Carry On Recommendations

[westjones]

Can anyone recommend some good carry on luggage. I would love to be able to pack what I needed into a carry on and not have to check luggage. Years ago I bought these "Freedom on Wheel" bags that were sold on the Home Shopping Channel and the reason I bought them is because they said you can carry them on. Well now they seem a bit large for that since the regulations changed. I haven't tried them, but they look bigger than what I see most people using.

I did see some nice 'stackable' luaggage. Do those count as one or two bags?

What luggage works best?
Thanks,
DJ

 

[CarolA]

I did see some nice 'stackable' luaggage. Do those count as one or two bags?

DJ

Two.


My suggestion is to go to the website of the airline you travel most and read thier carryon requirements Your luggage needs to meet those requirements and it goes without saying that you must be able to lift it into the overhead. FAs are not required to assist you and lots of time your fellow passengers won't either. My rule is if I can't lift it unassisted it gets checked.

 

[owtrbnks]

My suggestion is to go to the website of the airline you travel most and read thier carryon requirements Your luggage needs to meet those requirements and it goes without saying that you must be able to lift it into the overhead. FAs are not required to assist you and lots of time your fellow passengers won't either. My rule is if I can't lift it unassisted it gets checked.

CarolA,
I couldn't agree with you more! I am one of those who laugh when I see someone with an oversized 75 lb. carryon expecting the FA to help them cram it it the overhead bin.
Like SWA says, "Don't be a bin hog."

 

[canwegosoon]

I believe the size of carryons is going to change again to 18"(I believe it is now 20")...I would go to a luggage speciality store and ask there. (I would hate to see you spend a lot of money now-only for it to be unusable next year.) AT the luggage store there people are usually on top of the information in their industry. I have a large luggage set that you can clip a bag on top of each other plus put your carryon on top, so I can wheel 3 pieces with one hand.

 

[westjones]

I have a large luggage set that you can clip a bag on top of each other plus put your carryon on top, so I can wheel 3 pieces with one hand.

This sounds like a great set up!
DJ

 

[CarolA]

I believe the size of carryons is going to change again to 18"(I believe it is now 20")...I would go to a luggage speciality store and ask there. (I would hate to see you spend a lot of money now-only for it to be unusable next year.) AT the luggage store there people are usually on top of the information in their industry. I have a large luggage set that you can clip a bag on top of each other plus put your carryon on top, so I can wheel 3 pieces with one hand.

YEAH, and that's why they are still selling the OVERSIZED luggage that will not fit the wieght and are size limits anymore... I would NOT trust the saleperson to know. I buy a lot of luggage and even at good stores they are basically clueless, they don't travel and are going on what the luggage manufactures tell them....

On most airlines carryon is still 22", USAir seems to be leading a push to 20".

 

[ducklite]

I use a TUMI Vista-- looks like this:

It's 20" from the bottom of the wheels to the top of the handle, and I love it. I fits into every overhead top out. It's super lightweight, and the handle has two positions so it works if you are tall or on the shorter side. I love the bright pink because it's easy to identify, but it also comes in blue and black. I heard that they've discontinued the pink.

I actually bought it fairly recently to replace a 22" bag that won't fit into some overheads "wheels out" because I'm hearing that most airlines are going to begin making that a requirement. US Airways is actually supposed to be putting spacers into the bins to force people to put the bag in the short way or check it.

Because when I fly I need to carry both a camera bag and a laptop, I use the TUMI laptop sleeve:

and it slips into the front zipped pocket of the Vista bag, making it easy to take out for screening.

Anne

 

[salmoneous]

OK, maybe I am evil, but my carry-on bag doesn't meet the airline requirements. It is your standard black wheely bag that couldn't possibly fit within size limits. However, it does fit in the overhead bins the "right" way (i.e. with the long dimention going from the front to the back of the bin) of every full size (3x3 or larger) jet I've flown.

 

[Pixiedust34]

My plan is to use a backpack. That way, I can wear it instead of carry it. It should fit the size limit OK. My kids are going to use backpacks as carry-ons, too. Theirs will be kid-sized so they can carry them all by themselves.

I'm worried about handling all of the luggage because on our return flight home, we'll have to manage it ourselves at MCO. Backpacks seem the easiest way to go since I'll be both dragging one suitcase and carrying another.

