You pack it, you stack it

[Writer Cath]

I've had my bags lost about forty percent of the time. My first year at university and twice my third year. I got the stuff back within a day or two, but it was still really frustrating.

When travelling I tend to make my bags as heavy as I possibly can because I know they're going to be gloriously stowed and I won't have to deal with them for the majority of the flight. My carry on is usually my laptop and a backpack made as light as possible.

The more I travel, the smarter I travel.

[Becks]

Bear in mind I am 5'6 and petite

I thought that petite was being shorter than approx. 5' 4"?

I've flown a few times and have never had my luggage lost. (Of course, I've just jinxed it, but oh, well.)

[myswtghst]

My dad is the tall guy (6'3") on the plane offering to help everyone stow their luggage. I'm so glad my family is polite and friendly.
I generally bring my laptop in a messenger bag, along with my iPod, some headphones and a book or two, maybe some magazines. I also usually manage to stuff some toiletries (contact stuff and a toothbrush) in, along with a pair of clean undies. Everything else gets checked. If my bag is heavy, that's my fault, and I don't expect anyone but me (and maybe my brother ) to have to deal with it. I just try to keep it down to only things I'll need on the plane, and things (my iPod, computer and camera) that I don't like to have out of my posession, as I am a nerd.

[Jester]

When I was much younger and much stupider, I wouldn't check anything when I flew.

Running with all my luggage across the Dallas airport to make a connecting flight cured me of this particular condition immediately and for good.

Since then, my airlines have misplaced my luggage exactly once, and that time they managed to get it to me just a few hours after I landed. I have had OTHER problems with airlines--ask me about my last flight some time!--but so far, they have been pretty good in the luggage department.

And since then, I usually check two nice-sized suitcases (or one, depending upon how long my trip will be) and take just a backpack on the plane with me, within which I have a book or three, maybe a newspaper, my tickets, and sundry other items. The only times I have taken MORE than the backpack on a flight as a carryon were:

1. When I was returning to Florida from Arizona and carrying with my my family coat of arms. I do NOT check this, as it is one of my most prized and important possessions. And I was paranoid the entire trip.

2. When I was flown out to Vegas last March to do a magic show, in addition to the backpack I carried on my "magic bag," a black leather satchel (basically a thick briefcase) with various props and tools for my magic act. See, if the airline lost my luggage, I can replace clothes, and don't need them to do my act, but getting all this stuff back on short notice? Impossible. Luckily, I don't do any tricks with knives.

People can be idiots on planes. People can be GREAT on planes, too (I have met some lovely people), but people really can be idiots. And that is one of the reasons I drink when flying. The other being that, well, what else are you going to do with all this free time? (No, I don't drink because flying makes me nervous; unlike my mother and my ex-fiancee, and like my stepfather, I am pretty much immune to any fear in air travel.)

[AirHostess]

I thought that petite was being shorter than approx. 5' 4"?

I've flown a few times and have never had my luggage lost. (Of course, I've just jinxed it, but oh, well.)

I'm very slim and lightweight with no muscles

[IT Grunt]

Most of my experiences with flying have been pretty positive. My luggage has been lost twice, the first time mainly because the small plane I flew on out of my hometown airport was late getting into Pittsburgh, so they only had 5 minutes to get it from one end of the airport to the other. Not happenin'. They got it on the next flight, and delivered it to my hotel. That was the fastest I've ever run though. As I was jogging for the gate, I heard a page "Paging Louisville passenger IT Grunt, your flight is ready for departure. Please report immediately to gate #. Thank you." I gave them my boarding pass, ran down the ramp, and scared the wits out of the attendant reaching out to close the door. There were a few looks thrown in my direction as I walked to my seat, let me tell you...

The second time, I was on a business trip to Disneyworld for the LotusSphere conference. I'd brought my wife along with me, and when we got to the airport, we found her suitcases, but only 1 of mine. I thought I'd seen a guy grab one that looked like mine, check the name and keep it. Later, I realize that he was looking for the /other/ one that came out that looked exactly like mine. The kicker: mine was lightly packed. His was so packed the freakin' zipper was about to burst! Gee... I wonder how you could tell them apart? So, I grab his for ransom (), and take it to the luggage office. Later that night they delivered mine to the hotel.

The only problem I've had with another passenger was this moron who wrenched his seat back right into my knee caps. No matter how I turned, I couldn't relieve the pressure, so for a solid hour I'm flying in agony as my knee caps feel like they're on fire. No amount of subtle hints would get this guy to listen, and I was afraid to make a stink about it since this was post 9/11. I'm a pretty tall guy, so with my legs it's hard to find comfortable seats. One of the reasons I shoot for the emergency exit row whenever possible.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I thought that petite was being shorter than approx. 5' 4"?

I've flown a few times and have never had my luggage lost. (Of course, I've just jinxed it, but oh, well.)

The official definition in the clothing industry is under 5'4". (I'm 5'4" and 1/4.) I think most regular people think of petite as just generally small...I have a friend who's a little taller than me but really skinny...I tend to think of her as petite, too.

