Under what conditions do you check a bag?

[Anonymous]

8:10 adding:
I have free checked bags. Also, the more I travel, the more I realize that there's often a LOT of walking and hauling of carry-on in airports after security. It's often worth the wait on the other end to not be burdened by carryon bags, esp. if making connections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any trip longer than 3 days, I’m checking a bigger bag.

People really over estimate how long baggage claim takes. It’s really not a big deal 90% of the time.

I do pack some essentials in a carry on if I’m going somewhere I’d be devastated not to have something. Ex: I feel to Greece and put a change of clothes and a bathing suit in my carryon. Which was good bc my bag got lost at JFK. Showed up 2 days in, which was fine. But I didn’t want to waste my time trolling stores or shopping.

People in here acting like it's a 6 hour wait. Do you also only fly nonstop because waiting for a layover is a waste of time?

To answer your question .. yes I do fly nonstop because waiting for a layover is a waste of time. I will only do a layover if there is a significant price difference or I can't be flexible in the departure time of the first flight so a layover is my only option. And I never check a bag unless absolutely necessary. Every time I have checked a bag I have had to wait 30+ mins at baggage claim for it, except at Dulles where getting to baggage claim uses most of that time so the baggage is generally there when we arrive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I fly about 6 to 8 times a year, for work and for leisure, including for a sport for my kid, for which equipment must be checked. I have to say, I find the "never checkers" to be a bit annoying. They almost always have more to carry on than they're supposed to. They make security lines and getting on and off the plane so much longer. I don't know why the airlines don't do more to enforce the carry on rules. You never checkers are not the travel experts you think you are.

I agree with this. We fly Southwest most regularly, and frankly, when checked bags are free, I resent the "never checkers" too. At a minimum, I wish they would let passengers without bags in the overhead compartment exit the plane first. They are "saving" time at the expense of others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I fly about 6 to 8 times a year, for work and for leisure, including for a sport for my kid, for which equipment must be checked. I have to say, I find the "never checkers" to be a bit annoying. They almost always have more to carry on than they're supposed to. They make security lines and getting on and off the plane so much longer. I don't know why the airlines don't do more to enforce the carry on rules. You never checkers are not the travel experts you think you are.

Maybe others, but not us! Everyone has a carryon that easily fits in the overhead, and then a small backpack with tablet, headphones, etc. That's it, we are on and off very quickly. Also, we have Precheck, so don't back up the line for you, because don't have to take off shoes, or take anything out of bags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I fly about 6 to 8 times a year, for work and for leisure, including for a sport for my kid, for which equipment must be checked. I have to say, I find the "never checkers" to be a bit annoying. They almost always have more to carry on than they're supposed to. They make security lines and getting on and off the plane so much longer. I don't know why the airlines don't do more to enforce the carry on rules. You never checkers are not the travel experts you think you are.

Maybe others, but not us! Everyone has a carryon that easily fits in the overhead, and then a small backpack with tablet, headphones, etc. That's it, we are on and off very quickly. Also, we have Precheck, so don't back up the line for you, because don't have to take off shoes, or take anything out of bags.

Why do these types of discussions tend to become competitive and focused on how you are being inconvenienced by other people?
Anyone who has the resources to travel is fortunate, whether you are in economy or business, whether you check or not, whether you are taking up elbow room or not, whether you take a long or short time to board and disembark.

[Anonymous]

The only people I see here getting snarky are the ones who don't like those who avoid checking if possible. It's silly to blame these regular flyers for any slow downs.

Southwest is super strict about only letting you board with 1-2 bags. I have never once been allowed to board with even my flat fanny pack on if I've got my two bags already. You must stick the tiny fanny pack inside one of your two bags. There is no way that the people with a rolling bag are the ones slowing everyone else down. It takes longer to board on SWA flights because families/tourists who rarely fly love SWA, and they are the slow pokes. These are also the people who slow down the line entering the plane because they don't understand the "No More Than Two Items" rule.

[Anonymous]

I have a 2022 Samsonite hard-side carry-on with wheels and a large Vera Bradley laptop backpack that I use for 90% of my flights. Over the years, I've built up a wardrobe of clothes that are breathable and repel BO. I also have footwear that can be worn with a dress or for a day of walking. I have Clear and TSA Pre-Check. So, the laptop stays in the bag and shoes don't have to be removed. There is no way that I'm slowing anybody down or inconveniencing anyone. And yes, I avoid layovers if at all possible. Doesn't everyone?

On one of my trips last month, the driver who was meeting me for a flight arriving around midnight called ahead to request that I not check a bag so that he could get home earlier that night since he had to be up very early to pick up more people from my group the next morning. It's not anybody's imagination that checking a baggage significantly delays leaving the airport.

[Anonymous]

Almost always check.

Free for me and I hate lugging a bag through the airport.

Wish that airlines would charge to carry on. Would make boarding and deplaning so much faster and more efficient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I fly about 6 to 8 times a year, for work and for leisure, including for a sport for my kid, for which equipment must be checked. I have to say, I find the "never checkers" to be a bit annoying. They almost always have more to carry on than they're supposed to. They make security lines and getting on and off the plane so much longer. I don't know why the airlines don't do more to enforce the carry on rules. You never checkers are not the travel experts you think you are.

I agree with this. We fly Southwest most regularly, and frankly, when checked bags are free, I resent the "never checkers" too. At a minimum, I wish they would let passengers without bags in the overhead compartment exit the plane first. They are "saving" time at the expense of others.

+1

[Anonymous]

When I'm brining back wine or beer in bottles.

Or when my employer is paying for it.

[Anonymous]

I always do because I hate lugging my stuff around and worrying about overhead.

[Anonymous]

I almost always check a bag. I'm not a super heavy packer but I am definitely not a light packer either. Trying to cram everything into a small suitcase isn't worth it to me. I also don't like to have to carry suitcases around the airport. Waiting for a bag is not a big deal to me and does not take that long.

[Anonymous]

If I am bringing large sports equipment (skis, etc) that must be checked. Or if I am literally moving house. Otherwise, never

[Anonymous]

Almost always because it’s really not a long wait and I dislike hauling my luggage around the airport/airplane, plus often we have sunscreen or liquid gifts. Occasionally if I am flying into an airport like LAX or IAD which is a little slower I might do carryon.

Yesterday I actually packed in carryon but checked for free at the airport bcs I didn’t feel like dealing with my bag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We always check bags when possible. Then we don't have to schlep them all over the place, put them in and out of the overhead bins, have someone watch them while going to the bathroom, block the aisle, etc.

+1. Hate dragging my luggage through the airport.