Jason, shame on you. You could have at least offer to replace the squished brush with a tap teaser.

I only want to know if it involves a fist and follicular enhancer.

Hmm. not sure where you guys are going with that...."tap teaser?" what's that? A fist and a follicular enhancer? WTF?

Too many posters pissed off about luggage prior to yours,just trying to have a little fun on this cold lousy monday.

that's fine, but what does it mean? ahhaahah

Jason, a Tap Teaser are these special combs they used to sell on infomercials that were specifically to tease out those big 1985 hairdos. The big bangs to be exact.

I have always checked my bags in because I seldom travel somewhere that I will be for less then a week. However, 2 weeks ago, I went away for a 3 day extended weekend trip and was able to fit all of my clothes in a small suitcase. I was excited that I didn't have to deal with checking in my bag!!! I did have to change planes but decided it was worth lugging it through the airport. Well, my plane was packed and my luggage couldn't fit anywhere near me so the flight attendant put it about 10 rows ahead of me. Upon exiting the plane, I discovered someone had taken my bag and in it's place was an extremely heavy suitcase that looked slightly (and I do mean only slightly) like mine. Needless to say, I was not a very happy camper. I had a connecting flight to catch and I had someone elses bag. Luckily her bag was marked and the flight attendent had her paged in the airport. After 10 minutes, my bag arrived safely back to me. Talk about a breach of security huh??? I'm still trying to understand how someone doesn't recognize the shape and weight of their own luggage!! So after years of wishing I could carry on my luggage.....the first time I do...someone walks away with my bag.

It depends on how many times you have to change planes and if you will be staying in the same city where you land. If you are traveling on to another city, sometimes it is not worth the chance to have your luggage lost. After a friend had luggage not make to Italy and didn't catch up with her until the end of a two week trip, I decided we'd do the carry on thing for a trip such as this. We carried on a 22" plus small bag each for two weeks in Europe - worked out great! I'll admit it would have been easier not to fool with the luggage as we changed planes twice, but at least we had our luggage when we arrived! The idea of being without luggage for two weeks did not appeal to me! We checked it on the way home - carried our souvenirs on in a small duffle. Also, since we were traveling by train part of the time, we had to be able to manage our luggage ourselves anyway. Used the ziploc bags extensively - works great!

Jette,
It's pretty apparent to me that you haven't traveled after 9/11. We have, several times, and not one flight has been full. Plenty of room in the overhead for a 22" bag and then some. And nevertheless, that is what the overheads are made for. Smaller items can be stowed under the seat; coats & jackets can fit anywhere.

I do agree with everyone who says that oversized pieces should NOT be pushed, pulled or shoved into the overhead and finally retrieved by a flight attendant when they don't fit. Last month, we were waiting to take off, sitting near the door. Two women got on with a huge vase of roses, arguing with the flight attendant who insisted that they put the flowers in the overhead. The women insisted that on their connector, they were able to leave them on the floor. The flight attendant called security and the women were escorted off the plane.

I can remember when you could only carry on one smallish size bag. In fact they'd have a metal "sizing" thing at the entrance to the plane and if your bag didn't fit into this "sizing" thing the bag had to be checked. I'd like to go back to those days because I too am sick of people trying to get down the isles with huge carry on bag(s) - and all the other problems already listed above!

Veronica, we flew America West and they do have the metal sizers where we checked in. We fit our bags into them, but the ticket person challenged us, said one wouldn't fit. They both fit easily and it was a breeze just to get off the plane and go directly to pick up our car!

Leona, almost every post 9/11 flight I have been on has been full, and I've flown at least a dozen times. If everyone brought a 22" bag the plane could not take off! I personally don't like to be bothered with carrying on a lot, but I DO like to put my jacket up there and not on the floor, and am tired of having it smooshed by people with huge carry ons.

Thanks for your input, Marilyn. Good to hear that the airlines you fly are doing better than the ones I've been on.

But the fact remains that the overheads are used for carry on luggage as well as for coats.

Leona, I've flown at least 50 times since 9/11 and rarely has the plane not been full. When an airline has a flight that is only partly full, they will downsize to a smaller jet. Most airlines have to be 80% full to break even.

I've been on many empty planes. Many unprofitable routes need to be maintained for competitive reasons, to make sure that a rival airline does not monopolize a route.

I generally find carry-on space to be at a premium on smaller jets only. I have no problem getting my carry on into a 767, but if I'm on an MD80 then I'd better get to the gate early, as the late boarders generally lose out.

The carry ons are usually sized to fit in accordance with airline policies. The people who bother me are the ones who bring twine-tied boxes of electronics or whatever and try to fit them into the bins. Or, the folks who have a legit-sized carry on, AND then put their purse in the bin, AND then put their winter coat in the bin, AND then put their bistro bag in the bin, etc etc... and inevitably take up the entire bin space for themselves!

Amen, Blenroth!

How much we pack depends on where we're ging and when. On our annual winter week in the Keys, a carryon for each of us is easy. However, last winter's week to Zion, Bryce and Las Vegas was another matter. Brought out the big rolling Samsonite for that one....

I don't believe any suggested my favorite carry on - a small backpack.
It is easy to carry through the airport, quickly stashes under the seat, holds my reading material, tickets, camera, change of clothes. It might not be the very fashionable, but it works very well for me.

Mike Honeycutt

If you can manage without check-in luggae GO FOR IT! I did it on my last trip and experienced a sense of freedom I have never felt before when flying. It was wonderful not to wait in line to check baggage and to be free of the eternal wait at the carousel. I discovered that there's a lot I don't really need to take with me (e.g., hairdryer, 10 pairs of shoes. etc) that made a ;ot more room in my carry on. Good luck!