual check. I noticed that duty-free bags were being handed over at the plane door. Though I did not look closely at what was in them, some of it may have been cream-type cosmetics. I guess this is okay if you receive it at the door and it's in a sealed package, though I wouldn't absolutely rely on this.

Security guidelines keep changing, but you can always find the latest at http://www.tsa.gov/

best regards,
Deirdré Straughan

beginningwithi.com

LoveItaly: &quot;<i>may I ask what the brand of your tooth powder is and where do you buy it?</i>&quot;

I have a tin of Eco-Dent powder I bought a couple of years ago at the Natural Foods co-op here in town. I've only used it once in a while but now it is going into my permanent travel kit. I think it is mostly stocked by whole foods/natural foods-type shops and maybe on line.

Carryons only for me, even since the new restrictions. Only things I'll really be missing are moisturizer and hairspray which I'll pick up when I land. All other items I've made found alternatives or will do without.

Ok, I've done what everyone has said and checked my airline's website (Alitalia) and there is not one mention of what you can and cannot bring on a flight to the U.S. I am flying Geneva-Milano-Boston next Saturday and want to know if I can bring a proper handbag or the stupid cheap clear plastic carryon bag I bought the day after the London incident? Has anyone flown with a real handbag? I see TSA is letting cell phones on now but can't find anything about clear bags.

I flew recently with only an oversized pocketbook on the plane, not my usual carry-on size bag (I check my 24&quot; suitcase). It was freeing not to be schlepping so much thru airports, nothing to wrestle into the overhead bins, etc.

dorkforcedad just returned Wednesday night from a business trip. He didn't check luggage as he had a business meeting immediately after arriving in Chicago and didn't want to risk the slow process (at times) at baggage claim. He took an electric razor (I know, not ideal), toothbrush, and the Sheraton where he stayed had toothpaste and other items he needed. It worked very well for him but, alas, I'm not the natural beauty he is, and I don't think the Sheraton would have had enough for me! He did say there wasn't any problem finding overhead space!

beaupeep - I just came back Tuesday (from Zurich to Dallas to Austin) on American. No problem with handbags at all. They were even allowing the 21-inch rollers. It seemed that as long as you weren't packing any of the banned substances, the regular carry-on stuff was okay.

Thank you all! This is really helpful and good to know that I can bring my handbag.

I am flying to Rome this Sunday with AA. Does anyone know if we are allowed to bring a camera aboard?

Just make sure that if you are planning to buy toothpaste, etc. upon arrival, know the general store hours of your city of destination. A lot of us assume that every large city will have some sort of 24/7 store, and that is just not true. Also, the &quot;historic&quot; areas of many cities are not the best places to try to find toiletries. I've arrived in places on a Saturday afternoon before, to find no stores open until Monday morning.

The AA website has an updated list of what you can bring...

www.tsa.gov has the list of what you can, and cannot, bring onboard.

kismetchimera - on our flight (again, through Zurich on AA) we were able to carry on our cameras and all the miscellaneous memory cards, chargers, etc. People even brought their computers as carry-on.

Seems like they were mostly concerned with gels, liquids, creams, stuff like that. And absolutely no empty water bottles either. I had one, thinking they'd just fill it for me once on board. But no, they took that.

Have a great trip to Rome!