To promote one bagging or not....that is the question

This site has always been about promoting one bagging.  So much so that some of our disciples are now venturing off on their own. (See S & M)

But it makes me wonder. With alll this preaching, are we actually hurting ourselves?

As anyone who has flown recently knows, the overhead bins are packed tighter than a subway car at rush hour. If we’re lucky, we may get to put the bags under the seat in front of us but lose valuable, limited leg room.  Or worse, check our bags even though they are below the airline regs.

Would we be better not preaching and allowing people to find this out for themselves? Would it be beneficial to us to, instead, preach to those who take just a little too much the benefits of checking their bags?

(Frank II)

Comments

[SolitarySuitcase]

One-bagging is a mixed bag (No pun intended. Okay, maybe a little one.). I'm a confirmed frequent flier with one bag, no wheels. Or at least I have been. I'm beginning to wonder if I should re-think the whole process.

I was on a recent flight from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to Little Rock, Arkansas (LIT). My bag was well within the carry-on regulations. However, at the door to the plane, I was asked by a flight attendant to "gate check" my bag. This is becoming the norm, it seems, as I rack up frequent flier miles with a carry-on bag. However, so many people are toting carry-on that the storage space fills up rapidly as people board a plane. If you board in the second half of the process, your bag may not have a place inside the cabin. Then at flight's end, the jetway is jammed with half a plane load of folks waiting on their bags at the doorway to the plane.

When I arrived in Little Rock, lo and behold, my bag was lost somehow between the baggage hold and the exit door of the plane. They suggested I look/wait for it in Baggage Claim. By the time the baggage crew could find it and get it in my hands, everyone else had retrieved their checked bags from the carousel and headed out into the Arkansas night.

Thus, the mixed bag. To use another cliche': These days my experience seems to be "damned if you do and damned if you don't."

[Alan B]

From the photo, note one recurrent problem, which is that manufacturers provide "carry-on" bags with expandable front pockets, and worse, expansion gussets, turning a bag that might have been 8 or 9 inches deep, into one nearly a foot deep, which just WON'T fit a lot of overhead bins. Beyond that, there's the issue that for an economy section at 31 or even 32 inch pitch, if the bags are 13 or 14 inches wide, there's only room for two out of the three bags in a row.

[Paula S]

From what I've seen at airports and those that I know who travel, we are still in the minority.
Bag checkers who know me still don't get how I can travel so lightly, I don't preach to them, in fact I don't really preach to anyone (other than giving advice about how and what to pack if they want to try it).
I've always been aware that we are cutting off our nose to spite our face if too many people discover the delights of one bagging and I rather like keeping mum on the subject, in general.
Low cost carriers in Europe are responsible for forcing flyers to carry-on, paying for checked luggage raises their air fare, they don't want that. Lost luggage is another factor that makes people think twice about checking their bags, so it isn't just one baggers spreading the word that is causing the current on board storage problem.....people are seeing the light all by themselves.
Having realised that this is becoming a problem, my carry-ons are sizes that will fit under a seat. Several of my bags are actually large hobo style handbags, so perhaps I'm less likely to be asked to gatecheck, I would think the airline staff would be looking more at small suitcase (or roller) types.

There is another situation which I've seen for years and it seems to be a British quirk......they not only take suitcases to check in, their carry on bags are the sizes we would use to one bag. I have never quite understood that, but long ago came to the conclusion that we Brits really do pack everything, including the kitchen sink!

[Gary Williams]

The upturn in carry-on baggage is almost certainly a direct result of fees for checked baggage. One response to that would be to fly Southwest whenever possible. But since other airlines' checked-bag fees are unlikely to go away as long as it allows them to advertise falsely-low fares, then maybe Spirit's move, much as I hate it, is best for us in the long run. My wife would certainly say, "Well, if I'm going to have to pay anyway, might as well take a little more and check."

Philosophically, I've always thought the main goal in what you are promoting was to see how efficiently we can pack; how little we can take on our travels rather than how much. After all, if we overpack, regardless of what the airlines do we still have to maneuver all that stuff on the ground.

