What's the largest piece of wheeled carry on luggage that I can take on any US based carrier? Who makes a decent one and where can I get it for a good price -- delivered by FridaY?

-new traveler

What's the largest piece of wheeled carry on luggage that I can take on any US based carrier? Who makes a decent one and where can I get it for a good price -- delivered by FridaY?

-new traveler

I'll let someone US based to answer with specifics - but perhaps you'd better check with the particular airline you're flying with. If you have a paperticket the limits should be on an enclosure - or you can probably find the info on the website.

BUT: remember the purpose made "wheeled" types can eat terribly into your weight allowance for carry on. (Likely to be around 6Kg or 7kg but often you'll be allowed a bit more). Also they "look" heavier - so are more likely to be checked for weight compliance.

If what you want to carry is heavy but not so bulky, you might be better off with a shoulder bag. You can usually get away with a couple of extra small plastic bags, laptop bag, stuffed pockets etc. I carried about 15Kg in a shoulder bag on Continental between LAX and SAT last year without any problem.

Of course it becomes annoying to other pax if you push it too far.

The problem with bags is lugging them around the airport, otherwise a couple duffle bags would be the answer. Even carrying the laptop bag is bad enough. I believe 40-45 cubic inches or something is generally the US limit, but I was wondeirng what peoples experiences are.


I'll let someone US based to answer with specifics - but perhaps you'd better check with the particular airline you're flying with. If you have a paperticket the limits should be on an enclosure - or you can probably find the info on the website.

BUT: remember the purpose made "wheeled" types can eat terribly into your weight allowance for carry on. (Likely to be around 6Kg or 7kg but often you'll be allowed a bit more). Also they "look" heavier - so are more likely to be checked for weight compliance.

If what you want to carry is heavy but not so bulky, you might be better off with a shoulder bag. You can usually get away with a couple of extra small plastic bags, laptop bag, stuffed pockets etc. I carried about 15Kg in a shoulder bag on Continental between LAX and SAT last year without any problem.

Of course it becomes annoying to other pax if you push it too far.

What's the largest piece of wheeled carry on luggage that I can take on any US based carrier?

You'll have to check with the specific airline (web sites help). It can also depend on which class of service you are flying in, and whether it is domestic or international.

For practical purposes, also note that overhead and underseat storage spaces vary in size between different airplanes and different seats (e.g. some WN 737 planes have overhead bins large enough for "22-inch" rollaboards to go in perpendicular to the aisle, allowing more of them in the bin, but others are just slightly too small). So soft squishy carryon bags can be useful to fit in spaces that are just slightly too small in one dimension, if the contents are not fragile enough to be damaged by being squished.

Also note that if you are in the last boarding group in economy class, you may find the overheads filled up by previously boarded passengers, so you may have to gate check your carryon if it won't fit under the seat.

Most airlines have a definition of 22" X 14" X 9". That size will fit in just about any OH bin for full-size jets. Most OH bins are a bit larger now, since a lot of pax overpack these bags, and the vast majority still fit.

I am trying to buy a carry on but want to get the largest one I can get away with. YEP I know the rules about sizes... BUT the question is what can I safely get away with assuming I will be boarding first and will have access to the bins. Usually I try to get a seat in the rear of the plane so I board relatively early. I was looking at some of the TUMI bags and they make a few that are temptingly slightly larger than a regular carry on.

Here are 2 sizes they offer:

TUMI Model 22004 24" x 15.25"x 10.5" - H xW xD ( THis one looks like a no brainer !! )

TUMI Model 22024 24" x 18"x 11" ( THink this might be OK ??? )

THese use a POPUP 2.5" extension... which I am not crazy about since squeezing the bags will be an issue of there is tight fit. THe zipped extension is preferable.

cpr_metro, welcome to FlyerTalk. Your best solutions will come from our Travel-> Travel Products forum, and I'll move this to that forum for further discussion. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

...TUMI Model 22004 24" x 15.25"x 10.5" - H xW xD ( THis one looks like a no brainer !! )

TUMI Model 22024 24" x 18"x 11" ( THink this might be OK ??? )
...
A 24" carryon will not fit wheels first in any overhead bin and does not meet any domestic airline's carryon standard. In general, a 22" is the max that will fit and some of them are problematic because the wheels or handle stick out just a bit too far for the bin to close. If you use a 24" carryon, no matter your ticketed destination, you will almost always be rerouted to Gatecheck City.

