To check or carry on?

[ShortyNBug]

I've never flown so I have no idea about anything. Any flying advice you may have would be welcome. What I'm really wondering though is, could we get along (6 nights) with all just having our own carry on? WOuld that be a pain in the butt? SHould I just let the kids each have their own and hubby and I check a bigger one for ourselves? We are a family of 4. Kids are 8 and 5. Thanks!

 

[Missytara]

I've never flown so I have no idea about anything. Any flying advice you may have would be welcome. What I'm really wondering though is, could we get along (6 nights) with all just having our own carry on? WOuld that be a pain in the butt? SHould I just let the kids each have their own and hubby and I check a bigger one for ourselves? We are a family of 4. Kids are 8 and 5. Thanks!

My suggestion is to go the TSA site and read up on what can be taken in a carry-on and what must go in checked baggage. You can only take liquids in one sandwich bag per person; not counting medications.

Then go to the website of the airline and look at what size carry-on you are allowed on their planes. Then take a look at one carry-on for each person and figure out if you can live with that for six days or not.

If not, then I would suggest bringing one carry-on with everything that you might need for one day, in case your luggage gets misdirected and check the rest.

Honestly, I have gotten to the point where I check everything with the exception of a change of clothes and my toothbrush/toothpaste. It is so much easier to let the airline take care of it, and the ME as well.

 

[goofy4tink]

Can you? Sure. My Navy brother and sister-in-law does it all the time. Should you?? Probably not. It's not as easy as one would think. I do it for trips under 5 days. I'm traveling to WDW in 3 weeks, for a week. I can most likely get away with carryon only, but I travel a lot and know exactly what to bring and what to leave at home, what I will do with dirty stuff while at WDW, etc.
It's really hard to do this with young kids. To begin with...kids love to have a ton of 'stuff' in their carryon to entertain themselves. So, that's the backpack that goes under their seat. Now, you have to stuff all the clothes and toiletries (3oz or less) in each carryon.

If it were me, I would just pack 2 carryon bags (not the kids backpacks but regular carryon bags that will be stowed overhead on the plane) with a change of clothes for each person, as well as anything else you will need to start your vacation. Then, check two bags with all the 'regular' stuff. This way....if a bag gets misdirected, you are still going to have a change of clothes, a toothbrush, deod., stuff to get you through until your bag appears.

 

[duffy]

We have had a week-long trip with our 3 daughters, at the time they were 17, 15 and 4 years old. Everyone had a backpack with clothing and a personal item, which for each of us was a smaller backpack, with all the toiletries, etc.

I hate having to waste time claiming my bag at baggage claim. It always seems that our suitcase is the last one off, so we stand there waiting...waiting...waiting. Without checking luggage, we just grab our packs and go!

I also purposely pack "disposable" clothing. Things that are approaching the end of their lifetime! That way, if I'm trying to fit souvenirs in, I can easily toss out the old, worn clothing and have room.

And yes, we will wear some items twice, or if it's really necessary, I'll throw a load in a washer. On our trip with the 3 girls, we purposely planned a "down day" where we just took it easy swimming at our hotel. I washed laundry that day.

 

[momblanch]

We just returned from a 6 night trip to USO and did carry-on only. We stayed in an off-site resort with laundry facilities in the unit and my kids are 18 and 12. This was the first time traveling with my kids that I did not check our luggage. It worked out fine for us because my kids were responsible for their own suitcases and we packed light, knowing I could do a load of wash. I must say with ages of your children it might be best to check your luggage and only deal with an overnight bag and personal items on the plane. Getting everyone through security with suitcases, ziplock bags, coats, shoes etc may be more stress than waiting a few extra minutes for your luggage. Just my 2cents...

 

[kaytieeldr]

In my opinion, except for very short trips carry-on only is more trouble than it's worth. Simply because each passenger can bring a carry-on and a personal item doesn't mean every passenger must... or that there's room on the plane for that!

 

[dudspizza]

In my opinion, except for very short trips carry-on only is more trouble than it's worth. Simply because each passenger can bring a carry-on and a personal item doesn't mean every passenger must... or that there's room on the plane for that!

Agreed.

I know it can become costly on airlines that charge for bags. DW refuses to do carry on only, so we typically will check 2 suitcases for our family of 4, including DD14 and DD11. If we need more room, then we will use a roll-a-board that I carry on.

When I fly to bowling tournaments, I have to check bowling bags, so I typically will have a roll-a-board for my clothing since those are shorter trips and I am already paying a good fee for my equipment to be checked....

Duds

 

[DebbieB]

In my opinion, except for very short trips carry-on only is more trouble than it's worth. Simply because each passenger can bring a carry-on and a personal item doesn't mean every passenger must... or that there's room on the plane for that!

I agree. I fly frequently for business and usually check my bag. I had a 1 night trip back in June and decided to carryon. It was too much stress. Worrying about getting on and having a spot for my bag, dragging it around the airport including into the ladies room, making sure I took my liquids out. Plus I also have a laptop, so I had to put my purse inside.

 

[duffy]

Well, obviously, to each his own.

I could shove my carry-on (actually a backpack) under the seat in front of me each flight, so there was no worry about having a spot for it. Then just slip my arms through the straps, my arms were free.

I kept my liquids in the baggie, right on top of everything else. No big deal to take it out and put back in, it took like 5 seconds each time to take out and put back in.

Coming home, I had brought a bag that zips into a small pouch, and I used it for extras. It also fit under the seat in front of me.

It was very convenient. No needing to go to baggage claim and no struggling to lift bags into the overhead compartments.

 

[DebbieB]

Well, obviously, to each his own.

I could shove my carry-on (actually a backpack) under the seat in front of me each flight, so there was no worry about having a spot for it. Then just slip my arms through the straps, my arms were free.

I kept my liquids in the baggie, right on top of everything else. No big deal to take it out and put back in, it took like 5 seconds each time to take out and put back in.

Coming home, I had brought a bag that zips into a small pouch, and I used it for extras. It also fit under the seat in front of me.

It was very convenient. No needing to go to baggage claim and no struggling to lift bags into the overhead compartments.

So how long were you gone to get everything into a backpack? I sure as heck can't get stuff for a 5 day trip into a rollaboard let alone a backpack.

 

[drew64]

In my opinion, except for very short trips carry-on only is more trouble than it's worth. Simply because each passenger can bring a carry-on and a personal item doesn't mean every passenger must... or that there's room on the plane for that!

Totally agree!!! I travel at least twice a month by plane and only do carry-on for overnight trips.

Too much hastle, just check the bags, expecially for a trip this length with multiple people.

Personally, the last thing I want to do during my vacation time is laundry!

I am platinum from flying so frequently so am usually upgraded or can board just after first class. I get so tired of trying to fight through the crowds that swarm the gate area before their rows are called so they can rush on the plane to try to jam their oversized carry-ons/duffel bags, etc into overhead bins. Wish airlines would eliminate all carry-ons except for one small bag per person - briefcase/purse size.