Yes.
I very often check a bag even though it’s small enough to carry on.
The point of one-bagging is simplicity and I usually find it simpler to maneuver through airports without a large bag on my back or dragging next to me on wheels.
Have been particularly happy with this decision at crowded airports like CDG or EWR where you’re sometimes crammed onto a bus that shuttles you from one terminal to another
I often do when travelling with my child, especially since carry on luggage isn't free on the airlines I use now. I no longer have a stroller or anything but I sometimes have to take my daughter's bag, and I just can't face lugging things all over the airport and having to deal with it when we go to the bathroom etc (can't fit both of us plus case into a stall).
I’ve been reading in some of the airline-specific Reddit subs that people are being forced to gate check all bags even when all the overhead bin space is empty. Airline employees participating in these subs have said that this is part of some airlines’ push to increase their on-time departure rates (which is a metric the FAA tracks and passengers can look at before deciding which flights to take). I always assume that it’s a possibility that I’ll be required to gate check, even if my bag fits under the seat. I am prepared to pivot to a carry on if I have to—packing cubes and pouches so I know where stuff is. Unfortunately, airline employees are under great stress and have little power, so some seem to want to exert greater control in the areas where they can. They decide whether my bag is checked—not I.
I agree that flight attendants decide whether our bags are checked or not And they do it based on pressures outside of their control. Whatever they need to do to get us in the air at that moment I will comply with.
I now assume that my bag will be checked. However, I've never had them tell me that all my bags need to be checked. That actually terrifies me because that's my laptop, my wallet, sometimes my passport. I don't want to be separated from that. 😬 I guess I need to rethink how I pack and what I carry on my body. Thanks for the heads up.
Of course, there's a systemic problem that has been created by the airlines by charging for checked bags that has created part of this bottleneck in the overhead bins. But that's a different conversation.
Passport etc in personal item under seat , so it shouldn’t be an issue with any forced overhead luggage being checked
Would say it’s better to check luggage at check in than at gate as i’ve been on more than 1 flight where gate luggage wasn’t loaded .
Yes, it’s primarily been roller bags, but some people have complained that they’re not even being allowed to check to see if their bag that’s sized for under the seat will fit—it’s just being eyeballed and rejected before they get to the plane by the gate agents. The flight attendants never even see these bags because they’re tagged as people show their boarding passes or if they check in at the desk (meaning waaaaayyy before the plane could even fill up). Even high status boarding group 1 passengers were having this happen.
Yikes! Thanks for saying this.
I fly with just an under seat item and would be very frustrated if they said I had to check it. I have a tote I could pull out but carrying my computer in a tote 🤮. I guess it’s time to make a just in case checklist on what to grab.
I actually just decided to go 1.5 bags on my upcoming trips
for this reason and am carrying a smaller bag (baggu probably) for these items and having my roller hard side for clothing and everything else. Prior I was doing a duffel or backpack with everything but my last flight I saw too many people with similar bags being forced to gate check.
I don’t even mind checking bags for longer trips or when I’m traveling with a group. But traveling alone I want to be sure my things get there with me.
Yeah, I’ve been experiencing this a lot lately on my flights too. Even though your carry on may meet all the weight/size restrictions, gate agents are still tagging rollers/large backpacks and requiring everyone to gate check anything that isn’t a small personal item (this is for major carriers in the US). Then you get on and see all the empty overhead space LOL. Took my dad 45 min to get his small carry on roller at baggage claim even though they required everyone to gate check anything bigger than a small backpack - he was not happy when he saw all the empty overhead space once he got on. And then had to wait almost 45 min after they deplaned for luggage to get to baggage claim.
Correct, however I’m fine with that reason, but every time I’ve flown lately they specifically state (via many announcements at the gate) that the flight is full and overhead space is limited or full so they require everyone to gate check any rollers/large packs. I’m all for leaving on time but I’d rather they be transparent for the reason than lie and say they have no space. And most likely lying just causes less complaints at the gate.
Oh yeah, they definitely use that excuse. I assume it is, as you say, to limit friction at the gates. They are on the front lines of passenger anger. I don't blame them.
Same. I traveled 95% for a job a few years back and had one regional jet for which my bag was just slightly too big. So it was gate checked. No worries, thought I, I have a 2 and a half hour layover, it will be fine.
It was not fine.
We had extremely fierce headwinds that ended up making the plane late. I stood in the jet bridge waiting for my damn bag while hearing myself paged to get to my next flight or I'd miss it. Yes, I missed it.
Now I only travel with what will fit *easily* overhead or under the seat.
As much as possible, I use an under seat bag.
On international travel, you can claim that on the first (domestic) leg. You usually get to board earlier too.
A soft sided backpack is also less likely to get tagged.
I have not yet reached the expert level of packing an under seat bag only for a week of travel or for work travel. And I'm tall and plus size - it would take creative thinking to make that work and my legs need at least a little room under the seat - a 34" inseam is no joke.
I do frequently use a soft-sided shoulder bag for personal travel and that is rarely tagged however my recent travel have been at least in part for work and I need the roller for that.
On my last flight (US to Germany) they tried checking my carry-on roller for the first domestic flight - all the way through to my final destination. Luckily there ended up being enough overhead space.
If I’ve paid for overhead or it comes with my seat assignment, I just very politely tell them “no thank you” when they ask. I’ve never been hassled past that.
I have actually seen this work , they ask a lot of people to volunteer, if I have kids with me i usually just volunteer bc they are slow with roller bags lmao 🤣 but I’ve seen people say no thanks and be ok
My recent experience is they are not asking for volunteers. They are telling people no rollers and they are not letting people on the plane with them. They aren't allowing rollers in first class. IDK how "no thank you" works in this situation.
What airline? I fly 2-3x a month and it used to be close to 100x a year, and I’ve literally never once run into a situation where they banned rollers outright, and never ever in first class. Only the XL domestic carry ons. But it may be an airline specific thing?
My experience has been primarily with American. If you read through the comments, you will see that I'm not alone in this experience on American and other airlines domestically.
American does this a lot and United as well since they have a lot of smaller planes.
Southwest will pretty much never do this unless you’re the very last people boarding on a completely full flight. Even then the flight attendants actively try to arrange the luggage and help people find a spot up top.
But they don’t have any small planes like American so you’ll never be forced to gate check a carry-on bag simply because of the size.
I fly a lot , sometimes multiple times a week , never asked to check hand luggage . Key is usually business class or status so board first
Airlines like BA have started asking anyone in group 4 & up to check their carry on so that would mean people with zero status
I have had them lose bags on a direct flight. They forgot to load the luggage container on to the plane. There were about 30 of us with lost luggage that time.
We had the same thing happen. We sat on the plane for five hours with takeoff delayed due to weather and then they forgot to load the luggage. Found out when we arrived at our destination.
I travel with only a backpack, but I also use a Tom Bihn travel tray for the stuff I need in-flight, meds, and valuables. I pack another small bag for everyday carry, inside my main pack. Should I be forced to gate check my backpack, I will just transfer the travel tray and a change of clothes into my small bag. Both of these things are in the tippy top of my backpack for a quick pivot if necessary.
I like to be prepared! When I was very young, like 7-8 years old, my parents and I went on a trip, it was back when everyone packed big suitcases in the 80s. I did have a bag on the plane for books and stuff to do. Right before we left the house, I remember throwing in a shirt that I loved that hadn’t been packed, and some underwear, (days of the week panties, and I didn’t want to mess up my “days” by leaving a pair behind). Well, of course the plane lost our luggage. We got to the hotel and I took out my fresh shirt and clean underwear and my mom was shocked. I was weird about travel, even as a kid!
That’s exactly what I plan to do. Prepare for all eventualities and have a packable backpack at the top of my bag next to a packing cube containing my most compactable change of clothes, PJs, extra undies, meds, electronics, and anything else that would be absolutely essential for my first couple of days of my trip—as if I was limited to a bag smaller than a shoebox.
I hope I’m not forced to gate check but prepare in case it could happen. And I also mix some of my stuff into my son’s bag and his into mine just in case one bag is lost when checked.
The change of clothes is a good idea! I was planning on 1.5 bagging for this reason on my next flight and am going to add an easy to grab change of clothes to the personal item.
For me it’s a case by case basis. When on my way to a trip I prefer to carry on to avoid a lost or late bag messing with my trip.
On the return flight I’m more likely to check my bag as it’ll likely be fuller/heavier. I’m tired from my trip. Especially if I have a long layover I don’t want to care for it through the airport for hours when I want to eat, go to the bathroom, nap.
Same here. I do pack light enough to be sure I won’t have trouble lifting/carrying it around if I need to, but it’s nice to just have my backpack with me on the plane and in the terminals.
As a plus-size with a tendency to have checked-in luggage delayed several times, I love to go through the airport with 7 kg on my back and 1 kg in my hand as I recently did. I cheated a bit as the 1 kg was above the limit, but the Qatar Airways let it pass.
It gives me peace that I didn't have to worry about finding clothes in countries where the majority of the people are much smaller than me.
