Hey Trippers.

As you well know, carry-on baggage and airline policies have changed dramatically over the past decade.  Security issues and finances have trumped passenger concerns across the board.

With passengers prevented from locking their baggage since 9/11, the carry-on becomes more important than ever.  Why bother buying the TSA approved locks anyway.  I have heard reports of them being opened, removed, not re-locked, and never to be seen again.  I never bother locking my baggage.  Knowing that baggage inspection is a necessary evil, I have focused my strategy on the importance of my carry-on baggage.

Carry on policies vary by airline and destination.  International and USA domestic allow larger sizes.  Intra-European carry on allowances are much smaller.  United Airlines Domestic carry-on requirements:

Carry-on baggage should not be more than 9 x 14 x 22 in. (23 x 35 x 56 cm) (length x width x height) or 45 linear inches* (114 linear cm).

United Airlines doesn’t say what the weight allowed is.  American Airlines allows a maximum of 40 lbs. (18 kg) including your second personal item.

Compare that to Luftansa, European based airline:

Each piece of carry-on baggage may not be larger than 21.7 in. x 15.75 x 8 in (55 x 40 x 20 cm) and may not weigh more than 17.6 lb. (8 kg). An exception are foldable garment bags. They count as hand baggage up to a size of 22.5 x 22.3 x 6 in. (57 x 54 x 15 cm).

Big difference.

I never pack valuables or electronics in my checked baggage.  I consider whatever is in my checked baggage will be available FREE to whoever has access.  So, here’s a list of valuables, medications, and electronics I always carry on the airplane.  It makes for quite a haul but is necessary.

Valuables: Watches, Jewelry, Electric Shaver, Electric Tooth Brush, Leather Belts

Electronics: Laptop, Laptop Cord, Spare Laptop Battery, Digital Camera, Battery, Battery Charger, Camera Lenses, Media Cards, Tripod. Cell Phone, Cell Phone Charger, Headphones, iPod, iPod Cherger, Plug Adapters, Electric current Transformer, USB Connector, Flash Drive, Video Recorder, Video Recorder input/output Cable, Video Recorder A/C Cord

Medication: Prescriptions (in the original labeled filled bottles), OTC Medications, Tubes of Antibiotic and Anti-fungal Medications

That’s quite a haul.  I pack my day bag empty in my checked baggage.  I pack my laptop and accessories in my personal bag that is allowed by airlines to take in the airline cabin.  Then, I pack whatever I feel I need to have that can’t be replaced or will be hard to replace.  Needless to say, it fills it to the maximum.  I don’t know what I will do if I have to fly Intra-Europe.  Presently, I have always flown “Internationally” in and out without having to break the itinerary and be considered “Intra-Europe”.  I would have to change my strategy to pack some accessories in my checked baggage (tripod, carry cases, belts, etc.).  And I would stuff my pockets.

Extra Bag Fees are a part of airline travel now.  Typical Domestic Economy Class Fees are $15.00 (€10.50) each way for the first bag and $25.00 (€17.50) for the second.  International.  Remember, this is if your bag isn’t overweight!  If it’s over weight, you’ll pay more than ten times that – each way!

I’ll pay the fees when on a dream trip or if I need to pack more.  However, if I’m on a budget or need to travel light, I will force myself to pack less.  In an effort to pack less in my checked baggage, I layer clothing to wear on an airplane.  I wear my long trousers (shorts under if need be), T-Shirt (Singlet) long sleeve shirt (short sleeve under), sweater over that, windbreaker, and an over coat.  You can remove the extras once aboard.

Hell no!  I won’t give up my electronics!  Take time to think your packing through.  That’s part of the Travel Planning I aalways write about.  When www.knowyourtrip.com goes public, you’ll be able to download packing lists and individual item descriptions of why or why not to pack them, along with more packing tips.

More later . . . . Happy Tripping,

Carter

Alright, this is one of these geeky videos but I feel it’s IMPORTANT.  We need to have a conversation here about Travel Insurance.  If you’re from the USA, you probably never worry about it except for that fleeting moment when you get a third-hand story about a disaster a friend of a friend of a relative who knew someone who had.  But NOOOO, it won’t ever happen to me.  Well, it happens to someone, doesn’t it.

