Originally Posted by enthusiastic flier
I'm doing IAD-AMS-BOM later this week and was wondering if they'd let me have my backpack on my along with my carry-on bag. Anyone done this before? For what it's worth IAD-AMS is on KLM and AMS-BOM is NW. My ticket is a NW itinery. Thanks for any responses.
I've traveled 500K miles with NWA and most of the time I have my black Eagle hiking backpack with me. The only place I've ever had trouble is with the "kindly" folks here in Tampa at TSA. They challenge me, I demonstrate it fits, and off I go.
Notes:
Make sure you cinch it to its smallest size and make sure it can fit, if challenged, into that metal "box" thingy they use to test the size of carryons.
If you're flying a 747 upstairs it won't fit overhead or in the side bin. Use the overhead bin at the foot of the stairs so you can grab it again on your way out. When I fly upstairs I keep my tolietries in my other backpack (with my laptop and camera equipment) so I don't have to go fishing through for my backpack for toothbrush etc. on long flights.
For you, since you're going through AMS to BOM, you're going to be on a 330, and a backpack fits fine overhead.
The upside to doing this while flying is not having to wait for your luggage before you can go on through customs. Plus, you get all the goodness that comes from having a super expandable back-strappable luggage set.