[Frank II]

I really should remind myself not to post to this website at 3:30 in the morning when I can't sleep.

Of course we're going to continue to promote one bag travel and, as Gary pointed out, how to be a more proficient traveler. Not just in terms of packing, but more proficient when dealing with all aspects of travel. The posting was meant to be more satirical than serious.

One of the luggage companies, I forget which one, did a survey as to what was the most important feature of a piece of carry-on luggage. The winner, with over 90% of the vote, was.....wheels.

A few weeks ago I mentioned meeting with a group of travel writers, none of whom were one baggers. When I explained our basic philosophies, I got responses such as:

"When I was younger I hitchhiked thourgh Europe." (I've never hitchhiked nor do I do that now.)
"I don't like staying in hotels with bathrooms down the hall." (I never have stayed at a hotel with a bathroom down the hall.)
"Why would you want to stay in one of those "inns" when you can stay at a Marriott?" (Because most Marriotts/Hiltons/Sheratons all look the same inside.)

So, to many, the idea of one bag travel makes them think we are unwashed, hitchhikers who only stay in hostels and eat really cheap food. If they only knew.

[K-eM]

I agree with Gary. It has more to do with fees than our preaching. My preferred bag fits under the seat in front of me and I always plan on that being where I will put it. If I get a chance at overhead bin space I take it, but don't have to.

Besides being practical, I love one/light bagging it just for the reactions I get when people realize that's all I have. Especially, the women.

After watching me on trips, my team mates have made their own adjustments and gone from massive checked bags to small bags that will fit under the seat. I did my preaching by example. There was one time when I even took some extra stuff from a team mate and put it in my small bag because she had run out of room in her big bag. : )

[Dan]

The dynamics of air travel has changed considerably today.It seems
that as a one bagger one will have to be one step ahead of the crowd.
The options that are open to the air traveler are:---
-- Check your bag and risk having the bag being lost.Not to mentions
paying additional fees. ( not a good option).
-- Try to carry your one bag and risk getting gate checked. ( not the ideal
option).
-- Travel light and just carry an under seater bag. ( Better option).
-- Carry an underseater and ship additional luggage through a shipper
like Luggagefree.com-- at least your luggage will arrive at your destination.
-- Carry an underseater and purchase any items you may need at your destination.
Are there are any other creative suggestions?

[MattBH]

I think Gary Williams is spot on. The crowding in overhead bins is about the rise of checked baggage fees, not people buying into one-bagging it with carryon bags.

What overhead crowding has done for my travel is make me more likely to upgrade to Economy Plus (or its equivalent) to board earlier in the process. While I'm tall and often worry about leg room anyway, I know that I can't sit with a bag under the seat in front of me without experiencing intense discomfort. I just have to plan more, be early & do what it takes to be on the flight early enough to get space overhead. I've had good luck with not having to gate check my bags (other than on very small regional planes with next to no overhead bin space).

But as others have said, packing lighter is always an option. I've been using an MEI Executive Overnighter, which is great & capable of handling long trips with ease. But it's an MLC and in a crowded overhead bin, is at risk of being too big. I'm considering picking up another, smaller convertible - like the Tom Bihn TriStar - to be safer.

[E2]

I thought about this question during a trip last week. The problem is the airlines aren't enforcing their bag-size policy. I see ridiculously sized "carry-ons" everywhere (sweetened by the new trend: stick your bags in the front of the airplane, no matter where you're sitting). I don't think we're hurting ourselves. At worst, we don't change a thing. At best, we convince a few people to buy an Aeronaut or MLC.

[Till]

Should one preach or not was the initial question. Maybe preaching and making a religion with disciples out of it is not the right direction. On the other hand providing reminders, discussions, arguments pro and con as well as tool and tips for onebagging, that, I think, is a good thing to do.

Many people are probably as annoyed as we are by the hassle that too much luggage and the airlines create. Or they just want to save money. So they are looking for ways to deal with the challenge. Than they can find here all they need to know to get them started and even to refine their methods and techniques.

Yet others might not have noticed how good onebagging can be because they just never thought of it. It never occurred to them. If they hit this site they might be inspired and try it out. I think that's nice.