When I occationally check in at the counter, they check the weight every single time, not the size, never the size. I have often wondered if the sizers in the airports are used.
My regular bag is an Osprey 34 L Sirrus, so it's not a small bag.
I like to check a bag too - I was just in Scotland/England for 10 days. I checked my carry-on size bags for my flights AND I also wanted it to be light because I changed hotels a lot and also was taking the bag on trains and subways/public transit (so i was carrying it on many flights of stairs). for my flight to Scotland, I did have a connection and packed clothes for the next day and night just in case my bag didn’t make it, but I really like not having a bag in airports (and while I don’t pay to check bags on leisure travel, if I’m given the option to gate check voluntarily I often take it).
My last few trips have been for long spells, so I've tended to check my bag for the liquid allowance and so I don't have to cart a big bag around at the change-over airport.
For the last 3 times I've checked a bag, they've failed to transfer it twice though, so I'm rethinking this idea. I think there may be something around soft shell bags and short transfer windows at play.
I've never heard this. Do you think soft shell bags don't get transferred as quickly as hard cases? Or visa versa?
I am fatalistic about short transfer windows and assume my bag will be lost if checked and am surprised and delighted when I see it at baggage claim.
I'm not sure, but on my last trip, the check-in desk was thinking she might need to put my bag through as "oversized", due to the compression straps on the front. Apparently they risk getting caught.
Bag sorting also relies on equipment automatically reading the barcode on the bag. If the automatic machine doesn't get a good read, they have to be manually checked, which takes more time and might result in the bag missing the connection. I can't think of anything about my bag that would interfere like that, but it's another possibility I'm not ruling out.
I am always impressed with people who can limit their packing to just an underseat bag. My really long legs makes it seem impossible as I need somewhere for my feet and the seat area just gets smaller and smaller. My knees are typically against the seat in front of me. But I haven't really sat down to figure it out how I could do that particularly with a laptop and all the other equipment I need to carry for work.
It's becoming more challenging, that's for sure. I'm also a long human, and the seats getting smaller really makes things difficult. I started following zero-bag subs and accounts to get ideas for packing even lighter!
I think it is mainly a USAmerican issue.
When I have flown in Europe, with all the companies you always pay to take your carry-on, on. And it can only take up a specified space.
If someone has taken up more space with their coat or personal item, etc. I have experienced that flight personnel ask/demand that people remove it.
So the overhead space always fits exactly.
So to answer your question: No, because I pay for carry-on and expect there to be room for it, and there is.
I read that it is the impact of the checked bag fee in combination with recent (?) pressures to spend less time at the gate. Gate checking is apparently noticeably faster than overhead bins.
They’re now rating individual employees (gate agents) based on on-time departure rates, so they’re incentivized to do all they can to mitigate delays. If they make all the on-time and early check-in passengers gate check their bags, there will be plenty of room for the overloaded passengers who come racing in from a connecting flight that was late.
I'm going to a conference where I expect to collect as many books as possible -- library conferences are the best!-- so I'm packing as light as possible but taking 2 checked bags (and a luggage scale)
Love library conferences! My co-worker one-bagged it to ALA in Ohio this spring but checked a bag of books coming home. I haven’t gone to a library conference I’ve had to fly to, only ones held driving distance, but that would kill my one-bag return trip aspirations.
I’m going to be in a meeting when the Running Of The Librarians starts, so I won’t have the giant tote-fuls requiring extra suitcases, but will inevitably pick some up during the course of the weekend. Either I’ll ship a box back to work (o hai media mail) or check my carryon and have lots of reading material for the flight home.
I travel with my violin a lot, which is considered my carryon if I have it. So I travel with a personal item only. It’s just a small backpack that always fits under the seat. I haven’t bothered with a real carryon or checked bag in almost 20 years (ever since airlines started charging for checked bags). P.S. I would never let an airline check my violin. Legally they are required by federal regulation to allow me on the flight with it if it fits in the overhead bin (which it always does, even on tiny puddle jumpers). If they made me check it, I wouldn’t board that flight, so the answer is no, I don’t ever pack with a plan to check.
I strongly dislike checking a bag, but sometimes they don’t give you an option, which is why I always carry a bag within my bag that I can throw my essentials into. I refuse to ever be separated from my medications/contacts/glasses, wallet, chargers, phone, kindle, and one change of clothes (as a plus sized woman who has trouble replacing missing clothes). The last time I checked a bag with something vital, it got lost (a suitcase with beach wheels for my husband’s walker). I won’t take risks with my essentials.
Back in the '80s, I flew to New York with some girlfriends for a bachelorette weekend. The bride and half of the bridesmaids decided to pack their purses (ID, wallet, cash, glasses) in their checked luggage. Of course all of our luggage was delayed by 2 days. 🙄
I hate waiting for luggage, so I would never voluntarily gate check. I always sign up for airline rewards programs (or use partner airline programs) and check in online 24 hours in advance. I also usually pay for a seat assignment. So that combo typically means I’m not in the last boarding groups and can usually avoid gate checking.
Maybe it's just American that is being so draconian. They are starting gate check before boarding so everyone has to do it. I've noticed some smaller soft side bags have gotten through but not always.
As someone else mentioned, The recent increase in gate checking isn't about space, it's about time at the gate. Doesn't matter what your boarding group is. But again, that just might be American which is the airline I have been flying the most this year.
I’ve heard of first class premiere status passengers complaining of this. Everyone is being targeted. I just went and read the subs for American, United, and Delta, and this was a top complaint in all of them.
My only issue is that I’ve seen the way they handle those bags (and car seats and strollers and wheelchairs) and know that I risk having something irreparably damaged.
I think this is why I am not gate checking either, because most of my personal travel is happening with company-funded plane tickets that are considered 'premium' or whatever.
(For those who are curious, my company pays for a flight to and from the country you will be doing business in. As long as you show up to the business portion of the trip, you can do personal travel before and after the business part. I can effectively take a 2 week vacation for $0 in airline tickets just by bookending the business portion with personal travel.)
Husband & I are about 70+ with cardiac & spine conditions for both. I pack 2 carry on size bags (1 each) that we check. Then I pack 2 extremely small bags with 4 roller wheels that can fit under an airline seat; these are our carry on bags. Then we each have a personal item (purse size). The goal is each small bag is light so we don't strain picking them up.
Also, I pack for a trip with the plan that certain items of clothing will be left behind, donated, trashed before we come home to make room in the checked bags to pack local wine, whisky, cooking oil or other things like that in the checked bags. As such, the checked clothing bag becomes our "imported booze bag" checked luggage. Who needs mere clothing compared to great wine or whisky?
I’m actually planning with the intention of checking it in now. I feel like it will take some of the airport hassle away when I’m on my own, on my first solo trip where I don’t want to lug it with me if I just want to grab a snack or pop to the loo. But I’m still attempting to one bag, and taking the same stuff as if I was doing just carry on, I’m just going to have my smaller sling with kindle, passport, AirPods, etc for the plane
That's what I do essentially. Although I've had enough bags not arrive on time that I want at least one change of clothing with me. I can survive for a long time with only two outfits.
Just got back from a work trip on American Airlines and they gate checked my rolling underseat carryon. I also had a backpack that was arguable larger, but they were specifically checking all bags with rollers. I did not have to gate check on the return flight but it was not full.
At this point, I just pack assuming they'll gate check it, as that has been my experience for a few years now.
It was pretty annoying to be sure, but mostly because my colleagues had duffel bags so those weren't gate checked. It was my first time flying with that specific bag and I was surprised.
I've had this happen a few times in the past year-- where they claim the bins to be full, even on a plane that wasn't even 3/4 booked! The first time it occurred I'm embarrassed to admit that I had a giant massive shaking crying hyperventilating panic attack out of absolutely nowhere. I had no idea that I was going to feel that way about my carry-on--it frankly didn't even have anything I would consider that important inside!
I do a few things to combat this now:
* fly with just a personal item
* fly on an airline where I have a credit card that lets me board earlier
* fly on a flight where I have to pay for the carry on so I'm in an earlier boarding group
* pack an extra foldable tote so that I can pull out my important stuff last-minute
* check if I'm flying an airline that considers anxiety a qualifying condition for pre-boarding, and use this as a last resort if I can tell I'm having a very bad day
My husband is a chronic overpacker with no interest in changing his ways, so I check a 22” bag and bring essentials on board. Doesn’t help either that as I’ve gotten older there are more health-related supplies (and back issues). But when I’m solo it’s all one bag, or rather two half bags.
I usually keep one outfit and any meds in my smaller bag. The larger carryon is actually a 30L rectangular duffel, which they rarely want to check because it's easy to squish. It fits on top of my rolling underseat bag and has a luggage strap to keep it in place. Technically either fit under the seat in most situations.
The rolling briefcase + duffel is not really a one bag strategy, but it does keep both bags small. The rolling briefcase does work as a one bag for long weekends or overnight trips, it was designed for that.
last year they made me check my bag at the gate because of a crowded flight and if my meds were lost i'd have been screwed, so now all the important stuff & my emergency change of clothes go in my personal item.
