Carryons--is this too risky?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: BOS
Posts: 1,461
Carryons--is this too risky?
I'll be flying LH soon, and want a rolling carry-on as I can't carry a tote of any weight for long due to arthritis. Even my 19" suitcase is too deep and too heavy for LH, so I ordered a new one online. Brand is Dakine. It's lightweight, and has a frame but the front has no support to it. It's almost like a rolling backpack but with no straps.
I'm sure it will have to be checked on the tarmac in FRA for the connecting flight. I could also get unlucky and have to check it the whole way, even though it easily meets the requirements. Is it too risky to check a bag of this type if it doesn't have breakables inside? I've only checked more solid suitcases in the past. I wanted a lightweight hardside suitcase, but they were all too deep.
I'm sure it will have to be checked on the tarmac in FRA for the connecting flight. I could also get unlucky and have to check it the whole way, even though it easily meets the requirements. Is it too risky to check a bag of this type if it doesn't have breakables inside? I've only checked more solid suitcases in the past. I wanted a lightweight hardside suitcase, but they were all too deep.
#2
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,882
I'll be flying LH soon, and want a rolling carry-on as I can't carry a tote of any weight for long due to arthritis. Even my 19" suitcase is too deep and too heavy for LH, so I ordered a new one online. Brand is Dakine. It's lightweight, and has a frame but the front has no support to it. It's almost like a rolling backpack but with no straps.
I'm sure it will have to be checked on the tarmac in FRA for the connecting flight. I could also get unlucky and have to check it the whole way, even though it easily meets the requirements. Is it too risky to check a bag of this type if it doesn't have breakables inside? I've only checked more solid suitcases in the past. I wanted a lightweight hardside suitcase, but they were all too deep.
I'm sure it will have to be checked on the tarmac in FRA for the connecting flight. I could also get unlucky and have to check it the whole way, even though it easily meets the requirements. Is it too risky to check a bag of this type if it doesn't have breakables inside? I've only checked more solid suitcases in the past. I wanted a lightweight hardside suitcase, but they were all too deep.
Because of variations from airline to airline, I have now bought inexpensice lightweight bags, so if I have to throw them away after a couple of trips, I dont't have to cry !
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: west of DFW airport
Programs: AA LT Gold 1.9 MM flying my way to LT PLAT
Posts: 11,074
I carry Red Oxx bags as carry ons and a relatively inexpensive EBags Motherlode 25 inch bag for my checked bag. I don't check anything that is breakable. So far so good.
I also have a wheeled duffle that I often check. A really cheap one that I bought at a grocery store. I fill it with jackets, fleece stuff and boots for trips when that gear is needed. Also no problems thus far.
I also have a wheeled duffle that I often check. A really cheap one that I bought at a grocery store. I fill it with jackets, fleece stuff and boots for trips when that gear is needed. Also no problems thus far.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: BOS
Posts: 1,461
Thanks for the input! I guess I will give it a try. I'm not quite 5', and losing all of my clothes would be really difficult as I'm hard to fit. Good point about buying cheap carry-ons. I'm amassing quite a collection because of all the different requirements.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
i have done a number of tarmac checks, and never lost one. have not seen anyone around me complaining about a lost one. once when going on onto a small turboprop from muc or fra to vce or blq. they threw the tarmac stuff under the tail into an open bin. then pulled a large rubber netting up and over the open space.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: UK & Switzerland
Programs: BA; LH; AF
Posts: 145
I'm a little confused as to how a 19" carry-on is too heavy or big to fit on an LH flight. I fly with LH and LX quite frequently (2x short and long hauls with them in the next week) and usually take a 20" widebody Tumi plus a laptop case (brief-case style or backpack with camera gear as well as laptop). Even when switching to a smaller plane in FRA or ZRH and find that I need to gate-check the roll-aboard at boarding it hasn't been a cause for concern
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: BOS
Posts: 1,461
I'm a little confused as to how a 19" carry-on is too heavy or big to fit on an LH flight. I fly with LH and LX quite frequently (2x short and long hauls with them in the next week) and usually take a 20" widebody Tumi plus a laptop case (brief-case style or backpack with camera gear as well as laptop). Even when switching to a smaller plane in FRA or ZRH and find that I need to gate-check the roll-aboard at boarding it hasn't been a cause for concern
#10
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Berlin and Buggenhagen, Germany
Posts: 3,509
Mareh, I'd try it. As long as you can stay within the weight limit it should be alright. LH in my experience is more of a stickler for weight than for size. I'd also trust them for gate checking. No worries there. A rolling bag would have the advantage that you could put your hand bag on it. This way you could have a relatively heavy hand bag at around 8-10lbs which you won't be able to carry comfortably otherwise (according to the arthritis thingy).
Till
Till
#12
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: California
Posts: 46
I've had success with Samsonite's "Bright Lite." It fits in the airport sizers and I haven't had to check it on international flights. It weighs around 6lbs empty (maybe 6.6 if memory serves me correctly). Space is limited inside, but even as a woman, I was successfully able to do 6 days in Japan (in winter!) with it.