Carry-on luggage

[Shelby]

Someone had a suggestion on the other board that I liked. (I thought it was here, but now I don't see it. Am I just blind?) In any case, she suggested that, if asked to give up your carry on, you should grasp it tight, shake your head from side to side and utter the phrase "medical necessities."

I've never been asked to give up carry on luggage on Bahamasair, other than at the steps of the plane, where I'm pretty confident it'll get on if for no other reason than because Bahamasair employees are too lazy to walk it all the way back to the terminal. :-)

I was asked once, on a flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles, to check my rollaboard at the gate. I clutched it tight, shook my head and uttered the phrase "family heirlooms." My mother-in-law had given me some silver serving pieces that had been in Tom's family for almost a hundred years, and I was NOT going to put them in the hands of airline employees. Bless their hearts, though, they let me bring it on with me. It BARELY fit under the seat, and I had no leg room at all, but it never left my sight.

But medical necessities sounds way better! I'll remember that.

Amanda

[Flatfish]

As Island Boy says, fly enough and eventually you get to tell your stories too!

We went to the Exuma's one time and our flight kept getting delayed due to thunderstorms in Miami so we couldn't take off. When the weather finally cleared enough, the customs office on Exuma was closed so we couldn't fly out. So, airline put us up in hotels for the night (we stayed at the hotel in the airport which was an excellent choice) and then flew us out the next morning. We arrived in Georgetown, but my luggage didn't (my wifes did though). Three days later it finally made it onto the plane and was ready for pick up at the terminal. Every day for three days I had to drive to the airport to find out if my luggaged arrived spoiling any plans for exploring due to the plane schedule. Lost three days of doing what we wanted to do because of it. All I had on was a t-shirt, shorts and sandals! Talking about being a beach bum!
So, it eventually happens to us all. If it bothers you, write/call your airline and complain LOUDLY.

[Jacobyz4]

As a great traveling friend of mine once said there are two kinds of luggage. Carry on and lost. We always carry a backpack which with three compartments carries laptop ipods extra clothes books magazines and a big variety of other stuff. We have had our issues with Bahamasair but all told they have been safe and accomodating even when we went off the agenda and visited Nassau (we live in Palm beach area so should go direct).

[BahamaAngie]

Well, I am afraid this posting may be unpopular but I feel that people bring carry ons that are too large and should be checked. I find it annoying to have to wait while everyone is pushing, shoving and pulling to squeeze their "carry on" in the above compartment. We have always checked everything so that we can just walk on/off the plane so it is quite annoying to have to wait for this. But wait!!! This year due to the 1 suitcase restriction, we became one of the annoying carry on people. I had a suitcase full of books that I did not want to have to pay extra charge so it went overhead and supplies we needed so that made 2 that I NEVER would have brought on the plane. Same amount, same weight.....dumb rules! I know it is a negative posting but I also put a lot of thought into packing to make it easier but once I am on that plane, I am grumbling quietly to myself about the confusion and craziness with all the carry ons. Just my 2 cents! I understand the importance of bringing on meds and I do that in a small beach bag. I think more planning needs to be done with packing. Anyone agree?

[Flatfish]

Bahama Angie! Hear, hear!!! I totally agree. :D One small bag carry on fine. Two big overstuffed carry ons NOT good. :mad:

[SusieAndAl]

The funniest one I ever saw was at JFK. I was catching a flight to Paris, and the guy in front of me wanted to carry on a cello. He insisted that he had been able to put it in the overhead bin on his connecting flight!

Cheers -- Al

[AbacoPeach]

Ditto!! I have seen people literally damage their luggage when loading and unloading large carry-ons! It really does hold everything up, especially for the ones who are trying to make a connecting flight.

I have also noticed that "plane etiquette" has really gone down the tubes -- people from the back rushing through the rows in front of them, i.e. not waiting their turn. I think the indiscriminate number of carry-ons contribute to this breach of etiquette.

[Flatfish]

Not to hijack the thread, but.............

Years ago I put my wife on a small puddle jumper in eastern washington state so she could catch her main flight in Seattle. Just as the doors were closing on the plane out on the tarmac, I noticed two guys rushing through the front doors of the terminal and flopping their leather carry on bags (i.e suitcases) on the security belt and trying to get through the metal detector. Dummies were wearing silver tipped cowboy belts, turquoise silver belt buckles and I can't remember what else. Anyways, as soon as they were done they ran to the terminal door leading out to the tarmac only to be stopped by the terminal employee who told them that it was too late. FAA rules says once the airplanes door is shut, that's it. Tough luck. Boy, you should have heard these guys complain.
Rule: Don't arrive late. And if you do, don't wear a bunch of costume jewelry and then complain about being late.
Idiots, really. But I got a chuckle out of it watching the airplane take off and listening to these guys grouching.......

[ScottB]

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=3]Over the years, luggage manufacturers had much improved the carry-on situation with their imitation pilot-roller-bags of proper size. Prior to their appearance, people tried all kinds of luggage &

[AbacoPeach]

I, too, carry a large (oversized) travel purse. Enough for necessities plus any items that you just don't want to do without (meds, etc.). We are lucky that we have a place to store extra clothing and toiletries on Guana in case our luggage doesn't make it with us.

Actually, in the eleven years we have been traveling to Abaco once or twice a year, we have only lost one piece of luggage. Luckily, the one that didn't come with us was one that we could do without for a few days. In fact, Ralph and Bunny brought it with them on the ferry the next day.

[Long Look]

Ditto!! I have seen people literally damage their luggage when loading and unloading large carry-ons! It really does hold everything up, especially for the ones who are trying to make a connecting flight.