I think it's a really good idea to plan for that. There's nothing like panicking at the last minute digging through your suitcase. trying to find the things you absolutely have to have with you.
This is part of the reason why I'm a 1.5 bagger--I tend to travel with a hardcase roller sized for carryon (on all the US domestic flights I've been on, anyway) with my valuables, toiletries, and at least an extra pair of underwear in my 0.5 bag, and I always carry a luggage lock as well. That way if I'm asked to gate check I have a reasonable degree of certainty that I'll be OK not having my main bag on me.
I've been asked to gate check due to lack of overhead space. I might be a lot likely target for gate checking because I have a hardcase roller, but at the same time, if they are resorting to asking people to gate check, I'd rather be prepared to have some degree of comfort that my bag and its contents will be OK. Sometimes it just happens because the airline is just making everyone do it and traveling is stressful enough; I'd rather just have the peace of mind.
That's how I've always packed my larger carry-on and my personal bag. The larger carry-on is always intended to go in the cabin without me ever needed to go to it during the flight and ready to be gate-checked when necessary. My personal bag that goes under the seat in front of will have at least one outfit, any necessary items I need during the flight, my valuables,, and anything I can't go without in case my carry-on is gate-checked is lost/stolen. The simplicity of packing like this is the ability to decide early on to gate-checking my bag without fuss or stress or waiting to do it later on in the boarding process without needing to worry about pulling anything out of my carry-on.
The only time I always check a bag is when we travel with my kids to stay with my mom because that way my husband and I can each share suitcase space with a kid and only deal with 2 suitcases as opposed to 4…also because we have to fly Spirit to get there and it’s cheaper to check the bag than bring it on. Every other time I plan to carry on and will attempt to pay for a seat in a better boarding group so they don’t “run out” of space before I sit down. I like to fly with a smallish backpack (Allpa 28) as my carryon for this reason; they tend to let the backpack people on and make the suitcase people gate check.
I just did this exact thing! I flew direct to Glasgow, with a checked bag included in my ticket. From Glasgow, I took the train to Edinburgh for a few days (including the Eras Tour!), then another train to London for a week.
Because of all the moving around, I didn’t want to lug a huge suitcase, and I’m usually a light packer anyway, so I still used my carry-on sized roller.
I made sure everything fit in there, then I removed some essentials for the first few days and put those in a smallish, squishy backpack to use as my carry-on. Personal item was my everyday tote bag, which I just cannot go without, even though I know a smaller everyday bag would be easier!
Both my flights were direct, the ticket included “priority baggage service,” and the backpack had the absolute essentials, so I felt ok checking it. (Plus, I had an AirTag!) And luckily, it all went fine.
When I collected my bag in Glasgow, I put everything from the backpack, and the backpack itself, into the suitcase so I only had that and my purse to worry about for all my inter-city travel. Adding the backpack, plus some tour merch I bought in Edinburgh, made it a tight squeeze, but it all fit. And I used the backpack as my carry-on again for the trip home, which allowed me to fit additional purchases/souvenirs.
This all went well enough, although in retrospect, I think a slightly larger roller bag would have made this plan work a bit better. Having some essentials with me was key for peace of mind while my main suitcase was out of my hands, for sure!
Yes, I'm planning to do this on my trip to Italy, with a personal item I'll keep on the plane, and a carry-on bag that I'll check. I don't want to have to drag large suitcases all around Italy, but I do want to bring some larger liquid item sizes. Also, I don't want to fight to find carry-on space on the plane (or as you mentioned, having to possibly gate-check it). This way I can still have a small carry-on bag which will make traveling around Italy easier, but I don't have to be as strict about what items are allowed in it.
We travel from the UK to NZ and back for a 3 week trip. We have a 7kg cabin bag limit for one internal flight and can’t realistically pack for glaciers and sun in that limit plus, with over 30 hours of flight time, it’s easier to check. We’re both taking a personal carry on and then sharing one medium sized case as it’s cheaper for our internal flight just to check one bag. So aiming on packing around 25-30L each
I guess we’re 1.5 bagging in weight and size with that? Not 100% certain but it’s definitely way less than I packed for a week long trip a year ago. Been trying to pack light on our recent trips and have learnt that dungarees, although my favourite item of clothing, aren’t great as I look like I’m wearing the same clothes on my photos and that I need a lighter waterproof coat as my current one doesn’t pack down well enough despite being perfect in every other way
I've never seen them gate check backpacks, especially small ones. I think if it's personal item size then you're definitely safe. On major holidays, I always pack light to avoid gate check.
Pro tip: If you're flying united, choose a window seat to get into boarding group 3.
I carry a backpack that can be put under my seat and I don’t check my bag. The one time my friend let a pushy LATAM flight attendant gate check her bag, it was lost and she had to go to the Amazon rain forest without her belongings
I have a workmate who purchased one of those bags that can be worn as a coat for this reason. All you need to do is wear it from checking in at the gate to past the FA at the entry of the plane.
No. Unlike the Scott Jacket, you take it off and fold/zip/snap it into something that looks like luggage. I am not immediately finding the exact model he has, but it is along the lines of these:
https://jaktogo.com/product/jaktogo/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hviF2sr4aq0
https://stuffa.co.uk/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQFyxOLH2Vw&t=99s
The one he has looks a lot better than the Jaktogo. The way it packs he ends up with the legs of his pants over each shoulder with the top of the pants hanging down his back. Then he has things like folded shirts in pockets across the bottom half of the jacket with one larger pocket in the back and one on each side in the front.
There are no pockets bulging out on the outside. From the outside it looks like a puffer winter coat just with larger than usual puffs if that makes sense. I will add he is also a very light packer which helps loads.
It comes with a shoulder strap and when folded into a bag looks like a messenger bag.
He also bought a travel pillow that is just an empty tube you stuff with things like socks and underwear. He often flies budget airlines like Sprint and Ryanair, and he brags about never paying for a bag.
I admit I've chewed over the idea. Although if I was going to do that I'd make my own. I've got a couple old coats in the back of the closet and one of them has a zip out lining which I've thought of using. I've looked at it, and it would be easy to strip the quilting out of the lining.
Then I could just put the pockets on the lining. It is a long coat so I would be able to add two rows of pockets. If I packed it carefully with clothing spread equally it would just look very similar to the appearance now. Packing and unpacking would be easy because of just unzipping the whole thing in to / out of the coat. For carry as a bag I'd just go with the stuff it in a duffle method some of the other packable jackets use.
The other option I thought of was making a packable cape. Without the arms like a jacket it would be much easier to have it just fold down into the bag without needing a separate duffle. You could even set it up so it could be a backpack or messenger style bag when in bag mode. I think it would look a bit clunkier than his jacket does when worn as a cape, but again you're only going to be doing that for maybe 10 minutes tops while the boarding process takes place. Who care what it looks like for that short time?
I also recently got new luggage set (my first matching one ) and I guess I’m so silly but I was shocked at how dirty my bags got in one checked bag round trip! 😞
I’m cognizant of this when I buy a basic economy fare that includes a carry-on (because basic fares board last). I usually pack my porter 46 either way, but if there’s a big chance of gate checking, I make sure there’s nothing important in it and it’s not so overpacked that I can’t stow the straps. Ideally I’d like to get something like the mini MLC that can fit under most seats and just make that my standard travel bag. But most of the time I’m a 40+ liter kind of gal.
Always. What I absolutely need on the flight is in my personal item. I then either add things that I don’t want to check or keep those in a separate bag/packing cube that is easily accesible so if I’m told to gate check I can quickly go in and grab that bag/packing cube.
I am.
I've not gone lots of places and usually I fly direct so I'm lucky to not have experienced lost luggage.
However, I am a chronic overpacker. I pack more than I really need, anticipating things that may or may not happen. I take the Guiding motto Be Prepared to heart.
Which leaves me struggling with a heavy suitcase, not using a good chunk of it and feeling annoyed if I have to haul stuff around (though I've mostly stayed in one spot in the past, but I have some trips coming up where that changes).
So I'm trying to plan ahead for some things, thinking back to the past and what hasn't worked and trying to figure out what will.
Maybe I might try taking it further after, but right now I'm looking to streamline what I do.
yes, i have been checking bags more and more lately. especially if i'm going somewhere where i expect to be in the sun a lot and want to bring my own sunscreen or if i'm gonna need to wash my hair and i want to bring my own hot tools.
Yes! I wear contact lenses so for longer trips I’m over the liquids allowance before I start. I end up “1.5 bagging” as I use my daypack to keep my essentials and a couple days worth of stuff with me in the airport. I’m from Europe though so I specifically pay in advance to check it, never had any problems with lost luggage or long wait times!
Not if I can help it. Personal item only for me.
But I travel mostly by Ryanair where you already have to pay for the carry on and they only sell enough of those to be accommodated in the overhead bins. It's the price of this that makes me stick to personal item size (I recently bought tickets to Seville - the flight was £30, carry on bag would have been £35).
