Roomiest carry on luggage?

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

It's really not the roomiest but the new one I have now if you're needing a small one is
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CBT5C4C/ref=twister_B08547YT37?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

It's pretty small only because while the full dimensions register at 21inches it's more narrow than most I think but it does have an extender like normal to make it bigger. I have the two wheeled version while my husband has the 4 wheeled one but the 4 wheeled one measures larger because of the wheels, same interior space. FWIW I packed more in there than they mention. I packed a swimming suit, two sports bras, a spare bra, three dresses, pjs, shoes, shirts, underwear, socks, etc for about 3-4 days worth.

I found the tote it came with while small actually packed a decent amount of stuff in it between the front pocket and the main pocket, then the back zipper held more than I thought.

These days I won't travel without a personal item that can attach via a strap to my carry on.

Nice price on that bag! Heck, as long as it survives the trip you have probably gotten your money's worth, even if you never need to use something so small again.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

I would definitely check with Lufthansa on this. Last fall I flew Lufthansa a bunch of times from Poland to Germany and almost every one, once I got to the gate agent to scan my boarding pass, they'd glance at my Away bag and mutter "Sie müssen die Tasche überprüfen" which means You'll need to check that bag. I didn't get charged but it added on extra time once I got to my destination to get my luggage from the carousel. Yes, these are totally first world problems, but better to be aware before you leave so you can get a smaller bag. I now have my European bags which I only take there.

Yay! Good excuse to buy myself (more) new luggage.

I'm impressed by your German. I would have just looked at the FA confused and kept on walking. The extent of my German is something like "You must the bag (or was it table?) something" so clearly not relevant. But put me in front of a gelato stand and I'm all good on ordering. "Ich mochte zwei kugel haselnuss bitte" and then either hold out random change for them to take or at least a EUR10 bill. It ain't pretty but it gets me a nice treat at the end of a frustrating day.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Nice price on that bag! Heck, as long as it survives the trip you have probably gotten your money's worth, even if you never need to use something so small again.

Well it made it through Paris metro, Venice (a small amount but still enough with that terrain), Athens buses and some streets and Heathrow airport so it did do its job. Will I use it domestically if I don't have to? Probably not but I agree the value is at least nice enough compared to others.

I looked a lot at the reviews and the number one seemed to be "it's much smaller than I thought" well you have the dimensions there so I think it's just that it's smaller than what most are used to.

I will mention from experience if you have the tote loaded up it will start to make the carry on tip with uneven weight when you let go of it so just something we had to keep an eye out when walking places with it. With my husband's 4 wheeled version it happened more. 2 wheels are just more stable overall. But 4 wheels does make it easier to get down a plane aisle since you can flip the orientation of how you maneuver it.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

Yay! Good excuse to buy myself (more) new luggage.

I'm impressed by your German. I would have just looked at the FA confused and kept on walking. The extent of my German is something like "You must the bag (or was it table?) something" so clearly not relevant. But put me in front of a gelato stand and I'm all good on ordering. "Ich mochte zwei kugel haselnuss bitte" and then either hold out random change for them to take or at least a EUR10 bill. It ain't pretty but it gets me a nice treat at the end of a frustrating day.

Glad I can give you an excuse to buy more luggage as I am also always looking for the same.

Thanks, I speak fairly decent German as I am working towards dual citizenship with Germany through my Grandmother. My wife and I want to retire in the EU and having citizenship makes it easier to buy real estate. Your German is good too though!! It can get you an ice cream so that's something and German is a tricky language.

TBH though, languages are my hobby. I have the lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone and have studied French, Spanish, Italian and my current project is Polish as I travel there 2-3 times a year now.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Glad I can give you an excuse to buy more luggage as I am also always looking for the same.

Thanks, I speak fairly decent German as I am working towards dual citizenship with Germany through my Grandmother. My wife and I want to retire in the EU and having citizenship makes it easier to buy real estate. Your German is good too though!! It can get you an ice cream so that's something and German is a tricky language.