Thanks for the comments........

What if I didn't put it in wheels first and instead put it in side first?
I think I'd be OK.. no ???

Thanks for the comments........

What if I didn't put it in wheels first and instead put it in side first?
I think I'd be OK.. no ???

You can do that, but I think you might annoy fellow passengers by taking up space. FAs will try to do wheels first to maximize space.

If it doesn't fit wheels first then it doesn't fit, but what really annoys me is people who don't try it before sticking it in sideways.

24" is definitely too big. Once at HKIA, they didn't allow 22" carry on for economy passengers. Remember, it will be full too and you have to be able to lift it into the overhead. You may have trouble getting down the aisle if it's too wide!

Duplicate message

Two weeks ago I bought a High Sierra 22" carry on wheeled backpack, which had a removable daypack. The model is AT405 and measures 22"x13.75"x8" and weights 7.46 lbs. Last weekend I flew Sydney-Auckland for a wedding, and the bag was great, and although it was only a two night trip the bag was more than enough for two of us. It meets carry on requirements for USA with the front daypack removed, but this then becomes a "personal item" and you can fit a lot of gear in that small daypack. I looked at other models, but this model has only recently been released and has telescopic handle which recesses completely into the bag thereby allowing better fit in the overhead locker. Everyone to their own, but it is very durable; pulls easily and I am very pleased with this purchase. I don't know if this is the same model but here is a view of it: http://www.amazon.com/High-Sierra-Wheeled-withRemovable-8050-33BK/dp/B000WYGUJY/ref=sr_1_33?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1213232141&sr=8-33

... no ???
Umm. No.

The overhead bin space is shared space with all passengers and is often overfull as it is. Trying to stuff in sideways a 24" suitcase, assuming you even get it onboard past the GA, is likely to really annoy those around you. There are many on this board, on finding the bins overcrowded, who would simply turn your bag so it is in end-first and use the resulting extra space to stow their own bag, leaving the bin open. When the FA comes along and is unable to close the bin, it will be the oversized bag that will be removed and checked. And you would deserve the resulting trip to baggage claim upon arrival.

We all have to share the very limited onboard space. That is why the airlines have the rules they have. The really experienced flyers who frequent this board all manage to get along with legal sized carryons. It isn't that difficult.

A 24" bag is too big. It doesn't matter how you get it into the bin, Chances are you won't get it that far. Gate agents see bags day in and day out. They can spot an oversized bag and won't let it on. More and more airlines are using sizers since they'll be charging for checked bags. If it doesn't fit in the sizer, it gets checked.

Get a 22" bag. STick to 22 x 14 x 9. A few airlines will allow slightly larger but very few.

Thanks for the comments........

What if I didn't put it in wheels first and instead put it in side first?
I think I'd be OK.. no ???

Sure, if you want to be a selfish @$$ with little regard to the fact that others have to share the same limited space as you do.

Ok ... I get the idea. @:-)

Are the gate agents also hassling those that have unzipped their
expansion so as to make the 22" bag thicker by 2 to 3 " ??

Gate Agents don't do their job either in enforcing elite boarding or size of carryons... you'll just piss off a lot off people... but any size you want depending on how big an ... you'd like to be

I am trying to buy a carry on but want to get the largest one I can get away with. ... I was looking at some of the TUMI bags and they make a few that are temptingly slightly larger than a regular carry on.

