11 Reasons to Fly Carry-on Only Even if Your Checked Bag is Free
So, why should you even bother paring down your outfits and gadgets when you’re headed out on an adventure if it won’t cost you any more money to check a bag? You have points and can check a bag for free, or you’re flying on an airline that doesn’t charge for bags, or you’re flying overseas on a big carrier. There will be no extra dollars leaving your pocket, so why bother?
I’m glad you asked.
Just because you aren’t spending money to do so doesn’t mean checking bags isn’t costing you anything. I’d argue that it costs you quite a lot even if doing so is “free”.
At some point on your trip, you will need to lift this bag. If you pack with reckless abandon, it will be that much harder. Hello, back problems!
Customs can be easier. When flying internationally, you’ll have to gather your checked bags and go through customs with them before rechecking them and getting on a domestic flight. When you fly with just carry-on luggage, you get to skip this entire process and simply walk through the customs line.
You’ll walk with your bags more than you think. The less you need to haul, the less energy you need to spend moving your luggage. You’ll have far more energy for enjoying your trip and the people you’re with.
You can take public transportation with ease because, A. You and your bags will fit, and B. Smaller bags are simply much easier to maneuver in tight spaces, on elevators, escalators, and stairs. This will also save money on taxis.
Less expensive rental cars. If you choose to rent a car, you don’t have to get one big enough for large bags. Small bags mean a smaller rental, less gas usage, and easier parking.
More room in your accommodations. Wherever you choose to stay, there is a finite amount of room. If you pack lightly, your bags can generally be stowed easily. Larger bags may not fit well and will now take up precious square footage in your living space. This is especially true when staying in historic cities that are notoriously short on space but big on charm and points of interest.
It’s easier psychologically. Just as spending time in an organized room is more relaxing than being in a messy room, the same is true for managing and keeping watch over fewer and smaller bags.
You have less to keep track of. Having fewer possessions to maintain, allows you more time to enjoy your surroundings. If you don’t have to spend half the morning finding, cleaning, and organizing everything you brought with you before heading to your next stop, you can spend that time connecting with your traveling companions, exploring, or simply watching the world go by from a café table.
You can get packed up more quickly. If you plan to bring less, you have to find, launder, and consolidate before you head out on your adventure. If you have a system and some items that remain permanently packed, all the better. This could lead to more trips because you know you won’t have to spend a ton of time and energy packing yourself (and others) for the trip.
It weighs less. The maximum weight for a checked bag on an international flight is 50 pounds! That’s the weight of an average 7-year-old. Seven, as in a four-foot-tall first-grader! Do you want to drag that much baggage around an airport, through a city, on a train, etc.? Take the first-grader, leave the huge roller bag.
Packing light is easy to teach to children. This means that 7-year-old, can pack and carry their own bags teaching them responsibility and giving you one less thing to worry about.
The next time you plan a trip, of any length, think about how you can pare down and pack lightly. It will save you money on transportation, time both before and during your trip, and give you less to worry about overall. This means more time, money, and energy for you to enjoy the place you’ve traveled so far to experience. You’ll also raise more responsible and confident children and have more time to see the world through their eyes.
Pack lightly, adventure awaits!