Me, I'd just be happy if the usual morons (sorry, there's hardly another way to say it) would use the overhead bins in the most efficient way. Only in the last year or so is this way "taught" but not enforced by the FAs, i.e. big bags go in small side goes in first (sometimes wheels first, sometimes handle first will fit better), if there is any room left it can be filled with smaller bags that would still be too big for underseat. Then, if any room is left, underseat size bags can be stowed. Then, if any room is left (usually on top), jackets and hats can be stowed.

This way the given space is used most efficiently and safely. When I see someone put their briefcase or coat in the overhead bin before there is even a piece of luggage in there it always makes me mad at how inefficient and inconsiderate people can be. Pet peeve of mine. ;)

[Esther]

I've got a tri-star and I'm looking to downgrade to the western flyer. So, for me, this is a great way to learn to use a smaller bag and pack in a more minimal fashion.

[Jenne]

Esther, I have both a Tri-Star and a Western Flyer. After my recent experience trying to check my Tri-Star on Southwest but not having time because the lines were so long, I've decided to switch back to the Western Flyer, which easily fits under the seat.

Till, I have the same pet peeve. It's even more annoying when the attendant says not to put coats up there until after all the bags are stowed and then people go and do it anyway! There's enough room for almost everyone to stow a bag overhead if people would use the space efficiently!

I've decided rather than panic about overhead bin space, I'm going to make sure all of my stuff can fit under the seat. That way, if there is space overhead, it'll be a nice bonus.

[Graham]

There is a similar dilemma with promoting off-season travel. I like to preach the benefits of cheaper and less crowded travel during the quieter low season.

But of course it would no longer be cheaper and less crowded if too many people followed my advice - the benefits of off-season travel depend upon most people NOT travelling off-season.

Nevertheless, I promote both off-season travel and one-bagging to anyone interested ... I've enjoyed the benefits of both so much I can't help wanting others to enjoy it too. I don't think there would be enough people changing long-held travel habits, purely on our recommendations, to significantly spoil things for us.

[pat]

I work at an airport and people that have the expandable luggage are now being told that it can not be expanded in order to fit in the overhead, if it is it must be gate checked. Depends who is working the gate as to the enforcement of this. I get peeved at the people sitting in the back that do use the overhead in the front of the plane. I refused on a recent flight to allow the flight attendant to move my small 19 inch bag to the back so a women with a huge suitcase could fit hers in my overhead. I would have been the last one off and had already missed five flights out of Charlotte that day due to not getting out of my airport due to fog. I know people that carry so much stuff that they use 6 bins going through the checkpoint and then try and squeeze it all into two bags. I have gotten my friends to get on board the one bag somewhat and for an upcoming trip to Ireland and Scotland have sent them your link. We will see if they come through. I am looking for the landor hawa bag under 20 inches. The trip to Scotland has very strict weight and size limits. Thank you, love this site.

[Andrew]

One bagging is a personal choice, not a religious oath. It's a reaction--to personal experiences where multiple bags or rollaboard bags proved problematic, or lost/misconnected checked bag horror stories, or to opportunistic airline bag fees, or whatever. I've had all these, and most people have (or eventually will). I've learned a lot from OBOW and other sites, and it's a continuing evolution of tips, techniques and specialized gear/apparel.

It's both fun and enlightening to discover how much of our what-if, just-in-case travel 'baggage' are really just impedimenta that can easily be left at home. This aspect of one-bagging is the perfect urban analogy for lightweight backpacking...getting from one place to the next place while dragging the least amount of junk possible yet still remaining comfortable. There are obvious deeper lessons to be gleaned about the extraneous nature of lots of physical possessions, if one is so inclined...and that's gravy.