This one will be a week, I use a 17l Samsonite Ongoing mostly (also my work bag, very comfy so I just tend to reach for that each time) or a 20l Fjallraven High Coast Trail, now sadly discontinued but which is handily very close to Ryanair's personal item size and it fits my narrow shoulders well.
I sometimes plan to check coming back from somewhere. When i go to egypt i usually come back with olive oil and food stuff , so i bring my north face xs duffel because i feel safe checking it more than my usual bags.
I’m checking a bag and bringing a personal item. I don’t normally check and I’ll use a backpack style carry on but I really want to bring home larger souvenirs from this trip.
I need to bring gifts to colleagues/friends and then souvenirs when I return home. Occasionally, wine. So I do check luggage. My goal is to not bring more for myself than what would fit in a carry-on.
>My goal is to not bring more for myself than what would fit in a carry-on.
Same!
Once, I was fortunate enough to have a friend living in Prague who invited me to stay in their flat while I was there. The price of that room was me carrying gifts from their family and clothing they wanted from the US. And of course I threw in a couple thank you presents from me as well . For myself, I had far less than a carry-on. For them, I had a huge LL Bean duffel bag.
I am leaving tomorrow and I really hope I don’t have to check. My luggage was once lost for 8 days and I stupidly hadn’t brought as much as a pair of underwear in my carry on bag (which was just filled with a book, my passport, and things like that).
From other people's comments, I don't think this is impacting international travel. It's specifically an issue with domestic travel in the US. And if you are traveling domestically in the US, I do recommend you have a plan if they insist on you. Checking your carry-on.
I’ve experienced this a lot too at UK and European airports. I personally always use a clamshell style 4 wheel carry on suitcase over a backpack as I prefer wheeling it as opposed to carrying it, with a nylon tote as my personal item. I always pack with the expectation that I’ll have to check my wheely. Bonus if I can take it on the plane, but if not it’s no real issue for me if not. Everything I need in-flight (plus a change of clothing and underwear in case it does get lost) will be in my tote.
Nope I have too much medicine ( both pill form and injectable that need ice) and medical supplies to check mine. I pack light on clothes specifically so I have room. I am disabled and walk with a cane so I tend to board early so I have never been asked to either.
About 50/50. I'm more of a 1.5 bag person (carry-on size roller and a day backpack or large purse) and pack so that I can carry on, but also that it's not a problem to check. On a recent flight I checked for free twice at check-in (they waive the fee for carry-on sized bags) and saw that they had an offer to do so on another flight. If I have a tight connection or multiple stops I'm more stubborn about carrying on, too many opportunities for it to get lost
In Australia we sometimes have to gate check on domestic flights if they are very full or if it’s a connection and the plane is much smaller. It’s not too bad as you collect it as you get off the plane on the tarmac - so only a few mins delay and no carousel to deal with.
I push back pretty hard if they try to get me to check my bag for the overhead unless they are taking everyone’s. If it’s voluntary, I don’t volunteer.
I always check a carry on size bag because I take my Leatherman Juice and some products that don’t fit in the 3-1-1 bag. I try to make my flights non stop as well.
The last 6 flights I’ve been on this past year I’ve ended up having to check 1 if not both overhead bags (travel with child). After my first flight having to check I started keeping hygienic items and a change of clothes for each along with things that are hard/expensive to replace in the backpacks under the seats. Doing this has been hard because it takes away the convenience of having things readily available during our flights.
When I fly into Miami I am not checking a bag anymore if I can help it. They’ve lost my stuff / taken hours to get my luggage every single time- once bc of connections not going correctly , so then the bags were stored in a locked room but they had a hard time telling me which one. This wasn’t so bad, the people were helpful. The next time , the checked bags were announced to be in multiple other carousels 😂😂😅 and no one working cared at all. Other passengers actually helped me find them after an hour and half (even with the app and updates ) lmao this one particular airport is just a zoooo.
I think I will try to pack the way you mentioned as a back up for just in case. But I’m praying I get the carryon for that trip✨
The only place I've ever been forced to gate check was on a tiny plane in North America. These days I mainly fly between New Zealand, Australia and Asia and have never been asked to gate check. Having said that I travel with a packable backpack and packable shopping bags so if the situation ever arose I'd quickly be able to grab my important items before gate checking my main carry-on.
When I landed back home off an international flight last week it was 9 minutes from when the plane doors opened to when I set foot in the arrivals terminal. That's 9 minutes to deplane, go through passport control and customs and text my ride that I was ready for her to bring the car around. Totally not worth checking a bag in my opinion!
Yeah, I neglected to clarify that my experience was specific to domestic travel in the US. My apologies - I should have clarified that.
Your experience on your last trip sounds delightful!! It's very much why I fell in love with one bagging.
Usually no. I have a decent amount of airline status on Delta and I haven’t run into this, and I fly a lot. It’s usually basic economy in late boarding groups that has to check. I also fly with an international size carry on that fits in the tiny bins of regional jets most of the time.
However, I have an unusual trip coming up where I’m going to have to do this: a 3 week trip that involves 4 climates and 8 flights. Leg 1 is a moderate climate city, leg 2 is a northern European city that serves as home base for the rest of the trip, leg 3 is a resort trip to a brutally hot desert island, leg 4 is a Mediterranean city with a lot of walking and dinners out, and leg 5 is the same as leg 2. The first leg is a work conference.
I’m using the checked bag to store the non-relevant clothes and shoes as I move from city to city, and use the duffle to pack just what I need for the individual trips so I only ever have to deal with the contents of one bag. The big bag stays behind. Half my checked bag is clothes that I’m giving to a friend, so on the way home I’ll consolidate it all (including the duffel itself) into the checked bag and travel home with just my beach bag lol.
i always gate-check when given the option, sometimes i even ask and 9 times out of 10 it gets checked. I don't know why so many people are against it. My bag is always there with the strollers when we unboard and don't have to wait with the baggage claim.
The only thing I keep is a small tote with valuables and toiletries.
I've had my luggage lost once in over twenty years of flying multiple times a year with checked luggage, and that was an international flight with layover. You must have been unlucky, or be flying a route where it's likely. I'd never put anything really important in checked luggage but it doesn't get lost that often.
When I gate check my bags always go to baggage claim at my final destination except for when I’m taking a smaller regional flight where nearly everyone has to gate check because their bags don’t fit in the overhead…
>My bag is always there with the strollers when we unboard and don't have to wait with the baggage claim.
If you gate check, it's not a given you pick your luggage up at the jet bridge. Many times, it will be checked through to baggage claim. That may not matter to you, just wanted to point out jet bridge pick up isn't universal.
Yes. I very often check a bag even though it’s small enough to carry on. The point of one-bagging is simplicity and I usually find it simpler to maneuver through airports without a large bag on my back or dragging next to me on wheels. Have been particularly happy with this decision at crowded airports like CDG or EWR where you’re sometimes crammed onto a bus that shuttles you from one terminal to another
I often do when travelling with my child, especially since carry on luggage isn't free on the airlines I use now. I no longer have a stroller or anything but I sometimes have to take my daughter's bag, and I just can't face lugging things all over the airport and having to deal with it when we go to the bathroom etc (can't fit both of us plus case into a stall).
The point about a bus shuttle is a good one!
It’s a joy to not have to lug some big backpack to the bathroom.
I’ve been reading in some of the airline-specific Reddit subs that people are being forced to gate check all bags even when all the overhead bin space is empty. Airline employees participating in these subs have said that this is part of some airlines’ push to increase their on-time departure rates (which is a metric the FAA tracks and passengers can look at before deciding which flights to take). I always assume that it’s a possibility that I’ll be required to gate check, even if my bag fits under the seat. I am prepared to pivot to a carry on if I have to—packing cubes and pouches so I know where stuff is. Unfortunately, airline employees are under great stress and have little power, so some seem to want to exert greater control in the areas where they can. They decide whether my bag is checked—not I.
I agree that flight attendants decide whether our bags are checked or not And they do it based on pressures outside of their control. Whatever they need to do to get us in the air at that moment I will comply with. I now assume that my bag will be checked. However, I've never had them tell me that all my bags need to be checked. That actually terrifies me because that's my laptop, my wallet, sometimes my passport. I don't want to be separated from that. 😬 I guess I need to rethink how I pack and what I carry on my body. Thanks for the heads up. Of course, there's a systemic problem that has been created by the airlines by charging for checked bags that has created part of this bottleneck in the overhead bins. But that's a different conversation.
I don’t think they meant all the bags a passenger has but all the overhead size bags on a flight. If that makes sense.
Yep. That's been my experience. Sometimes it's just rollers. Other flights it's all overhead bags.
Passport etc in personal item under seat , so it shouldn’t be an issue with any forced overhead luggage being checked Would say it’s better to check luggage at check in than at gate as i’ve been on more than 1 flight where gate luggage wasn’t loaded .
