things we don't do anymore

[ironymaiden]

the only non-business phone calls i get are from people over 50. another thing that seems to have disappeared: big suitcases.

Poll #25685

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 28

View Respondents

Do you own a suitcase that has to be checked when flying?

View Answers

Yes, I use it for most trips
8 (29.6%)

Yes, I use it sometimes
4 (14.8%)

Yes, but it's gathering dust
6 (22.2%)

No, I got rid of it
4 (14.8%)

No, I never had one
4 (14.8%)

I have a bag that big but I don't use it for air travel
1 (3.7%)

How often do you check bags when you fly?

View Answers

Always
8 (28.6%)

When I'll be gone a long time
8 (28.6%)

When I want to bring booze
3 (10.7%)

When I get one of those cheap no carry on tickets
5 (17.9%)

On the way home because I shopped too much
3 (10.7%)

On the way there because of presents
3 (10.7%)

Never
6 (21.4%)

Comments

[annofowlshire]

The only time I can remember using a big suitcase in the last 15 years was when I did my one way flight to move to the UK. I had one carry on, and one checked luggage. I think we even managed carry on only when we went to Austin for a week with the Enting! (Helped by my niece having a lot of appropriate aged equipment for him on the other side.) For train journeys, it’s the same. I’ve made it a personal challenge to pack for me AND the Enting in one large rucksack if at all possible. (Mr also carries some Enting supplies in his rucksack.) Enting now has his own little rucksack, not that we’ve been able to use it for travel what with Covid.

(Car journeys are different, and we do pack a bit less compactly.)

I think the only other time I did big suitcases was when I’d visit my mother. Earlier on as a child this was because I would be there for 2 months and often bring home lots of souvenirs. Later it was because I’d pack about 20 books to read while I was there, even if I was going to be there for less time.

The advent of ebooks changed that and I was able to go in carry on only.

[nostalgia]

I've only been on a plane once in the past decade (longer, even) but I did have a big suitcase that went in the hold. It was for a week-long trip to Germany. I'd have taken a much smaller bag if I'd just been travelling down to England but that's knowing I can buy extra clothes in a charity shop there if I need to.

[porkwithbones]

Nor for me, but for Acorn (who’s about to turn 17) we have a large suitcase that flies in the hold to their dad’s each summer. They need a week’s clothes, plus all the electronics and accoutrements that come with being a teenager these days, because they’re actually staying seven weeks.

[belleweather]

We actually have two sets of luggage. Our 'normal' luggage which is purple and is two wheeled carry-ons, one larger suitcase (which has to be checked) and two small duffle bags, which is what we use (in some combination) when we're going on family vacation, long-weekends away, work travel, etc.

Then, we have the LUGGAGE. Also known as the PCS Luggage. Which we use in it's entirety when we move to new countries. It consists of five giant rolling duffles from LLBean, which max out the allowed weight for international travel, two large camping backpacks, one super-giant wal-mart rolly bag that we use for coats and pillows and two other duffles I will probably replace before we move again.

If we're going on a long trip - like visiting home for a month, mostly -- or if we have to stuff everyone's things into one bag, we'll grab one of the PCS luggages. But mainly they're just there so we can pack everything we'll need for a family of 5 for a couple of months in a new house.

[sistawendy]

My air travel over the last few years has been in one of the following categories:

1. the Folsom Street Fair, which means lots of stuff going there and coming back
2. flying across the US to visit my Mom and therefore being away from home about a week
3. international trips that are also upwards of a week

Checking luggage is an obviously good idea in those situations.

[phosfate]

I haven't taken a plane in years, however. They've gone to so much trouble to make it expensive and unpleasant that I am much happier on a bus or train. The only train stops of the day here are at 1 a.m.,* and it's still nicer than flying.



*Nearly always much, much later, because the train from Denver is basically cursed.

[jazzfish]

In February 2020 I bought a nice fullsize suitcase to replace the low-quality one I'd had for about a year and was falling apart. That suitcase has had exactly zero plane trips (two car trips). So, both "I use it for most trips" and "It's gathering dust." :(

I started checking a bag because I often fly with a viola and I'd rather check a suitcase than an instrument.

[flexagon]

Huh, mildly surprised by the poll results. I've flipped to never checking a bag, though I also tend not to be gone for more than a week or so at max. I prefer short trips because I don't like to be away from the cats for long.

[varina8]

I was strictly a carry-on person until 2019. If I hadn't had a burning desire to bring home alcohol, nothing would have changed. Now I have a smallish, hard-sided suitcase that does the job.

[flamingsword]

Inasmuch as I fly once or twice per decade ...

[ckd]

Late to the party, but may as well answer this one because it's fun.

At this point I basically always check a bag, because that means I can have a bottle of distilled water in there for my CPAP rather than having to go buy some at my destination. Because I fly too much, I have ridiculous levels of status on my preferred airline which means I don't pay to check a bag, and if the bag takes more than 20 minutes to arrive I fill out a web form (bookmarked on my phone) to get 2500 frequent flyer miles as an apology. (It adds up, especially since DTW misses the deadline almost 100% of the time.)

For weekend trips, I check one of the two smaller bags that could be carried on (the smallest one is the "international" size, meaning that it fits the limits of almost any airline anywhere). For longer trips (5+ days), I use a big hard-sided Briggs and Riley spinner which is my Vimes' Boots Suitcase. (Lifetime guarantee, which I've already used once; they couldn't repair it, so I got a brand new bag instead.)