Taking carry-ons to avoid luggage fees?

[jerseygirl81]

Are more people taking carry-ons to avoid paying luggage fees? We are taking a shorter trip than we usually do only 4 nights I was thinking of each of us just taking a carry on or checking one big case for everyones stuff. It would probably be easier to take one bag and check it so we don't have to think about till we get to Orlando. We are probably renting a car so we would have to pick it up. On the other hand it would be nice to skip the baggage claim. I'm not really caring about the $15 charge for just one bag, but I'm wondering how crowded the overhead compartments are these days are they any worse than usual or are people just dealing with it and paying the checked luggage fees? Thanks, Linda

 

[seashoreCM]

Put the yellow Magical Expres tag on if you are riding Magical Express.

In the event there is not enough overhead space, carried bags per person within the airline's carryon quantity and carryon size guidelines will be checked free of charge at the gate.

In the event the checked bags are to be claimed at the carousel yellow tagged ones will be picked up by Magical Express if you arrive before 10 PM.

 

[jerseygirl81]

We are planning on renting a car, so I guess we could take carry-ons and if they can't fit in the overhead we will have to gate check them and pick them up at luggage claim. Thanks, Linda

 

[sls404]

Last time I flew, which was in December, the amount of carry ons other people had were ridiculous. The flight attendant literally had to beat on the door of the overhead compartment to get it shut. I would just put everyone's stuff in a one large checked bag, because some people don't follow the rules about carry ons and bring 3 large bags to stuff in those compartments...

 

[springandmac]

Last time I flew, which was in December, the amount of carry ons other people had were ridiculous. The flight attendant literally had to beat on the door of the overhead compartment to get it shut. I would just put everyone's stuff in a one large checked bag, because some people don't follow the rules about carry ons and bring 3 large bags to stuff in those compartments...

I flew on SW in August and it was the same way. The worst part was they don't charge for checked baggage so it was no need for all the carry on's.

 

[seashoreCM]

I would just put everyone's stuff in a one large checked bag, because some people don't follow the rules about carry ons and bring 3 large bags to stuff in those compartments...

I forgot to mention that most stuff checked at the gate is returned at the gate upon arrival so don't automatically go racing off to the carousel.

Beware of huge suitcases. They might fail the size limit for checked bags resulting in an increased fee at the ticket counter let alone fail the size requirement for carry ons if lugged to the gate.

Because of today's baggage charges, many huge suitcases have very limited use, for example as mothproof storage at home.

 

[goofy4tink]

For the past year, the overhead bins have been ridiculously full. I have seen people try to shove bags in that were waaaaay too big for the space. FAs came along and just wiggled stuff around in there so as to make stuff fit. I would much rather see the FAs taking the offending bag out and have it gate checked. I had one woman feel it was her God-given right to shove her stuff on top of my bag in the overhead. She banged her stuff and forced it in every which way until it finally fit. Of course, my perfectly sized bag was really squished on one side.
I have been trying to do less carryon actually. But, I seem to be in the minority.

 

[kristytru]

We are actually doing carry-on only for our trip in 18 days. I have measured all our bags (no flames). Each of the four of us is taking 1 carryon suitcase. then, as our "personal items", each of my 2 kids has a small drawstring gym bag, I have my canvas DVC bag and DH has our park backpack. All of the person items fit under the seat, so I don't feel we are breaking any rules. the no liquids rule got a little sticky, but we plan on making a grocery stop on our way to AKV so we'll pick up food and sunscreen there. will let you know how it goes when we get back.

 

[jerseygirl81]

We are actually doing carry-on only for our trip in 18 days. I have measured all our bags (no flames). Each of the four of us is taking 1 carryon suitcase. then, as our "personal items", each of my 2 kids has a small drawstring gym bag, I have my canvas DVC bag and DH has our park backpack. All of the person items fit under the seat, so I don't feel we are breaking any rules. the no liquids rule got a little sticky, but we plan on making a grocery stop on our way to AKV so we'll pick up food and sunscreen there. will let you know how it goes when we get back.

I'd love to hear how you make out, although I am leaning towards checking one large bag with everyones stuff in it and a couple of small personal bags with ipods & cameras and snacks and our travel info for under the seats. Linda

 

[dioxide45]

When the bag fees were new, overhead cary on space was at a premium. More and more people are used to the extra fees now and just budget them in to their trip. So space in the overheads are not as limited.

 

[duffy]

We're also not checking any luggage, just a carry-on and a personal item each. We've done it before, for a week's trip, and it worked fine.

I'm using a backpack for my personal item. I've also measured our carry-ons. Nothing wrong with that! I am planning to mail a box UPS to myself too. I also think that I'll end up doing a load of laundry one day during the trip.

 

[aubriee]

We are actually doing carry-on only for our trip in 18 days. I have measured all our bags (no flames). Each of the four of us is taking 1 carryon suitcase. then, as our "personal items", each of my 2 kids has a small drawstring gym bag, I have my canvas DVC bag and DH has our park backpack. All of the person items fit under the seat, so I don't feel we are breaking any rules. the no liquids rule got a little sticky, but we plan on making a grocery stop on our way to AKV so we'll pick up food and sunscreen there. will let you know how it goes when we get back.