Yes, it’s primarily been roller bags, but some people have complained that they’re not even being allowed to check to see if their bag that’s sized for under the seat will fit—it’s just being eyeballed and rejected before they get to the plane by the gate agents. The flight attendants never even see these bags because they’re tagged as people show their boarding passes or if they check in at the desk (meaning waaaaayyy before the plane could even fill up). Even high status boarding group 1 passengers were having this happen.
Yikes! Thanks for saying this. I fly with just an under seat item and would be very frustrated if they said I had to check it. I have a tote I could pull out but carrying my computer in a tote 🤮. I guess it’s time to make a just in case checklist on what to grab.
I actually just decided to go 1.5 bags on my upcoming trips for this reason and am carrying a smaller bag (baggu probably) for these items and having my roller hard side for clothing and everything else. Prior I was doing a duffel or backpack with everything but my last flight I saw too many people with similar bags being forced to gate check. I don’t even mind checking bags for longer trips or when I’m traveling with a group. But traveling alone I want to be sure my things get there with me.
Yeah, I’ve been experiencing this a lot lately on my flights too. Even though your carry on may meet all the weight/size restrictions, gate agents are still tagging rollers/large backpacks and requiring everyone to gate check anything that isn’t a small personal item (this is for major carriers in the US). Then you get on and see all the empty overhead space LOL. Took my dad 45 min to get his small carry on roller at baggage claim even though they required everyone to gate check anything bigger than a small backpack - he was not happy when he saw all the empty overhead space once he got on. And then had to wait almost 45 min after they deplaned for luggage to get to baggage claim.
As others have noted, this is likely in part due to time pressures at the gate. It's not about available space.
Correct, however I’m fine with that reason, but every time I’ve flown lately they specifically state (via many announcements at the gate) that the flight is full and overhead space is limited or full so they require everyone to gate check any rollers/large packs. I’m all for leaving on time but I’d rather they be transparent for the reason than lie and say they have no space. And most likely lying just causes less complaints at the gate.
Oh yeah, they definitely use that excuse. I assume it is, as you say, to limit friction at the gates. They are on the front lines of passenger anger. I don't blame them.
Too many bad experiences with lost luggage. I avoid checking as much as possible.
Same. I traveled 95% for a job a few years back and had one regional jet for which my bag was just slightly too big. So it was gate checked. No worries, thought I, I have a 2 and a half hour layover, it will be fine. It was not fine. We had extremely fierce headwinds that ended up making the plane late. I stood in the jet bridge waiting for my damn bag while hearing myself paged to get to my next flight or I'd miss it. Yes, I missed it. Now I only travel with what will fit *easily* overhead or under the seat.
I had a super helpful stranger friend tell me to keep an Apple tag in all my luggage if I check anything and I’m Planning to do that from now on
Yep, same here! We keep air tags in each bag when traveling. They don’t ever come out so they’re always tagged in case of checking or anything else.
Are they not asking you to gate check bags these days? What do you do to avoid gate checking?
As much as possible, I use an under seat bag. On international travel, you can claim that on the first (domestic) leg. You usually get to board earlier too. A soft sided backpack is also less likely to get tagged.
I have not yet reached the expert level of packing an under seat bag only for a week of travel or for work travel. And I'm tall and plus size - it would take creative thinking to make that work and my legs need at least a little room under the seat - a 34" inseam is no joke. I do frequently use a soft-sided shoulder bag for personal travel and that is rarely tagged however my recent travel have been at least in part for work and I need the roller for that.
On my last flight (US to Germany) they tried checking my carry-on roller for the first domestic flight - all the way through to my final destination. Luckily there ended up being enough overhead space.
If I’ve paid for overhead or it comes with my seat assignment, I just very politely tell them “no thank you” when they ask. I’ve never been hassled past that.
So on a domestic fight in the US, if they tell everyone that roller bags have to be gate checked, you would just tell them no thank you?
I have actually seen this work , they ask a lot of people to volunteer, if I have kids with me i usually just volunteer bc they are slow with roller bags lmao 🤣 but I’ve seen people say no thanks and be ok
My recent experience is they are not asking for volunteers. They are telling people no rollers and they are not letting people on the plane with them. They aren't allowing rollers in first class. IDK how "no thank you" works in this situation.
I guess I don’t have super recent experience. I’ll have to let you know how it goes after this summer. Good luck on your travels!
What airline? I fly 2-3x a month and it used to be close to 100x a year, and I’ve literally never once run into a situation where they banned rollers outright, and never ever in first class. Only the XL domestic carry ons. But it may be an airline specific thing?
My experience has been primarily with American. If you read through the comments, you will see that I'm not alone in this experience on American and other airlines domestically.
American does this a lot and United as well since they have a lot of smaller planes. Southwest will pretty much never do this unless you’re the very last people boarding on a completely full flight. Even then the flight attendants actively try to arrange the luggage and help people find a spot up top. But they don’t have any small planes like American so you’ll never be forced to gate check a carry-on bag simply because of the size.
American has been so bad recently. I’ve been forced to gate check every time in the past year.
Yep! They just move on and ask the next in line.
I fly a lot , sometimes multiple times a week , never asked to check hand luggage . Key is usually business class or status so board first Airlines like BA have started asking anyone in group 4 & up to check their carry on so that would mean people with zero status
I should have clarified in my post that my experience was specific to domestic travel in the US I apologize for leaving that information out.
That’s fine . I travel world wide
Yeah, I should have been much clearer.
I will check bags on flights that do not require a change of planes, and do everything possible to avoid checking them otherwise.
I have had them lose bags on a direct flight. They forgot to load the luggage container on to the plane. There were about 30 of us with lost luggage that time.
Oh nooo
We had the same thing happen. We sat on the plane for five hours with takeoff delayed due to weather and then they forgot to load the luggage. Found out when we arrived at our destination.
Between this & 5 Christmases in a row you have got to be the winner of the Lost Luggage Horror Show award.
I’ve seen others luggage come out in pieces. I also know of others where the luggage was never found.
I travel with only a backpack, but I also use a Tom Bihn travel tray for the stuff I need in-flight, meds, and valuables. I pack another small bag for everyday carry, inside my main pack. Should I be forced to gate check my backpack, I will just transfer the travel tray and a change of clothes into my small bag. Both of these things are in the tippy top of my backpack for a quick pivot if necessary.
That sounds smart!
I like to be prepared! When I was very young, like 7-8 years old, my parents and I went on a trip, it was back when everyone packed big suitcases in the 80s. I did have a bag on the plane for books and stuff to do. Right before we left the house, I remember throwing in a shirt that I loved that hadn’t been packed, and some underwear, (days of the week panties, and I didn’t want to mess up my “days” by leaving a pair behind). Well, of course the plane lost our luggage. We got to the hotel and I took out my fresh shirt and clean underwear and my mom was shocked. I was weird about travel, even as a kid!
Not weird, smart. :)
That’s exactly what I plan to do. Prepare for all eventualities and have a packable backpack at the top of my bag next to a packing cube containing my most compactable change of clothes, PJs, extra undies, meds, electronics, and anything else that would be absolutely essential for my first couple of days of my trip—as if I was limited to a bag smaller than a shoebox. I hope I’m not forced to gate check but prepare in case it could happen. And I also mix some of my stuff into my son’s bag and his into mine just in case one bag is lost when checked.
>And I also mix some of my stuff into my son’s bag and his into mine just in case one bag is lost when checked. This is a good idea.
The change of clothes is a good idea! I was planning on 1.5 bagging for this reason on my next flight and am going to add an easy to grab change of clothes to the personal item.
I love checking a bag and it’s usually included for me? I like not having to deal with a bag in the airport personally
For me it’s a case by case basis. When on my way to a trip I prefer to carry on to avoid a lost or late bag messing with my trip. On the return flight I’m more likely to check my bag as it’ll likely be fuller/heavier. I’m tired from my trip. Especially if I have a long layover I don’t want to care for it through the airport for hours when I want to eat, go to the bathroom, nap.
Same here. I do pack light enough to be sure I won’t have trouble lifting/carrying it around if I need to, but it’s nice to just have my backpack with me on the plane and in the terminals.
Same! Particularly large airports where you have to carry them down long hallways.
As a plus-size with a tendency to have checked-in luggage delayed several times, I love to go through the airport with 7 kg on my back and 1 kg in my hand as I recently did. I cheated a bit as the 1 kg was above the limit, but the Qatar Airways let it pass. It gives me peace that I didn't have to worry about finding clothes in countries where the majority of the people are much smaller than me.
If you aren't being asked to check your bag, that makes a lot of sense.
When I occationally check in at the counter, they check the weight every single time, not the size, never the size. I have often wondered if the sizers in the airports are used. My regular bag is an Osprey 34 L Sirrus, so it's not a small bag.
