Tagged With "Carry-on"

I usually try to get a seat in a zone where I'm guaranteed bin space. I usually have a laptop bag for my computer and travel documents, which goes under the seat in front of me. The rest of the items, including spare eyeglasses, camera, medications and clothes go into my carry-on. I can't take the small risk of these items getting lost so I need that carryon with me. It's rare that gate-checked bags get lost but they can. Generally for trips of a week or less, I can get by with just a...

That's good news! But rather than saying airline consumers were a lion, I think I'd have used "the sheep have bleated -- loudly"

I hope this effort is a real and continuing one and that other companies follow. Carrying everything onto the plane, to my way of thinking, is like any trend where if enough people say it's a good idea, even when it's not, hoards fall right into step, like lemmings. If I was offered valet service for a nominal fee to have someone carry my suitcase for me and I wouldn't have to touch it from the time I arrived at the airport until the time I was leaving at my destination, I'd jump at the...

This week is the big aircraft interiors show in Hamburg, so you can expect all sorts of news about new seats and more...but this one looks like a no-brainer. In a world of narrower seats, reduced legroom, here's MORE something!   Boeing's...

Delta is trying a new idea this summer, on a trial basis: Speeding up boarding by having airline staff load passengers' carry-ons in the overhead before passengers board. They're calling it 'Early Valet' and will test it on a number of flights from...

Virgin America cabin...which space is up for sale next?    Photo: Virgin America   If you're wondering what comes next in the world of airline fees, check this interview with airline execs at the Phoenix International Aviation...

The luggage line-up...which ones will fit?   The public roared, and the lion has retreated, at least for now. When the International Air Transport Association, an organization of over 250 airlines, announced a plan last week for a...

A recent article from the newsletter Smarter Travel got me thinking about the different issues with boarding planes. I have noticed the myriad different ways that airlines try to control boarding. As they have worked to enforce "zones" or "groups"...

In an interesting article by Consumer Reports, they say when buying a carry-on bag to ignore hand tags, advertisements and website descriptions that proclaim "Official Carry -On Size", because there is no universal  carry-on size yet....

United Airlines has put some muscle into enforcing the rules on what size bags can go in the overheads. The airline says it's responding to complaints by passengers who are frozen out of space by others with oversized bags, or crushed in aisle...

Marilyn Jones was in Finland recently on a trip that changed some of her views on checked vs. carry-on. She offers her thoughts and some suggestions.

Marilyn. I fear your application of intelligence to packing is way beyond the average man. Maybe a guy who's had training in the armed services. I struggle with keeping my sock draw in matched pairs. But I take my hat of to you - for your wonderful magical skills. Maybe a few weeks packing at the check out in Wal Mart would teach me some skills.

Consumer Reports really raises some good points. If available, Id suggest the online or self checking kiosk option, because the airlines seem stricter at the ticket counter than after security. I've had the airlines tell me to check a bag when I knew it met the requirements., both size and weight. Since those were international flights with a free checked bag , I haven't pressed the issue.

I can agree with most of the points...although I can hardly think about wanting to go back to bags without wheels. But over the years, I've seen a lot of bags with external handle/frame setups on the conveyor with the frame ripped or twisted off the bag, something that's never happened to me with internal frame. And because the two rods of the handle occupy just two bumps in the bottom of the bag, they don't take away very much packing space, either.

Wheels do add weight and take away space, but if you've a long connection to make at an airport, it's so nice to have the wheeled carryon. If I don't have a roller bag, I use a backpack. Easier to carry and with better balance than a small duffer or other hand held bag.

Don’t panic navigating through an airport you may not be familiar with. Samantha shares some tips and suggestions to hopefully make the process less painful.

There are many "rules" regarding flying today, and sadly it's getting worse, but, here is Samantha's list of 10 Smart Things to Pack in Your Carry-On.

That's all very good advice, Samantha. BTW, there have been well documented cases of TSA screeners stealing from your carry-on bags as they move them down the X-ray machines ramp, so I keep my carryon locked unless they want to check it, in which case I unlock it and watch what they are doing. For folks who wear eyeglasses, it's a good idea to have a spare pair of glasses packed in case yours break. Recently while in Morocco, this was a godsend, as my frame broke. Without my spare glasses,...

I don't carry spare glasses, but I do keep a copy of my prescription in a gmail message i can get to. Also a small roll of duct tape, a mini-vial of crazy glue and a plastic coffee cone. The cone takes up no space when filled with socks, etc., and it's my insurance against cranky or unpleasant coffee makers. One sheet of paper towel as a filter and I'm off to a good start!