The last time I checked a bag was when I was moving to another country.
It’s a personal choice but I really like the freedom of having everything I need with me and being able to get off the plane, get on the metro and start exploring the city. If you always Uber or taxi anyway, then it’s fine to lug around a big suitcase but it’s a pain on public transportation.
I also don’t want the hassle of worrying about bags getting lost.

I went to Europe two weeks ago with a 27 Litre daypack and a small cross body bag. I also brought a smaller packable bag so I could take things out of the larger bag for access in flight. Museums will accept the daypack but not rollboards. In cold weather it can be hard to pack small but for this trip I brought merino wool clothing which can be worn a few times without stink - 2 bottoms, 2 tops, a cardigan, 3 pairs of socks, a set of base layers as pjs, 2 pairs of shoes and a pair of ballet type slippers for the plane, a colourful scarf, toiletries in a 1 litre bag, a foldable phone.

Outbound: if I have a lot of cargo (gifts for friends, usually) or a lot of time and don't feel like carrying bag through airport. But generally I avoid checking and never check anything I'd need for the first day or two.

Inbound: Depends on how much cargo (gifts, souvenirs), time, and patience I have but generally I'll check everything except essentials, especially if flying into DCA. Bags have been delayed 2x in the past year but pickup from DCA has been easy both times.

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.

We fly a couple times a year and it's usually on Southwest, so we check bags most of the time. Usually, these are week-long trips with kid stuff.

I was kind of envious of my friend who packed only a tiny carry on for a trip. She buys things like toiletries or a sun hat when she gets somewhere, then just leaves them behind. Such freedom!

Anonymous wrote:Also, if you have a bigger body you have to use a bigger suitcase. My DH has size 15 shoes. They take up almost half a carryon suitcase. He’s also 6’5” so he’s not going to be able to pack as much as a size 2 petite woman.

People act like it’s a virtue to use a backpack for a week. Um ok? i check when I need to, and make sure I’ve budgeted for that. No shame, no guilt.

Who are these people? People you know irl?

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?

Newark is my home airport, and yes, it’s awful.

Try to fly only nonstop.

Always unless it’s an overnight.

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?

Unless I'm going to see my parents and staying for 3+ weeks and have some gifts for family, I don't ever check in a bag.

Almost all my work travel involves bringing product samples so I need a larger bag = must check. Checked bags are free for me since I have elite status anyway.

Only if I have a 1-2 day business meeting where no product is needed (like meeting someone else in our company) will I do carry-on.

Under all circumstances, I check the suitcases/bulky stuff) because I like to have my hands free. In order to hold on to stuff I cannot lose (meds, computer, etc ) I also have a backpack that I board with.

Anonymous wrote:Also, if you have a bigger body you have to use a bigger suitcase. My DH has size 15 shoes. They take up almost half a carryon suitcase. He’s also 6’5” so he’s not going to be able to pack as much as a size 2 petite woman.

People act like it’s a virtue to use a backpack for a week. Um ok? i check when I need to, and make sure I’ve budgeted for that. No shame, no guilt.

I’m a previous poster and I have a similarly-sized husband. He wears undershirts as well so between pants, shirt, and undershirt in a larger size, his clothes take up a lot of room.

Op do you do the carryon AND the overstuffed backpack and put BOTH above?

I almost always check my bag and it rarely takes more than 15 mins to retrieve it.

Anonymous wrote:I check a bag on the last non stop flight home.

+1

We do this too and often pack a foldable duffle bag for dirty clothes to use on the way home so we don’t have to worry about repacking everything into our smaller suitcases. Not worried about bags getting lost on the way home!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Always. I find it way more stressful to deal with trying to pack too lightly and then dealing with everyone else’s carry-ons that they’re jockeying for position and space to stow. Anyway, I only take a backpack in board and put it under the seat, leaving more room for your carry on. You’re welcome

+1

+2. Plus we usually have free checked bags and kids - it's just not worth the hassle.