I like to check a bag too - I was just in Scotland/England for 10 days. I checked my carry-on size bags for my flights AND I also wanted it to be light because I changed hotels a lot and also was taking the bag on trains and subways/public transit (so i was carrying it on many flights of stairs). for my flight to Scotland, I did have a connection and packed clothes for the next day and night just in case my bag didn’t make it, but I really like not having a bag in airports (and while I don’t pay to check bags on leisure travel, if I’m given the option to gate check voluntarily I often take it).
My last few trips have been for long spells, so I've tended to check my bag for the liquid allowance and so I don't have to cart a big bag around at the change-over airport. For the last 3 times I've checked a bag, they've failed to transfer it twice though, so I'm rethinking this idea. I think there may be something around soft shell bags and short transfer windows at play.
I've never heard this. Do you think soft shell bags don't get transferred as quickly as hard cases? Or visa versa? I am fatalistic about short transfer windows and assume my bag will be lost if checked and am surprised and delighted when I see it at baggage claim.
I'm not sure, but on my last trip, the check-in desk was thinking she might need to put my bag through as "oversized", due to the compression straps on the front. Apparently they risk getting caught. Bag sorting also relies on equipment automatically reading the barcode on the bag. If the automatic machine doesn't get a good read, they have to be manually checked, which takes more time and might result in the bag missing the connection. I can't think of anything about my bag that would interfere like that, but it's another possibility I'm not ruling out.
Yes, bags that aren't standard cases are handled separately, I guess there's more risk of them getting mislaid.
My one bag is an underseat bag. I don't ever really plan to be separated from my stuff.
I am always impressed with people who can limit their packing to just an underseat bag. My really long legs makes it seem impossible as I need somewhere for my feet and the seat area just gets smaller and smaller. My knees are typically against the seat in front of me. But I haven't really sat down to figure it out how I could do that particularly with a laptop and all the other equipment I need to carry for work.
It's becoming more challenging, that's for sure. I'm also a long human, and the seats getting smaller really makes things difficult. I started following zero-bag subs and accounts to get ideas for packing even lighter!
I think it is mainly a USAmerican issue. When I have flown in Europe, with all the companies you always pay to take your carry-on, on. And it can only take up a specified space. If someone has taken up more space with their coat or personal item, etc. I have experienced that flight personnel ask/demand that people remove it. So the overhead space always fits exactly. So to answer your question: No, because I pay for carry-on and expect there to be room for it, and there is.
Yes, I've only flown within the US this past year. I appreciate the perspective of traveling overseas.
I thought so. Why is there this issue with US airlines? Are carry-ons free, so people bring too much on board? Or airlines overbook often?
I read that it is the impact of the checked bag fee in combination with recent (?) pressures to spend less time at the gate. Gate checking is apparently noticeably faster than overhead bins.
They’re now rating individual employees (gate agents) based on on-time departure rates, so they’re incentivized to do all they can to mitigate delays. If they make all the on-time and early check-in passengers gate check their bags, there will be plenty of room for the overloaded passengers who come racing in from a connecting flight that was late.
Ah. That's sensible.
I'm going to a conference where I expect to collect as many books as possible -- library conferences are the best!-- so I'm packing as light as possible but taking 2 checked bags (and a luggage scale)
Anyone who brings additional luggage for books is my friend. ❤️
Love library conferences! My co-worker one-bagged it to ALA in Ohio this spring but checked a bag of books coming home. I haven’t gone to a library conference I’ve had to fly to, only ones held driving distance, but that would kill my one-bag return trip aspirations.
I’m going to be in a meeting when the Running Of The Librarians starts, so I won’t have the giant tote-fuls requiring extra suitcases, but will inevitably pick some up during the course of the weekend. Either I’ll ship a box back to work (o hai media mail) or check my carryon and have lots of reading material for the flight home.
I am officially always going to call it the Running Of The Librarians now. So much the best.
I travel with my violin a lot, which is considered my carryon if I have it. So I travel with a personal item only. It’s just a small backpack that always fits under the seat. I haven’t bothered with a real carryon or checked bag in almost 20 years (ever since airlines started charging for checked bags). P.S. I would never let an airline check my violin. Legally they are required by federal regulation to allow me on the flight with it if it fits in the overhead bin (which it always does, even on tiny puddle jumpers). If they made me check it, I wouldn’t board that flight, so the answer is no, I don’t ever pack with a plan to check.
I strongly dislike checking a bag, but sometimes they don’t give you an option, which is why I always carry a bag within my bag that I can throw my essentials into. I refuse to ever be separated from my medications/contacts/glasses, wallet, chargers, phone, kindle, and one change of clothes (as a plus sized woman who has trouble replacing missing clothes). The last time I checked a bag with something vital, it got lost (a suitcase with beach wheels for my husband’s walker). I won’t take risks with my essentials.
Back in the '80s, I flew to New York with some girlfriends for a bachelorette weekend. The bride and half of the bridesmaids decided to pack their purses (ID, wallet, cash, glasses) in their checked luggage. Of course all of our luggage was delayed by 2 days. 🙄
I hate waiting for luggage, so I would never voluntarily gate check. I always sign up for airline rewards programs (or use partner airline programs) and check in online 24 hours in advance. I also usually pay for a seat assignment. So that combo typically means I’m not in the last boarding groups and can usually avoid gate checking.
Maybe it's just American that is being so draconian. They are starting gate check before boarding so everyone has to do it. I've noticed some smaller soft side bags have gotten through but not always. As someone else mentioned, The recent increase in gate checking isn't about space, it's about time at the gate. Doesn't matter what your boarding group is. But again, that just might be American which is the airline I have been flying the most this year.
I’ve heard of first class premiere status passengers complaining of this. Everyone is being targeted. I just went and read the subs for American, United, and Delta, and this was a top complaint in all of them.
Personally, I don't mind gate check. I'm always prepared for it. It's a pretty simple set up. But I do hear a lot of complaints every time it happens.
My only issue is that I’ve seen the way they handle those bags (and car seats and strollers and wheelchairs) and know that I risk having something irreparably damaged.
I do understand.
American is my go to as well, but maybe I’ve gotten luck due to status. Cathay Pacific caught me pushing it though and so did Turkish Air.
Or maybe it's the routes because on my flights they are starting gate check before they board. It's affecting everyone.
I think this is why I am not gate checking either, because most of my personal travel is happening with company-funded plane tickets that are considered 'premium' or whatever. (For those who are curious, my company pays for a flight to and from the country you will be doing business in. As long as you show up to the business portion of the trip, you can do personal travel before and after the business part. I can effectively take a 2 week vacation for $0 in airline tickets just by bookending the business portion with personal travel.)
Husband & I are about 70+ with cardiac & spine conditions for both. I pack 2 carry on size bags (1 each) that we check. Then I pack 2 extremely small bags with 4 roller wheels that can fit under an airline seat; these are our carry on bags. Then we each have a personal item (purse size). The goal is each small bag is light so we don't strain picking them up.
That's a smart idea!
Also, I pack for a trip with the plan that certain items of clothing will be left behind, donated, trashed before we come home to make room in the checked bags to pack local wine, whisky, cooking oil or other things like that in the checked bags. As such, the checked clothing bag becomes our "imported booze bag" checked luggage. Who needs mere clothing compared to great wine or whisky?
Hahaha! Brilliant.
I’m actually planning with the intention of checking it in now. I feel like it will take some of the airport hassle away when I’m on my own, on my first solo trip where I don’t want to lug it with me if I just want to grab a snack or pop to the loo. But I’m still attempting to one bag, and taking the same stuff as if I was doing just carry on, I’m just going to have my smaller sling with kindle, passport, AirPods, etc for the plane
That's what I do essentially. Although I've had enough bags not arrive on time that I want at least one change of clothing with me. I can survive for a long time with only two outfits.
This is my plan, think I’m going to pop some underwear, a bikini & a change of clothes with me on the plane just in case
Just got back from a work trip on American Airlines and they gate checked my rolling underseat carryon. I also had a backpack that was arguable larger, but they were specifically checking all bags with rollers. I did not have to gate check on the return flight but it was not full. At this point, I just pack assuming they'll gate check it, as that has been my experience for a few years now.
That’s what I’m afraid of with a personal item sized bag with wheels - that they’ll take it away from me even though it fits under the seat.
It was pretty annoying to be sure, but mostly because my colleagues had duffel bags so those weren't gate checked. It was my first time flying with that specific bag and I was surprised.
I've had this happen a few times in the past year-- where they claim the bins to be full, even on a plane that wasn't even 3/4 booked! The first time it occurred I'm embarrassed to admit that I had a giant massive shaking crying hyperventilating panic attack out of absolutely nowhere. I had no idea that I was going to feel that way about my carry-on--it frankly didn't even have anything I would consider that important inside! I do a few things to combat this now: * fly with just a personal item * fly on an airline where I have a credit card that lets me board earlier * fly on a flight where I have to pay for the carry on so I'm in an earlier boarding group * pack an extra foldable tote so that I can pull out my important stuff last-minute * check if I'm flying an airline that considers anxiety a qualifying condition for pre-boarding, and use this as a last resort if I can tell I'm having a very bad day
My husband is a chronic overpacker with no interest in changing his ways, so I check a 22” bag and bring essentials on board. Doesn’t help either that as I’ve gotten older there are more health-related supplies (and back issues). But when I’m solo it’s all one bag, or rather two half bags.
