carry on size? all the same?

[leanne11]

us air to mco and airtran back home, what are the largest i can carry on> i have a duffel bag i think it's 30", i would like to carry on?

 

[ducklite]

30" is DEFINITELY too large.

Most carriers say 22-24" maximum length for your carryon with 51-54 linear inches maximum. US Airways is getting ready to put spacer bars in all their planes so rollon's have to fit in wheels first or be gate checked. When that happens many rollon's will no longer fit--the depth of the over head bins in some equipment is only about 21".

That bag won't work as a carry on for either flight.

Anne

 

[goofy4tink]

Anne beat me to the punch!! The thing you need to measure when figuring if a bag is okay for carryon, is the whole bag...handle, wheels, the whole shebang. Those handles can add a few inches and the bag won't fit into the overhead.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Linear size, for anyone wondering what that means, is length plus width plus depth - and as goofy4tink points out, those measurements have to include handles, wheels, etc.

 

[CarolA]

And you must be able to Heave it in the overhead....

 

[ducklite]

And you must be able to Heave it in the overhead....

And don't expect a FA to do it, their contracts almost universally state that they are not obligated to do so. And more and more other passengers won't either, it's not worth risking a back injury.

If you can't handle it, check it.

Anne

 

[bicker]

Also, unless it fits under your seat (and many of the regulation-sized bags don't), you need to be prepared to have it checked anyway, if all the overhead compartments are full.

 

[jodifla]

Also, unless it fits under your seat (and many of the regulation-sized bags don't), you need to be prepared to have it checked anyway, if all the overhead compartments are full.

So, i'm reading two threads... the first one is, put everything in your carryon luggage....nebulizer, cameras, computer, diapers, medicine, change of clothes, pjs, swimwear, etc. etc...and the second one is how you can't carry on much luggage!


No wonder people are so stressed about traveling. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

 

[ducklite]

I can pack for 48-72 hours in a 19" roll-on suitcase and my camera bag. That includes my medications, toiletries, changes of clothes, pj's, and my laptop which I carry in my roll-on.

I don't carry my nebulizer when I travel, but my camera gear bag is probably three or four time the size of what an average person would bring a camera in to WDW, and a nebulizer and average digital camera would easily fit in the same space.

It's really not rocket science.

Anne

 

[safetymom]

I agree. The problem with most people when traveling is that they bring way way too much stuff from home.

 

[jodifla]

I agree. The problem with most people when traveling is that they bring way way too much stuff from home.

It's often a necessity when traveling with small children.

 

[Hannathy]

I agree people bring too much especially with small children!

If you are travelling out of a regional airport even a 19 inch with wheels can be too big. At Christmas they were not letting anything with wheels on the plane. I had to gate check my small 19 incher that fits under the seat easily. They just said no wheels and about 25 bags were gate checked!

 

[jodifla]

I can pack for 48-72 hours in a 19" roll-on suitcase and my camera bag. That includes my medications, toiletries, changes of clothes, pj's, and my laptop which I carry in my roll-on.

I don't carry my nebulizer when I travel, but my camera gear bag is probably three or four time the size of what an average person would bring a camera in to WDW, and a nebulizer and average digital camera would easily fit in the same space.

It's really not rocket science.

Anne

You're right. It's a piece of cake...if you are traveling solo.

 

[jodifla]

I agree people bring too much especially with small children!

If you are travelling out of a regional airport even a 19 inch with wheels can be too big. At Christmas they were not letting anything with wheels on the plane. I had to gate check my small 19 incher that fits under the seat easily. They just said no wheels and about 25 bags were gate checked!

Well, so much for being able to bring on toiletries and other essentials. How on earth would you know that until you got to the airport?

 

[robinb]

You're right. It's a piece of cake...if you are traveling solo.

Yup. My DH can travel on business for a whole week out of his carry-on and have room left over. It takes him about 30 minutes to pack (if that). *I* get stuck with all of my stuff, all of my DD's stuf, all the *extra* stuff that we need as a family. *sigh* I long for the day when I can pack in a single carry-on bag! I hope it comes soon since we're going to Japan next year! I don't want to schlep 5 bags to Japan.

 

[jodifla]

And don't expect a FA to do it, their contracts almost universally state that they are not obligated to do so. And more and more other passengers won't either, it's not worth risking a back injury.

If you can't handle it, check it.

Anne

When I was commuting back and forth from Florida to NYC to see my husband and pregnant, I had no trouble finding people to help me with my carryon bag. Contrary to popular belief, there are still lots of helpful people on flights.

The only time I've ever had trouble was trying to wrestle the car seat, a diaper bag, a purse and a toddler down the airport aisle by myself. That was misery.

 

[robinb]

Well, so much for being able to bring on toiletries and other essentials. How on earth would you know that until you got to the airport?

Gate-checking a bag usually means that it meets you at the jetway when you get off the plane, especially on those regional jets like Hannathy is talking about. Some of those puddle jumpers don't have a whole lot of room. If your bag gets gate-checked on a major route it's more likely that you will have to pick it up at baggage claim.

 

[jodifla]

Yup. My DH can travel on business for a whole week out of his carry-on and have room left over. It takes him about 30 minutes to pack (if that). *I* get stuck with all of my stuff, all of my DD's stuf, all the *extra* stuff that we need as a family. *sigh* I long for the day when I can pack in a single carry-on bag! I hope it comes soon since we're going to Japan next year! I don't want to schlep 5 bags to Japan.

Exactly. There's a world of difference in packing for just an adult vs. a family.

 

[dawnball]

You're right. It's a piece of cake...if you are traveling solo.

I can pack for a week in florida for myself and my daughter in a 20" duffel if I'm willing to buy diapers at my destination. I can manage 3-4 days if I'm bringing diapers or a week with diapers if I add my traveling vest and a personal item (I use a smallish messenger bag). It really isn't that hard, even with small children.

I carry (and this varies a bit based on the trip):
clothing
diapers (for long trips I'll compress them in a ziplock)
wipes (the kind in a tube, not a box and I usually take a partial pack)
medications for myself and my daughter
a security blanket (usually carried because she's entirely too attached to it)
1 change of shoes (sandal-like)
2 travel-only toys
a pkg of earplugs in case she has a bad flight
digital camera
take and toss cups with straws
a few snacks
toiletries (shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bar of soap, q-tips, razor)
Usually a bottle or two of water

I usually gate-check the umbrella stroller. Since my daughter has her own seat, I could take 2 carry on bags, but I usually don't bother. I'll either check one or just bring less stuff, depending on the trip.

We're getting ready to do 2 weeks in a condo and the things I'm planning on not having in my carryon are gifts for family I'll be seeing in florida, some extra diapers and cookware/food for the condo.

Travelilng light really is a philosophy, and I'm still working on my tendancy to overpack..

 

[bavaria]

Travelilng light really is a philosophy, and I'm still working on my tendancy to overpack..

It is astonishing how many items and the size/weight of items that people bring aboard. No, I don't like to check luggage, but my work trips are minimum 2 weeks and I often carry at least 40lbs of supplies.

For vacation, I can manage two weeks in a 21 inch rollaboard, plus a handbag.

If the continued attempts to overstuff carryons continues, airlines will eventually become even more strict. I recently checked for someone here re carry on policy on a charter - it was ONE item 20 lbs or less, and smaller than a 21 in roll aboard.

More carryons = longer boarding time = increase in costs to the airline = increased cost to you + less services