TBH though, languages are my hobby. I have the lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone and have studied French, Spanish, Italian and my current project is Polish as I travel there 2-3 times a year now.

That's so cool! Once upon a time I was pretty fluent in Spanish so I'm not TOTALLY an ignorant American, but German is...tough...and when I get flustered or confused I end up speaking a weird combination of German-Spanish-English that is incomprehensible to anyone but the one guy at my work who speaks all 3 languages. My biggest problems are a) I don't seem to have time to focus on German consistently and b) I don't spend enough time there to really force myself to make it happen, though I did manage to learn enough to play with a friend's 4 year old son (motivation!). When my other friend's daughter is old enough to play I'll probably make more of an effort, but I have a feeling her English will be better than my German from the beginning. I have been through Lingodeer, Paul Noble, and a quite a bit of Pimsleur over the years but it has been a while. All had their own individual strengths.

Where in the EU do you want to retire? I have an American friend who just got Italian citizenship through his father's family and was able to move to Germany without any issue. I can see myself spending a month or three in Germany once the kids leave the house (life is too chaotic now to contemplate breathing, let alone a 3 month relocation), but I don't think I would want to relocate there permanently. For as much as I love to travel, I really do love my home/America.

 

[Callsdodisney]

Yes, I liked it better. Just felt like a better quality product all around. But I haven't seen the new Away bags so they may have upped their game.

I have debated buying their duffel (https://monos.com/products/metro-duffel?variant=32568039669834) - hated the look of the first version but this is better and the detachable part would be convenient for how I typically travel - but have yet to actually commit. I used something similar on a recent trip because I was hauling 2 laptops and that can get heavy quickly - and decided that I can make do with what I have.

Replying to this because I just bought the monos duffle to go with my away spinner bag and I LOVE it. I wanted to carry on for 7 days in Hawaii, so I needed a personal item that was more life a duffle.

It’s a beautiful bag that holds its shape. I pulled the extra piece off of mine for for this trip, but it would be very handy for all the small stuff that you would want accessible on a plane. It definitely fits better under a middle seat rather than the aisle, thought. This was my first monos purchase, but won’t be my last!

 

[Best Aunt]

Also as a PSA, lately I have been having trouble fitting my backpack under the seat in front of me if I'm on the aisle. Usually it isn't an issue because I'm flying with my kids (so I don't get the aisle anyway), but I have taken a 2 trips lately solo. My personal item is carry-on compliant but the plane's electronics have been getting in the way.

If you go to www.seatguru.com before you choose your seat, it can look up your flight and it will show good seats and bad seats. It will tell you if a seat has limited space on the floor due to electronics. But that will only help if you can choose your seat ahead of time.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Replying to this because I just bought the monos duffle to go with my away spinner bag and I LOVE it. I wanted to carry on for 7 days in Hawaii, so I needed a personal item that was more life a duffle.

It’s a beautiful bag that holds its shape. I pulled the extra piece off of mine for for this trip, but it would be very handy for all the small stuff that you would want accessible on a plane. It definitely fits better under a middle seat rather than the aisle, thought. This was my first monos purchase, but won’t be my last!

Good to know! The new version hides the connectors much better than the old one so it’s possible to use without the extra piece. When it first came out I was disconcerted by how it looked without but wanted the flexibility. Maybe next time I’m feeling spendy I’ll pull the trigger on it! Assuming DH doesn’t feel spendy first, that is…

 

[nolatravelgirl]

I looked at all the bags that were popping in my feed and decided on the Away "the bigger carry on flex" as it has the expansion gusset. When the gusset is expanded you can't bring it as carry-on but it gives me just enough room if I happen to do some shopping and need to put some additional items in my bag. It isn't the cheapest, nor is the most expensive but it does come with a good warranty.
https://www.awaytravel.com/suitcases/bigger-carry-on-flex?color=navy