A couple weeks ago, a friend of mine became ill a couple of days before leaving to meet up with her friends for a ten week European dream holiday.  Unable to make the flight, she had to cancel her “non-refundable” ticket last minute.  Money donated to the airlines.  She was well enough to leave a week later but had to buy a last minute ticket – at TRIPLE the original price.  The coverage to compensate her for that first ticket would have been a fraction of the cost of the ticket – and she would be covered for the next flight and the ensuing nine weeks, depending on the coverage she chose.  On this trip alone, she will travel on airlines, trains, buses, and a cruise ship.  That’s so much opportunity for unforeseen problems. 

Europeans rarely go on holiday with travel insurance because they know the consequences.  They understand that too much is at risk.  They wouldn’t even think of going on a package holiday without it. You could not be compensated for any loss of luggage and belongings, end up paying much more for your trip than you budgeted for, or even end up losing your life savings.

When I was a much younger Tripper and doing carefree traveling, sure I would have an occasional travel burp in plans.  But, hey, I had a lot less to lose.  If I was severely injured, I optimistically always thought it would work out.  But now with assets and not being as young as I once was, the risk is much higher.  Am I willing to risk life and limb because I don’t want to spring for another 5 or 10% on my budget to make sure I am taken care of if disaster strikes?  Just being Med-evac-ed (medical transported) home from Europe to the USA can cost you more than $35,000.00 (€24,000.00)(£19,000.00).  Prayers and hope won’t pay that bill.  That’s serious money!

So, I encourage you to really take a look at Travel Insurance before you head on that dream trip.  Travel Insurance is a part of Knowing Your Trip.  Below are some companies that offer travel insurance.   I don’t favor any of them.  So, take a look . . . 

Access America 

Betins Travel Insurance

InsureMyTrip 

Gosure Travle Insurance 

Travelex Insurance  

Travel Insured 

Travel Guard 

Medjet Assist

Yes, that is a reference to the old Steve Martin Comedy Routine and Short Story “Cruel Shoes”.  You can check out his book here.  I have thought about his routine as I walked miles around France and Italy.  When one is a seasoned Tripper, you learn that your shoes are number one important accessory while exploring.  It can effect most of your day – everyday.  Blisters, corns, calluses, heel pain, calf pain, even back pain, and overall soreness comes to mind.

Most of the historic centers of France and Italy have cobblestones which can be like hiking on Hawaiian lava rock – barefoot.  In Italy, besides older women being allergic to gray hair (that’s for another post), they are slaves to foot fashion.  Sit in a cafe in a piazza on a Sunday and watch the elderly ladies in their fashionable Ferragamo high heels stepping cautiously from cobble to cobble praying they don’t break and ankle.

In Paris, they have a whole other problem and so will you.  The French women are smart enough to wear cute little flat shoes around town like this:

Now, you’re a head of the game if you wear these shoes around cobblestones.  But the Trippers in Paris have a whole other problem: Mutt Mines!  In Paris, the French do not pick up after their pooches.  It just doesn’t happen. You see all these fashionable attired French women walking their cute little dogs but when they walk past and you’re not looking – they’re dropping a Mutt Mine.  So, you have to look down virtually every step you take or – well – MUTT MINE EXPLOSION!  More here. But don’t click here!

I have a list of requirements that a Tripper’s Travel Shoes should meet:

• Break Them In First: Make sure you have already broken them in before you left on your trip.  No trial runs while on your trip!
• Black or Brown: The shoes should be black or brown for versitility, they don’t show dirt or scuffs or mutt mine explosions
• Do NOT Wear White: Do not where white sneakers, running shoes, tennis shoes, nursing shoes EVER – for too many reasons to write.
• Cushioned Shoes: Shoe Manufacturers have come up with dozens of options for fashionable, comfortable, and “foot health” friendly selections.  Find a good line of men’s shoes here.
• Two Pair Limit:  Unless you don’t have a problem with lugging a lot of luggage, you should be able to get by with two pairs – a comfortable dressy pair and a comfortable casual pair of walkers.  If you are an athlete or continue to train while you travel – you can make your second or even a third pair – a pair of running shoes.
• Flip Flops:  This is a gray area.  If you do bring them, you had better be bringing them to go to the beach or take a shower in them.  For your own safety, do not wear them on a city street.  All you’d need is to have someone step on your foot and break crush a toe!

Just for fun, listen to a bit of Steve Martin’s “Cruel Shoes” AFTER THE JUMP . . . . .

Cheers, Carter

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