In addition to the backpack carryons, is it OK to have water bottle holders (for drinks for take off and landing) AND to have a small bag each (me = small purse-like bag, and the kids = bag of things to do/snacks for on the plane)? That would technically be 3 items each (backpack to be placed in overhead, small bag, water bottle holder with water). We are flying SW.

Thanks!

 

[pooch]

I have 2 black soft-sided carryons (at least I think they're carryons). They are 21" across the bottom but again soft-sided i.e. they squish. Then either a med - large or a large - really large rolling duffle into either of which I plan to put another empty duffle. There will be four of us for 9 days and I have given strict instructions on how much each is allowed to bring! I will be doing laundry down there (actually like the enforced quiet time) probably twice. My twofold question:

A. Will my carryons (not stuffed) fit?
B. Will this be enough luggage?

Regards,
Pooch

 

[DebbieB]

Can anyone recommend some good carry on luggage. I would love to be able to pack what I needed into a carry on and not have to check luggage. Years ago I bought these "Freedom on Wheel" bags that were sold on the Home Shopping Channel and the reason I bought them is because they said you can carry them on. Well now they seem a bit large for that since the regulations changed. I haven't tried them, but they look bigger than what I see most people using.

I did see some nice 'stackable' luaggage. Do those count as one or two bags?


What luggage works best?
Thanks,
DJ

I bought a Joy Magano rolling bag from HSN and then got a postcard a month or two later saying it did not meet regulation carryon size as advertised. I read the reviews on the website and everyone said it was crap luggage, fell apart right away. So I packed it up and sent it back, saying it was false advertising by saying it was carryon size. They refunded my money plus the return shipping charges.

I think "stackable luggage" would count as 2 pieces if they are not permantly connected. Or the size regulation would be the total size of all, which would probably be too big.

 

[ducklite]

I have 2 black soft-sided carryons (at least I think they're carryons). They are 21" across the bottom but again soft-sided i.e. they squish. Then either a med - large or a large - really large rolling duffle into either of which I plan to put another empty duffle. There will be four of us for 9 days and I have given strict instructions on how much each is allowed to bring! I will be doing laundry down there (actually like the enforced quiet time) probably twice. My twofold question:

A. Will my carryons (not stuffed) fit?
B. Will this be enough luggage?

Regards,
Pooch

You need to go to the web site of your carrier and look up their specific regulations. By the sounds of it, the rolling duffle is not going to work as carryone, the others might be OK, depends on the full measurements. If they are 21" acroos the bottom by 28" high, then no. If they are 21x14x8 then they should be fine.

As far as if it will be ebnough luggage, only you know that based on how you pack...

Anne

 

[westjones]

We are flying Airtran this summer and according to their website, it sounds like the bags we bought on the HSN will work. They just seem a bit bigger than what I saw most people using this past week. But maybe DH and I could use those and our DDs could use our rolling backpacks. We used those this past week and they fit under the seats, so we would only have two bags for the overhead. Here is what Airtran says:

Carry-On Baggage

Federal regulations limit a passenger to one (1) carry-on bag and one (1) personal item. A personal item may consist of a handbag, umbrella, coat, camera, reading material, infant food, briefcase or laptop computer.

No carry-on item may exceed overall dimensions (length + width + height) of 55 inches and must be placed under the seat in front of the customer or in the overhead bin.

 

[ducklite]

We are flying Airtran this summer and according to their website, it sounds like the bags we bought on the HSN will work. They just seem a bit bigger than what I saw most people using this past week. But maybe DH and I could use those and our DDs could use our rolling backpacks. We used those this past week and they fit under the seats, so we would only have two bags for the overhead. Here is what Airtran says:

Carry-On Baggage

Federal regulations limit a passenger to one (1) carry-on bag and one (1) personal item. A personal item may consist of a handbag, umbrella, coat, camera, reading material, infant food, briefcase or laptop computer.

No carry-on item may exceed overall dimensions (length + width + height) of 55 inches and must be placed under the seat in front of the customer or in the overhead bin.

Here's the scoop--some airlines are looking at requiring roll on's to fit in the overhead the short way (wheels facing the back) so if your bags are longer than 21-23" depending on the type of plane, they aren't going to fit in that way and will have to be checked. You need to measure the height from the bottom of the wheels to the top of the handle to get a true measurement. It's my experience that the wheels and handle can add up to 4" to the size of the bag over it's interior measurement.

Anne