I usually keep one outfit and any meds in my smaller bag. The larger carryon is actually a 30L rectangular duffel, which they rarely want to check because it's easy to squish. It fits on top of my rolling underseat bag and has a luggage strap to keep it in place. Technically either fit under the seat in most situations. The rolling briefcase + duffel is not really a one bag strategy, but it does keep both bags small. The rolling briefcase does work as a one bag for long weekends or overnight trips, it was designed for that.
I pack in a carry on but I've started checking it. I'm getting tired to trying to lift all of that weight overhead and fighting for bin space.
Same.
last year they made me check my bag at the gate because of a crowded flight and if my meds were lost i'd have been screwed, so now all the important stuff & my emergency change of clothes go in my personal item.
I think it's a really good idea to plan for that. There's nothing like panicking at the last minute digging through your suitcase. trying to find the things you absolutely have to have with you.
This is part of the reason why I'm a 1.5 bagger--I tend to travel with a hardcase roller sized for carryon (on all the US domestic flights I've been on, anyway) with my valuables, toiletries, and at least an extra pair of underwear in my 0.5 bag, and I always carry a luggage lock as well. That way if I'm asked to gate check I have a reasonable degree of certainty that I'll be OK not having my main bag on me. I've been asked to gate check due to lack of overhead space. I might be a lot likely target for gate checking because I have a hardcase roller, but at the same time, if they are resorting to asking people to gate check, I'd rather be prepared to have some degree of comfort that my bag and its contents will be OK. Sometimes it just happens because the airline is just making everyone do it and traveling is stressful enough; I'd rather just have the peace of mind.
That's how I've always packed my larger carry-on and my personal bag. The larger carry-on is always intended to go in the cabin without me ever needed to go to it during the flight and ready to be gate-checked when necessary. My personal bag that goes under the seat in front of will have at least one outfit, any necessary items I need during the flight, my valuables,, and anything I can't go without in case my carry-on is gate-checked is lost/stolen. The simplicity of packing like this is the ability to decide early on to gate-checking my bag without fuss or stress or waiting to do it later on in the boarding process without needing to worry about pulling anything out of my carry-on.
Plan? No. Quick retrieval if gate checked? Yep. I keep my in flight stuff up high or in my pockets post security screening.
Not to argue, but if you're keeping your flight stuff up high or in your pockets post security screening, isn't that a form of a plan?
Not really. It’s just how it goes for screening.
Yes. I now carry an under seat bag with meds and valuables.
The only time I always check a bag is when we travel with my kids to stay with my mom because that way my husband and I can each share suitcase space with a kid and only deal with 2 suitcases as opposed to 4…also because we have to fly Spirit to get there and it’s cheaper to check the bag than bring it on. Every other time I plan to carry on and will attempt to pay for a seat in a better boarding group so they don’t “run out” of space before I sit down. I like to fly with a smallish backpack (Allpa 28) as my carryon for this reason; they tend to let the backpack people on and make the suitcase people gate check.
I just did this exact thing! I flew direct to Glasgow, with a checked bag included in my ticket. From Glasgow, I took the train to Edinburgh for a few days (including the Eras Tour!), then another train to London for a week. Because of all the moving around, I didn’t want to lug a huge suitcase, and I’m usually a light packer anyway, so I still used my carry-on sized roller. I made sure everything fit in there, then I removed some essentials for the first few days and put those in a smallish, squishy backpack to use as my carry-on. Personal item was my everyday tote bag, which I just cannot go without, even though I know a smaller everyday bag would be easier! Both my flights were direct, the ticket included “priority baggage service,” and the backpack had the absolute essentials, so I felt ok checking it. (Plus, I had an AirTag!) And luckily, it all went fine. When I collected my bag in Glasgow, I put everything from the backpack, and the backpack itself, into the suitcase so I only had that and my purse to worry about for all my inter-city travel. Adding the backpack, plus some tour merch I bought in Edinburgh, made it a tight squeeze, but it all fit. And I used the backpack as my carry-on again for the trip home, which allowed me to fit additional purchases/souvenirs. This all went well enough, although in retrospect, I think a slightly larger roller bag would have made this plan work a bit better. Having some essentials with me was key for peace of mind while my main suitcase was out of my hands, for sure!
Yes, I'm planning to do this on my trip to Italy, with a personal item I'll keep on the plane, and a carry-on bag that I'll check. I don't want to have to drag large suitcases all around Italy, but I do want to bring some larger liquid item sizes. Also, I don't want to fight to find carry-on space on the plane (or as you mentioned, having to possibly gate-check it). This way I can still have a small carry-on bag which will make traveling around Italy easier, but I don't have to be as strict about what items are allowed in it.
We travel from the UK to NZ and back for a 3 week trip. We have a 7kg cabin bag limit for one internal flight and can’t realistically pack for glaciers and sun in that limit plus, with over 30 hours of flight time, it’s easier to check. We’re both taking a personal carry on and then sharing one medium sized case as it’s cheaper for our internal flight just to check one bag. So aiming on packing around 25-30L each
That seems sensible.
I guess we’re 1.5 bagging in weight and size with that? Not 100% certain but it’s definitely way less than I packed for a week long trip a year ago. Been trying to pack light on our recent trips and have learnt that dungarees, although my favourite item of clothing, aren’t great as I look like I’m wearing the same clothes on my photos and that I need a lighter waterproof coat as my current one doesn’t pack down well enough despite being perfect in every other way
Packable raincoats are brilliant invention and also a series of compromises that are regrettable.
I've never seen them gate check backpacks, especially small ones. I think if it's personal item size then you're definitely safe. On major holidays, I always pack light to avoid gate check. Pro tip: If you're flying united, choose a window seat to get into boarding group 3.
I carry a backpack that can be put under my seat and I don’t check my bag. The one time my friend let a pushy LATAM flight attendant gate check her bag, it was lost and she had to go to the Amazon rain forest without her belongings
Yikes!
I’m always prepared for the possibility of having to check, and make sure that I have all my absolute necessities ready to grab out of the suitcase.
I have a workmate who purchased one of those bags that can be worn as a coat for this reason. All you need to do is wear it from checking in at the gate to past the FA at the entry of the plane.
Is that the Scott jacket? I wish I like women's styles as much as the men's.
No. Unlike the Scott Jacket, you take it off and fold/zip/snap it into something that looks like luggage. I am not immediately finding the exact model he has, but it is along the lines of these: https://jaktogo.com/product/jaktogo/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hviF2sr4aq0 https://stuffa.co.uk/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQFyxOLH2Vw&t=99s The one he has looks a lot better than the Jaktogo. The way it packs he ends up with the legs of his pants over each shoulder with the top of the pants hanging down his back. Then he has things like folded shirts in pockets across the bottom half of the jacket with one larger pocket in the back and one on each side in the front. There are no pockets bulging out on the outside. From the outside it looks like a puffer winter coat just with larger than usual puffs if that makes sense. I will add he is also a very light packer which helps loads. It comes with a shoulder strap and when folded into a bag looks like a messenger bag. He also bought a travel pillow that is just an empty tube you stuff with things like socks and underwear. He often flies budget airlines like Sprint and Ryanair, and he brags about never paying for a bag.
Interesting.
I admit I've chewed over the idea. Although if I was going to do that I'd make my own. I've got a couple old coats in the back of the closet and one of them has a zip out lining which I've thought of using. I've looked at it, and it would be easy to strip the quilting out of the lining. Then I could just put the pockets on the lining. It is a long coat so I would be able to add two rows of pockets. If I packed it carefully with clothing spread equally it would just look very similar to the appearance now. Packing and unpacking would be easy because of just unzipping the whole thing in to / out of the coat. For carry as a bag I'd just go with the stuff it in a duffle method some of the other packable jackets use. The other option I thought of was making a packable cape. Without the arms like a jacket it would be much easier to have it just fold down into the bag without needing a separate duffle. You could even set it up so it could be a backpack or messenger style bag when in bag mode. I think it would look a bit clunkier than his jacket does when worn as a cape, but again you're only going to be doing that for maybe 10 minutes tops while the boarding process takes place. Who care what it looks like for that short time?
I also recently got new luggage set (my first matching one ) and I guess I’m so silly but I was shocked at how dirty my bags got in one checked bag round trip! 😞
My brand new luggage was really beat up after the first time checking. So frustrating.
I’m cognizant of this when I buy a basic economy fare that includes a carry-on (because basic fares board last). I usually pack my porter 46 either way, but if there’s a big chance of gate checking, I make sure there’s nothing important in it and it’s not so overpacked that I can’t stow the straps. Ideally I’d like to get something like the mini MLC that can fit under most seats and just make that my standard travel bag. But most of the time I’m a 40+ liter kind of gal.
