One bag = recipe for stranded survival

The Eyjafjallajökull eruption and the ensuing flight-grounding chaos demonstrates at least one thing: A one-bag travel strategy is the ticket for travel survival. I wasn’t stranded in Heathrow but if I had been, here are the one-bag benefits I would have reaped:

• Airport camping made easy - How many pieces luggage would I have had to keep up with? Let’s review the math: one, meaning I could loop the strap around my torso as I fitfully snoozed on some vinyl bench with no worry of someone rolling away all my possessions.  I’d need a much smaller piece of lounge real estate as well. Laundry might be more problematic. Sure you could wash in the bathroom sinks; finding a place to hang-dry your undershirts might be tough in Terminal 5 - no, there’s always the hot air hand dryers!

• Fleeing the airport made easy - I pity those who have to board a tube or train from Heathrow with a large load of luggage. Heading into the city is a breeze if it all rides on your shoulder or back. Big bags tempt the traveler to spring for an expensive cab ride, and remember we’re stranded in Heathrow and running out of money.

• Hotel shopping made easy - OK, so you’re back in London still stranded and trying not to become penniless. You can kill time by doing cheap museum sightseeing (mostly free) and keep your luggage with you. You can shop for a hotel instead of taking the first available. You can bounce from one to another from night to night based on rates and availability. It’s less hassle since you have one light bag. No lockers or daytime storage required.

• Escaping the island - It goes without saying that hopping a train, boat, or whatever for your ultimate escape will be that much easier with one bag. Aren’t you glad you thought of it?

Let’s face it - most people consider one-bagging a form of roughing it. If that’s so, who’s better prepared for being marooned by a volcano?

Update on April 21, 2010 by Frank@OBOW

Case in point:

One woman I met had no luggage while stranded at Heathrow because her bags were being transferred when the airport shut…

I for one will carry on more clothes and not put credit cards in checked bags. - CNN Business 360

Comments

[Jeff]

I have to agree completely. While finding yourself unexpectedly stranded won't ever be easy, the one bag approach will at least make things a bit easier with a bit less to worry about. I do really feel for those whose lives are being disrupted right now. Being stuck in London (among many other places) would be a very expensive proposition, and I can't imagine the hotels are giving anyone any breaks for their troubles.

A tip for Cozumel one-baggers, the only transportation allowed at the airport are multi-destination vans (unless you rent a car), which are more than double the fare of the regular taxicabs. When exiting the airport, just walk along the one road out to the circle intersection (not far) where a taxi will happily take you to your destination directly at half the fare or less.

[Dan]

I was stranded in Rome last Thursday. I ended up getting back to the UK via three high speed trains with a night in Zurich in the middle. When I got home I weighed my bag, a small Eagle Creek back pack. It tipped the scales at 4kg. Did I ever once think I was missing something? No. Did I ever envy the thousands of people I saw trundling huge suitcases around the various railway stations I went through, or trying to get them on and off trains or luggage racks? No. Would I do another trip like that with the same travel-light philosophy?

You bet.

[Brad]

Bravo Dan! You're OBOWer of the month.

[Brad]

When we take groups to Europe we get to leave our luggage on the coach or the hotels will lock it up for us before/after actual check-in/check-out. Most travelers probably don't have that luxury. If you are occasionally going to be stuck with your bag all day it's very nice for it to be small and light.

[Maria]

Bravo Dan!

Also, 4kg? Impressive!

I am certainly a one-bagger, but continue to learn from the comments, advice, and examples by others here. Thank you!

[Paula S]

>>>>>"Case in point:
One woman I met had no luggage while stranded at Heathrow because her bags were being transferred when the airport shut…
I for one will carry on more clothes and not put credit cards in checked bags."<<<<<


OMG!!!! Who packs their credit cards in their check-in luggage? That makes my head spin just thinking about it.

Way to go Dan, congrats on finally getting home LIGHTLY! :-)

[Mike]

"You can shop for a hotel instead of taking the first available."

This is one of the biggest advantages of one-bagging it. It also frees you up to roll into a city and wander around looking for places to stay, instead of having to reserve everything ahead of time.

[Michelle Poole]

This is another classic situation of why someone needs a jakpak. The all-in-one personal shelter. Those stranded could have at least had privacy while they tried to sleep. www.jakpak.com

[Brad]

You know, Michelle, it's possible that you would trigger a security alert as a piece of "unattended luggage" if you enclosed yourself in the JakPak. You'd hope they would figure it out before they did a controlled detonation.

[Paula S]

>>>>>"You know, Michelle, it's possible that you would trigger a security alert as a piece of "unattended luggage" if you enclosed yourself in the JakPak"<<<<<

That, or you'd wake up in the airport morgue already wrapped in your body bag.