Under what conditions do you check a bag?

[Anonymous]

I fly often for work, volunteer activities, and personal/family fun. I very rarely check bags. I don't want to deal with wasting time waiting for the luggage to come out, and I don't want to worry about bags getting lost. It also gives me more flexibility, like being able to get to the airport on public transportation. And not checking bags means I don't need to get to the airport as early.

However, for trips to my family's house for the Christmas break, we usually fly Southwest. They give you two checked bags for free. I'll often load up with treats and gifts that I'll be leaving behind. The other time I'll use the checked bag option is if I'm a member of a wedding party or something where we have special outfits and shoes that need to be packed carefully and used only once.

What circumstances cause you to take along a larger checked bag?

[Anonymous]

We always check all our bags because we are both active duty and it's free. I like being able to pack full-size toiletries and bring what I want rather than trying to cram it all in a small suitcase. And then we don't have to drag them around the airport.

We've never had any luggage lost and fly once or twice a year. I suppose if that ever happened I might change my mind.

[Anonymous]

I started checking a bag more when we had a baby. It’s mostly because it’s hard to wheel a bag and push a stroller. But it’s usually a carryon anyway because I don’t have a bigger wheeled suitcase.

[Anonymous]

When we moved cross-country.

[Anonymous]

Never! I travel all the time.

[Anonymous]

I haven't checked a bag in like two decades. I pack really lightly. Longest trip was two weeks.

[Anonymous]

Many years ago British Airways lost my bag and I've been avoiding checking bags ever since.

Most recently we flew out west for a camping trip and our gear simply won't fit in carry on bags, so we checked one large suitcase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I fly often for work, volunteer activities, and personal/family fun. I very rarely check bags. I don't want to deal with wasting time waiting for the luggage to come out, and I don't want to worry about bags getting lost. It also gives me more flexibility, like being able to get to the airport on public transportation. And not checking bags means I don't need to get to the airport as early.

However, for trips to my family's house for the Christmas break, we usually fly Southwest. They give you two checked bags for free. I'll often load up with treats and gifts that I'll be leaving behind. The other time I'll use the checked bag option is if I'm a member of a wedding party or something where we have special outfits and shoes that need to be packed carefully and used only once.

What circumstances cause you to take along a larger checked bag?

You don't have children do you?

[Anonymous]

I always check my bag because of my guns.

[Anonymous]

When traveling 2+ weeks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't checked a bag in like two decades. I pack really lightly. Longest trip was two weeks.

+1 and my whole family follows this ‘no checked bag’ requirement.

The only possibility is a ski vacation, but our kids aren’t old enough yet to spend that type of $$ simply to ski out west

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always check my bag because of my guns.

Are you traveling to the South Bronx? Chicago? Where are you going that you think "You know, I might need to kill someone on this vacation, better bring a gun or two."?

[Anonymous]

-trips that involve snorkeling — I use longer diving fins so need the space. Also allows us to pack plenty of full-size sunscreen.
-trips to visit family overseas — full of gifts on the way and I do most of my clothes shopping on these trips because I am too small for a lot of US sizing so have a lot of new stuff to take home. This doesn’t cost extra since we typically take Turkish or Lufthansa.

[Anonymous]

I do my best to never. I guess this is looked down on in some frequent travel communities because of the extra time it takes to load and unload the plane.

[Anonymous]

If I am traveling with my kids, I always do. Need my hands free.