[chitowngambler]

What makes me mad is the lack of control by the gate personnel over the size of bags. For the record, I am not promoting making every bag first fit into the sizer thingee before boarding but we have all seen huge “checked’ sized bags in the overhead taking up the room for 2 standard carry on bags. When I pack, I work very hard to stay within the requirements set out by the airline, heck I even have a small tape measure to use just in case there is a hassle. All that is useless if you hear “Sorry there is no room” and the overhead is filled with bags that do not belong. Suggestions that they bounce the big bags out to make room for a regulation sized bag are ignored with a polite smile or a hint at reporting a problem to TSA. The airline does not care if a oversized bag is in the overhead or not they just want to leave on time. I have also seen oversized bags get through security only to be gate checked for free much to the annoyance of those who played by the rules and checked for a fee.

[pat]

TSA has no say over the size of the bags. The airlines would love to pass this nasty job off to them though. I have seen them blame TSA for things that are FAA or airline policy. "TSA will not allow you to bring that itty bitty turtle on board" TSA could care less, that is airline policy. One airline doesn't care, one does. Delta has the turtle and sand crab policy...the little kid is standing in line with his critters screaming and the ticket agent blames TSA...
I see some gate agents get very tough on pax and others are very lenient. I know that some airline agents get bonus money for how much extra baggage fees they make. It is great incentive for catching those big bags. They have amounts for the month listed on their blackboards and their goal for the month. Bags are big money now.

[Hydrophil (UK)]

I have just found this site and love it. For some of us one bag is not an option, it is a strict requirement. I work offshore, both in Arctic and equatorial climates. Often, the last leg of our journey is by helicopter trip to the ship. They have baggage restrictions that make the most restrictive airlines look luxurious. Often total baggage allowance can be one bag, 12kg (25lbs). Bear in mind our trips can last for two or three months at a time and we often have to take PPE (personal protective equipment) with us as well. This is stuff like flame retardant coveralls, eye protection, hearing protection, etc. Total weight of PPE (after much research and expensive trials tends to be about 4.5kg (10lbs). This leaves about 12-14lbs (5-6kg) for all your clothes, electronic gadgets, toiletries, contact lenses, etc.

It is often very difficult to do this, especially in cold climates.

I have more bags than my wife. A lot more. Each one gives me the maximum amount of space and weight. My current top 5 (depending on airline and target climate are):

1: Sky Train (Red Oxx - hits the spot 50% of the time and is my first choice unless there is a reason to use something else)
2: Victorinox Standard Issue (A business like look with a setup somewhere between the Air Boss and the Sky Train - but it is quite hard to find in stores (even online))
3: Pelican backpack (can't recall the specific product name but it has a waterproof hard shell for laptops and a soft backpack hybrid construction)
4: Rohan 50 litre backpack with reversible back (www.Rohan.co.uk - this has the largest potential capacity and is more like a standard backpack, but lightweight and the back reverses to completely hide the straps.
5: Air Boss (Red Oxx - which I love but somehow never get around to selecting for a trip).

I am considering getting an Aeronaut sometime, but I have promised my wife I won't get any more bags for a while.

So, how do I manage to pack everything I need for two months into about 6kg? With difficulty and it has taken me years to perfect it. Finding the right suppliers, choosing the right kit, balancing the quantities, etc. However, at this point in time, I can take everything I need and use pretty much the same setup for every climate.

I HIGHLY recommend Rohan clothes. www.rohan.co.uk. This next bit is going to sound like a paid commercial for them, but when one bagging every little trick helps and the combination of RedOxx, Rohan, Apple and Frogbeats does it for me.

Rohan publishes the weight of everything and its packing volume in the item description. The materials are second to none, many items are ultra-lightweight, all of them are tough, comfortable and do everything you need. The flipside is they are pricey. I have enough of their clothes with spares to last me about 5 years. Bear in mind I do about 183-200 days a year offshore and so I live in their stuff most of the time and keep a bag packed ready to go all the time. I can't afford to be without everything I need ready to go within an hour's notice. By contract I have to be able to get to an airport within two hours and be ready for any destination on the planet, so spares are also essential for me.

Their ether trousers (minus the included belt) for 40 inch waist comes to about 170g pack into their own pocket, dry within a few hours and are tough and windproof and comfortable, T-shirts and shirts from their light weight ranges are similar. They do some of the lightest, toughest insulation and waterproof layers you can find and all of them have lasted me for years in rough industrial environments.

