Yeah, its nothing to do with lost luggage and everything to do with getting out of the airport faster. Waiting in Baggage claim is a tedious bore.

Baggage claim. I don't like waiting for baggage claim. And I paid for my ticket and don't see why I should be the one to volunteer to check in my bag over others.

I don’t know. I’m always the first to volunteer to check my luggage for free.

Inconvenient to wait at baggage claim.

Anonymous wrote:Sure, but I’m talking about one-leg trips where your bag is very unlikely to get lost and about people carrying multiple, large bags. I’ve travelled a lot in the past few years and never had a bag go missing, plus I carry on a small bag with the essentials, just in case. I guess I’ve waited a while at baggage claim sometimes, but nothing outrageous.

Every time my luggage has been lost, I have been on a direct flight.

Don't want to have to wait at baggage claim. Fast on & Fast out.

Checked bags get lost, damaged, tossed from the airplane to the ground, riffled through, and stolen from.

If airlines could protect my bags, I'd check every time (even for a fee).

When I do check bags -- which I do when traveling with children, because I only have so many hands -- I need to be sure my meds, glasses, basic toiletries, etc. are in my under-seat bag in case something goes wrong with the checked bags. That just adds to the bulk in the tiny legwell.

They are cheap.

Sure, but I’m talking about one-leg trips where your bag is very unlikely to get lost and about people carrying multiple, large bags. I’ve travelled a lot in the past few years and never had a bag go missing, plus I carry on a small bag with the essentials, just in case. I guess I’ve waited a while at baggage claim sometimes, but nothing outrageous.

I have family in Seoul and Cape Town, so much of my air travel is 24+ hour journeys. I like to pack along a change of clothes, washcloth to freshen up, laptop/entertainment options, snacks, a blanket and neck pillow, etc. to make myself comfortable. It can especially be a lot if the kids are in tow and I have to pack diapers, pumps, kid toys, etc. Checking the bag would defeat the whole purpose.

And sometimes when I'm on shorter trips - like a business trip to NY for 48 hours - I don't want to check a bag and risk the bag being lost/stuff stolen/having to wait for a long time at baggage claim. If the airline loses the bag and I need to be at a meeting 8 hours later, what am I supposed to do? It's easier just to pack everything in a carry-on and not have to worry where my stuff is.

Don't want to wait at baggage claim or risk losing luggage (esp. on a multi-leg trip.) I've also had baggage handlers take stuff from my bag.

Baggage gets lost.

Baggage claim at some airports is extremely slow (especially over the holidays).

Baggage handlers at some airports are thieves.

Maybe they only brought one bag, and if they check it, they have nowhere to put their headphones/iPad/water bottle/medicine/breast pump/whatever while walking through the airport.

They are traveling with young kids, packed only one bag, and want access to the extra clothes/diapers/whatever in case of barfing/pooping/spilling.

They don't want to wait at baggage claim.

Because you are going for 1 night and have a meeting early the next morning. If airline loses bag what do you do?

I had the misfortune of making a long trip involving numerous flights over the Thanksgiving holiday. It was horrific. But that aside, I have a question about people and their carry-ons. In the case of most of the flights, they asked for volunteers to check their larger carry-ons, free of charge, because there would not be enough room. Of course, hardly anybody did it. Then everybody was held up while people struggled to jam their bags into the overhead compartments. I’m curious, why are people so reluctant to check their bags? It seems to me that it would be less stressful.