I did carry on only recently (Sept 26th-Oct 4th) for the first time. I used a 20" (45" total dimensions) carry on that easily fit wheels first into the overhead and a small tote bag that easily fit under the seat. I used the sunscreen towelletes for sunscreen, dry mineral makeup, and tiny travel sizes for all toiletries. I carried only two pairs of flip flops, plus a pair of dress sandals. I carried a quart bag full of bath salts, instead of my usual travel size bottles of bubble bath, shower gel, and lotion. I also used Eagle Creek packing folders (18" in the carry on and 15" in the tote bag) and three packing cubes (two long and one medium square). Everything was organized and fit neatly into the two bags. I even had a little room left over in both bags. I had plenty of clothes and even had one outfit I didn't wear. I also carried a couple of skirts and a pair of gauchos for some Signature restauraunts I was doing. It can be done, but I didn't like not having some of my normal stuff with me and hated the sunscreen towelletes (prefer the dry touch Neutrogena spray). I'll be checking a bag from now on just for convenience.

To OP: Both my flights (coming and going), the bins were stuffed with FAs having to push stuff around to get them to fit. On the way to MCO, the last few passengers on, had to check their carry ons. They just wouldn't fit. Both times announcements were made prior to boarding that the flights were completely full and each person was allowed two carry ons only and one must fit under the seat, as only one item per passenger was going to be allowed in the overhead. He also announced "ladies this does include your purse". "If you have more than two items, the third item will be checked, please come to the desk now". Coming back from MCO you should have seen all the people that had to check their third and fourth items and heard all the excuses they were giving as to why they had to go on the plane with them.

 

[kim52265]

i know i am going to get blasted for this one but when somone cant bring there bags on the plane because every cheapskate in the world wants to strech the rules to avoid paying 15 dollars i mean a family of 4 bringing 8 bags on the plane with them is a bit much would you think so the last guy on the plane suffers my and my brothers family are 9 people so should we bring 18 bags on the plane and then use the we have kids we need to get on first rule to so we can get them all on the heck with everyone else right ( now here it comes start with the blasting)

 

[duffy]

First, please try using punctuation occasionally, your post is hard to read because it's one long sentence.


A family of 4 bringing on 8 bags is just as entitled to bring them on as 4 totally unrelated strangers. Your family of 9 is allowed to bring on 18 pieces, why not? If you are following the rules and your carry-ons are the required size or smaller, you are entitled to bring them-your plane ticket says so. And if you are all 9 allowed to get on first because you have kids, great!

And hey, someone has to be last. He bought a ticket too, right? So he is just as entitled to have his 2 pieces as your family of 9 is. If your 18 pieces are legally-sized, you should have no worries, and no guilty conscience.

 

[tkldisney]

WE flew in/out TPA couple weeks ago on Airtran and the overhead bins were NOT full on either flight. What we do, is have a carryon and check one bag between 2 people. This way you we split the cost to check bags.

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> ... with everyone's stuff in it ...

I forgot to mention that many airlines have extra charges if the weight of a given item goes above a certain amount, typically 50 pounds. Like when (sic) buying park tickets, you need to do the math for your situation (and, here, airline, to see whether two not so heavy bags cost more than one heavier bag).

>>> ... use punctuation correctly ...

Sorry I made kitty cry. Why does this remind me of Simon Bond (q.v. via Google)?

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I flew at the end of April. I did carryon luggage going to MCO. Alot of people had carryon luggage and it was a full flight but everyone was able to find room. It also looked like everyone followed the guidelines for carryon luggage.

Leaving MCO was a whole different story. I flew Airtran and people were trying to get 3 or 4 items on. They were stopped and had to gate check items. The last couple of people on the plane also had to gate check their suitcases because there wasn't anywhere to put them.

I haven't flown with my whole family since the luggage charges. I'm thinking that we'll probably check 2 bags and each of us will have a carryon bag. And we'll have to do stupid laundry which I hate doing on vacation but it's turning into a neccessary evil. LOL

 

[jerseygirl81]

I have learned to pack less on our past couple of trips since DH has pointed out how much clean clothes we had left and we are breaking our backs with heavy cases for nothing. I send a box to the resort the week we are leaving with some toiletries and breakfast food and we use most of it there. I also send some laundry det. in the box and DH throws in a load of laundry when we are hanging at the pool. So I know I can pack light for this trip since it's also a short one. We also are'nt big on souviners so I won't have extra to bring home. Linda

 

[hsmamato2]

We are going for 2 weeks in January- I have 1 duffel for each person to carry,plus 1 personal bag for each of us,I have a my roomy purse/bag- dh carries netbook bag- kids have their own packs for under the seats- we'll plan carefully and do laundry while there,no problem- I pack minimally anyway,as I don;t like keeping track/cleaning up after a ton of junk on vacation. We leave from the NE,so we wear our layered coats,(tee shirt,l/s shirt,sweatshirt,mid weight jackets) so when we start out we are warm enough for 20 degree weather,and when we get there,we can pull layers off for warmer(hope) weather! Add a pair of stretch gloves,and we're good for any type of weather! It's funny,all those layers are actually warmer than my big regular winter coat.... this is going to be a fun challenge

 

[dioxide45]

There is usually lots of room. Though I have found many people are very lazy when the toss their bags in the overhead. A small flat bag laying in the overhead instead of standing up, their coat or jacket just in a heap taking up the space two bags could use. Bags in sideways that could fit wheels first.

We usually board when the bins are still fairly empty and always put our bags in to maximize space for others. If we have a jacket we don't want to hold, we stuff them on top of our bag, not just laying up there for someone else to have to move. Our jackets don't take up the space that another bag could occuply, but not everyone thinks like we do I guess.