To check or not to check -- that is the question.

For me -- it all depends how much luggage I have, if I have upgraded or not, if I know it is a full flight and if I have a connection.

If I have more than my garment bag and computer bag, I will check all but the computer bag.

If I upgrade (usually on American) I will carry on my garment bag and computer bag -- the garment bag hangs well in the front closet.

If I dont upgrade and know that the flight is not full (thank god for Personal AAccess), I will carry on as much as I can -- apparently none of you have flown into LaGuardia (NY) at 11:30pm on the last flight in and still wait 45 minutes for your luggage.

Connections are a tricky one. Flying American means hubbing through Chicago or Dallas. If I have to connect and dont have too much luggage, I will carry on (upgrading or not). Most times I will check even if I dont have alot of luggage to avoid dragging my luggage, computer and body from gate 1C to 34C in Dallas or H20 to K3 in Chicago.

And on thing I learned the hard way. I was on a flight from NY to Greenville SC via Dallas(AA) and Charlotte (US) (long story). I checked in my bags from LGA to CLT. I had an 1-1/2 hour wait time. I figured I would get my bag from AA and carry it onto the US flight -- so I only checked the bag from LGA to CLT. We get delayed at LGA for 1 hour. We arrive in CLT with 1/2 hour for me to make my connecting flight. Unfortunatley, my bag stayed in CLT while I went to Greenville. My bag arrived the next day and I leared if I am going to check -- check it all the way through.