When we went to Key West, my mom and I bought suitcases that were specifically sized for the overhead bin, with wheels and slide-out handle, and they came with a matching carryon that has a strap on the back so you can slip it over the handle when you are pulling the case; they were both black. Then my mom took bright yarn (one red, one purple) and made thick braids that we tied to the zippers; so we could easily identify our bags in case we had to check them, and we could also tell each other's apart without opening them or reading tags.

-ams-

[Jester]

...they only had 5 minutes to get it from one end of the airport to the other.

That was the fastest I've ever run though. .

I think the fastest for me was returning from Vegas on my last trip. On one of the connections, I literally walked out of one plane, across the hallway, and into the next plane. It was a bit surreal. And somehow, my luggage made it, too.

When we went to Key West...

Yet another CSer who has been here and not said howdy.

[trunks2k]

The second time, I was on a business trip to Disneyworld for the LotusSphere conference. I'd brought my wife along with me, and when we got to the airport, we found her suitcases, but only 1 of mine. I thought I'd seen a guy grab one that looked like mine, check the name and keep it. Later, I realize that he was looking for the /other/ one that came out that looked exactly like mine. The kicker: mine was lightly packed. His was so packed the freakin' zipper was about to burst! Gee... I wonder how you could tell them apart? So, I grab his for ransom (), and take it to the luggage office. Later that night they delivered mine to the hotel.

That almost happened to me once. I was flying into, Gatwick from Barcelona. I had only one bag checked and it was a large black backpack, to which I tied a very noticable Black and white checkered tie, specifically so that it was easy to distinguish. So I see my on the other side of the carosel thing (thanks to the tie) and wait for to come around. As it rounded the corner, somebody else picks it up, examines it, and starts to walk away with it. I started to freak out and almost plowed 20 people over running to the person that just picked up my bag. Caught up with him and told him he grabbed my bag, he looks at it and goes "oh, I didn't notice the tie on it, sorry." I walk back to the baggage claim to wait with my friend for her bag, meanwhile several people are mumbling to eachother "How did he not notice the tie? He looked right at it. I noticed it coming from the other side."

[myswtghst]

The only problem I've had with another passenger was this moron who wrenched his seat back right into my knee caps.

IT Grunt, I feel ya here. All my height is in my legs, so I tend to have this happen. I generally will pay attention at the beginning of the flight, and if I can, jam my knees in to keep the seat from going down to far when they first drop it. The I lean back and enjoy. Also, if you can get the first seats in the row, or the Emergency Exit seats, they usually have more leg room. My whole family (with the exception of my mom) is tall and/or long-legged. We've figured out that seems to help.

[skeptic53]

On my flight from London with all the hyperactive young teenagers (see OP's other post "My Rome Flight") I had a bottle of very expensive single-malt scotch, which came packaged in a heavy cardboard tube with metal lids at the ends. I had it in my bag in the overhead. It was a red-eye flight, middle of the night one of the kids starts rummaging for something in the overhead. Unfortunately he was in the wrong overhead. He yanked stuff around looking for his bag, opened my rucksack, and pushed it over so the open top was pointing out. Then he dug further in, and the scotch fell out. There was a "kssssh" noise and the smell of expensive scotch filled steerage. It stayed inside the cardboard tube, so we begged a linen napkin from first class and strained the scotch into cups for anyone who felt like indulging. This was the one and only time I've ever had more than two drinks of single-malt at one sitting, due to cost it's not stuff on which to get wasted.

I could have killed that kid, he never even apologized. What was he seeking so desperately? A "Batman" comic book.

[Primer]

I had a bottle of very expensive single-malt scotch, which came packaged in a heavy cardboard tube with metal lids at the ends.

Glenfiddich (spelling?)? My mom's favorite!

[skeptic53]

Yes and correctly spelled. A bottle of Laphroaig didn't fall, thank Gord!

[BookstoreEscapee]

Yet another CSer who has been here and not said howdy.

We've already discussed Key West, Jester. I said if I'd have met you I'd have bought you a . Nice to know I've made an impression around here

[Jester]

Glenfiddich (spelling?)? My mom's favorite!

I knew how to spell it, but I have heard two different pronunciations of it. Most Americans pronounce it "Glen fid itch," and I used to think that that was the way it was. But I had some Scots in my bar a while back, and they distinctly asked for "Glen fid ick." Being Scottish, I figured they knew what they were talking about. So, is it a hard k at the end, or a typical American ch? Just wondering.

We've already discussed Key West, Jester. I said if I'd have met you I'd have bought you a . Nice to know I've made an impression around here

Damn. Well, what can I say? I talk to a LOT of people about Key West, and oftentimes, I don't remember who it was I talked to. Hell, talk to some of my close friends, and ask them how many times I have told them the same damn story, thinking it was the first. I am notorious for that.

That being said, damn it, the next CSers that come to Key West (if I am still here) and doesn't tilt one with me is going to be in big, big trouble. We are talking salmon/woodchipper type trouble. (And this does not include the one already planning on visiting me. That would be too obvious.)