Carry-on or check luggage?

[CarolynK]

How do all you fellow DVC members travel? Carry-on or checked?

We always travel with only carry-on luggage to WDW, 1 rolling and 2 shoulder bags for the four of us. With the new restrictions on airlines, I guess we will be mailing a small box of items there and back each trip.

I'm curious how this situation is affecting others.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

DH and I usually do with carry-on only. But it looks like now we'll be checking one bag and carrying on a second. At least our trips to WDW are on non-stop flights, which decrease the odds of the luggage getting lost.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I think you've got it. Go with carry-ons and ship the now non-carryable items to your resort.

 

[thelobstershanty]

We never seem to manage to fit all our "stuff" to just carry ons, plus we always try to get the emergency exit rows for the extra leg room. These seats have the lifeboats in the overhead storage bins, and we hate trying to stuff our things in already full overheads.
So basically, the new ruling will not effect us at all. We always check luggage and usually the luggage contains the toiliteries, liquids etc.

 

[Cruelladeville]

The new ruling won't affect me, either, because I try to check all my luggage, whenever possible. Since I use Magical Express, Disney makes sure all my luggage gets to the resort. I carry on a bag containing my meds and swimsuit, and my CPAP machine for sleep apnea. I think it's rude to carry on the plane 20-bazillion bags, and then they jump up as soon as the plane lands, and hold up the rest of the plane while they get all their stuff. Let the plane empty out before getting all your luggage out of the overhead bins.

 

[Ms.Mouse]

We bring a carry-on with a few changes of clothes (just in case). We pack the check in's lightly so we can put our "new purchases" in with no problem.

 

[BillPA]

We use to check our bags. But after that once in a life time trip to Hawaii last summer. When our checked bags went on their own vacation and did not arriving until the day before we were to leave. I now ONLY do carry ons. And just to 'rub salt' in the wound, the Friendly Skies lost our bags again on the flight home!!!

I will NEVER check bags again. If it doen't fit in a standard carry on, I will buy it when I get there.

 

[CarolA]

We use to check our bags. But after that once in a life time trip to Hawaii last summer. When our checked bags went on their own vacation and did not arriving until the day before we were to leave. I now ONLY do carry ons. And just to 'rub salt' in the wound, the Friendly Skies lost our bags again on the flight home!!!

I will NEVER check bags again. If it doen't fit in a standard carry on, I will buy it when I get there.

Well, start shopping.... since you cannot carry on anything remotely looking like a liquid. (Toothpaste, makeup, mouthwash, shaving creme etc....)

The TSA at work, you aren't really any safer, but you are a LOT more harrassed..

 

[CarolynK]

The new ruling won't affect me, either, because I try to check all my luggage, whenever possible. Since I use Magical Express, Disney makes sure all my luggage gets to the resort. I carry on a bag containing my meds and swimsuit, and my CPAP machine for sleep apnea. I think it's rude to carry on the plane 20-bazillion bags, and then they jump up as soon as the plane lands, and hold up the rest of the plane while they get all their stuff. Let the plane empty out before getting all your luggage out of the overhead bins.

We carry on LESS than the allowed number of bags per person. We carry-on because we simply don't bring enough "stuff" with us on vacation to warrant checking bags. Also, not having to wait for either baggage claim or ME means I get to WDW fast in my rented car.

 

[Disney Doll]

I usually only carried on things like medications, spare glasses(since I am blind without glasses, I always have a spare pair!!) and a change of underwear. I figure that if my checked luggage gets lost or delayed, I can buy clothes or toiletries.

 

[DisneyDreamingAubrey]

We each bring a small carry-on with the "just-in-case" items. Including a change of clothes and swimsuit. The rest we check. Thanks to Magical Express our luggage is in our room after we have lunch! We use to try to carry-on a lot more, but now that we don't have to deal with it in Orlando Airport we just check it!!

 

[DVC Grammy]

When we go to WDW, we check in most of our stuff, since we fly non-stop (I know, we're under the mistaken belief that if there are NO stops, how could luggage be lost ...........please don't disillusion us )
If we're flying somewhere with a stop-over, it'll depend upon which airline we use (so far, SWA is the only one who've never "mis-placed" our luggage ). If the best fares are on non-SWA, we'll carry-on more essentials, or with the new rules, send some ahead or plan to buy when we get there. Since we don't go into remote locations, we've found that stores are plentiful all over the world, and many of the products are the same or similar enough for us.

 

[jenelope]

I'm an optimist. My luggage has only ever been lost once. I suppose if it happened more often (or if that one time was more of an inconvenience), I'd be more distrustful of airlines. However, since that hasn't happened, I check my bags and I pack very little in my carry-on. I don't like to start my vacation by straining my back hauling a bag out of the overhead. My rule is, if it doesn't fit under the seat with plenty of room for my feet, it's not my kind of carry-on. I used to do carry-on only. I find my current method much more relaxing.

 

[byoung]

We ussually do carry on only. Now it looks like we will check one in.

 

[debbiepump]

Having the 'pleasure' of flying on that Thursday of all the chaos going on, we'll never forget the comment the flight attendent said to us. It was,
"Gee, we don't know what to do with all this time since no one is carrying all their luggage on the planes, most flights are leaving early!"

We are a check in kind of family. In MY world, I'd LOVE to see a security line for the folks who want to carry on their luggage and those that only have a purse, laptop, etc. The idiots we witnessed on that Thursday was unbelievable. The winners were those who thought Starbucks drinks were not considered a liquid!!! There were lots!

 

[jjpenguin]

As we usually stay for a week or more we check in our luggage. Not that we have that much (last time it was 1 suitcase) but it's usually larger than carry on and we need room for the stuff we bring back.

When I go solo (whooo hooo 4 weeks to go!!) I only take a carry on. That's fine for me and so much easier as I have to take care of everything myself. Cause of the Liquid stuff this time i'll just make do with Mickey Soap & shampoo. Only thing that I'll have to get is contact lens solution & toothpaste.

I've also heard that it's really chaotic with the check in situation, so anything to avoid that.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have always taken one carry-on each and no checked bags. We dont usually pack that much for a DVC trip because we have the laundry right there in the room. Now that we can't take toiletries in the carry on, I think we'll just check a couple of small bags and only take ourselves on the flight with nothing to carry.

 

[llp479]

We've always checked bags when we go to WDW, carrying on just a change of clothes and toiletries. Now, I'll just check it all. Lose my bag and I guess I'm going shopping!

DSIL is a gate agent at ORD for AA. She says they now load and unload planes in record time. DBIL is a baggage crew chief and says the number of bags they now have to load is double what it used to be. He said to make sure we get there early to make sure the bags make it on to the plane. TSA screening is where things really get held up.

Be sure to take advantage of checking bags at the resort if you are flying one of the airlines that allows you to check bags at WDW.

 

[JimC]

I travel for business and now have to check because of the latest restrictions. Not much one can do about it. At least now we can drive to Disney!

 

[CarolynK]

We flew the Saturday after the TSA's new policy began, from MKE to LAX. In MKE, the plane loaded noticeably faster than usual, but on the way home from LAX, a week later, it was back to people standing in the aisles.

I think it boils down to common courtesy - yes, we carry on our bags, but I don't hold up the person behind me while I'm stowing my bag. I sit down, let others pass, then if I have something to put above, there is always ample time to do so before takeoff.