Here are 2 sizes they offer:

TUMI Model 22004 24" x 15.25"x 10.5" - H xW xD ( THis one looks like a no brainer !! )

TUMI Model 22024 24" x 18"x 11" ( THink this might be OK ??? )

THese use a POPUP 2.5" extension...
What if I didn't put it in wheels first and instead put it in side first?
I think I'd be OK.. no ???
(Bolding mine)

Sure! If you could get away with it, I think there are larger options with 26", 28", even 32" bags. Why stop at 24"? :p

Image you have a checked bag with 51 lbs. Just a tiny little 1 lb over the free allowance. Assuming you are a non-elite flyer flying (before the 1st checked bag fee kicking in), you think the airline will let it slide and not charge you for the over-weight bag since it's just 1 lb?

Think again!

It's not about being selfish or not. The reality is 22" being the "common sense" largest carry-on bag that are not supposed to be challenged. Sometimes they even gate check 22" rollaboards.

Here are the listed restrictions of two airlines:

AA: 45 in/114 cm (carry-on)--link (http://www.aa.com/aa/pubcontent/en_US/travelInformation/baggage/baggageAllowance.jsp)
UA: Carry-on bag dimensions should not be more than 9 x 14 x 22 in/22 x 35 x 55 cm (length + width + height) or 45 linear in/112 linear cm (the length, height and width added together).--link (http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1032,00.html)

I think 45" max is the (universal) standard. If you can manage to have the measure of your 24" bag fitting into the 45" (max of L+H+W), then by all means carry that bag on. The math I have with the two Tumi bags you'd listed: 49.74" & 53", respectively (without the 2.5" extension).

I know, I know, they are hard pills to swallow. But, man, those two bags do stand out if you want to bring them aboard. Wheel-in first or not, that's totally not the point. Those two 24" bags are for check-in, not for carry-on. Period.

Welcome to FT world!

Umm. No.

The overhead bin space is shared space with all passengers and is often overfull as it is. Trying to stuff in sideways a 24" suitcase, assuming you even get it onboard past the GA, is likely to really annoy those around you. There are many on this board, on finding the bins overcrowded, who would simply turn your bag so it is in end-first and use the resulting extra space to stow their own bag, leaving the bin open. When the FA comes along and is unable to close the bin, it will be the oversized bag that will be removed and checked. And you would deserve the resulting trip to baggage claim upon arrival.

We all have to share the very limited onboard space. That is why the airlines have the rules they have. The really experienced flyers who frequent this board all manage to get along with legal sized carryons. It isn't that difficult.

I bolded that part of the quote because it is true. I have turned over bags placed sideways that were not oversized simply because a prior passenger was too lazy to place it correctly, and I have no problems with doing it for an oversized bag.

It might not be a good idea to extend a bag the extra 2". People who travel often and those who see a lot of bags (like GAs) can notice the difference easily. Also, an extended bag may not fit in the overhead compartment because the extra 2-3 inches of width may be greater than the size of the overhead bin. When I travel with a 22" bag, it usually fits just right if it is packed all the way (without extending the bag).

Like others have mentioned, a 22" rollaboard should be enough for a trip (up to a week) along with a personal item (briefcase, backpack, shoulder bag for a laptop). If you are traveling for a longer period or have to be a packrat, then you should check in one bag or ship it in advance of your trip.

Is it just me or does it seem like there may be a bit of trolling in this thread in an effort to hit some hot buttons?

Maybe I'm just too suspcious....

Is it just me or does it seem like there may be a bit of trolling in this thread in an effort to hit some hot buttons?

Maybe I'm just too suspcious....

I was thinking the exact same thing.

A quick bit of measuring reveals that my bag is actually 22x15x10, though when i purchased it i made sure it was under the 45 requirements according to the numbers offered by the company.

I've never been stopped/questioned and my bag is usually the largest in the cabin.

On Delta with it really packed, but the expansion still zipped shut, it wouldn't fit in the bin at first - i had to try twice and shove it in there with much force (was getting caught on a lip).

It often fits wheel-first or whatever, but sometimes i have to resort to the pillow-trick to make it fit if a flight is crowded - if not i just sit it in there long ways.

Pillow-trick: Spin it around, wheels out, and stuff airline pillows under the front to tilt it up - allows the door to shut properly on certain aircraft.

Oh, and incase you doubt anyone would notice - a 22" is massive and most people dont have them. The 24" would definitely get noticed.