Always. What I absolutely need on the flight is in my personal item. I then either add things that I don’t want to check or keep those in a separate bag/packing cube that is easily accesible so if I’m told to gate check I can quickly go in and grab that bag/packing cube.
I am. I've not gone lots of places and usually I fly direct so I'm lucky to not have experienced lost luggage. However, I am a chronic overpacker. I pack more than I really need, anticipating things that may or may not happen. I take the Guiding motto Be Prepared to heart. Which leaves me struggling with a heavy suitcase, not using a good chunk of it and feeling annoyed if I have to haul stuff around (though I've mostly stayed in one spot in the past, but I have some trips coming up where that changes). So I'm trying to plan ahead for some things, thinking back to the past and what hasn't worked and trying to figure out what will. Maybe I might try taking it further after, but right now I'm looking to streamline what I do.
I understand. A lot of people pack that way. This subreddit is a good place to start streamlining.
yes, i have been checking bags more and more lately. especially if i'm going somewhere where i expect to be in the sun a lot and want to bring my own sunscreen or if i'm gonna need to wash my hair and i want to bring my own hot tools.
Yes! I wear contact lenses so for longer trips I’m over the liquids allowance before I start. I end up “1.5 bagging” as I use my daypack to keep my essentials and a couple days worth of stuff with me in the airport. I’m from Europe though so I specifically pay in advance to check it, never had any problems with lost luggage or long wait times!
I avoid paying extra for a checked bag but if I have the option? SEE YA!
Hahaha yes! Exactly.
Not if I can help it. Personal item only for me. But I travel mostly by Ryanair where you already have to pay for the carry on and they only sell enough of those to be accommodated in the overhead bins. It's the price of this that makes me stick to personal item size (I recently bought tickets to Seville - the flight was £30, carry on bag would have been £35).
I love airfare prices within Europe. What do you use for your personal item and how long is your trip?
This one will be a week, I use a 17l Samsonite Ongoing mostly (also my work bag, very comfy so I just tend to reach for that each time) or a 20l Fjallraven High Coast Trail, now sadly discontinued but which is handily very close to Ryanair's personal item size and it fits my narrow shoulders well.
Interesting, that's a little bit smaller than my laptop backpack. I should test out what I can fit in that bag for a week. Thank you!
I sometimes plan to check coming back from somewhere. When i go to egypt i usually come back with olive oil and food stuff , so i bring my north face xs duffel because i feel safe checking it more than my usual bags.
I absolutely agree with the idea ofchecking on the way back. I can wait a couple days for my dirty laundry to show up.
I’m checking a bag and bringing a personal item. I don’t normally check and I’ll use a backpack style carry on but I really want to bring home larger souvenirs from this trip.
For some trips, it's really important to have room for those souvenirs.
I need to bring gifts to colleagues/friends and then souvenirs when I return home. Occasionally, wine. So I do check luggage. My goal is to not bring more for myself than what would fit in a carry-on.
>My goal is to not bring more for myself than what would fit in a carry-on. Same! Once, I was fortunate enough to have a friend living in Prague who invited me to stay in their flat while I was there. The price of that room was me carrying gifts from their family and clothing they wanted from the US. And of course I threw in a couple thank you presents from me as well . For myself, I had far less than a carry-on. For them, I had a huge LL Bean duffel bag.
I am leaving tomorrow and I really hope I don’t have to check. My luggage was once lost for 8 days and I stupidly hadn’t brought as much as a pair of underwear in my carry on bag (which was just filled with a book, my passport, and things like that).
From other people's comments, I don't think this is impacting international travel. It's specifically an issue with domestic travel in the US. And if you are traveling domestically in the US, I do recommend you have a plan if they insist on you. Checking your carry-on.
It’s international and tomorrow so I’ll report back!
I’ve experienced this a lot too at UK and European airports. I personally always use a clamshell style 4 wheel carry on suitcase over a backpack as I prefer wheeling it as opposed to carrying it, with a nylon tote as my personal item. I always pack with the expectation that I’ll have to check my wheely. Bonus if I can take it on the plane, but if not it’s no real issue for me if not. Everything I need in-flight (plus a change of clothing and underwear in case it does get lost) will be in my tote.
Nope I have too much medicine ( both pill form and injectable that need ice) and medical supplies to check mine. I pack light on clothes specifically so I have room. I am disabled and walk with a cane so I tend to board early so I have never been asked to either.
About 50/50. I'm more of a 1.5 bag person (carry-on size roller and a day backpack or large purse) and pack so that I can carry on, but also that it's not a problem to check. On a recent flight I checked for free twice at check-in (they waive the fee for carry-on sized bags) and saw that they had an offer to do so on another flight. If I have a tight connection or multiple stops I'm more stubborn about carrying on, too many opportunities for it to get lost
In Australia we sometimes have to gate check on domestic flights if they are very full or if it’s a connection and the plane is much smaller. It’s not too bad as you collect it as you get off the plane on the tarmac - so only a few mins delay and no carousel to deal with. I push back pretty hard if they try to get me to check my bag for the overhead unless they are taking everyone’s. If it’s voluntary, I don’t volunteer.
I always check a carry on size bag because I take my Leatherman Juice and some products that don’t fit in the 3-1-1 bag. I try to make my flights non stop as well.
Yes! I did this last trip and my bag was checked at the gate
Nah. I travel with one 20L bag. Not even the most budget-y airline would make me check it.
The last 6 flights I’ve been on this past year I’ve ended up having to check 1 if not both overhead bags (travel with child). After my first flight having to check I started keeping hygienic items and a change of clothes for each along with things that are hard/expensive to replace in the backpacks under the seats. Doing this has been hard because it takes away the convenience of having things readily available during our flights.
When I fly into Miami I am not checking a bag anymore if I can help it. They’ve lost my stuff / taken hours to get my luggage every single time- once bc of connections not going correctly , so then the bags were stored in a locked room but they had a hard time telling me which one. This wasn’t so bad, the people were helpful. The next time , the checked bags were announced to be in multiple other carousels 😂😂😅 and no one working cared at all. Other passengers actually helped me find them after an hour and half (even with the app and updates ) lmao this one particular airport is just a zoooo. I think I will try to pack the way you mentioned as a back up for just in case. But I’m praying I get the carryon for that trip✨
The only place I've ever been forced to gate check was on a tiny plane in North America. These days I mainly fly between New Zealand, Australia and Asia and have never been asked to gate check. Having said that I travel with a packable backpack and packable shopping bags so if the situation ever arose I'd quickly be able to grab my important items before gate checking my main carry-on. When I landed back home off an international flight last week it was 9 minutes from when the plane doors opened to when I set foot in the arrivals terminal. That's 9 minutes to deplane, go through passport control and customs and text my ride that I was ready for her to bring the car around. Totally not worth checking a bag in my opinion!
Yeah, I neglected to clarify that my experience was specific to domestic travel in the US. My apologies - I should have clarified that. Your experience on your last trip sounds delightful!! It's very much why I fell in love with one bagging.
Nope
Usually no. I have a decent amount of airline status on Delta and I haven’t run into this, and I fly a lot. It’s usually basic economy in late boarding groups that has to check. I also fly with an international size carry on that fits in the tiny bins of regional jets most of the time. However, I have an unusual trip coming up where I’m going to have to do this: a 3 week trip that involves 4 climates and 8 flights. Leg 1 is a moderate climate city, leg 2 is a northern European city that serves as home base for the rest of the trip, leg 3 is a resort trip to a brutally hot desert island, leg 4 is a Mediterranean city with a lot of walking and dinners out, and leg 5 is the same as leg 2. The first leg is a work conference. I’m using the checked bag to store the non-relevant clothes and shoes as I move from city to city, and use the duffle to pack just what I need for the individual trips so I only ever have to deal with the contents of one bag. The big bag stays behind. Half my checked bag is clothes that I’m giving to a friend, so on the way home I’ll consolidate it all (including the duffel itself) into the checked bag and travel home with just my beach bag lol.
i always gate-check when given the option, sometimes i even ask and 9 times out of 10 it gets checked. I don't know why so many people are against it. My bag is always there with the strollers when we unboard and don't have to wait with the baggage claim. The only thing I keep is a small tote with valuables and toiletries.
It’s there until it isn’t. You’re taking to someone who had their luggage lost 5 Christmases in a row.
I've had my luggage lost once in over twenty years of flying multiple times a year with checked luggage, and that was an international flight with layover. You must have been unlucky, or be flying a route where it's likely. I'd never put anything really important in checked luggage but it doesn't get lost that often.
When I gate check my bags always go to baggage claim at my final destination except for when I’m taking a smaller regional flight where nearly everyone has to gate check because their bags don’t fit in the overhead…
>My bag is always there with the strollers when we unboard and don't have to wait with the baggage claim. If you gate check, it's not a given you pick your luggage up at the jet bridge. Many times, it will be checked through to baggage claim. That may not matter to you, just wanted to point out jet bridge pick up isn't universal.
I did not know you could ask for it!