My issue is with the airlines that don't even enforce their own carry-on rules. I like to carry on when I can, but limit it to one small bag and a smaller "personal" bag (what most airlines claim is the max allowance.) So I can't stand it when I see passengers with huge and/or multiple bags boarding, with no complaints from airline personnel...

gracieb: What's the problem? We only take the luggage allowed by the carry-on rules. How is that smug?

Atilla, after years of overpacking and having to haul the crap around myself, I finally gave up and started packing light.

One night stranded without my luggage taught me a lesson quick.

Also, packing only dark colors or black helps me take less and I only have one color shoes.

Gracie, I never noticed it but you are right. I do have a carry on only smugness. I guess it comes with not having to fight the baggage claim fight.

I'm referring to the expressions on the faces. I rarely have to wait at baggage claim, especially if I have to make a pit stop. Don't take my word for it. Watch yourself next time you are deplaning. Check out the difference in the amount of time it takes someone carrying only a "personal item" (handbag or laptop case), vs. someone that it taking their entire vacation luggage. Even if it's only 10 seconds more, multiply that by the numbers of passengers on the plane. And, there is always a "salmon" or two that had to stow their bags behind their seats and are trying to reclaim them while everyone is trying to get off the plane. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the "smarties" that stow their luggage as soon as they get into the coach section and thus fill up the overheads above seats that aren't theirs...requiring other passengers to become "salmon" - heading against the current to reclaim their bags.

In my industry, most of the reps end up having back surgery. Why not just chill for a bit and let someone else schlep your bags? How much time do you think you are actually saving?

gracie, none of the people who advocate carryon-only have said that it's due to their reulctance to wait for checked luggage, yet this "argument" over waiting is always brought up by the "check it" advocates.

The usual reasons for carryon-only are experiencees with lost or delayed luggage, or wanting to not be tied down with lots of luggage after arrival, during the rest of the trip.

Most of us in the carryon-only crowd would be as delighted as the "checkers' if the airlines would enforce the existing limits on carryon quantities and sizes. None of us should have to deal wtih the impacts of 65-ounds "carryons."

I'm not "arguing" a point. I just completely don't understand it. Most frequent flyers have little experience with lost or delayed luggage. But, on every flight I am delayed and experience a tedious wait while everyone gathers up their assorted luggage.

I CAN pack light. Sometimes I do...and sometimes I don't. When I do and I'm traveling on business I have my very expensive (for me) rolling suitcase - but usually check it. My laptop and purse are more than enough wrangling for me.

But, sometimes I choose not to pack light. Then I check a larger rolling suitcase.

Why is one "good" and the other "bad". I just don't get it.

I usually do carry-on for the outbound flight and checked baggage for the inbound flight. I never seem to be able to get away for more than we week at a time, so I can generally fit all my stuff into a carryon without any problem. For the return trip, I like to dump my luggage off at the curb and then not think about it until I get back to my home airport.

Gracie, I think you are projecting.

I think you are absolutely correct, Gracie!

Hah! I usually have a "I checked my bag so I don't have to schlep it down the aisle and hoist it up into an overhead bin" smug look! I've never had a bag lost and I love the freedom of not having to drag my bags on and off the plane. I don't get the appeal of carrying luggage on the plane. But to each his own.

Perhaps, MikeT. Personally, I don't think so.

I read something this morning that probably just hit me the wrong way. Disclaimer to the poster - please don't take this personally because I think the world of you and the advice and input you give is invaluable. I'd turn to you personally if I wanted the "right answer" on most travel questions.

"If you are loaded down with luggage (which you shouldn't be) take a cab - about 45E."

All of life is perception - but it's MY perception that there are frequent posters on this forum that think traveling light and only taking carry-ons is "good" and "best" and it is my perception that the flyers I am waiting to find their entire vacation luggage in assorted places below and above seats think they have a heads-up on the rest of us and, yes, I do interpret their expressions as smug. I always enjoy catching their eye on the Hertz bus when we get to the same place at the same time.

And, yes, I do resent that it can take as long to get off the plane to the front door of the airport than the actual flight too...and I contribute it to the "carry on" guys.

You can tell who the seasoned road warriors are on the plane who carry on only.

