Carry-On Luggage Basics
Take your first steps with carry-on luggage
While airplane carry-on luggage styles have changed over the years, with designs now ranging from tiny over-the-shoulder totes to massive wheeled behemoths, the general concept behind carry-ons and their basic purpose remain the same. Whether you're carrying on a purse, a briefcase or a wheeled tote, the idea is that you'll be able to immediately access everything you've packed in your carry-on luggage throughout a flight. Carrying on also lets you to avoid the delays and extra fees associated with checked baggage, as well as the possibility that an airline will lose your checked baggage.Luggage is, before anything else, a utilitarian item; when you're purchasing carry-on luggage, basics like sizing and packability take center stage. The right carry-on luggage or carry-on briefcase will, when used properly:
1. Follow airline carry-on luggage size regulations;
2. Contain no prohibited items;
3. Hold everything you need, when properly packed.
Weed your way through the rules about airplane carry-on bags
Every airline has detailed regulations about what they'll permit you to take on board as a carry-on bag, and for good reason; if travelers bring along too many bags, or bags that are too large, there won't be enough room for everyone's luggage on board. Not everything marketed as "carry-on luggage" will fit airline carry-on regulations, so measure before you buy--it's the best way to make sure you maintain easy access to your bag.
Try: The Travel Insider offers an excellent overview of airline policies regarding carry-on luggage. Luggage Online details airline carry-on policies for a broader selection of airlines, including international carriers. Always double-check for the latest carry-on regulation updates on your airline's website before traveling.
Check carry on luggage info for prohibited items
Certain items, such as aerosols and weaponry, simply aren't allowed in a carry-on bag at any time. While other personal items are allowed, don't pack them unless you're willing to have them pulled out and displayed, in front of long lines of people, at airport security checkpoints.
Try: MSNBC offers clear tips from an experienced flight attendant on when and why you should or shouldn't pack items in your carry-on luggage. Visit the Transportation Safety Administration for an updated list of which items are permitted or prohibited in carry-on luggage.
Pack the right items in business carry-on luggage
The whole point of carry-on luggage is to keep important or valuable items with you, so prioritize what you pack in terms of value (monetary or sentimental) and necessity (if you can't live without it for a day should your checked baggage get lost, put it in the carry-on). If you're especially careful about how you pack--including mini versions of necessities or mixing and matching so you can use clothing pieces several times, for example--you might be able to eliminate the checked baggage entirely.
Try: OneBag helps you understand how to travel light, prioritizing what's most important to pack in your one carry on bag or to keep with you instead of checking. Travelhacker gives timeless tips on how (and what) efficient business travelers pack.
- Durability is key. Always choose sturdy airline carry-on baggage over flashier alternatives. Look for a solid frame with rugged material in the siding--the extra flexibility, as opposed to a hard sided case, makes it more likely that yours will fit into an overhead bin when push comes to shove. Also, check to make sure that the wheels (if present) roll smoothly and tightly, and that the handle can be easily and repeatedly pulled out and retracted with one hand.
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