Luggage Opinions?

[merfsko]

Hey all!

I'm preparing to head out for 5-day trip to DLR in two weeks, and I just started packing, which led me to my luggage dilemma.

Currently, I've packed in a 21" (carry-on size) wheeled suitcase (I plan on checking it). Everything fits perfectly. And since I have only a purse for my carry-on on the way there, I plan on using a real carry-on bag on the way back to accomodate any extras I accumulate at Disney

BUT, my local Sears does have Heys luggage on sale for 50% off, and since I broke my last 26" suitcase (A month-long England adventure was too much for it), I could do with a replacement.

Which brings me to my question: Would you splurge on the sale for the next size up, and fill the extra room with Disney goodies on the way back? Or would you stick with your handy 21" for the ease of transporting it?

TIA!

Edit: I am flying with JetBlue, so I do get a checked bag for free

 

[mydisneymoney]

I personally would go bigger. You are already planning on checking it and I assume it has wheels so pulling it won't be an issue. You might kick yourself once there if you have a smaller bag. You can always put small carry on duffle bag in the checked back going there and then you will have more available should you need it.

 

[taaren]

For a 5 day trip, I'd stick with the roll-aboard personally. We tend to travel for a long time, the trip I'm on right now is a 3 week journey so we have both a 29" that we check, a 21", a duffel, and a carry on backpack each (for 3 people). But for a week or less trip I wouldn't take more than the 21" + a backpack carry-on. This trip we even left behind the laptop and are just using a friends! The convenience of it would win for me ... if I want to shop/bring back extra stuff we'll use a recyclable-friendly cloth grocery bag. Not much of a shopper so that's unlikely but with DS4 sometimes we end up with an extra toy we weren't planning on since its the only non-birthday/Xmas time we get to treat him.

 

[kailuagirl]

If you are going to check you bag anyway, I'd go for the bigger bag. You never know what you may happen upon while shopping that you really want to bring home. Before baggage fees we used to have a least 2 empty suitcases to take with us for goodies to bring back. And since your other bag recently broke you need a new one anyways

Have fun!!

 

[GrumpyGoat]

After the experience I had with AA last year, I would recommend going with a single carry-on (and I mean only ONE bag.) Because the airlines are now charging for checked luggage, passengers are taking larger and larger carry-on onto the plane. If the airline isn't enforcing the carry-on size restrictions (which American apparently doesn't do,) you could be forced to gate check your carry-on bag at the last minute because the overhead bins are full.

Last year, AA wanted my wife and I to check $8000 worth of photography equipment that was in bags that didn't lock. I refused and was able to find room for them, but it was obvious the bins were full because of oversize bags. I won't fly on American again...

 

[aurorae]

My carry on is either a daypack or a briefcase size bag, and in a pinch I put them under the seat rather than overhead. I almost always check a bag except for the very shortest of flights. I hate the hassle of trying to get on the plane before the overhead bins are full. Let the people with the big rollaboards stand in front of each other and block each other in line before their number is called. Yes, it costs more to check a bag, but lately I've been flying Alaska a lot and they are really fast about getting the bags to the luggage claim area (faster than the other airlines I fly, United and Delta). It's nice to check the bag and then not have to carry it through security.

Electronics and prescriptions always go with me, so if there was a chance I had a bag that wouldn't fit under the seat, I'd still have to have a small carryon bag for anything valuable that wouldn't fit in my pockets.