I've always done carry-on only. Here's my reasoning:
- I travel light, so everything I need fits in the check bins anyways.
- I don't want to have to arrive at the airport early, wait in line to check a bag, and then wait after the flight to retrieve it.
- I like being able to move around freely once at my destination (no hauling bulky suitcases onto busses, trains or rentals, or having to lug them to hotels).
Now, here's how I go about packing. For trips under a week, I consider the number of days (including travel days) and divide it by 2. If you wear everything twice, you need to pack half as many clothes as days you are gone. Over a week, I accept the fact that I'll be doing laundry, and pack a week's worth of clothes (4 sets, using the aforementioned logic).
When flying, I wear a button down with a light jacket over it, paired with either nice jeans or casual khakis with a belt. Comfortable slip-on shoes that look decent, but are all-day comfortable. I'll have sunglasses, a hat, headphones, phone, and wallet on my person. At security, phone, wallet, headphones, and sunglasses go in the hat, and into a bin with my shoes and belt (off before I even get to the scanner). Backpack goes in next, with laptop in its own bin.
Now for the bag. I typically carry an average sized backpack. Nothing fancy / flashy. My current backpack is an
Incase laptop backpack. Purchased in 2010, the specific one I have is now discontinued. The one I linked to is similar, though. It doesn't draw attention, but carries everything I need. Inside, I have my laptop, chargers, clothes and toiletries. Here's a sample packing list:
- 2 pairs of (nice) jeans.
- 2 t-shirts
- 2 pair underwear
- 2 pair socks
- toothbrush
- razor
- dry deodorant
I avoid needing the plastic baggy, because I don't pack shampoo, toothpaste, or anything liquid. Most hotels stock those toiletries for free, or worst-case, they can be bought at the destination. The general idea of the packing list is "Wear one, pack two". This gives me 3 full sets of clothes, good for 6 days. Anything longer than that, and I can wash stuff. T-shirts are compression rolled. This saves space, and keeps them wrinkle-free (I suggest anyone who wants to learn to pack light, learn how to do this).
For people who still feel compelled to check luggage, here's another thought: Unless you're pushing the 50lb weight limit, you might be better off mailing your luggage. I've done it before, when I had to return with a large duffel. Checked bag fee was something like $50, but mailing was only $40. Not only did I save money, but I didn't have to bother bringing the bag to the airport, and it was delivered directly to my house.
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