Wheel-free perks?

“Any passengers with carry-on bags with NO wheels may now board.” - from the Tom Bihn Forum

Comments

[Esther]

For whatever reason, I have a hard time picturing American Airlines doing this. However, if they did that on my upcoming trip to Europe, I'd be very happy. However my friend, who I suspect is taking a wheeled bag, would be peeved. However, that might convince her to go wheel-free.
Ironically, she found out about the disadvantages of wheeled bags several years ago. She was forced to check her bag (on a British Airlines flight) due to its weight. Because I was wheel-free, the weight was under the maximum. After we got back I did send her the link to onebag.com, but I guess it didn't take. It's possible that despite the fact that she's more in shape than me, her advanced age necessitates wheels.

[Paul Z]

I went sans wheels on Virgin to London a few years ago, with my normal complement of stuff for a long weekend (which ain't a lot, if you saw my packing list here a few weeks ago), and they *still* made me check. Bastards. I'll never fly Virgin again after that. And I hate AA too, mainly because the lines at LGA are so bloody long, but if this is their new policy I might dial down the hate a tad.

[Joelle]

I confess to owning a couple of Andiamo "wheelies" from various stages in my life. The 19 inch international carry-on weighs 11 pounds by itself and when packed I can't lift it into the overhead bin any more. The regulation carry-on is a light-weight experiment that falls over unless it is fully and tightly packed, which also makes it too heavy for me to lift into the bin.

So the problem was clearly how to take less in an international size soft-sided bag, or the Not So Big Bag as I have come to think of it. Like smaller houses and cars, it is a big life change for many people, especially if they think they are going on a special trip where they may need to dress up. But it's better to face up early and make the change as a creative challenge rather than be forced to do so by tightening airline regulations, which may end up discouraging people from travelling at all.

That's why I think sites like OBOW, One Bag, and Rick Steves, and of course Tom Bhin are doing a great service to travel and international understanding.

[High Roller]

I had heard that the initial wheeled carry on bags were designed by flight crew. Perhaps this is inaccurate, but if it is true, this news seems quite ironic.

I can see how this policy appeals to many who pride themselves on avoiding wheeled bags. Luggage wheels have become associated with gluttonous, bloated bags, carried by rude, inconsiderate, lazy, and inferior travelers. Even I will agree that this image is typically reinforced at every boarding call.

For me, I think I'll keep on rolling though... A seemingly bum shoulder limits me to about 15-16 pounds on a shoulder strap, and sometimes the job requires more weight than that. I choose the small rolling bag over the sore shoulder... oh well....

A friend of mine once suggested that the real privilege should be that you get to board last-- less time in the cramped airplane. For the most part, we have been strangely conditioned to think of airplane boarding as some sort of race-- better to be first rather than last. But really, why is that such a desirable goal? For the most part, it seems the main reason to board early is to determine where your carry on luggage will end up. On most airlines your seat location is already determined.

Admittedly, none of this really holds true for those traveling with small children.

When I was in school, I used to travel on Southwest regularly-- back when you had to line up at the gate in order to get a boarding card with a boarding group letter on it. At the time I thought the height of privilege was checking my 1 bag, and walking on the plane as a single passenger with nothing in my hands. I never worried about lining up for A, B, or C group, or checking in early. That was a waste of time and energy. I looked at all of those other passengers with bags the size of mobile homes nervously waiting in line for hours, lugging a huge, heavy sack, worried about where they could put the beast once they got on the plane... Meanwhile I sat in the bar closest to the gate until the herd had boarded, then slipped in at the end, taking the first appealing seat I came to. I still think that's a pretty good strategy if you're a laid back, single traveller on a leisure trip. In the business world, this strategy does not work out well though.

Many of the folks who read this site regularly probably can fit their belongings into something so small that it can easily be wedged into the remaining overhead bin space or stowed under the seat as a measure of last resort. So, perhaps the only real benefit of this is that those without wheels get to watch the gluttons struggle, which is a plus. However you also might get bonked in the head by some inconsiderate souls with foolishly large, heavy bag.

[Brad]

As usual HR, excellent points eloquently made.

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