Checking Luggage

[Flying Headbutt]

In the last few weeks, a few posters here have made mention about how the airlines lost their luggage when flying from here to there. In this day and age, who the hell checks their luggage anymore? I mean I don't fly all THAT often, but it's been at least 10 years since I checked a bag with the airlines. Who can't fit a few days worth of clothes into one carry-on sized suitcase anymore? They allow luggage the size of a pirate's treasure chest now.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

I flew a couple weeks ago and checked bags because I was gone for about a week. Plus, it was my first time flying commercially so I didn't know any better.

I'm flying to North Carolina in September for a weekend. I probably won't check luggage for that trip.

 

[sportschick]

I lost my baggage. I'd still check before trying to carry all that **** on because 1) I don't want to haul all that stuff around an airport and 2) planes are small enough as it is. No need to further make life difficult on your fellow passengers by hauling around an entire trip's worth of clothes and 3) I've been flying reuglarly since I was 4, and my bag has gotten lost once. It almost never happens, so again, why inconvenience you and everybody else by lugging around a suitcase?

 

[Flash]

Who can't fit a few days worth of clothes into one carry-on sized suitcase anymore?

Me.

 

[EStreetJoe]

Friend of mine went on a week's vacation with the family. One of the bags he needed to check had a bunch of his clothes and his 5-year-old son's clothes in it. Airline lost the bag. Now to get the money for the lost bag and it's content, the airline is making him jump through all sorts of hoops - a signed, notarized list of what was in the bag; documentation that the bag was lost; and all sorts of other stuff.... plus they may make him produce receipts for some of the items (and who saves clothing receipts?).

 

[SixToe]

Throw a few things in a backpack for an overnight or 2-day trip and be done.

Pack a small roll-on and pack wisely.

Airlines are dicks about reimbursement for "lost" luggage. A pal shipped a big package last year and the last place the airline knew it existed was in Louisville.

After that, it vanished. An airline dickweed had him a new bag of goodies. The airline shrugged, foisted a bunch of paperwork and didn't care.



First time to fly commercial? Your private jet break down or something?

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

Throw a few things in a backpack for an overnight or 2-day trip and be done.

Pack a small roll-on and pack wisely.

Airlines are dicks about reimbursement for "lost" luggage. A pal shipped a big package last year and the last place the airline knew it existed was in Louisville.

After that, it vanished. An airline dickweed had him a new bag of goodies. The airline shrugged, foisted a bunch of paperwork and didn't care.



First time to fly commercial? Your private jet break down or something?

I just don't fly. I've been up in Cesnas a couple times, but those were joy rides, not to a destination.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

On short trips, I'll sometimes try to carry on, but I've got no problem checking, and if it's the Captain family flying for any extended amount of time, there really isn't a choice.

Yes, we've had luggage mis-routed before, but never lost where it was never located. Not bad if it's the return leg, definitely a bother if it's on the way somewhere.

And like sc, why should I have to haul the stuff all over the airport when the airline will do it for me? Not to mention fighting the race to claim overhead space. Too much of a hassle for me.

 

[Angola!]

Didn't we just have a thread about this?

I always check my luggage because I don't want to carry all of my stuff around the airport. Though, I have been lucky I guess and never had any of luggage lost.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Ever since they went to the bull**** rules about toiletries I stopped carrying on.

 

[playthrough]

I hate security and connections, and to cut down on the hassle of both I'll almost always check the suitcase.

It's almost a dare on my part for the airlines to lose it, if I get screwed they're going to pay. Traveled to my grandfather's funeral several years ago, Delta lost my bag and it took 48 hours to get it back. In the meantime the funeral was held and I had to buy all new clothes. I saved every receipt and sent them along with a strongly-worded letter and a copy of my grandfather's funeral notice from the newspaper. Airline covered every cent. I shoulda bought nicer shoes.

 

[imjustagirl2]

The majority of my flights are done on the planes that have one-seat aisles on one side and two on the other. That means only one carry-on, and it has to be smaller or checked underneath.

With my average trip being five days, and needing at least six outfits, shoes and hair products...no, I can't carry on. I looked the other day...I don't even think my smallest bag fits in carry-on.

 

[spnited]

I hate carrying anything on a plane. Always check whatever I have.

I also do not do connections. If I can't go non-stop from Newark, I don't go.

 

[FileNotFound]

I generally avoid checking luggage, especially when I'm outbound. Aside from the risk of lost baggage, you have more flexibility should your flight plans change for whatever reason (flight gets canceled, you want to take earlier flight, etc.)

 

[21]

Ever since they went to the bull**** rules about toiletries I stopped carrying on.

Someone (maybe me) will eventually win some crazy litigation over the new regulations being totally discriminatory against women. When I file, it will be for $3,110,000.

There's just no way any woman with a shred of pride can fit the hair junk, shower junk, personal toiletries, etc into that ****ing little bag. I mean, at what point can they agree to be completely reckless and go for the gallon sized Ziplocs?

There is no doubt in my mind, the Ziploc people are behind the whole airport terror thing.

 

[imjustagirl2]

Ever since they went to the bull**** rules about toiletries I stopped carrying on.

Someone (maybe me) will eventually win some crazy litigation over the new regulations being totally discriminatory against women. When I file, it will be for $3,110,000.

There's just no way any woman with a shred of pride can fit the hair junk, shower junk, personal toiletries, etc into that ****ing little bag. I mean, at what point can they agree to be completely reckless and go for the gallon sized Ziplocs?

There is no doubt in my mind, the Ziploc people are behind the whole airport terror thing.

That's also why I check. Hell, 3 ounces of shampoo won't even last me for three days, let alone five.

 

[Pastor]

It really depends on the length of my trip. The majority of the time I fly I will be gone for at least 3-days. For those, I can usually have a carry on. But for those other trips, I have to check it in.

 

[mike311gd]

Boy, does this topic light a fire for me.

I was going to meet my girlfriend's parents for the first time for a weekend visit; the two of us were going to her sister's wedding. So all I brought was one bag. I thought the bag was small enough to fit in the overhead compartment, so I brought it with me. Turns out, it was a little too big, so the stewardess removed it from the plane. Well, the airline lost my bag. So, not only did I lose my clothes and my toiletries, but gone was the engangement ring I was going to give my girlfriend that weekend. I'm panicking.

Well, the weekend kind of just went downhill from there. I ended up getting the wrong suitcase delivered -- filled with erotic tools; I gave the bride-to-be a black eye during a fierce volleyball game; I lost the family cat; then I got another cat to buy me some time until I could find the real one, but the fraud ended up ruining the bride's wedding dress; and I set the altar on fire while grabbing a quick smoke on the roof; but not before the septic tank flooded the back yard (where the wedding was going to be) because I flushed a faulty toilet.

Oh, man. What a mess. From now on, I refuse to check my bags.

 

[jimmymcd]

Thank you, Gaylord.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

I'll be watching you, Focker.