I've started flying more for work lately (4-5 flights per month) and it seems like every flight I'm on has the gate agents begging people to check carryons because the overhead bins are full and anyone in the later boarding groups is being told they have to. Had it happen on Alaska, United, and Southwest so it doesn't seem to unique to one airline. I never flew much in the past but I don't recall this being an issue in the past. Are more folks carrying on these days?

yes, because they are charging for checked bags for the cheapest fares

I very rarely do because I don't have to pay for checked bags. I'll make an exception and take a carry on if the airport's baggage claim is known to be a pain in the butt (ATL and LAS come to mind). But a lot of people object to having to pay and as it's gotten more expensive, I've definitely noticed an increase too.

I also know people who are so paranoid about lost luggage that they never check a bag. Weird fear to me because in hundreds and hundreds of flights I've never had a bag lost that wasn't eventually returned.

MAROON said:

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yes, because they are charging for checked bags for the cheapest fares

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True, but it happened on both of the Southwest flights I was on today and bags are free there. I find it especially odd on southwest. I overheard the luggage guys talking this morning and they mentioned only having ~50 checked bags on a full flight.

Yes because people are worried their bags will get lost. I did a carryon for 9-10 days for Europe in the fall.

But when I go to Mexico I always bring a checked bag that is full to the max. And wear 1/5 of it.

To me, checking a bag is not worth the risk if I can help it. It can happen on any airline and destination airport. I'd rather not start of a week long trip with only the clothes that I wore onto the plane or have to worry about buying new clothes at a destination where there may not be many options.

Im less worried about them losing the bag as I am with the time and flexibility. A trend since Covid has been really long waits at baggage claim. It's gotten better but its inconsistent. For a while at Denver the average was a 45 minute wait according to the agents that worked at baggage claim.

The main thing for me though is flexibility. If I check a bag and the plane has a maintenance issues or some other severe delay I can bounce around to other flights super easily - that is amplified when you have a connection.

I fly internationally about once a month and was able to make a 25 minute connection in Denver (due to a flight delay) this Saturday which was going from the International A gates, through customs (global entry), back through security and to the end of the B gates. If I would've missed the connection and had a bag checked it would've been a huge pain in the ass because my plan B was to rent a car and drive home that night (next flight home was the next morning). You can get them to get you your bag in those situations but it takes forever.

One of my biggest gripes when flying. It holds up the boarding process. I'd offer a free checked bag, and charge to carry on anything larger than a backpack. Obviously people with status would be exempt. The concern with lost luggage is over blown in my opinion. I've been on over 1,000 flights in the last 12 years, and I've had my luggage misplaced maybe a half dozen times. The only time I didn't get it back within 24 hours was on an international flight (Lufthansa).

The reason I carry on is more due to flight / schedule changes. If you need to make changes at the last minute and you checked a bag then you are stuck and can't make the change. Also with making lots of connections internationally, there may not be time to pick up bags and recheck if you are changing airlines and have a tight connection. And I don't like waiting for bags if I can avoid it. Any business trip a week or under is no doubter carry on only.

Had to wait 1 hour for bags in Cancun in March. Only reason we had checked was for sunscreens. Otherwise, would definitely do carry on.

I fly a few times a month and have status with both Southwest and United so get bags for free, but I almost always carry on except for longhaul flights. It's the time component that others mentioned. I hate waiting 30+ minutes for a bag when my plane lands at 10 pm.

It would speed up the boarding process substantially if people checked more luggage though. Also agree the lot luggage is overblown. I've had a few bags lost on international routes and they've always shown up within 24 to 48 hours and we were reimbursed for necessity purchases.

Aggie71013 said:

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It would speed up the boarding process substantially if people checked more luggage though. Also agree the lot luggage is overblown. I've had a few bags lost on international routes and they've always shown up within 24 to 48 hours and we were reimbursed for necessity purchases.

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That's still a few times too many for me. One time I went on a family trip to Italy, our bags were lost and it took a week for the airline to return them back to us. it definitely put a damper on the trip.

I will never check another bag again, carry-ons only.

rilloaggie said:

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MAROON said:

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yes, because they are charging for checked bags for the cheapest fares

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True, but it happened on both of the Southwest flights I was on today and bags are free there. I find it especially odd on southwest. I overheard the luggage guys talking this morning and they mentioned only having ~50 checked bags on a full flight.

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Because everyone is worried that SWA is going to lose their bags now.

I also think they have reconfigured the seating to cram more sardines in but cannot expand the overhead compartments.

I only use a carry on now. I think a lot of the problem is that there is no consistent enforcement of luggage size. My bag is an inch less on all required dimensions so I know it is within the rules and will fit. But I have been on numerous flights lately that I get asked to test my bag in the gate checker, but they let others with damn near regular sized luggage walk freely. Rant over.

