travellovers2

We have a flight coming up MCO - PHL -VCE and are debating whether we should check in our (2) 20" suitcases or take them on the plane. We always check them in and only take our 2 small carry on bags on the plane. We're concerned with the amount of space on the overhead bins for all 4 pieces. One of the carry ons can fit under the seat in front, but it would take the entire space, so that would not give me any room for my feet and the PHL-VCE is a long flight.

We have never had any problems with our luggage not making it to our destination, but since we're connecting, this time, we're wondering if it's time we carry on our 20" suitcases.

For the MCO-PHL flight we're in 1st class and for the PHL-VCE flight we're in PE.

Before we go through the hassle of finding 3oz toiletries and 3oz bottles to put our other stuff in, I would like to know what you would do in our case? Should we be worried about the space or lack there of or just check them in?

Mr. BoH

The general answer to this question, IMO is always carry on only unless you have to check.

In your situation, you�ll be fine. Flying F domestic the first leg means you�ll board first and have room. Then on the international leg, the widebodies have amole carryon space, especially in PE.

npretnar

Since your first leg is confirmed in First, you will get a Priority bag tag if you check. Don�t know if that assuages your concerns.

I�ve never had a bag lost by AA, going on 5 years now. I check almost always and fly internationally frequently with AA, often with connections.

ashill

If your main concern is your bags getting lost, I don�t think that�s a huge concern and is at best fourth on the list of reasons I personally don�t check unless we �have� to. (The most common reason I�ll check bags is if I�m carrying wine; the other reason I�ll check is if I have a long layover and don�t want to lug bags around going into the city.) Even travelling with kids we pretty much never check. You should of course always be willing to put your personal item under the seat in front of you and not take overhead bin space with a second bag unless/until everyone is on board and has had a chance to put their main carryon above, but there�s usually room to add personal items when boarding is complete on international wide bodies, so in practice you�re unlikely to not have the foot room.

My main reasons for not checking (in order):

1. IRROPS flexibility. Much easier to hop on a different flight without checked bags.
2. Not having to stress about arriving at the airport and check-in counter before the bag drop cutoff and being able to skip the check in lines altogether (especially at international outstations where they can be quite long).
3. Being able to go straight to Passport Control/Customs and out of the airport on landing instead of waiting at the carousel.

S80

I second this, especially at international outstations the wait for bags can take a while, and they don't always prioritize the priority bags getting to the carousel first.
Unless I am traveling with enough stuff that I cannot check a bag, I always carry on. Since I care about leg/knee room, I always select the first row of the cabin where bags cannot go at my feet anyways (typically the first row of PE on the right side is blocked off until t-24, it might be worth checking seats 24 hours before the PHL-VCE flight to select those if you really are worried), but I've never had an issue with overhead space in F or PE regardless of if I'm in the first row or not.

carlosdca

And this is the reason why when flying F one has to make way among the gate crowds to board first.
F overhead bins in domestic tend to fill really quick. So putting two items in the bins in domestic F is simply RUDE, IMO.
When flying domestic F, I also don't like having anything in my feet, but it is not a big deal, so I usually wait till boarding is finished and check if there is still room for my backpack.

PE international s a different story. There is usually plenty of bin space.
And, most personal items simply won't fit under the seat because the PE seats have very little clearance from the floor. I have a backpack that is rather flat (6" on the narrow side) and it does not fit under the PE seat.

S80

Yes, they do, but the position of the seat supports (edit: in 737/321 F) is also bad. If you're in the aisle, you can either place it to the left of the support (which if it's not a tiny bag, it doesn't fit) or to the right (which is rude imo as it then invades the foot space of the window passenger).

carlosdca

At a PE window seat, I tried several ways, but it just did not slide in under the seat. I have an upcoming lax mia 787 booked as Y but with a PE seat. Will try again and check your suggestion.

VegasGambler

To each their own. I have literally checked a bag on every flight I've taken in the past decade+.

Since I stopped taking a laptop with me on many trips I don't even always take a small carry-on any more. My phone, charger, wallet, and keys go in my pocket; everything else goes in the checked bag. It's freeing not having to lug stuff around the airport or worry about overhead bin space. I've never had a bag lost or misdirected, and if I did it would be a minor inconvenience. They sell clothes and toothpaste at my destination too.

S80

My apologies, that was for domestic F (I've edited my post above to clarify). In domestic F there is more room, but I believe you'd struggle to fit a max size personal item under due to the height. In PE the footrest mechanism limits the height even more so it's impossible to fit an average size personal item under the seat.

WeekendTraveler

I fly several times a week and have been Platinum or higher (or the equivalent) for several decades.

I have never lost a bag.

Why? Because I never check one.

The CVS drugstore travel section has miniature bottles of everything you need.

Antarius

Same. I check 1 or 2 bags on every trip. Backpack on board.

I've been less lucky as AA misplaces my bag about once a year. However, theyve always covered replacements with no issues.

S80

The law of large numbers always applies.

While I definitely agree with all of the points of checking a bag, and AA has yet to misroute a checked bag of mine, if I checked a bag every trip I'd spend about 2.5 days a year waiting at a carousel (assuming a 20 minute average, which is what AA at ORD takes on a good day).

I am also always traveling with multiple laptops (thanks to clients that require me to work on their own device), so having a rollaboard helps keep the weight off of my shoulders, which is definitely nice, or spread the weight by putting one in each bag. (And no, a wheeled underseat bag is not desirable, as having a backpack for the days out is desired).

AJNEDC

You might want to check the type of aircraft on the MCO-PHL leg. I just did a domestic first on a regional carrier on DL last week and I don't think your 20" would fit in the overhead.

Aliquot

As others have said the main reason to not check isnt lost bags, wxcept for a few high high profile meltdowns all the airlines do a good job. It's the hours of your life spent waiting for bags, checking them in, and the loss of options in IROPS. If you are O.K. with this and carying a bag annoyes you, than by all means check them.

I for one, need a very compeling reason to forgoe the freedom of walking off my plane (or out of immigration) and being done with the airport/airline experience.