Team Carry-On

Image credit: www.holidaygems.co.uk

When it comes to travelling with luggage you're either team carry-on or team checked luggage.  During one of our early travels, Sharee's luggage was "lost" on a domestic flight. We said never again will we check our luggage until we learned that many international carriers offer upward of two free checked bags. But then we both "lost" our luggage en-route to Paris. Sigh. So now we have pledged team carry-on unless the flight attendant ask for volunteers.  Sometimes they'll ask if we want to check our luggage to the final destination and other times we'll pick it up at the jet bridge at the next stop. Thus, far we have had success with both options versus checking the luggage before going through security check-point. In either case, we always take with us on-board necessities such as our personal purse (including money, passport, keys), shoulder bag with at least one day change of clothes, and a laptop. By the way, our luggage have always been found, and the airlines are really good at offering us additional reward points and out-of-pocket expenses for the trouble. :-)

In recent news, some airlines are no longer accepting carry-on bags in the main cabin if you are an economy passenger.  This means we'll either have to upgrade to economy plus or higher. United Airlines and American Airlines fall into this category. So far, we haven't heard anything about Delta changing it's policy.  Carriers such as Spirit and Frontier have always had a paid service for any carry-on.  If you use either of these airline providers, it's best to purchase that service up front because the costs is steeper once you get to the airport.  Our personal favorites are Southwest and Jet Blue that not only allow you to bring a personal item and one carry-on luggage, but they also allow for up to two free checked luggage. 

It has also come to our attention that being minimalist is ideal when it comes to packing your luggage.  So many times we have traveled with just a carry-on and still not wear everything in the bag.  Also, there can be weight or height restrictions, so know each airlines limit or be prepared to pay.  In addition, we offer the following suggestions:

1) Pack one shoe of each kind (ie, 1 walking shoe, 1 dress shoe, etc)
2) Wear you heaviest attire (jacket for the cold plane)
3) Place smaller items such as socks and undergarments into shirts or dresses, roll them tight, and pack neatly in your luggage
4) Identify laundry facilities at your destination, and use them as needed
5) Bring half as many shirts as you think you need, and a quarter the number of pants

So what are you- team carry-on or checked luggage?

---