If I am carrying on a small suit case and also have a tote/small backpack, I always tuck my purse inside the tote or it may be counted as a 3rd piece. If I just have a small backpack and a purse - no prob.
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but you are usually allowed 50 lbs for your checked bag flying international… However, if you are catching a connecting flight within Europe, many have a weight restriction of 20 kilos (44lb) for checked and 5 kilos (12 lbs for carry on). Do not be alarmed on the connecting flights if they take your bag as you board and stow it underneath.
If anyone likes to pack up to the exact pound, might I suggest packing one of those uber lightweight duffels in case you exceed weight and need to check an additional bag.
We went carry-on to Belgium last year and it saved us since we had to change planes (our flight ended up cancelled due to weather). We were able to change planes and re-book immediately (with zero minutes to spare…) which they would not have allowed us to do except that our bags weren’t a problem.
I am clearly the outlier. I love the freedom of checking my bag and not having to be weighed down by all my possessions in the airport. The only times lately that my bags have been delayed were when I was forced to gate check items I had intended to carry on.
In one instance, I handed my bag to the flight attendant on the plane and it somehow didn’t make the flight. In another, they made people who had gate-checked items pick them up at the baggage claim and my item got lost at the airport.
Those instances happened recently. It has been over ten years since any regularly checked bag of mine has been delayed. And, if you don’t have priority boarding, there is always a chance you’ll be required to gate-check. The lost-baggage folks told me that gate-checked bags actually have a higher mis-hap rate than regularly checked bags.
nottelling- I’m with you all the way. I almost always check a bag (unless I am traveling with male executives who don’t check and don’t want to wait…).
I have never traveled with a robe, but then I don’t use one at home, either. A light pair of yoga pants or running tights works for me.
Because I’m extremely cold natured, I need a robe for warmth, also the wool shawl.
My bag is very rarely gate checked, usually only when visiting family in rural areas on tiny planes with no real overhead compartments. I watch them take it and put in underneath in the plane. If I ever lose a gate checked bag, I’m just packing in my messenger bag. you are freaking me out.
" I did the monochromatic color thing with black and white and used scarves for accents. I have to say, the pictures were weird. Black, white, black, white, touch of red!, black, white, etc. "
When I’m traveling, I’m typically taking pictures of the sights - not myself. I know what I look like already This was a major disagreement with me / H when we first started traveling together. I don’t need a picture of myself in front of (insert tourist site) - I want to see the site!
^^ @PG – Whenever we would share travel photos with my late grandmother, without fail she would say, “How do I know you were really there if you’re not in the photo?” lol
I’m with you, I like pictures of the sights without me in them.
Each airline has its own policy. Read the fine print.
In Singapore Airport (90 degrees outside), I once had to pull out a knee length wool topcoat from my bag and wear it to the gate, bcs the bag was overweight.
I am in the minority but I like to check my bag. I hate dealing with it in the airport. The exception being if I am flying out of my small airport where you put your carry on at the bottom of the stairs. I like to use packing cubes from EBags to keep my things organized. I used to roll and use zip lock bags.
I am interested in all the tips for packing light though. I have a Sept trip planned that is two locales. The first 10 days being tropical and the 2nd ten being early spring in New Zealand. Not sure how to pack light with two different climates.
Cardigans over a nice scoopneck tshirt or tanktop. Comfortable loafers worn w or w/o socks.
I usually keep a lightweight Uniqlo down jacket packed in my rollaboard (a dark one for fall/winter and a pale one for spring). The jacket scrunches into a small bag and weighs practically nothing. If it’s really cold, I’ll layer the pashima over it.
I keep super cheap-O $1 Walmart superstretchy gloves zipped in the pockets.
GMT. I’m in the market for a new carryon. Rollaboard (2 wheels) or spinner? It seems hard to find the 2 wheel rollaboard these days. I get nervous that the spinners won’t fit into smaller, overseas carriers.
Spinners will not fit into certain planes…salesman told us United planes in particular. I measured and the spinner one in store was 1 inch greater than United’s requirements…
I had a trip a year ago that wasn’t long (8 days) but involved 4 different climates- and business clothes. It was northern Calif, higher elevation Arizona, Las Vegas and southern Calif- in that order. I wasn’t packing light (needed all climate levels of running stuff, too). I had a big suitcase and when I got to LA it turned out my boss had rented this tiny little car and my giant suitcase barely fit in it! It was pretty funny. Fortunately, his luggage and mine didn’t have to be in the car at the same time.
@my2sunz - that pillowcase link is really quite intriguing. For myself I always pack vertically like I am filling a filing cabinet. The compression of the “files” keeps the clothing from moving around. I do one row the long way with my clothes, shoes and miscellaneous on the other side and jacket or other bulky item is placed on top.
I gave Son2 a 2-wheel Tumi Alpha2 for xmas. Found it on sale online in grey/orange for half the price of the black one. I rather covet it and am thinking of treating myself to same.
Yes, 2 wheel bags are increasingly difficult to find. I much prefer 2 wheels; they have larger interior capacity than spinners. And spinner wheels are rather wimpy and are generally not so good for pulling on the rear 2 wheels-- spinners are suited for pushing on smooth airport floors. Pulling a bag is faster than pushing a bag when negotiating crowded airports.
I used to use an indestructible 2-wheel bag from Purdy Neat Stuff. It’s the same bag airline pilots use (flight crews always asked me if i was crew). Loved the bag, but it was heavy because of the metal-frame. Sadly, i retired the bag because of the weight.
Spinners and rough surfaces just do not go well together. Also, the wheels make them too long for compliance with carryon size. I too can’t wait for the fad to die out a bit so manufactures would bring two wheelers back into he mix of their travel products. I scout TJMaxx for 2-wheeled Tumis (because that’s where “old” designs end LOL).
