View from the 23rd Row

Carry-On Luggage

This is a subject that I can go one for hours about, so I'll try to keep this simple. Carry-on luggage is the luggage you bring with you on-board, usually small bags or backpacks. Most American carriers only allow you one bag and one personal item (like a purse or shopping bag). Here are my rules for carry-on luggage:

1. Let me say this again - most American carriers only allow you ONE bag and ONE personal item! Yet inevitably there are those jerks who somehow get through security with three or four pieces (all overstuffed big bags). Don't be one of those people, learn to pack - you don't need four pairs of jeans if you're going to Vegas for three days!

2. Keep all the essentials in the carry-on luggage. My favorite letter to the CEO of non-descript airlines (I worked up in the CEO's office as an admin. for a brief stint) was a letter from a mother whose son was suffering from a life-threatening disease and blamed non-descript airlines for almost killing him because we misplaced their luggage. Ahhh...excuse me stupid woman, but if the disease was so life-threatening, WHY DID YOU STICK THE MEDICINE IN THE CHECKED BAGGAGE, WHERE YOU KNOW THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THINGS CAN GET LOST? Don't be stupid, don't put your house keys, you medicine, your credit cards anything that you can't live without in you checked luggage, carry that on-board with you, cause you know when you land it will still be there with you!

3. Now for the reverse rule, don't pack everything in your carry-on bag. I love when people essentially bring a big-ass suitcase on board and say, "this is my carry-on." NO I don't think so - that is not only unfair but potentially dangerous if it were to fall from the overhead bin. The good thing lately is that many airlines are now forcing these cheaters to check the bag at the gate.

4. Overhead space for carry-on luggage is at a premium, try not to be a selfish pig and put only your big piece in the overhead bin and small pieces underneath the seat in front of you. Small pieces include shopping bags, small purses, lite jackets, half-empty containers, camera bags, and makeup cases. If you don't want anything in the little space in front of you - don't bring so much stuff on-board (see rule #1 & #3).

5. Understand that your precious bag is not so precious to everyone else and it's going to get jostled as it is stuffed overhead, if you have something delicate in there and fear it breaking - take it out.

6. Once the bag is up - leave it alone. Don't be one of those annoying people who has to constantly keep opening the overhead bin and getting this or that out. Whatever is necessary for you on the flight - take it out of the bag before you put it overhead.

Follow these rules and you will be a model passenger, someone airlines love - don't follow these rules and be assured that you are an inconsiderate slob and your fellow travelers are cursing the heck out of you!