I’ve never had a luggage issue (maybe because I never check?), but I just want to get off the plane and go. Having to stand around the baggage carousel with the masses describes a ring of hell to me. Just a phenomenal waste of time.
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Last trip I took with my daughter, on the way home our one checked bag was the first one from our flight to come out on the luggage carousel! (I was thinking it was our lucky day and we should have bought a lottery ticket).
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Dud you get there super early? I am obsessively, anxiously early whenever I fly anywhere and while I rarely check a bag on the rare occasion I do it’s almost always one of the first bags off. I don’t check because it makes me anxious especially when flying internationally. I once got caught in a 2-hour immigration line coming back to the US - had I been envisioning all my stuff circling the carousel during that time I might have completely lost my mind. Even when it’s relatively quick I worry about getting down there in time to grab my bag the second it pops out of the chute. I’d much rather just have my stuff with me. Yes, I have issues.
Have you put an AirTag in your suitcase so you can track the location? Also, many airlines now keep you updated on the luggage movement on their app. I keep an AirTag in my checked bag, carryon and personal item.
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FYI they will usually take them off the carousel and put them next to it if the lines are long and they haven’t been picked up before the next flight offloads. Been there done that a number of times before we got residence here and got the “quick” lines (and at Heathrow before we got US passports which now allow us to use the quick entry gates).
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When I traveled to Europe, I was very impressed at how quickly they got the bags out compared to the US airports (the larger ones anyway). And a couple of the European airports had employees who pulled them off and lined them up, so they weren’t going round and round.
I hate waiting for my bag too but it’s part of air travel. I mainly only travel up and down the east coast, so I can fly direct (and I use air tags). The longest waits for luggage for me have been at Miami and my home airport in Charlotte. I don’t know what they are doing back there but these are two of the busiest airports. Nonetheless, if FCO can get my bags out fast, MIA & CLT should be able to do better.
Although Ovcio cashmere scarves are thin, they are generously sized and loosely doubling or tripling up seems to hold in the heat and keep me warm in many situations, including a plane. I am always cold, and wrapping the scarf double-layered around my shoulders like a shawl or around my neck multiple times keeps me surprisingly warm.
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I’ve had my bag delayed several times by a day or more, and even though I packed extra essentials it’s an annoying inconvenience. Also, waiting for a bag at NYC airports can easily be 30 minutes or more, which is a drag when you just want to get home.
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Well, my daughter said it was because we had checked in so early before our flight - but we typically do that and this was a first for us. I do put an airtag in each piece of luggage so I can track it if it is misplaced.
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I have global entry so I could ge through immigration in matter of minutes. To have to wait 30+ min to get my luggage would defeat the purpose.
Anywhere outside of US could get luggage’s out faster.
I have a couple of reasons for not wanting to check a bag:
- I don’t have a credit card that gives me a free checked bag
- I don’t have airline status anywhere that gives me a free checked bag
- I don’t want to have to wait 30 min for the luggage to arrive at baggage claim
- I don’t want to run the risk of my stuff getting stolen/walking way never to be seen again
- I don’t want the bag to go missing and then I have to scramble and live in the same clothes for days on end during the trip
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Thank you, @Hello44!! I love all the colors on their website too.
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I am very organized mentally but somehow have been unable to organize physical objects well (same with my father and at least one of my siblings and both of my kids). In the beginning, packing was a bit of agony for me – too many choices.
My rule is that I never check a bag unless I have to. I have had bags delayed, lost, destroyed or damaged. On a lot of business trips, I don’t leave extra time to wait for clothes to get to me. On business trips, I take an Away Larger Carry-on and Troubadour Backpack or Waterfield Briefcase. I often take a garment sleeve from Away or TravelPro or Delsey for suits or suits/shirts.
Now, when I go on a business trip, I ask what the dress code will be at each client/event.
For example, I will have a trip in which I am a (the?) keynote speaker at an event in one city organized by one of the big consulting firms for their clients and then will be attending a environment/finance related set of events in another city for a couple of days. The latter event is suit (tie or no). The former maybe more casual. Then, I create a spreadsheet listing the pants/suits/shirts/underwear etc. I will be wearing each day and figure out if/when I will be able to send things out for cleaning. On the 3 day trip described above, I would not be able to get anything cleaned. If it were three days in the same city, I could get the suit and shirt I wear on Day 1 cleaned on Day 2 and then wear that on Day 3. The objective is to take no more than I absolutely need to take.
If I have a hiking or biking trip, I have an XL Mountain Hardwear (?) duffel that is rugged and fantastic. Bike helmets, hiking boots, Keens, cycling shoes, hiking poles, polar fleece and Goretex go in here. I check that bag, of course.
Sometimes, I have a trip that combines both. Them, I’m stuck checking a bag on a business trip.
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Remember, you are retired now. There’s no rush. You have time. 
It is frustrating when my airport transfer driver has to circle around waiting for me to get my bag. But I tip him well.
Immigration lines and waiting for luggage are 2 very different experiences. One, you just stand, the other, you can walk around and take a seat if you wish.
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I need to learn to slow down.
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My youngest called yesterday as she was packing for a trip. No carry on for her and she ended up with her bag being 60 lbs! Granted she does have two pairs of riding boots and her riding helmet in her suitcase. I told her she didn’t need 5 pairs of pajama pants for 10 days.
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She packs like my youngest D! 
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She has an amazing boss. They are headed to a horse riding trip. This is the third trip they have gone on, and her boss covers almost all the expenses even the business class ticket.
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That’s amazing that your D has such a great boss.
This would be D2’s dream! She is starting a new job soon and will be fully remote and able to set her hours so she is hoping to start doing some riding again.
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Do they have any vacancies??
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