Question about carry-on sized luggage.

Hi,

As per my post a couple days ago I am planning to buy a travel
backpack. So I am doing some reaseach into what I should buy. It seems
that one of the key things I should be looking for is to keep the size
below the maximum carry-on size for most airlines. However, this will
limit the size of the packs to something on the small size I feel.

How critical is it to be able to carry your pack on the plane?

Carrying your luggage on will elliminate the possibility of your
luggage being lost. But how likely is that to happen?

I haven't travelled a lot in my life. I estimate I have taken about 15
trips in my life where I have travelled by airplane. So that would be
about 30 times where I have checked luggage. I have never had a piece
of luggage missplaced during any of these trips.

So I wonder how critical is to keep my backpack below carry-on size?

>So I wonder how critical is to keep my backpack below carry-on size?
>

Not very. You don't want to overburden yourself, but you do want to carry
enough to be relatively self-sufficient, except for food and water. The amount
is up to you, but airlines do have weight limits for baggage. I always check my
pack, or bag, and also take a small carry on. This contains a toilet kit, meds,
my travel docs, camera/film, underwear, and a change of clothes.

The carry on is usually a small daypack, which also comes in handy when walking
around at your destination. When not needed, it can be put inside your main
pack, or strapped to it.

I've had my checked baggage lost once, while flying domestically (US). What I
had in my daypack kept me going for the day it took them to get my bag to me. I
have never had anything lost when flying overseas. Maybe I have been lucky, but
I have also been prepared.

Hope this helps.

laker31@ (John Doe) wrote in message news:<20040607164256.00660.00000711@mb-m01.>...
> >So I wonder how critical is to keep my backpack below carry-on size?
> >
>
> Not very. You don't want to overburden yourself, but you do want to carry
> enough to be relatively self-sufficient, except for food and water. The amount
> is up to you, but airlines do have weight limits for baggage. I always check my
> pack, or bag, and also take a small carry on. This contains a toilet kit, meds,
> my travel docs, camera/film, underwear, and a change of clothes.
>
> The carry on is usually a small daypack, which also comes in handy when walking
> around at your destination. When not needed, it can be put inside your main
> pack, or strapped to it.
>
> I've had my checked baggage lost once, while flying domestically (US). What I
> had in my daypack kept me going for the day it took them to get my bag to me. I
> have never had anything lost when flying overseas. Maybe I have been lucky, but
> I have also been prepared.
>
> Hope this helps.

I used to follow the idea of carrying on a shave kit and one change of
clothes, but don't bother anymore. I prefer the freedom of lightness,
with a simple shoulder bag or expandable softside briefcase. In 25
years, I have had luggage delayed, never lost. And delayed means it
got to me, at hoptel or home, by that evening. Airlines have
available toiletries boxes for men or women.

I travel to major cities. I figure I can go out and buy essential
clothes if necessary. One time I did so, only to find my delayed
luggage awaiting my return from the store to the hotel the first day.

It is much more comfortable and convenient to have one large back to
check, instead of the former one checked, one carry-on with some
clothes, and a third as a shoulder bag. If it's a business trip,
I'm usually being met, and I travel in a wrinkle-free suit and carry
just one spare shirt and underwear.
They fit in a briefcase along with the business papers that would be
missed in delayed luggage.

I know this veers slightly to the side. But to the back packer, or if
doing a brief side trip from the main hotel, and then returning, roll
up a lightweight pack and put it inside the large checked wheeled
duffel. The maximum size for checked luggage is generous, enough for
three weeks' of clothes for me, and room to bring additional things
back.