Janis,
I never knew you do packing questions.

Maybe you have an idea or suggestion of where I could look...I use Simply Saline sterile saline solution (by arm & hammer) and it only comes in 12 oz. It's an aerosol so that it has no preservatives. You are not supposed to check anything under pressure but it's not 3 oz. so it can't go in a carry-on either.

I have not found an aerosol spray of 3 oz or less for sale anywhere and I've looked a lot...do you have any ideas?

On our last trip, I could not find my solution even in the large size at the popular CVS stores near our destination, so I wore my glasses. The non-aerosols for sale everywhere still have perservatives and I can use them for about a day before I have problems.

Have had no problems with luggage flying Delta & we usually fly Delta because of FF miles; we also have the Delta Skymiles AMEX & we started w/ gold & upgraded to platinum eventually; I think my parents have gold & they are also eligible for the free checked bag.

Picked up some travel wine skins on one trip & use these for glass bottle souvenirs we might pick up (not necessarily wine, but even a unique salad dressing, jam, or whatever), so it's nice to be able to check a bag because then you can bring home what you like.

Actually, this is what the TSA says about aerosol:

[can't be carried on or packed in luggage] except for personal care or toiletries in limited quantities

so may be you CAN put it in your checked luggage.

"<i>You are not supposed to check anything under pressure but it's not 3 oz. so it can't go in a carry-on either.</i>"

Saline is specifically excluded from the 3 oz rule.

From the TSA website >><i>Additionally, we are continuing to permit prescription liquid medications and other liquids needed by persons with disabilities and medical conditions. This includes:

* All prescription and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including petroleum jelly, eye drops, and saline solution for medical purposes; . . .

if the liquid medications are in volumes larger than 3.4 ounces (100ml) each, they may not be placed in the quart-size bag and must be declared to the Transportation Security Officer . . .

Declared liquid medications and other liquids for disabilities and medical conditions must be kept separate from all other property submitted for x-ray screening.</i><<

Not entirely sure if they would allow 12oz but I've seen 6 and 8 oz bottles MANY times, so probably OK.

And small aerosols are OK - again from the TSA website: >><i>All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in 3.4 ounce (100ml) or smaller containers.</i><<

So - they definitely do allow large saline AND small aerosol bottles, but I don't think large aerosol is specifically addressed.

reading the TSA info again . . . it looks like large aerosol would be OK.

medical items (Saline and aerosols are both specifically mentioned) are exempted from the 3oz rule. Just have it ready for screening just like the qt baggie. But of course, that doesn't account for an individual %^$*&# TSA agent who interprets the rules differently :)

Neo,

I never thought that getting a taste of "local stuff" would include toothpaste. I have traveled in most of the states, but not much at all overseas-so I guess that would definately make a difference. I would prefer toothpaste to say something like Pacific Northwest or Cajun rather than whitening, tarter control, etc. LOL.

On a similar subject. It is tough now to find anything that says Plain Toothpaste anymore.

I pretty much always check one bag unless it's a weekend trip - and depending on the season/what I plan to wear, I've checked a bag for long wkds, too (colder weather has heavier clothing).

I would far rather be comfortable and have leeway on things to wear if needed... and "if needed" can include "argh, I've spilled coffee on these jeans and we're moving on in the AM and I cannot wash these in time". Spare clothes are not bad words.

The carryon has everything truly essential and checked has the "nice to haves" and extra clothes (which may be "essential" but cannot fit into the carryon). So far I've been lucky in that a lost bag will be found within three days - it doesn't happen often.

Rick Steves sez: "You cannot travel heavy, happy and cheap. Pick two." I have no issues with dumping "cheap".

Checking a bag doesn't really add all that much time. Some time, sure, but not hours or anything. Usually by the time you're through passport control your bag is on its way to the belt.

If you are traveling with others, you can have cheap insurance against losing all of your clothes by mixing up your clothing in each others' bags. Just a few outfits/undies in theirs, and yours. Odds are they won't lose BOTH bags and at least you'll have something to wear if they lose yours but not your companion's bag.

Folks who check bags must think that carry-on travelers are forced to wear dumpy clothes, or are like Rick S who always looks the same in khakis and dopey shirt. Or deprive themselves of luxuries/everything they need.

I counted, and on my recent 3.5 week trip to the UK I carried on 27 unique outfits (and ended up not wearing every garment I took). That was in temps from 42F and sleet, to 82F and broiling sun, to the deluge during the Jubilee river pageant.

I don't take just one color, but <i>almost</i> everything goes w/ <i>almost</i> everything else. W/ the mix/match and layers you can assemble a tremendous number of outfits.

You definitely tip when you drop off bags. In Denver we have done it both ways--DH goes to get the car and I get bags and wait on the level below the baggage claim. That was usually when we had skis to schlep. Now with just baggage, we probably just get on the bus to the car rental if DD isn't meeting us, as is usualy now!!

Back to checking in online. You can check in and pay for the bags online, but then you have to take them to the desk to actually get the tag that they put on the bag. If you are doing this curbside, you tip the skycap. If you take it inside and stand in the line at the main ticket counter, you don't tip, of course. A lot of times there isn't a curbside check in ability, and you have to go in--in Denver in particular.
In Denver there is also a little added benefit of renting cars from the "lesser" agencies. The one time I got an Avis car on Hotwire, it took me 3 times as long because of the people loaded onto the BIG shuttle bus to their office and standing in that line. Enterprise took me to the car in the lot. Just one experience and an FYI.

sludick, I found some of these at Target last year. Are they what you're looking for? They were great to take to Italy - we had an apartment in Rome and did a load of laundry before we moved on.

http://www.purex.com/products/deterg...omplete-3-in-1

I love the Purex sheets for travel! I cut them into thirds before I leave (for doing very small batches of laundry in the sink or tub).

Yes!! That's them!! Thank you, jent103. Since I know my local WalMart does not have them, and if Target here does not either, I can now order them online.

Balance is restored to my travel universe.

sylvia3, great idea. They also tend to keep the suitcase smelling fresh. Truly a handy travel product.

Thanks, Janis. I will try bringing a bottle on my next trip and see if the agent will let me bring it in. I wish they sold the trial size bottles for this sort of thing. Some eye doctors have them, but I cannot find them for sale anywhere.

I was going to suggest getting doctors samples - but sounds like you've already thought of that.

sludick, as a Libra, I am happy to help restore balance to your world. ;)

Just because you choose to check the bag thru isn't an excuse to take the kitchen sink. I do check. My 24" duffle always weighs in at 25-27 lbs.

Loving all this talk! We did successfully upgrade our AmEx to Gold so now we can check bags and get priority boarding (though do we really need to sit on the plane longer than we have to if we won't be needing to stow as much??)

Thanks for the tips :) about tipping for bags. We'll see our how time is running those mornings and decide if we have time to take them inside or do a curbside check.

Love the laundry sheets! Will definitely have to look for those.

I've sometimes had an extra bag of liquid medicines (children's liquid tylenol for example) that I'll show to the TSA. They barely even glanced at it and waved it on through. I kind of forgot about saline solution for contacts works that way too. But I guess this time I'll be able to check it anyway.

Just to follow up, I started a new post related to taking my contact solutions in my carry-on.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...t-solution.cfm

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