What to do if our bags are delayed?

[DisneyWishes14]

No way. You can not absolutely make it with a carry on for every trip. People travel for various length of times and at some seasons, it's simply impossible in a 20" carry on
Besides, if you have to fly small aircraft it won't help you anyway. They have to be gate checked unless it fits under the seat. And I had my gate checked bag left at a gate one trip.

We haven't checked a bag in almost 5 years (ok, yes, gate checked in the Galapagos and I was sweating bullets the whole time!). We did a 3 week trip to Greece with only 3 carry-ons and 3 personal items. I had to strategically plan out our laundry days in order to make it work since we were in 7 hotels on that trip. You are so right though - Greece summer clothes can fit in a carry-on. Trip to Antarctica clothes probably wouldn't cut it!

 

[StarGirl11]

Im in the camp of can’t have a carryon. I frequently travel with my laptop and my camera. And not a little point and shoot. No we’re talking a fancy DSLR. So my carryon has to almost always be my protective carrying backpack for both items. Add in I’m almost always traveling for running events (especially when flying international) for at least 3-4 days. Have to pack for multiple types of weather possibly. And I physically can’t take a carryon suitcase unless I’m doing a short hopper (less then two days). Mainly since my one suitcase will be a large duffle.

it’s great if you can fit anything into a carryon. But not everyone can. And this needs to be acknowledged just because a carryon meets all your needs doesn’t mean it meets everyone else’s. I usually pack my inserts In my carryon just in case. But it’s been ages since my bags haven’t arrived with me.

 

[sam_gordon]

I frequently travel with my laptop and my camera. And not a little point and shoot. No we’re talking a fancy DSLR.

I'm the same. I put my laptop, usually my DSLR, MAYBE a change of clothes, and my 3-1-1 bag in my normal backpack. My second carry on (now) is my CPAP. I still say there's an advantage of not worrying about a carryon when you're going through the airport (bathroom stops, food stops, shopping to kill time, etc).

 

[MrsPete]

Im in the camp of can’t have a carryon. I frequently travel with my laptop and my camera. And not a little point and shoot. No we’re talking a fancy DSLR.

Yep, I teach photography, and I frequently carry my fancy camera(s). I usually opt for a tablet instead of a laptop while traveling.

and thats great for you, it worked for you as you were visiting family.

In some cases, yes we visited family; in other cases, we were in hotel rooms. We traveled constantly in those years.

We haven't checked a bag in almost 5 years

I haven't checked a bag in 53 years. I am 53 years old.

Pretty much, if you want a carry-on to work, it's possible. You can mail toiletries ahead. You can plan mix-and-match outfits. If you're going for work, a couple pairs of pants + a shirt for each day will do. In the summer, your clothes require less space; in the winter, jeans and sweaters can be re-worn. You can wear your heaviest shoes and your coat. Take your oldest nightgowns and undies and ditch them instead of bringing them home. Lots of little tricks will lighten your load -- and skipping the worry and waiting in the baggage check is worth a little effort.

 

[AngiTN]

We haven't checked a bag in almost 5 years (ok, yes, gate checked in the Galapagos and I was sweating bullets the whole time!). We did a 3 week trip to Greece with only 3 carry-ons and 3 personal items. I had to strategically plan out our laundry days in order to make it work since we were in 7 hotels on that trip. You are so right though - Greece summer clothes can fit in a carry-on. Trip to Antarctica clothes probably wouldn't cut it!

Laundry does not get done my vacation! That’s a 4 letter word! So we must travel with everything needed

 

[AngiTN]

Yep, I teach photography, and I frequently carry my fancy camera(s). I usually opt for a tablet instead of a laptop while traveling.
In some cases, yes we visited family; in other cases, we were in hotel rooms. We traveled constantly in those years.
I haven't checked a bag in 53 years. I am 53 years old.

Pretty much, if you want a carry-on to work, it's possible. You can mail toiletries ahead. You can plan mix-and-match outfits. If you're going for work, a couple pairs of pants + a shirt for each day will do. In the summer, your clothes require less space; in the winter, jeans and sweaters can be re-worn. You can wear your heaviest shoes and your coat. Take your oldest nightgowns and undies and ditch them instead of bringing them home. Lots of little tricks will lighten your load -- and skipping the worry and waiting in the baggage check is worth a little effort.

Reworn!? Gross.
You got to realize that while that works got you it ain’t gonna fly with everyone

How do you handle a flight with no rolling bags allowed in the overhead?

 

[AngiTN]

Sure you can. When I was a kid, my parents both worked for an airline, and we could fly free ... but it was "space available". We had these BITTY LITTLE suitcases with the company logo on them -- seriously, they were like 40% the size of a typical carry-on today. As employees flying free, they were allowed ONE of those specific bags per person + a purse /other bag. And since we were always "space available", we had to have them in our hands.

Since my Dad is not an American, we frequently visited relatives in his home country -- sometimes short trips, sometimes more than a week, all seasons. We often did laundry and/or bought toiletries, etc. upon arrival. The choice was pack light or pay. Certainly makes packing light look attractive.

Well no laundry is done on my vacation. If you like to work on vacation more power to you. Still have to deal with rolling bags not being allowed on the flights out of my home. They have to be checked

 

[MrsPete]

Washing a top and hanging it on a hanger takes less than five minutes. That's not going to ruin a vacation.
Wearing a pair of jeans a couple days is far from gross.
I don't carry a rolling bag (takes up space in the bag that could go to clothing). My typical bag fits under the seat.
Again, it's mainly up to whether you want it to work.

