Travel Tips: How to Deal with Carry-on Luggage
Checking bags used to be part of the travel ritual. As soon as you got to the airport, you would go to the counter and put the sticky label with your destination’s three-letter code around the handle of your massive suitcase. Then you’d walk free of bags through security and not think about your bags again until you reunited with them at the luggage carousel after you land.
If you’re one of the thousands of frugal flyers who decide to carry on your bags this holiday season, these tips will make your travel much easier.
Bag Size
Both the airlines and the government have regulations about how large carry-on bags can be. When you check in at the counter or gate, there is a box that will show you if your bag is small enough to be allowed on your flight.
Verify that your bag is small enough to be allowed on the plane before boarding to avoid any confrontation with airline employees or the hassle of last-minute bag checking.
You’ll also want to make sure to keep your bag light. Not only will you have to lug the thing through a bustling crowd of rushed strangers, but you’ll also need to lift it over your hear to store it.
Overhead Storage
Travelers with rolling suitcases or bags should always put their bag in wheels first. The wheels can block the door’s ability to close and cause easily avoidable delays.
If your seat is towards the read of the plane, try and keep your bag as close to your seat as possible. Placing your bag in overhead containers at the front of the plane can cause confusion and frustrate your fellow travelers closer to the front.
If you want to store your coat overhead, wait for everyone to get their bags stored and then place your coat on top. If you don’t want to crush your garments, however, almost every flight has a small closet and hangers by the front entrance that the flight attendants will be more than willing to let you use.
Under-seat Storage
This next tip may sound like common sense, but as they say, common sense isn’t that common. Always put your larger carry-on bag in the overhead compartment and place your smaller one in the under-seat storage.
Since there is no barrier between your under-seat compartment and your neighbor’s, be careful not to overflow into their space. Remember, the only thing worse than having your bag take up your leg room is having someone else’s bag take up your leg room.
