Yes, just - just type in manually semi colon dash closed bracket and it should translate into a proper smiley face......happy travels.

I mean colon dash closed bracket. A semi colon would give ;-)

I am not a Carryon Fundamentalist.

I like taking a 24" suitcase, big enough to hold my own stuff plus what I purchase, and a size that's easy for me to handle on my own. Even if I don't take full size bottles on my way over, I like buying things at my destination...wine, shampoo, whathaveyou.
A couple of my friends in PA are real wine lovers and they enjoy it when I bring them bottles of wine from Sancerre or Riesling or Pinot Noir that I bought at the winery and that don't have importer labels on them.
My carryon is usually a medium to largish Longchamp pliage bag with the longer handles. Can fit under my seat if necessary or I can pull out my small tote of flight essentials and put the bag overhead.
Whenever I flew into Orlando, my mother didn't leave to pick me up until my flight had landed. The trip took at least an hour, so I had more than enough time to go through the arrivals palaver, get my suitcase, grab a latte and relax on a bench by the curb.

If people want to take only
carryon and keep it with them, fine. If they don't, fine. Neither option serves as a "travel superiority" indicator.

Interesting to read all the comments. We have some stuff we have to carry on (like my husband's CPAP machine and our meds) but as far as checked luggage, have only had it "lost" once and it turned up the next day. (It went to Cleveland instead of West Palm Beach).

I just got home from the local FedEx place, where I sent off one large box to my destination for next week. Then, I'll board with one small carry-on and my backpack. With two tight connections, I don't mind spending the $73 it cost me for peace of mind and convenience (and I get to send all of my liquids ahead).

And listen to this - I sent ahead all clothing which I am planning to use and discard or use, launder, and donate to the destination's local thrift shops. That way, I will not need to check any baggage for the return trip home! Am I a lunatic? Maybe, but it works for me, and helps to clean up my closets!

$73 from where to where, please? what is the promised delivery time? was it charged by weight or dimensions(or both)?
thanks!

From New York area to rural Montana. 3-day delivery (business days); sent today (Saturday) - due by 7pm MDT Wednesday.

Approx 26 lbs; approx 20 x 17 x 17. Insured for $1000.

Not a bad deal, considering how I spazz out over tight connections and have a prior history of lost luggage (some very delayed, one never recovered).

You can also send your luggage, but mine is rather pricey, and I would rather not - - - I don't know how it is handled, travelling such long distances through the FedEx system. I may send a cheap piece on the next trip, to see how it fares.

I have done this for Europe and the Caribbean also. These destinations are much more expensive, and require the completion of detailed customs forms (ugh!).

hi gerda:
sounds like an interesting idea. a little pricey though for 26lbs. but peace of mind for sure. unless FedEx loses it. (just kidding!)

I guess that's why there's chocolate and vanilla but I don't get it.
We take nice clothes not the ones we are going to throw out...not that there's anything wrong with it.
And $73...is that supposed to be a bargain? In fairness I guess it was a situation where you were on two tickets with a tight connection.
The only time our luggage wasn't waiting for us was a tight BA connection through Heathrow to Paris. We figured we hit the jackpot cause we took the train into Paris instead of a taxi, walked around the neighborhood and had our luggage delivered to our hotel room later that day. Of course we had a change of clothes and our toiletries in our small carry on.
Gerda - you aren't the one with that back pack are you? Everyone else denies it and I know that there is at least one a flight..&gt

$73 on a trip that's going to cost me $15,000 is not something I'm going to stress about.

I take my good shoes and clothing in the small carry-on. The older, worn clothes are for hiking and messing around in the great outdoors. (This is a trip involving high-end lodges and hotels combined with grubby days hiking and on horseback... think of North Face, EMS, and Hanes in the daytime combined with Brioni and Prada at night!)

robjame- to address your backpack concerns: I carry a small pack, and am always extremely considerate when moving through the cabin! I don't think I have ever wheeled around and hit someone with it!

I always check my 22 in. bag when travelling internationally, altho sometimes on short flights I carry on.
Lately, at CDG, I've been REALLY glad I checked, as you have to walk up huge ramps to get to some planes, after riding that crowded bus out to the plane. The last time I was in France, I felt so sorry for some women trying to carry their babies plus stuff up those ramps, with no one offering help!

Not to minimize anyone's distress when luggage gets completely lost, but....

I live about 2 hours from unclaimed baggage and it is a great place! I bought mine and my daughter's luggage for our recent European trip there (it was new from cargo--not someone's lost luggage, for the record) and my iPod, which was someone's left behind or lost belonging. I got a great deal though. ;-)

I also check my bags domestically and internationally. I pack my essential meds, electronics (camera, iPod, etc.) and a change of clothes and a toothbrush in my carryon tote and figure I can replace anything at my destination if I absolutely have to. I'd rather not mess with hauling everything around to connections with me, but to each his own. For some folks, carry on gives a peace of mind that is essential.

I check one big bag, and carry on just reading materials, phone, and meds. I trust in the zen of luggage: it will get there. And it always has.

Gerda - it sounds like a lovely trip and what a great combination of rustic and pampered!I hope you will tell more in a trip report.

I have been following these "carry-on" posts for a few years and still don't know how some of you can do this. On the international flights we have been on (air Lingus & Air France for example) they have a size limit of 9" x 18" or something like that. How can you carry-on a 22" roll bag? Plus they were checking weight.

Just curious.

...because oftentimes some airlines turn a blind eye to their own regulations; sometimes especially if the flights aren't full they don't make a big stink; othertimes they stop people at the gate and tell them they have to check (I really wish more airlines would do this of course)...but you see selfish people all the time who think they're time or whatever is more important than anybody else's...example...about a year or two ago, a plan was taxing into JFK when the imbecile behind me, despite the fact the seat belt sign was still on, decided he had to get up to get his hand luggage so he could be the first one off the plane...just then the plane lurched a big and the contents of the overhead dropped out...I said to him that's why they tell you to remain seated...he looked at me like I was crazy.

barbmc--We flew Air France this summer. The weight limit was 12kg (around 22 pounds). I was going to use my 22" bag, but it was 3 cm too large. I didn't want to check it, so I bought a 21" bag. I had all I needed for almost 2 weeks in that bag, and came in under the weight limit. My DD (16 yrs old) and mother did the same thing. As long as you make sure everything coordinates, and don't bring along anything you "might" need, it can be done. BTW, we each had 2 pairs of shoes in the bags along with the pair we were wearing.

"A little off topic" but how do you feel when you get on a plane and the bins above your seat are full.

The last couple of times there has been no room to put our small bags (we are not cary on only people) and the attendant has had to take them away (where do they go?). Admittedly we are not gate rushers at loading.
I would think that if carry on only continues to be the craze, rules might change.

Well these people who think it is their god given right to carry on what should be checked don't give a damn whose overhead space they take up and of course pay no attention to loading orders or thngs like that and rarely do I see the people collecting boarding passes pay attention to what row or what group these people are in.

But as I said, I have had flight attendants ask me to put my carry on (small as it is) to accomodate those carrying on what should be checked...and my answer is invariably NO.