Do you do 22kg luggage or 10kg hand luggage only?

[MarshaBradyo]

Given recent baggage issues what is best these days?

And if hand luggage do you do the guarantee cabin luggage option

We are just back from 2 weeks in Crete. Hand luggage only. We got the easyJet speedy boarding which allows 2 bags guaranteed in the cabin. We had plenty clothes for 2 weeks in the sun and it was great to walk straight out of the airport without waiting for luggage. We were in our hire car 15 minutes after the plane touched down.

I will only travel this way in the future.

We are going hand luggage only to Croatia in august with easyJet. You can have 15kg but the bag size is tiny, like a day back pack 46cmx35cmx20cm. I have had a trial pack and can fit in something like a maxi and a shorter dress, shorts, three bras, 5 knickers, couple of pairs of socks, swimsuit, skirt, 2 long and 2 short sleeved t shirts, flip flops, 3 paperback novels, deodorant, soap, toothpaste and suntan oil, electric toothbrush, travel docs, hairbrush and glucose testing kit. We will have a washing machine in the villa. Will wear converse, and jeans and light denim jacket. I had to buy the backpack but it was a good one for £25 in TKMax and will be useful after.

Yes just the hand luggage with easyJet. Don't forget you can pretty much buy most of your toiletries abroad, so that saves room in your bag. I just take my favourite moisturiser and make up, and buy everything else the other end.
So much easier than waiting for luggage!

Wow I couldn't do a fortnight on hand luggage! 5 days is my limit.

With Easyjet I usually pay for a seat with the extra 10kg bag, or pay for it myself.

I managed to pack for skiing with a 10kg cabin bag only - although I did cheat by giving some toiletries to my friend with a check in bag.

I have to say I am looking forward to our jet2 package holiday for many reasons, but not least is the luxury of 22kg of luggage included. Not sure how I'll fill it tbh - we're half board as well so I don't need to bring my usual 2kg of Alpen .

I only ever do cabin luggage unless it's a cruise where I take fancy clothes just roll your clothes. So it all fits

I need/use every kg of the 22kg allowance!

Depends on the trip; I try to take only what I expect to need but don't cut it unrealistically tight. Are you worried about a checked bag being misrouted or lost? I make sure to have a change of clothes, something to sleep in, and basic toiletries in my hand luggage if I'm checking a bag. But I will go carry-on only to save the bag fee and save the hassle of a large and heavy suitcase I don't need.

I normally find that on an international flight, the baggage is there by the time I get through border control, so usually no extra wait (unless it's misrouted and you have to fill out paperwork).

It was recent stories about luggage piling up that made me re think

But actually the point below about not waiting around after getting off plane is a really good one

I recall travelling a lot for work and you’d get the devil’s stare from colleagues if you checked in baggage, arriving home you were left but at other country no dice with people appreciating it

Anyway I digress, guaranteed cabin sounds good and pack light

I've just had to pay a small fortune even for a 10kg check in bag with easy jet. The bag allowed in the cabin is just a personal handbag/ small back back.

I only ever take hand luggage unless the trip is longer than 3 weeks / longer than 2 weeks in winter. It all fits just fine.

We have just taken a Jet 2 flight to Ibiza. No delays whatsoever. Straight through passport stamping and the luggage was on the turntables. Would have made little difference having hand luggage. Would have saved maybe 2 minutes.

We use to do this for mini breaks before kids...
I did hear the other day this is causing some delays in security as so many people now have liquids on them. You can't win either way it seems!

It might save you two hours on the way back home though. Ibiza airport isn’t having staff shortages to the extent that eg Manchester or London Heathrow are.

We went hand luggage only recently (BA so a generous allowance) as we were transiting through Heathrow and didn't want to risk it getting lost. I'd forgotten how nice it is to just stroll off the plane and straight past the baggage belts, we'll do it again. We kept to minimal liquids and I just picked up a cheap moisturiser and a bottle of sun-cream at Boots in the airport.

Still didn't manage to wear everything I'd packed

Always hand luggage, even manage it skiing. Most people pack too much and as we often stay somewhere for a week and travel on it is so much easier with a good hand luggage case each. In the past I have booked one big 22kg (just me and now) and I have ended up dragging the thing on trains etc. Even with hand luggage there are often things we do not use. I am happy to get a wash done once (either through laundry service or if we have an apartment with a washer just bung in and hang out) and we do click and collect at the airport for sun lotion and bug spray etc. if we know it is hard to get in at our destination or will be very expensive. If we book a transfer from the airport in Europe we will ask to stop at Aldi/Lidl if there is one on the way for toiletries and sun lotion (nappies when DC younger). We have travelled for up to 3 weeks this way- wear your big heavy shoes on the plane and think about what you all really need. No one needs several going out dresses and matching shoes if you are only wearing them for a few hours on the evening.

Re easy jet- I’ve travelled several times with the small under seat cabin bag from Gatwick this year. Not once was it measured or was I asked to put it in the box to check the size. Although it was the small size, on every occasion I put it in the overhead locker.
my son always travels light with just a rucksack and has never been “ measured”

Unless I was going on a cruise, I’m committed to hand luggage only. Online check in and hand luggage means just going straight through security and no waiting the other end.
most stuff can be bought the other end if necessary.

We did 10 days in the Alps in May with hand luggage only - 2 cabin sized bags (one wheely, one a backpack) and kids had small rucksacks.

We had to cover weather from about 8-30 degrees so needed some clever packing and compressible packing cubes were a godsend - they allowed us to fit loads in. Definitely took less than usual but it was brilliant as we were taking lots of trains and local buses.

However were flying to an Australian winter next week for 3 weeks with very different temperatures, and a stopover in the tropics on the way back. We're checking luggage (but taking more changes of clothing in our hand baggage than usual.)

I used to be a hand luggage gal. Last few trips (Santorini and Croatia) taken since the travel chaos I've paid for luggage and just found it easier to stroll through. I've travelled Heathrow, Gatwick and Stanstead and each has been fine in terms of collecting. Checking luggage in has also meant I've not felt pressured to queue up early to get onto the plane to ensure my hand luggage gets on and stored closed to me.

Jet 2 experience brill as able to check in luggage evening before flight.

The general consensus here seems to be that hand luggage is sufficient.

Thanks for info I’ve made decision

Slightly different question are people searching for travel insurance that covers strikes?

I noticed the one we have does cover Covid related issues but not strikes

I'm a massive overpacker but when we went away earlier this year I only wore a third of what I packed so I'm determined to get better for our next trip. It will be a winter city trip and going with BA. I won't be able to do hand luggage only but I want to do shopping while there so want to only fill 2/3 of my case. I'll be using the compression packing cubes and wearing my duvet coat on the plane.

The general consensus here seems to be that hand luggage is sufficient

Generally maybe, but we rarely travel with just hand luggage. My husband’s camera stuff takes up most of his cabin baggage allowance. Plus, the type of things we do on holiday usually mean getting off the beaten track and doing stuff, with all the associated paraphernalia that entails.

Yes, hiking boots are a killer for us. Even if you wear them on the plane, you have to find room in your hand luggage for an extra pair of shoes.

I did hand luggage only for Venice recently and that was fine but the hassle was not being able to easily pack the 3 handbags and shoes I bought while there. On another holiday now and did bring luggage but there were long delays at the airport through security etc and 38 people were late for the flight…if they’d been on hand luggage the plane wouldn’t have waited but as it was we waited over an hour for them to board.