Cabin Luggage vs Checked Luggage
Brief Overview
As frequent fliers, we are well aware that the luggage we bring along can make or break a trip. It’s not easy to pick between carry-on and checked bags when travelling. All types of bags have their advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to weigh your options before settling on one. To help you decide what’s best for your next trip, we’ll compare and contrast the advantages of cabin vs checked luggage.
Cabin Luggage: Pros and Cons
In the context of air travel, “cabin luggage” is luggage that can be fitted within the cabin’s overhead bin. For those who would rather not lose their bags or stand in line at baggage claim, this is a fantastic alternative. Consider the following benefits and drawbacks of travelling with only carry-on bags.
Pros:
- Convenience: Travellers who don’t want to deal with checking their bags, standing in line at baggage claim, or fretting over whether or not their belongings will be returned to them in one piece should choose for cabin luggage.
- Time-saving: Cabin luggage allows you to board and exit the plane quickly without having to wait for your checked bags. It is also not necessary to get to the airport too early because you may usually bypass the check-in counter.
- Cost-effective: most flight carriers let travellers bring one bag on board without charging extra (airline dependant)
- Safekeeping: When travelling with carry-on bags, you may rest assured that no one else will be tampering with your belongings.
Cons:
- Limited space: You’ll have to leave behind some potentially useful items in order to fit all you need on your trip into your carry-on bag. Make you check with your airline how large your bag can be! Most are around 55x40x25cm but always check!
- Restrictions on liquids: Some passengers may find the maximum 100ml size rule for liquids and gels inconvenient. If you go over 100ml your item will be thrown away! Plus, taking liquids through security can be a task in itself!
- Restrictions on size and weight: Airline regulations limit the volume and weight of carry-on bags, so it’s important to pack as efficiently as possible to exceeding the limits
- Limited access during the flight: Make sure everything you need is within easy reach before boarding the plane, as you will not have access to your carry-on bags in flight, you don’t want to be sifting your bag on the plane.
- No room for larger souvenirs / products you might purchase abroad.
Recommended Cabin Luggage
Checked Luggage: Pros and Cons
Baggage that has been checked in and retrieved from the airport’s baggage claim is called “checked luggage.” It’s a convenient alternative for passengers who have bulky stuff to transport or who simply don’t want to carry their bags through the airport. Here are some pros and cons of checked luggage:
Pros:
- More space: You can bring more things on your trip thanks to the additional room provided by checked luggage.
- No restrictions on liquids: In general, you can bring most types of liquid or gels with you in your checked bag and will save you carry them through security.
- No size or weight restrictions: As long as your bags don’t exceed the airline’s size and weight limits, you’re free to pack as much as you like, including those larger souvenirs or products you might purchase abroad.
- More comfortable during the flight: Your bags will be carefully secured in the airplane’s cargo hold so you can relax and enjoy your flight.
Cons:
- Risk of loss or damage: Your checked bags are always vulnerable to being lost or broken during flight.
- Cost: Depending on the airline, you may have to pay a price to check your bags.
- Time-consuming: Time is of the essence while travelling, and checking bags and waiting in line at baggage claim may eat up valuable minutes, especially when connecting flights are involved (some airports put your bags on your next flight)
- Security: Because airport workers are in charge of your bags, they can be searched without your knowledge or consent.
Recommended Checked Luggage
Final Thoughts
Baggage considerations include personal taste, practicality, and cost when deciding between cabin and checked bags. Carry-on is the greatest option for short trips or for those who wish to avoid the headache of checking bags. But, checked luggage may be more practical if your trip will be longer than a week or if you simply need to bring more things with you.
My personal preference is cabin luggage, purely for the convenience of getting off the plane and getting straight to my destination without waiting for checked luggage and because I don’t actually take that many clothes with me. Obviously I will take checked luggage if I’m on 2 week holiday or something.
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1 thought on “Cabin Luggage vs Checked Luggage: The Pros and Cons”
Sometimes, there’s not much difference on the price between the two. If I think I might be shopping out there or I don’t want to go through security with clear plastic bags with all my liquids and then lug a bag with me for a couple of hours on the other side, I prefer to check in a bag.
But saying that, if the trip is for a couple of days and I’m flying with easyJet, I get to take on board a cabin bag for no extra cost (as an easyJet Plus customer). I’m sure the other airlines have something similar.
The way I calculated it when I took on the membership is if I fly with them twice (return, so four flights) then the cost of membership pays for itself which means any other bags for flights after that are a bonus.