 

[Lord Manhammer]

I looked at all the bags that were popping in my feed and decided on the Away "the bigger carry on flex" as it has the expansion gusset. When the gusset is expanded you can't bring it as carry-on but it gives me just enough room if I happen to do some shopping and need to put some additional items in my bag. It isn't the cheapest, nor is the most expensive but it does come with a good warranty.
https://www.awaytravel.com/suitcases/bigger-carry-on-flex?color=navy

You will LOVE the Away carry-ons. They are such great bags and SO durable. I shlepped mine across tons of cobblestone streets in Europe and it still looks and performs like new - not even a broken wheel!

 

[EACarlson]

If you go to www.seatguru.com before you choose your seat, it can look up your flight and it will show good seats and bad seats. It will tell you if a seat has limited space on the floor due to electronics. But that will only help if you can choose your seat ahead of time.

Seat guru has not been updated in quite some time. aerolopa.com is the current best source of good information. Just saved me from booking a window seat without a window.

 

[titojackson84]

Also as a PSA, lately I have been having trouble fitting my backpack under the seat in front of me if I'm on the aisle. Usually it isn't an issue because I'm flying with my kids (so I don't get the aisle anyway), but I have taken a 2 trips lately solo. My personal item is carry-on compliant but the plane's electronics have been getting in the way.

The southwest flights I’ve been on are like that for the aisle seats.

 

[titojackson84]

This is my packing cube (medium):
https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Creek-...8270&sprefix=eagle+,aps,84&sr=8-12&th=1&psc=1
If you can pack to this, plus a toiletry bag, Iwould go backpack. This isn’t the exact model, but it's very close: https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/112...Vy_SUCR3kQwLPEAQYAiABEgKJc_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

My actual carryon suitcase is no longer sold but it’s a 2 wheeled one from LL bean

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

The southwest flights I’ve been on are like that for the aisle seats.

Yes southwest! I hadn’t flown them in years but let’s just say I was glad to be able to move to the window when I noticed. I also flew premium plus on United in the aisle seat of a 4 seater and it was awkward as well. Didn’t help that the guy next to me took up half (!) my legroom.

 

[starry_solo]

There’s a luggage called take off where you can remove the wheels. I’ve never tried it but it might be something to consider for carryons.

 

[Lewisc]

The absolute most space would be a duffel bag or backpack without wheels or a frame.

Flight attendants and fellow pax are not required to put your bag in the bin for you. Check the bag if you're not capable of putting in the bin.

Ebags, owned by Samsonite, has bags that work
https://www.ebags.com/backpacks/tra...117754XXXX_color=Garnet&cgid=travel-backpacks

Periodically significant discounts

 

[kristenrice]

The absolute most space would be a duffel bag or backpack without wheels or a frame.

Flight attendants and fellow pax are not required to put your bag in the bin for you. Check the bag if you're not capable of putting in the bin.

Ebags, owned by Samsonite, has bags that work
https://www.ebags.com/backpacks/tra...117754XXXX_color=Garnet&cgid=travel-backpacks

Periodically significant discounts

I *LOVE* my eBags backpack. I have the "junior" version and it still huge.
https://www.ebags.com/backpacks/mot...wvar_117769XXXX_color=Eggplant&cgid=backpacks

I can pack my laptop/accessories and 3-4 days of clothes in it without a problem. I have always used it as my "personal item" on all of my SW flights (DISCLAIMER: I only fly one R/T per year, with a connection) and slide it under the seat in front of me. It is a little long so I sometimes have to squish the end and set my feet on top of it. I've had it for about 10 years and I'm sure they have made updates to it, but the biggest complaint I have with my bag is that there is no way to slide it over the handle of my rolling carry-on. I also have the Away Bigger Carry-On (love that too!) and I have the Away Medium Everywhere bag which I interchange with my eBags backpack.