question on carry-ons

[eljojo]

I was checking the S.W. website for the luggage dimensions for carry-ons, and all our suitcases on wheels are undersized. My husband said the last few times he flew, hardly anyone checked their luggage instead they used small suitcases and put them overhead. Anyone have any experience with this - I hate to be the only ones carrying our luggage onboard, but I would also hate to waste so much time waiting to claim our bags if it's unneccessary.

 

[safetymom]

You will be fighting for overhead storage space on the planes. It is amazing the stuff people try to fit on the plane.

I wish more people would check their luggage. At most airports you don't wait very long for your suitcase. Most times at MCO by the time I stop at the bathroom and get to baggage claim the suitcases are already on the carousel.

 

[goofy4tink]

We usually check most of our luggage but last Dec my dd and I did only carry-on. I have to say it was somewhat of a pain!! Have to lug it around the airport, into the bathrooms. Then lug it onto the plane. Try to find an empty spot for both of the bags in the same area. Nope, we'll be carrying on a tote bag each or a backpack this time. I'll be checking the rest. Much easier and it only adds about 20 minutes to your wait time leaving the airport.

 

[Jestocost]

If I'm traveling alone, on business for just two or three nights, I'll usually just stick to a carry-on size bag (with wheels) and a laptop case/briefcase. It's just faster.

If I'm traveling with my family, however, we always check our suitcases and just carry on what we'll need on the flight or don't want to pack: backpacks with snacks, books, etc. for the kids, DWs purse, camera case, etc. There's just too much stuff to pack to fit into the smaller cases and hauling around four carry-ons, plus backpacks, purses, etc. would be a HUGE pain.

In my experience (which includes being on 100+ planes over the past 18 months), leisure travelers are much less likely to do the carry-on thing. I assume for the same reasons I cited. If I'm on a weekday flight to a non-tourist destination, overhead luggage space often runs out. When I'm travling with my family to Orlando or another tourist-type location, the overhead bins rarely are full. That's not to say that it doesn't happen and I don't fly SWA enough to have a read on if they're different, but that's my observation.

 

[bubba's mom]

Originally posted by safetymom
Most times at MCO by the time I stop at the bathroom and get to baggage claim the suitcases are already on the carousel.

~~we fly from PHI to MCO EVERY year.....and i will tell you in the 13+ years we've been doing it, our luggage has always beaten us to the carousel except once!! i absolutely love the baggage service at MCO and wonder why PHI can't get on the ball?!?