We do carryon only. And we make it a point to be sure to be curtieous to other passengers. I use a 21" bag, not stuffed full, and even though I am very small I can put it up above me by myself and get it out by myself without whacking anyone with it:D I do not feel the need to get into it during the flight. I keep what I need in my pockets.

My opinion is that there are some people who like to do carryon and others who prefer to check. There are rude people who check their bags and rude people who do carryon.

Clea: That twerp w/ the carry on - she would have been just as rude if she had checked her bag. There is a well known Fodorite who got in a biiiig brouhaha trying to defend her "right" to polish her nails on a plane. She checks her bags - so that disgusting habit could have happened w/ checked bags or carry on.

Rude is rude - I also hate the back pack thumpers. But if someone is that clueless - they'd do the same w/ a small daypack carry on.

My 19 inch bag has never hit someone on the head. I've never used nail polish/remover on a plane, and if there is something I'll need during a flight -- it is in my handbag under the seat in front of me.

Like I said rude is rude - has nothing to do w/ whether the person checked a bag or carried on . . . .

janisj, I couldn't agree with you more!
Oh, and I <i>remember</i> that nail polish thread!! From what I recall, she never backed down...

The one time I got badly whacked when someone was trying to put their bag above my head, it was a case full of underwater camera equipment - something I would never want anyone to have to put into checked luggage. It was just my misfortune that my head was directly below his elbow, which bore the brunt of the falling bag... The man was so apologetic, I ended up feeling badly that my head hurt so much! ;)

I'm one who always carries on. I didn't always, but then on one trip (in a country where I didn't speak the language or know where to go shopping, naturally), my bag was lost. Not delayed, where it shows up days later, but LOST. I never saw the bag or its contents again, despite daily promises by the airline that it's on its way. Now, I carry on if it's at all humanly possible.

&lt;&lt;The only time I feel smug is as I roll past the carousel and am 1st in line for the cabs while 3/4 of the plane is camped out in front of an unmoving conveyer belt. : - )&gt;&gt;

Why do you feel &quot;smug&quot; about that? I don't mind waiting for my luggage and am never in that much of a hurry to get to the taxi stand. The cab line moves along fast so I've never had a long wait there.

However, I do understand people who use carryon because their luggage has been lost in the past. If that had happened to me I'd probably consider carryon too.

I usually just go with a carry bag. However, when I go on cruises, I'll bring two, split my clothing between the two and if I loose the checked one, I'll still have some formal and casual clothing/shoes.

Monica ((F))

Ggreen regarding your comment on
money belts&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
It reminds me of a friend that used
to brag that nobody could take anything
away from him and he wasn't about to
wear a moneybelt or neck pouch.
While he was in Barcelona, a pickpocket
lifted his wallet from a buttoned back
pocket that was covered by his jacket.
He never felt a thing.
What do you think he does now????

Oh, we also use carryone luggage.
We have never hit anyone, nor do we
get into it during the flight.
If you don't like people doing this
you should campaign to have the air-
lines change the rules.

See now Katiemay, that's what everyone who touts the benefits of a money belt says. And with that same air of superiority, like it's the only way one should travel. (How many question marks do you need in order to make a point?)

I would never claim that there's no such thing as petty theft or pickpocketing. I just personally don't think a money belt is a solution, nor a necessary travel item. I also wouldn't ever think that someone who does carry-on only goes around in dirty clothes. But fear of lost luggage to me does not outweigh other factors of travel.

There is no one-to-one correlation that wearing a money belt makes you any better off when traveling. Nor is there any correlation between carry-on/checked-in luggage and quality of trip, either. To each his own!

Oh my god. Luisah, there was a smiley face after that statement. Relax.

There really does seem to be a &quot;fanatic devotion&quot; to carry on by those that use this system. I don't see the same number of posts on the forum by the checkers.
In fact maybe you guys should not be telling everyone how great it is. If everyone were to bring carry on, there wouldn't be room in the bins. Then you would see a policy change by the airlines that would affect you. (I don't tell others about my favourite Paris reataurant...o:)

I really think it comes down to how comfortable you are with either system. We wouldn't be comfortable without several and different choices for clothes. I know my wife needs &quot;shoes that go&quot; (whatever that neans but it does mean more than 2 or 3 pairs). I wouldn't dare suggest that we wash our gauchees in the sink.
We are willing to wait for our luggage and take a chance on it being lost or delayed in order to have that comfort

One reason we, and some others, can get away with carry ons only ( without having to wash our 'smalls&quot; in the sink) is that we RENT apartments for a stay over a few days.( washing machine for sure, dryers sometimes)
The change to only one pair of shoes in the carry on)took some planning , but it has worked so far (the last 6 years).

We thought carry-on was a be-prepared good idea, until we went through England. Both Heathrow and Gatwick INSISTED on ONE carry on. Size counted and no matter if you had a camera, purse, etc. they forced you to stuff it all into one bag. I had a cheap plastic zipper bag that we stuffed and my grandson and husband repacked their backpacks, but it was insane. After going thru security, everyone repacked into what ever they originally had or had to leave things behind. It didn't seem like any kind of safety measure when no one else was enforcing this and it lead to alot of delay and insanity for everyone ! Next time, my carryon will have lots of room in case this happens again.

thank goodness there are those who check their bags!

that leaves room for me to carry mine onboard!

buzzjane - there is a bit about this on the thread about British Airways

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35054741

I will carry on there and check bag home, especially if I have an extra bag of stuff, and if clothes are lost on the way home, it is not such an impact.

ol' middle of the road here... I'll check them (and take pretty full ones) when I'm one way, non-stop. Last week went to Asheville, NC. The last leg of the trip was a little prop plane. I did carrion...but, I couldn't take back any of the things I bought! Blech! What a great little town with a European flair...

&lt;&lt;Oh my god. Luisah, there was a smiley face after that statement. Relax&gt;&gt;

People who know me would laugh at that comment. I am relaxed. I am super-relaxed. If I were any more relaxed I'd be in Madame Tussaud's. I am so relaxed that I sit at the back of the plane and don't jump up as soon as the seat belt sign goes off. I don't have to be the first off the plane or the first in line at passport control, or anywhere else for that matter. I chill until my luggage turns up and don't run anyone down racing to the taxi stand.

I realize there are times when people have to rush to make connecting flights but that's a differnt matter.

If I knew how to put a smiley face at the end of the paragraph I 'd add two.

Suzie, I sure hope you did NOT do &quot;carrion&quot;... !

Luisah: http://www.fodors.com/forums/smileys/