I agree with you on this, Ber2dca.

Obviously not or we wouldn't be having this discussion.

The fifteen minutes he "saved" by not picking up a checked bag could easily have been lost somewhere else on the journey for any innocuous reason. His time management should allow for that.

I would think most posters advocating carry-on only don't fall into this category anyway.

He thinks it's just fine. The fact that other people who know nothing of his situation disagree is completely irrelevant to anyone who matters.

"could have been" is even less relevant.

Only until such time as he screws up. Then he'll find his boss (substitute boss with customer/shareholder/whoever where applicable) disagrees and is quite relevant.


It is relevant when it happens.

Do traffic jams, late trains, taxis that don't show, flights that circle for 15 minutes, security delays etc etc never happen to these people? Of course they do, and good planning takes these real life situations into account.

Since his income has been 7 or 8 figures for a number of years, I figure he's doing pretty well.

Presumably, it's better to book 20 meetings a week and average getting to 90-95% of them than to book 10 meetings and get to all of them, for somebody whose income derives directly from being at those meetings.

"If you never miss a flight, you're spending too much time in airports."

I do carry on 9 out of 10 times, including Australia, China, Europe and South America but not exceeding 7-8 days max. I check in when going on vacations with my wife only and always pray for no loss/damage. Baggage handlers especially in North America are barbarians. Also, the less interaction with any staff at the airport (eliminating check-in) the better! I have had countless luggage problems of all kinds in the past and started carry on practice some 7 years ago after litigating UA over my damaged luggage. We settled out of court after the first hearing but I have no time for this nonsense! I use one standard Rimowa carry on plus laptop bag.

And for the 99.9% of other "He's" being discussed here, yours would not be the best advised course of action.

I'm glad you clarified you weren't having a general discussion at last.

not spending time in airport is why i like concept of VIP services (queue jump and more at commercial airport) - not sure why so little discussion on FT when many pay for longhaul F

theyre not available in US, although there is AA five star

For some people it is, for others it isn't. You're the one making up numbers ("99.9%").

Your numbers, my research, based on an relatively affluent nation (USA) in 2011 (latest figures I could find).

235,000 make over a million dollars. http://www.quora.com/How-many-people...ear-in-the-USA

Population 311 million. http://www.census.gov/newsroom/relea.../cb11-215.html

So 99.92% to be more acccurate.

Use 160 million as that is roughly the number of Americans working. My 8 year old granddaughter shouldn't be counted. ;)

If she can fly she's getting counted. ;)

Even with your figures, it still works out at 99.9% (to one decimal place :D )

Now count the number of flights. Those people fly 100 times as often as the average person, possibly more. And each of those $1 million + people travels with a handful of others (juniors, assistants) who earn less.

some humor relating to baggage at the airport... this guy is pretty funny :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=56&v=lXZMlEy7fb4