Carry-on Baggage...

[azskyman]

Like most of my posts...this is too long.

But.....

Please help me understand why the concept for carry-on baggage and the realities of carry-on baggage seem so dramatically different.

In practice, we sometimes go places where a small bag with a change of clothes and a few toiletries are all we need to take with us. Short trips. Business trips. Watching the process, I think that's the reason behind allowing carry-on baggage in the first place.

And...we all know that most, if not almost all, baggage claim areas at airports are slow, cumbersome, and a fun place to watch little old ladies nearly get dragged around the conveyor as they reach out with their frail little hands for a piece of luggage as big as they are.

That's the concept.

The reality is...that neat little "practice box" that they have when you check in..you know the one. "Your carry-on baggage must fit in this space or it will need to be checked in at the counter."

Well...the last one of those little measuring spaces I passed was full of candy wrappers and yesterday's newspapers. And, for as far as I can see in the line in front of me, and the line behind me, more than 50% of the bags I see people carrying on to the plane not only won't fit in that "practice box," but can hardly be lifted 2" let alone over the head.

So now we are getting on the plane. The overhead bins are all open and full of 50 lb bags that are squeezed and smashed and forced into every available space. Even the flight attendants can't help you get them up that high. And as those bins fill so quickly, the last half of people seem to have the largest most cumbersome bags of all. They must have inflated them after getting past that "practice box."

You hear the announcement that "The bins are filling fast, so please use any available space you see."

Grandma grabs that huge bag of hers and attempts to lift it over YOUR head toward the bin above. She spreads her legs for better balance and throws that 50 pounder right through the part in your hair! This time she makes it. But not always!

Adding insult to injury is the announcement by the flight attendant that the bins are now full...so you will need to put your carry-on luggage under the seat in front of you.

Like that can happen.

You can't even lean forward to see any space without hitting the back of the seat in front of you. And you already know that your feet had enough trouble finding that tiny space under the seat...so how in the he** are you supposed to put your bag there?

I'm the world's easiest guy to get along with, but those flight attendants then look at you like you are so ignorant for bringing that bag on the plane with you in the first place. Like "Mr., I can't believe you would bring a bag that size on this plane! We have rules!"

Meanwhile back by the gate...someone throws a McDonald's bag in that "practice space" thinking it must be there for something.

I swear sometimes that when the plane does get off the ground it will want to turn upside down with all that weight over our heads. But alas, the trip happens nonetheless.

Finally...the scariest moment of all. All those people tugging with just one hand at their bags over your head....they have another plane to catch after all.

Grandma gets up from the seat across the aisle with a great big grin on her face as she looks directly above your head at her bag.

And you break out in a sweat just thinking about it.

[CajunMama]

After an unexpected layover in San Fransico one year, I have learned to pack basic essentials (toothbrush, underclothes, extra set of clothes, etc.) and carry them on. Everything else I check.

[streetsoldier]

If, in the fullness of time, I do use an airliner, it wil be a "one-way" trip. Only my clothes and hygiene products with me; the remainder wil be shipped to the destination, as very little of it would permit passage on a plane.

[vbhoutex]

After an unexpected layover in San Fransico one year, I have learned to pack basic essentials (toothbrush, underclothes, extra set of clothes, etc.) and carry them on. Everything else I check.

Mine wasn't an unexpected layover, but the thought I might have to go out an dbuy a whole new Suit etc. to go to my fathers funeral. to top it off the same airline also lost my wife's and kid's lluggage when they came to join us. It was all found and in time, but I will never go on a trip without a carryon with the essentials and meds in it.

[mf_dolphin]

For short trips I try and take just enough so I can carry-on. Packing light is much easier for us men than the ladies

[breeze]

LoL, not so fast, Marshall - I'm one of those
"carry-on" kinda gals!

I hate waiting for luggage - I prefer to grab
and ruuuuun!!!

Skyman, I heard a quick tv report, the other day,
where the FAA is considering allowing an INCREASE
in carry-on poundage! Grandma's bag may not just
part your hair, but, it may well fall right on your
head, every time, if that is passed...

[Amanzi]

I too have learnt the hard way to make sure I have a change of clothes and toiletries on my carry on luggage. It takes about 24hours for me to get back home once my journey starts here in the US back to SA.

Of course being away for a month there is always a very large load of bagage when I travel back home. My son and I went back home for a visit in Dec 2 years ago. I had 2 large bags, my own carry on and my sons hand luggage as well. When I got to my connecting flight in Georgia I had to go through customs and do the whole security check. My son was only just over 2 at the time and could not walk very far. If anyone has been to Atlanta airport they will understand how big the place is. I had to walk, carrying my son, carry on bags, AND push a cart with my bags that were to be checked. When I stopped and asked someone for help from Delta, they told me SORRY but we cant help you. I was so mad..no one would help me, my son was crying and my arms felt like they were going to snap in half. It took me an hour to get to my concourse. I then had to go through that again at Cape Town international and Durban. I will never travel alone with my son again. NOT one person offered to help me. Only when I put my son on top of the cart to sit on top of the luggage, did an official stop me and say "you are not allowed to have your child sit there" Did I blow my fuse..... by the time I was done screaming I had 3 people helping me. To make me even happier my flight back home was not much better, I had the same luggage problems and no help again. When I boarded my flight in Atlanta to Daytona beach I went through the security checks etc, and was so happy to get to just sit down again and be homeward bound to my husband. A few minutes before take off a very rude hostess came up to me, made me stand up in front of the whole plane and said to me "I noted that you are an international traveller, you are going to have to go through security again!" I was sooo angry. After being through so many security checks, getting lost in airports not sleeping for 24 hours travelling from the southern hemisphere to the North with a little boy who had just had enough of airplanes... I freaked (again) She said these things out loud, the other passengers looked at me very oddly. She asked me in front of the whole plane if I would remove my shoes (after a full body pat down...my son included!) I politely told her, sure I will take my shoes off In fact you can flaming well HAVE them! Anyway I arrived back home in Daytona shoeless and very happy that was finally OVER.

[Stephanie]

Steve - for a guy who's so eloquent with his posts, I laughed the whole time reading this one! Grandma ain't that dumb now is she????

ANYWAY, I check my luggage and carry my pocketbook and another carryon that has toiletries, additional clothes in case my luggage gets lost and books.

[azskyman]

Bronwyn,

I can not imagine making an international flight with a small child! The sad part, of course, is that I am sure if you went again there would be little improvement.

Because my son and his wife have had a challenging first year with Emma, that poor angel has enough air miles to and from Chicago and San Diego to earn herself a free trip...and she's only 9 months old!

They did tell me, however, after her last trip back home to Cali, that they would not take her on another plane trip of more than an hour in length until she is at least 4!

I didn't mean to stir up your old emotions about that trip, Bron. I could feel the blood a-boilin' and adrenalin a-rushin' just rehashing that experience.

I suggested to Jason and Deb that they should call the doctor and arrange for a "pill" that would relax and bring sleep next time.

"Oh, we wouldn't give Emma drugs!" was their reaction.

"I didn't mean for her," was my reaction. "For you and those sitting close by!"