Travel with carry-on only (Cuba, vacation, airline, airports)

[k374]

I've decided to henceforth travel only with carry on regardless of length of trip. My new pack of choice is the Osprey Porter 46. Coupled with a small REI Flash 22 daypack (that I can essentially roll up into the main pack) it's plenty!

How many here do carry on ONLY travel for longer international trips (10+ days)?

[elnina]

Done it many, many times!

[flyonpa]

All trips less then 10 day, I the last 20? years or so.

Few longer trips, where I know I would be able to do wash (or have it done cheap).

I have "Taken" bigger bags that required to be checked, but was gifts, or moving "Stuff" thru airline.


My Niece was at boarding school, went out for graduation, seem in 4 years of HS there she seem to collect alot of stuff.

Since Most of us were on SouthWest, I checked two bags, My Son, My Niece, My nephew, my Dad, My sister ...

Her Parents were in UAL so they did not check anything, just carry on.

I think overall we checked 15 bags on SW on Three Different flight.

[fishbrains]

I have not checked baggage in years.

I carry a ReddOxx Airboss and a backpack. This has gotten me through my overseas wedding and honeymoon, several two week scuba trips, two weeks in Turkey, and more business trips than I can count.

There are a few tips that help. Convertible pants are great for dual use as shorts. A willingness to do sink/tub laundry helps. Never bring more than one suit jacket, and don't be afraid of using an iron for dress shirts. No laptops, just an iPad. Wear one pair of shoes, and any other footwear should be limited to sandals, beach shoes, or similarly compact items.

[foadi]

I don't actually live anywhere, have been travelling literally 365 days per year for over a decade. So I live out of my suitcase. Everything I own can fit into my carry on luggage. I'll admit I am somewhat of a minimalist, but I don't understand why people feel the need to bring so much crap with them when they travel.

[prospectheightsresident]

I prefer it, whether for a 3 days trip or a 21+ days trip. I hate the hassle that's associated with checking bags, whether or not my ticket includes a "free" checked bag(s). I've had bags delayed, lost, etc. I just like getting off the plane and heading straight to customs/the exist without having to collect a bag. Plus, I don't trust all of the baggage handlers.

[jlawrence01]

I check all bags on Southwest. It makes my walks through airports a lot more easily and have never in 30+ years lost a bag. I would NEVER place anything of value in a checked bag.

[annerk]

Depending on my trip I sometimes have to check promotional materials or wine for work. But my clothes and toiletries and other personal stuff hasn't been checked in years. I've done three weeks in a 20" bag and crossbody, and each time I travel I pare it down to bring even less. My next trip that isn't an overnight is a week in four cities, two in CA, one in NY, and one in CT. I need everything from casual to business casual to casual cocktail plus workout clothes. I am planning on my 20" bag and pocketbook, nothing else.

[Dd714]

Kind of meaningless as nowadays as many peoples definition of "carry-on" is anything smaller then an elephant. In fact is kind of irritating when I come in with my laptop case that I can quickly flip up into a bin or under my seat and then I see Joe New Traveler and his family, each with a "carry-on", taking five minutes to maneuver their kitchen-sinks or whatever they are carrying into an empty bin. Many of these carry-ons end up getting gate checked since flights are almost always full nowadays.

I find it just the opposite, my luggage is not huge, I could carry it on. But I like checking it in because of the nuisance of carrying it around in the airport (particularly if you are changing flights) and then finding room in the plane bins (and that's even with my getting on first and/or with first class upgrades where I have my choice of bin space).

[keraT]

For work + little bit of sightseeing, I have been able to get everything in a carryon even for international trips that last 2 weeks. But for family trip I have always had check in bag due to gifts & those tend to be month long.

ONe thing I don't use enough is washing machine to wash my clothes & rewear them during a trip. I use that only when I go for beach /outdoor vacation where things tend to get messy often