Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with carryon

Traveling with iMac

DoctorFedora — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:32:03 -0800

MacFilter: How hard is it to travel with a current-gen 20" iMac? I.e. is the back "arm" detachable? How hard would it be to fit it into my carryon luggage (since I know better than to put something that valuable into checked luggage)? I'm aware that it weighs twenty pounds.

best carry-on suiter for work travel?

dyerfr — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:07:59 -0800

Starting a new job which will require lots of short (i.e. 1-2 nights) travel - what's the best carry-on option that will handle a suit and tie? Is it advisable or should I just bite the bullet and check my suit? I am growing to hate the check-in process and would like to be able to take my suit and tie and one other change of clothes in the suiter.

Looking for advice from travelers - not sure who to trust from the interweb, so turning to The Hive.

Thanks!

Where can I go to purchase a big bag?

Polychrome — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:45:17 -0800

Where can I go to purchase a big bag? I'm going abroad in a few days and just realized that I don't have a bag that I can use for carry on. I want something large enough to hold a change of clothes, a book, my little quart-sized bag of toilletries and some odds and ends, as well as a smaller handbag(5x9x2"). A zip-top main compartment is ideal, as well as an adjustable strap. I don't care what material the bag is made of, but it would be nice if it it was visually appealing and could double as an every day carry-stuff-around bag. For functionality something like this would work (maybe it's a little too large), but I don't have enough time to order anything online. I looked at the mall yesterday and was a little overwhelmed and didn't find anything appropriate, but I probably missed something. Where/what should I be looking for? I'm in the Indianapolis area and would prefer to spend under $100, if that helps.

To check or not to check?

indyz — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:29:50 -0800

Will Southwest Airlines count my messenger bag as a "personal type item" or as another carry-on item? I'm flying Southwest from Chicago to Phoenix for three days early next month. Southwest allows one bag up to 10x16x24 inches as well as one "personal-type item" which includes "purses, briefcases, cameras, food containers, or laptops (case included)". I am going to be packing my clothes in a small rolling suitcase, which easily fits the carry-on size limits. I also usually carry a messenger bag with my laptop, MP3 player, camera, and a couple of books. It is one of the medium messenger sized bags, about the size of a briefcase, and smaller than many backpack-type laptop cases.

Will I be able claim the suitcase as a carry-on item and the messenger bag as my personal item? Or will I be forced to check the suitcase? I know that it might come down to a particular screener or gate agent making an on-the-spot decision, but has anybody had any recent experience with a situation like this, especially with Southwest?

Any trouble with bike equipment on board?

iguanapolitico — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:43:42 -0800

Am I going to have any trouble carrying my bike helmet on an airplane? I hate to waste a question on this, but it's been nagging at me and I haven't found anything via the google. Besides, I'll be on vacation for a week anyway, ha-ha!

The whole carry-on scenario can be tricky these days, and I'm just wondering if you've had any trouble, or heard of anybody having any trouble, carrying their bike helmet in their carry-on luggage. How about bike shoes with the clipless cleats? I won't bring my tool kit, as I know hex wrenches can be dangerous.

I just don't want them to think that my helmet is a super high tech explosive device. Please tell me I worry for naught.

Should I use a suitcase or backpack?

qslack — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:16:42 -0800

I'm leaving in a week for a 6-week trip through China. Should I bring a suitcase (with wheels or no?) or a backpack? I'll be traveling (mainly by train, but also some airplane) around for the entire time and won't stay in one place longer than a week. Most of the time I'll be in cities staying in hostels or hotels. I'll be bringing ~4 days' worth of clothing (4 shirts, 1 shorts), a digital SLR, and a 15" MacBook Pro. This trip is essentially tourism. I won't ever need to dress up, and I don't care about bringing nice clothes or avoiding wrinkles in my shirts.

There are three ways, as I see it, that I can do this. 1) Wheeled suitcase for clothes and small daypack for laptop+camera+day stuff; 2) Non-wheeled suitcase for clothes (which would fit more than a wheeled) and the same daypack; or 3) Big backback for everything, no daypack. I'm physically capable of carrying any of these; I'm just wondering which is the best. I am leaning toward #1.

The main advantage of having a backpack, as I have been told, is that you can carry all your stuff and have your hands free. But I'll almost always go straight to my ho(s)tel when I arrive in a city, so that doesn't seem to apply to me. The disadvantages of having just one big backpack are 1) I can't carry a daypack for outings; 2) it's harder to fit into small spaces since it is one big bag; 3) if it's stolen, everything's over; 4) it makes me look like a tourist; and 5) it's more difficult to pack and unpack from; and 6) it's annoying to carry everywhere when I could just wheel something around, since usually I'll be on hard surfaces.