I have also noticed that "plane etiquette" has really gone down the tubes -- people from the back rushing through the rows in front of them, i.e. not waiting their turn. I think the indiscriminate number of carry-ons contribute to this breach of etiquette.

I have a huge issue with people holding everything up when I have been delayed out of O'hare and have a connecting flight. My last trip to Abaco my flight got in 45min late and I had 15min to get to the American eagle gate. The people in front of me also had a connecting flight with 7 min to get to the gate. Being a flight to the Bahamas I was not going to miss it, so I had asked the flight attendant if they would let those of us with connecting flights get off first. They made an announcement asking that people to "remain seated until passengers with connecting flights boarding within the half hour had de-planed." When we got to the gate EVERYONE in the plane stood up. The guy in the seat in front of me who had 7 min to get to his gate went through the roof. He dropped his shoulder and plowed people out of his way. Naturally I fell in behind the blocker:rolleyes:

I, too, carry a large (oversized) travel purse. Enough for necessities plus any items that you just don't want to do without (meds, etc.). We are lucky that we have a place to store extra clothing and toiletries on Guana in case our luggage doesn't make it with us.

Actually, in the eleven years we have been traveling to Abaco once or twice a year, we have only lost one piece of luggage. Luckily, the one that didn't come with us was one that we could do without for a few days. In fact, Ralph and Bunny brought it with them on the ferry the next day.

You are very lucky. I have had many pieces of "lost" luggage over the years, including the bags that made the flight to Marsh Harbour but were never unloaded as the flight crew insisted they had emptied the plane. So they flew them back to Miami and had to send them back the next day. More often than not it is just a weight issue. I flew down after a hurricane once and Continental was flying bottled water across (no clue why they were doing this as Solomans had hundreds and hundreds of gallons). My bag of tools made it, but no clothes. I did hurricane clean-up in dress pants and dress shoes.

[Patty&Rudi]

I have also noticed that "plane etiquette" has really gone down the tubes -- people from the back rushing through the rows in front of them, i.e. not waiting their turn. I think the indiscriminate number of carry-ons contribute to this breach of etiquette.

Oh my Peach!
Fly on a Canadian airline!

Canadians not only wait their turn politely and with patience, when we get out of our seat, we step BACK to allow those seated across from us to exit first.

[Patty&Rudi]

Rudi and I had read some great websites about packing well and taking a small carry-on when travelling - we do loads of travel and this was to be our answer to the long (and getting longer) waits for checked luggage.

And we bought the perfect bag, which could be carried or worn as a backpack. It was wonderful - we were ready.

Then 9/11, and no liquids, and some degree of over-doing it and not carrying on almost anything. So we returned the two bags.

This week we're at his mom and dad's on the west coast of Canada (Victoria) and again have decided to do the best we can and try for carry-ons for subsequent flights. We will see how that goes!

One thing we have done, in the location(s) we know we will be visiting (like Rudi's parents' house, for example) is to buy a wardrobe to keep here, and shampoo, our teas, my knives, our favourite sheets, etc.

As of today, we will need to bring very little on board when we fly here in the future!

We will also have the double wardrobe at our house in Hope Town. And toiletries and everything else we will need there.

Beats packing! And waiting and waiting and waiting.

Tomorrow we have to go from Victoria to Vancouver, Toronto and into Ottawa. And we're hoping the checked bags will make it. Next visit - freedom!

Canadian airlines allow two checked bags. And they tend to board by row and enforce it!
A kinder, gentler nation. :D

[BahamaAngie]

Canadians are VERY nice people not like us arrogant Americans although there are some real nice ones of us! We tend to have an attitude in the NE. When we moved to South Jersey, it was so different. NOW they are here too!

[Flatfish]

Probably same people who leave shopping carts in the parking lot....another rant for another day......

[BahamaAngie]

That's why they have you pay a quarter for a cart up here. But sorry to say, if I am having a bad knee day, I don't care about the quarter. It is not that I don't care about the cart but sometimes it is too difficult to get the cart back......sorry!

[Patty&Rudi]

Well, we're just back from the west coast of Canada, and on the Victoria to Vancouver leg - our luggage didn't make it to the plane, and we had to run to make it.
It was delivered the next morning. I don't mind on the coming home leg of a trip, but I spoke too soon on the bags making it! It was our first time the bags didn't land with us.

So - carry on for us next time!

[PaBill]

I have seen many Odd types of Carryon, My favorite goes to "Wonkee" he brought a Small cooler full of frozen Grunts, and Turbot"Queen Trigger". He had speared the fish the day before, froze them solid in a cooler and taped it water tight. Apparently his Older Sister was Pregnant and wanted nothing more than Fried Fish Abaco style. So he delivered, and so did she while he was on his way home.....
I have learned to pack 3 to 5 days clothes in the carryon, and hold tight and never let go. In fact I am going on a trip to Africa next week and will be carrying all my luggage in my carryon. The two checked bags are full of Clothes, tools, medical supplies, and Eyeglasses for a Hospital in Swaziland. After everything I owned ended up in Dallas Ft Worth for 6 months, I vowed to never again not have at least a weeks clothes on hand. A friend of mine was a Submariner, he could fit 3 months worth of clothes in a Med suitcase. He showed me a few tricks, Roll all your clothes, stagger layers, put a towel on bottom wrap the edges over the top of everything and use the straps to compress it flat. It is amazing what you can learn in the Service.

[tmccaffery]

To the maximum amount of clothing in the smallest possible bag, put them into gallon size ziploc bags and then compress the bag to remove the air. It is amazing how much air you are carrying in your bag and how much more it will hold when you get rid of the air.