Buying a Wheeled Carry On

The Dreaded Hand Luggage Guide

It's important when choosing a wheeled carry on to ensure that the bag will fit comfortably into the overhead locker. Look for a square shaped carry on, with few extruding parts. Hard shelled carry ons are more difficult to squeeze into the locker than soft, so pick a slightly smaller size when going for a hard shell. Restrictions vary from airline-to-airline as to the precise size of luggage allowed, but a rule-of-thumb is look for a maximum 45 linear inches (linear inches is the sum of length, width, and depth). The overhead lockers were designed for 45" bags, so passengers trying to stow 52" bags often have trouble, causing Flight Attendants problems and slowing boarding. Generally, wheeled bags in the 19"-22" fit the carry on category.

Don't forget you can carry a significant amount in pockets on your person. A jacket and a pair of cargo pants can help reduce the load on your carry on.

Different airlines have slightly different restrictions on the size and weight of carry on luggage, so it is important to check these before buying. Comprehensive details about airline carry on luggage size and weight restrictions can be found at carry on luggage reviews.

Hopefully you will not have the problem demonstrated in the following video!

Remember that the bag you expect to be carry on can instead be gate-checked. If you are one of the last to board the aeroplane, and the overhead lockers are full (or your bag is just plain too big), the flight attendant will take your carry on from you, label it, give you a receipt tag, and then pass the bag down to join the other hold luggage. This video shows what might happen to your carry on next!