I'm not sure if more people are carrying-on, but I feel that carry-on bags have gotten much larger over the years. And it is rare that a gate agent actually monitors baggage size.

I travel pretty much every week for work. I can't risk checking a bag and having it get lost.

rilloaggie said:

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I've started flying more for work lately (4-5 flights per month) and it seems like every flight I'm on has the gate agents begging people to check carryons because the overhead bins are full and anyone in the later boarding groups is being told they have to. Had it happen on Alaska, United, and Southwest so it doesn't seem to unique to one airline. I never flew much in the past but I don't recall this being an issue in the past. Are more folks carrying on these days?

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100% for business and it's not new in the least. Everyone wants to get off that plane asap and to where they need to be. I knew exactly where I had to be in my prestatus days to get my bag check on my den-sfo flight. Even silver didn't guarantee you were getting your bag on near your seat.

I hate getting on planes early/ standing in the damn United line 30 minutes before departure, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

rebelag62 said:

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Obviously people with status would be exempt.

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So then your whole policy is stupid. I've been on flights with 130 on the upgrade list.

It's a bigger issue on business flights, which most have status.

Always carry on if the trip isn't longer than a week. I travel regularly so checked bag are free, I jus like the convenience and time savings going straight to the rental car while everyone is waiting for their bags.

Personally, I prefer to check my bag because I hate fighting for overhead bin space and it's just one less thing to drag around the airport. However, most airlines are now charging for even the first checked bag (on top of insane flight prices right now), so I understand why people want to carry on.

Anyone have a Monos carry on? Looking to purchase a new hard case.

We have one but haven't used it yet. We did recently use our Monos medium suitcase and I was happy with it.

Sitting on a United flight right now. Boarding group 1. I have one ****ing backpack. No room. Yet the two next to me (they are traveling together) have nothing at their feet. They piled everything up overhead. Bullshlt.

Maybe it's not so much there are more carry ons, but those who do absolutely abuse the shlt out of the space.

Okay, flying back to IAH from New Orleans and am convinced carry on luggage has gotten larger. Backpack at my feet again but there are large pieces of luggage overhead. Wow.

Did a ton of flying last week, all American. The amount of bags that the employees were forcing people to gate check was more than I've ever seen. It was international and domestic and all full flights. Some of the "carry ons" people had were nuts.

If I check a bag and get on the plane with nothing but a backpack then I expect to be able to place my backpack in the overhead bin (assuming my fare includes one carry-on). One reason that I prefer to check a bag and bring just a backpack on board is so that I can use my carry-on space for the backapck and free up the room under the seat in front of for legroom. Nothing annoys me more than when people get on a plane with 3 bags and whatever crap they bought at duty free and then expect to take up an entire overhead bin with everything.

People also seem to have figured out that they can just come to the gate with an oversized bag or multiple bags and the worst thing that will happen is the airline will gate check without charging the checked bag fee.

It depends on the length and type of trip but it's a great feeling to land and hit the ground running with your bag without having to wait for your luggage. Especially international flights where the lines for immigration/customs get super long.

Amen. I am heading to Thailand for a month in July and I am only taking a carry on and drybag as personal item. It is insanely cheap to get your laundry done over there and if I need anything I will just buy it.

i prefer carryon only and have for many years, especially when traveling alone

incentive to not overpack
time spent checking a bag
cost of checking a bag
risk of lost bag (happened to my wife twice on intercontinental trips in 2019)
time spent collecting bag
convenience of just walking off the plane and out the door

but, i have a kid now, so, we have to check stuff every flight

maroon10 said:

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Anyone have a Monos carry on? Looking to purchase a new hard case.

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Had never heard of this brand before, after a quick google, looks like they're similar to away?

I get what you're saying, but it also sucks when you have a carry-on (that clearly won't fit under the seat) and the whole bin is filled with smaller items that could easily fit under the seat.

Just not an efficient use of space but such is life.

My favorite is the people that drag a carry on roller down the jetway then get to the terminal and immediately stop.

Causing people to run into the back of their roller bag and tripping over each other to clear the bottle neck.

Never understood this. Rather than get in to an open space in the terminal people immediately freak out and slam on the brakes.

i always use carry on. not worried about losing it and there would be no cost

i don't want to have to arrive early enough to make sure the luggage gets on the plane and would hate having to wait on it in baggage claim

Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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My favorite is the people that drag a carry on roller down the jetway then get to the terminal and immediately stop.

Causing people to run into the back of their roller bag and tripping over each other to clear the bottle neck.

Never understood this. Rather than get in to an open space in the terminal people immediately freak out and slam on the brakes.

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That's just how people walk period.

Stop right at the end of the jetway
Stop as soon as they get off the escalator
Stop as soon as they leave the secure side

people are dumb