I will say this, there is absolutely no way it takes me 10 seconds to gather my carryon. I've done it so often that it takes me less time to gather all my carryon and exit than it takes the average leisure traveler to unbuckle, gather handbag and coat, and attempt to exit the plane.

Anonymous - what about this post in this thread?

"I'm anxious to start my trip and prefer not to wait in airports for my luggage or in line with others waiting for a car rental."

Whaddya mean "none of the people who advocate carryon-only have said that it's due to their reulctance to wait for checked luggage"?

For a minute there you made me wonder if I was losing my ever-lovin-mind.

But as pdxgirl says "To each his own". And thanks, TxTravelPro. As much as you fly, you have to see it as much or more than I do!

Seasoned? Ithink I travel more than most and I always check.
It's simply a personal preference.
That's it...

I do both. I'm a lot more likely to carry on if I'm travelling by myself, in part to avoid the hassle of 2 days without clothes, but also so I can give up my seat more easily on oversold flights. I tend to check luggage on family vacations, because we'll likely be carrying equipment of some sort, as well as a few bulky clothes, hiking boots, gifts, etc.

Since you are going to pick up your luggage at the carousel, why do you care how long it takes to get off the plane since you will likely have to wait a couple of minutes for the luggage to arrive?

In the times I've checked my bags, I've always had to wait a few minutes to 20 minutes. I've also waited for hours in an airport looking for my luggage after they involunatrily bumped me from my flight.

THAT's why, as a single person who can pack lighter, carry on.

I either check or gate check.

What does annoy me is the person who "legally" carries his or her bag on, then proceeds to crush coats and hats while squeezing the bag into the overhead. On deplaning they invariably can't get the bag out...holding everyone up.

I've come full circle...in the days of 60% load factors I always carried on to save time. Today, with crowded planes security and other "it's not my fault" delays, I check the bags and plan my time accordingly.

GoTravel: Who knew your post with a rather simple question would degenerate?

With maybe 300 flights or more our luggage was delayed 3 or 4 times. I don't care if anyone check-in or not but if there is no room for my ONE very SMALL bag in an overhead compartment because some of you placed there huge and more than one carry-on then I am not a very happy traveler.

Statia, to answer your question <can you find access to a laundry facility?>
Hmmm, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge does not provide any hotels, motels, restaurants, laundry facilities. Then one week in Katmai National Park won't be much different. Two days in between we are going to spend doing laundry. So, is it still possible, in your opinion, to have everything in our carry-on?

Uh oh... When I saw "What's the problem? We only take the luggage allowed by the carry-on rules. How is that smug?" I could feel a personal rant bubble forth. The problem is that you may follow the carry-on rules, but many don't. By carry-on rules I refer to common limits of one carry-on bag plus one personal item per customer. All carry-on pieces, including laptops must be of a size to fit underneath the seat in front of you and your personal item is to go under your seat. Many individuals bring items that would not fit under their seat and in fact take up most of the overhead bin. Also, some individuals choose to put both items in the overhead rather than under their seats. Why does this make me mad? Because I used to take two small carry-ons on short business trips to avoid waiting for luggage, one to be stowed in the overhead and one under my seat until one trip when there was no room for my second bag. I watched the gentleman before me stow two large carry-ons in the overhead and had nothing under his seat, I asked if he would put one under his seat so there would be room for mine, he refused. I ended up having to check one of my peices of luggage and I was a bit of a mess as I did not have time too pull out some important items and I did not get a claim ticket for it. Since then I have always checked one bag and just stowed the other under my seat so I don't need to stress over it too much. I do continue to be amazed though when announcements are made that it is a very full flight so passengers should limit themselves to one bag that could be made to fit under the seat that many choose to ignore this and I do believe this causes delays. Actually, I shouldn't say passengers totally ignore this, instead I should say some passengers decide this means that they should board before their row is called so they have first dibs on empty overhead compartments, which of course means everyone seated behind them has to stand and wait while they shoehorn their bag into the compartment. Also, some people resist when told once they are on the plane that they need to check one of their bags as they don't fit - another delay. All in all I am happy I switched to checking one bag, for the most part I am not as angry when I see people break the rules and don't have to stress about fitting my bag in. I will admit to being a bit annoyed at times if an already delayed flight is even more delayed due to luggage problems, or if I am in a smaller plane with no dividers under the seats and I find my space taken up by the large bag of the person next to me.