Carry on only..

[Maca44]

I have just finished a four weeks trip through USA and Canada on carry on only, and from my experience on that trip I will never check luggage again (if travelling alone). I had nine domestic F fllights with AA and was suprised at the number of bags some pax 'tried' to carry on. I was also impressed with the AA FA's who were quite adamant about gate checking oversized bags or bags that were in excess of the one carry on and one personal item quota. I bought a 22" High Sierra model 405 wheeled carry on which had a removeable day pack and this worked great. Yesterday morning, as a result of the express card, being seated in 23D near the door and carry on only I walked off QF74 at 6.20am and was standing on the footpath outside the terminal 13 minutes later. I had nothing to declare and no duty free, and this is the fastest I have ever done it. I have read many threads on this forum where people travel with carry on only, and now I know why.

 

[simongr]

Welcome to the other side brother

 

[nlagalle]

I try and only carry on now.. my last trip to Beijing I had to check baggage in as we had a heap to take... having said that returning home, I was out in less than 15 mins, but I suspect that was a stroke of luck...

 

[vt01]

It's been a while but I was able to travel with carry on to BKK a couple of weeks ago (3 day trip). It was wonderful bypassing the baggage carousels upon arrival in BKK and in SYD.
I declared food (chocolate) coming back into SYD and was waved through customs bypassing the x-ray and bag check. de-planing to taxi was about 20 mins due to duty free queues..
I need to take checked bags to the US for all the shopping to bring home! But any short trips to Asia I'll certainly be taking carry on only.

 

[GDSman]

Well I thought I'd try the opposite on a recent Europe trip. Went to GVA for a few days, J using points (but had quite a lengthy trip with several transits to deal with). I decided to check my relatively small bag and, caryy absolutely nothing on board instead. So passport, mobile and wallet were in the jacket, no laptop as this was leisure and I decided to use the airline's entertainment systems, reading material etc.
Verdict - completely painless, even with 2 trips through LHR the bag made it fine and I confess to feeling a bit rockstar-ish just wandering onto a plane unencumbered and grabbing my seat while others struggled with various carry-ons
So having been a 'carry-on only' person on some trips, even a couple of RTWs, I think this way has merits too. Could never do it with wife and 3yr old in tow but I think I'll try it again if it's just me.

 

[TonyB]

I too have been a 'carry on only' convert for a while now and it is the best thing I have ever done. When you combine carry on with an APEC card you save so much time it is amazing. When landing at PER I am typically off the plane, through immigration and quarantine and in my car within 10 minutes of taking my seatbelt off. In the next 9 weeks I have a one week trip to Dubai and Africa, a 4 day trip to Singapore, a 2 week trip to the US, a 5 day trip to KL and possibly another quick trip to China and it will all be with carry on only. The only problems are the 7kg limit which sometimes they check and sometimes they don't which means that you have to always assume they will!! and the restrictions on liquids, aerosols and gels. Having said that, thank god for being able to also carry a laptop case (which can hold an amazing amount of stuff) and hotels that provide dental kits, power adaptors, shampoo etc...