 

[AngiTN]

Washing a top and hanging it on a hanger takes less than five minutes. That's not going to ruin a vacation.
Wearing a pair of jeans a couple days is far from gross.
I don't carry a rolling bag (takes up space in the bag that could go to clothing). My typical bag fits under the seat.
Again, it's mainly up to whether you want it to work.

No reason to make it work. Not with the tracking on bags these days. I know before I get on the plane where my bag is. And got free bags. Why fight with hauling it through an airport?
And yeah it’s gross to wear dirty, smelly clothes. I ain’t reworn clothes in 56 years. Not gonna start now. College aged boys may not care what they smell like but I do.
Laundry in sink or laundry in a machine is laundry. Ain’t happening. I’ll rinse out a swimsuit that’s it

Point is you can’t make a blanket statement that everyone can fly with just a carry on. Too many variables. Just because you do it doesn’t mean everyone can

 

[MrsPete]

People's luggage does go missing -- that's a reason to make it work.
Waiting for luggage is time consuming -- that's a reason to make it work.

You don't want to do this? Fine, but I stick to my comment: it's absolutely possible, and that's my last word on the subject.

 

[AngiTN]

LOL
Good for you
Plus I’d spend less time waiting on bags than washing a shirt in the sink
To address those who aren’t willing to wear dirty and smelly clothes at Disney it’s worth pointing out that both American and Delta get bags out by the time you walk down to bag check. One even has a guarantee or you get miles. Never had to use it so forget which. Think it’s Delta. So no waiting on bags.
Life’s too short to cram all that crap in an underseat bag and stink on vacation LOL

 

[Gehrig1B]

Passionate responses... I'm the no checked bag traveler though. You really can travel lightly with only a carry-on if you want, with a few exceptions (massive camera equipment being one I guess). And you don't have to personally do laundry, hotels will do that for you for a price. It is all personal choice.

 

[sam_gordon]

hotels will do that for you for a price.

Generally a fairly hefty price (for what's being done).

I've done flights with no checked bags (but met a group at the airport I was travelling with who DID check bags, so I still had to wait), and I've checked bags. They both have their pros and cons. I wouldn't say one is better than the other. It's personal preference.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Reworn!? Gross.
You got to realize that while that works got you it ain’t gonna fly with everyone

How do you handle a flight with no rolling bags allowed in the overhead?

Move near an airport with larger planes

 

[nkereina]

Of course traveling with a carry-on only is always a possibility and can logistically be done, but that comes at a cost. For me, the cost does not outweigh the benefit of saving 15 minutes and avoiding the slight risk of a bag being delayed. Its worth it to me to wait and to take the risk than have to re-wear dirty clothes, do laundry or pay for laundry, and/or stop at a store to buy more toiletries because 3oz wasn't enough.

Also, as a female, some of my makeup and hair products are larger than 3oz. If I were to do carry on only, I'd have to purchase 3oz bottles and transfer them, which causes waste and added expense, and some of my aerosol products can't be transferred at all. Not worth the effort.

 

[Moliphino]

Of course traveling with a carry-on only is always a possibility and can logistically be done, but that comes at a cost. For me, the cost does not outweigh the benefit of saving 15 minutes and avoiding the slight risk of a bag being delayed. Its worth it to me to wait and to take the risk than have to re-wear dirty clothes, do laundry or pay for laundry, and/or stop at a store to buy more toiletries because 3oz wasn't enough.

Also, as a female, some of my makeup and hair products are larger than 3oz. If I were to do carry on only, I'd have to purchase 3oz bottles and transfer them, which causes waste and added expense, and some of my aerosol products can't be transferred at all. Not worth the effort.

All of that, plus I need to have enough room to bring home souvenirs (those Nautilus mugs are not small!).

I can do just a carry-on when I'm on a quick trip for work, but I always check a bag for vacations.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Move near an airport with larger planes

And again, not realistic. My local airport is the main international airport for the country. However, when I fly to visit my sister , the plane the airline uses on that route is a 60 seater propeller plane and the carry on weight and size limit is very small, 55cm x 35cm x 20cm and has to be less than 20 pounds in weight. Unless you are only doing an overnight trip, you need to check a bag

 

[AngiTN]

Move near an airport with larger planes

NO! Bigger airport means a bigger city. Give me my 5 gate airport that I can arrive to less than 1 hour before my flight, including parking time, any day
I've just learned not to count on my roller bag making it. While yeah, that's only happened once we are still dealing with humans and humans forget things, like bags on a tarmac, LOL
I put my must have essentials in my backpack now. Not quite 24 hours worth of stuff but enough to get me through a night at least (like clean underwear and night clothes). Odds are extraordinarily low that I'd be missing both my carry on gate checked bag AND my checked bag. So low I don't think it's possible (knocking on wood while I type, LOL)

 

[kaytieeldr]

And again, not realistic

next time I will surround a statement like this with ROTFL and LOL emojis to make it obvious to the statement is a joke.

 

[georgina]

This thread is amusing to read! I wonder if the no carry on folks could do a 4 month study abroad without checking any bags. My DD's luggage got lost on the way to Budapest. And then my husband's bag got lost when we went to visit her. He always overpacks. I can get by with a carryon when I go to Florida for 6-7 nights, but when I go for 3 weeks it is easier to check, and with SW it is free. I worry less when I have non-stop flights with no need to transfer bags, and sometimes when I go with a carryon I check it on the way home so I don't have to lug it around the airport.