Getting A Handle On Luggage

By Author: Jayson Bailey
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There's one scene in the film Up In The Air that delights virtually every seasoned travel pro. Chances are if you've racked up a few frequent flier miles you know which one I'm talking about. In the scene George Clooney watches in horror as co-star Anna Kendrick arrives at the airport dragging an ancient pea green suitcase down the terminal. Ryan Bingham's (played by Clooney) first lesson for his fresh faced prodigy - It all starts with the right bag.

It's amazing to think how much time we put into planning our trips. We willingly spend countless hours shopping airlines, comparing hotels, and developing some sort of itinerary while we are there. It almost as if we're ready made locals by the time the plane touches the tarmac. But how many people really pay much consideration to their luggage? It pays to put some thought into choosing the right luggage sets.

For one, in the wake of a slumping tourism industry combined with factors such as the high price of fuel, many airlines are turning towards charging baggage fees for checked luggage. For example, one major US airline ...
... charges $25 for the first checked bag and as much as $55 for the second. And don't even think about checking a third bag. You might as well buy another ticket and let your luggage ride in the seat next to you. With the average cost of flying just your luggage somewhere it only makes sense to consider what that luggage can offer you. Here are some tips to help you travel a little easier.

For one, pack light. Avoid all those extra luxuries from home like pillows, hair dryers, and gadgets, and never take more than two pairs of shoes with you. They are bulky and eat up valuable space inside your suitcase. A basic rule of thumb is, if you can't easily fit all of your items into one large bag you've probably packed too much. Before you pack, lay everything out on your bed or floor and think, "what do I really need?" Then place each item one at a time inside your suitcase.

Which brings me to my second travel tip. Invest in a good quality rolling suitcase. You wouldn't put your laptop in a plastic grocery store bag before stuffing it under the seat in front of you. Don't treat the rest of your belongings that way either. There are a great number of quality luggage manufacturers out there. And it wouldn't be fair to single out one as heads and tails above the rest, but you'll never go wrong sticking with name brands like Samsonite luggage and Eagle Creek. Whatever you do, invest in something that is well constructed and durable, don't buy a cheap set from your neighborhood grocer or superstore.

Finally, the airlines do give travelers one freebie, a carry on. Use it wisely. Some airlines allow passengers to carry on one bag plus one small item such as a purse, satchel, or laptop. This is great because it allows you to skip the whole luggage check in process altogether and eliminate any risk of the airlines stranding you 3000 miles from home with no change of underwear. It's obvious to most travelers that the first bag should fit all the luggage they would normally check. It's with the second bag that most novices miss out.

Purses and laptop bags have limited use. They are designed to carry only one type of item and have limited space. They are not compartmentalized and if you overload them with a whole ton of stuff you'll be digging around endlessly every time you need your wallet for a pre-flight coffee, or your boarding pass. Instead try packing all those contents that you'll need regular access to into a multiple purpose carry on bag. Again there are a number of companies that make carry ons designed to help out the weary traveler. Kipling bags are great carry ons. My wife loves her Kipling Sherpa Tote. It's big enough to carry everything she needs but she can throw it on her shoulder like a normal purse, and it has multiple compartments so that she knows where everything is and can easily access anything from her ipod to her latest romance novel instantly.

Summer is approaching and it's that time of year again for vacationers to take to the skies. Follow these tips and you'll never be stuck in front of a duty free shop transferring all your belongings from one suitcase to another. Now if only the rest of planning a trip was this easy.