5 pairs of trousers, 4 T-shirts, 2 shirts, 6 pairs of socks, 6 pairs of underwear, a thermal vest, a thermal jacket, waterproof trousers and jacket, a hat and gloves and 7 handkerchiefs all come in at a total of about 3.5kg. Using these I can combine base layers, multiple thermal layers and waterproof layers to take me down to about -10 (centigrade) with strong winds and rain (up to about force 9) before I need to use something more heavy duty from the ship's supplies.

In a hot climate the trousers and T-shirt are lightweight, wick away sweat and allow good airflow, block sunlight and provide some protection from insect bites. They also treat a lot of their clothes with this silver stuff that keeps clothes fresher for a lot longer.

They also have these packing bags, no different really than the cubes that go into the aeronaut. I pack everything into a range of these and they make life a lot easier. I recommend the 4 litre size for the most flexibility.

Another trick, is Rohan sell a 30 litre packable holdall that weighs 160g and fits into a pocket. I pack this and in the rare event I need to bring something extra or do some shopping on the way home I can always check this emergency bag in or if the airline ever gives me trouble about the size or weight of my cabin luggage I pull out the holdall prepacked with the PPE and just hand it over to check in, so far this has never happened.

I take a fully maxed out MacBook Air with a lightweight sleeve and charge (weighs in at about 1.25kg).

I have custom fit in ear monitors (the top 3 brands I have come across are JH Audio, Heir Audio and Frogbeats. I currently use frogbeats C4s and they are brilliant) and a classic iPod (160gb of uncompressed lossless music). These along with a custom cable 7 feet long weigh nothing.

My toiletries come in at about 0.6kg (including 2 months of daily contacts and two weeks of cold/flu medication).

Spare shoes - Nike Fynits (250g).

Documents about 250g - log book, passports, offshore certificates, seaman's books, itinerary, etc.

I wear my rigging boots (1.5kg) and carry a few extras in my pockets and wear one of the thermal jackets knocking about 350g off the clothing weight.

There's often a little bit of juggling around involved, but this pretty much does it every time.

If going to a very hot place I can leave one of the insulated layers behind (although even hot places can cool down at night and a waterproof is essential in the tropics).

It is always amusing when I see people going away for a week to a hot place and they cart large bags with them. Even when I travel for leisure now I travel light, normally with one of my least used favourite bags for a bit of variety. Normally it's half empty because of the lack of PPE.

I love travelling light. I didn't start doing it by choice, but now I love it. However, unless you use tricks (cheats) like shipping other stuff separately or buying stuff locally... I would strongly suggest that if you really need to travel light and be completely self sufficient, then spend a lot of time researching your choice for everything and think it through and don't shy away from spending on quality items if you need to travel a lot.

I need less than 100ml of shampoo to last me 8 weeks, so I need to be sure it is a good shampoo with enough concentration to work in small quantities, and one where half the ingredients are not non-shampooing related.

I use daily contacts, but also carry glasses as a backup. I need strong frames, so they weigh a little more than frameless, but I have them photochromic, so they get darker when it's brighter. This means I don't need sunglasses.

I tried the iPad instead of the MBA, but it wasn't quite enough. I do carry a Kindle in my pocket, but actually charge it through the MBA with a cable rather than taking an extra power adapter.

I also have a good pair of scales at home and weigh each bag religiously making small corrections to get it just right.

What it comes down to is research, comparing reviews, seeing items in person if you can, trialing a bit of something and being patient. Now, when I pack it's easy and with the scales it takes me 5 or 10 minutes to get ready to go, refill toiletry bottles, etc. Then I put my bag in the closet and forget about it until the phone call comes. Also, if I want to go away for a holiday with my wife when I am on call I just take this bag with me in addition to another bag packed for the holiday. If the phone goes while I am on holiday I leave the other bag with my wife and head to the airport. My holiday bag is small enough for her to put it in her check in luggage.

Research, trial stuff, and when you find a good supplier, don't be scared of spending the money.

You can't afford to buy cheap. If you buy cheap, you'll buy twice and still end up not where you want to be.