When I've asked people who have backpacked on similar kinds of trips (city-to-city, not wilderness), they think it's crazy I'd think of bringing a suitcase. Even when I tell them why I think a backpack would be a bad choice, they kind of shrug and say, "Well, I kind of still think you should just have a backpack. A suitcase just doesn't feel right." I feel like there is something I am missing.

Please help me decide whether to bring a suitcase or a backpack. When you are traveling with a big backpack, what bag do you take with you on day outings? Do big backpacks even fit in airplane or train carryon compartments? Have you ever traveled with a suitcase and wished you had a backpack, or vice-versa?

Carry-On Pets - how strict are airlines?

nancoix — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:18:25 -0800

Bringing Pets in Airplane Cabin: I know that each airline has its limits on the dimensions of the under-the-seat carrier and combined weight, but how strict are they? Do airlines actually measure your carrier and weigh the pet plus carrier? Or just eyeball it? I'm wondering particularly about Northwest and American Airlines. Any horror stories or warnings appreciated.

Help my baby not get broke! Delicate musical instrument as airline baggage.

allterrainbrain — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 16:46:42 -0800

The great musical-instrument-on-plane paradox. How do you prepare (what case[s] do you buy and what strategies do you develop) when you need to travel on many different kinds/scales of airlines, with a delicate wooden instrument that MAY or MAY NOT be allowed as carry-on baggage (depending on circumstance, how full the plane is, and how much or little the inspectors care that it looks large, solid and "middle eastern")? I've found a huge range of conflicting advice about transporting what I'll call "gray-area" instruments by plane (i.e., instruments that can *sometimes* be carry-on, if you're lucky and friendly/convincing, because they exceed carry-on size in length but not in perceived 'bulk' -- examples would be electric guitars, saxophones, or small dulcimers).

My instrument is a santur, which is like a delicate hammered dulcimer, but mine has the added funtime bonus of "looking middle eastern" based on the shapes used in its decorations (although I look white-young-female and am a U.S. citizen, so I don't imagine that will be an issue as long as I'm next to it). It's very tightly strung so changes in temperature and pressure are not good for it (I'm also getting conflicting info re. baggage). In other words, I REALLY want to carry it on if at all possible. It's 36 inches long, 4" tall including its strings, 14" wide, and about 10 lbs.

Mailing it is not an option because I'll be taking it on many flights of many kinds/scales -- sometimes performing with it in different places in rapid succession. Buying it a seat is almost never an option since these are mostly self-funded & mostly very-low-budget travels.

The basic catch-22: because you can't count on being allowed to carry on, you have to be prepared to check -- but being prepared with a rectangular ATA/flight case makes it basically impossible that you'll be able to carry on (since the case is too big and heavy), and being prepared with anything less makes it very possible that you'll have instrument damage (since non-ATA cases are routinely damaged when checked as baggage... although MUCH less often if you gate check).

The most-recommended solution I've found so far would be ordering a fitted internal-fiberglass case from Colorado Cases. I would try to touch one of these before ordering one, since they're a BIG investment on my scale.

Opinions (especially about Colorado Cases??) or experiences? Thanks very much for any input!

Feline Move Post Coast-to-Coast

Dante5Inferno — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:13:35 -0800

I am moving from the West Coast to the East Coast and I'm wondering what the best way to move my beloved cat. I was originally going to bring her on my flight as a carry-on, but I'm thinking that the plane ride may be too long in a small pet carrier. There is also the option of checking her in as luggage, but most airlines don't allow this in the summer months (i.e. the time I'm moving). Any suggestions? Shipping is also an option; any suggestions on airline-friendly kennels that can attach water and food? Also, to sedate or not to sedate?

Man looking for a good bag.

jeremias — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 08:15:30 -0800

Can I get recommendations on a high quality, stylish side bag to be used day to day for business? Needs to be rugged enough to withstand travel and fashionable enough to be able to bring into a business meeting. The days of knapsacks are over for me. Here is what I would like the bag to be able to carry: Laptop, cell phone, couple of notebooks, not much else. I also would like something that has a shoulder strap. I'm not a briefcase guy per se, so perhaps something straddling the knapsack and briefcase genre.

Flying with a Guitar

agregoli — Tue, 16 Mar 2004 11:18:52 -0800

In about a week, my boyfriend and I are flying from Chicago to Boston. He plans to play with his band while he's there, and so would require his bass (electric). This is not something we would want to check, for risk of damage or theft. But I don't think that sort of thing is allowed as carry-on. What can we do? I know that a lot of locked items are forced open nowadays for security checks. Does anyone have any experience with transporting instruments via air? We're taking ATA by the way.