I was on my way to Europe last month – a trip that had produced the same amount of excitement as it did anxiety. We booked our travels to Paris, Amsterdam and Bruges with anticipation, but only a week after we paid the final amount due, my travel gal pal fell victim to the economy and lost her job. Unfortunately, travel insurance doesn’t cover job loss so we regrouped, repacked and focused on the trip at hand. We were going to Europe – everything else would work itself out when we returned.
I arrived at the British Airways counter at Logan International Airport to check-in with plenty of time to spare. As a traveler by trade and leisure, I’ve become a pro at packing. I can fit just about anything into a carry-on piece of luggage and I approach my packing with a simple philosophy: if I can fold it, I can pack it. My carry-on bag has traveled with me on domestic and international flights over the past year – it’s a lovely light-blue companion that is never far away. I reach into the overhead compartment and all of my belongings are accessible.
You can imagine my surprise when I arrived at the check-in desk and the attendant said, “Oh, that bag will never fit in the overhead compartment. We’ll have to check it.”
What?
You mean to tell me that this carry-on bag fits into every other airline’s overhead compartment but not British Airways? And as a travel writer, I’m really quite aware of the carry-on dimensions and requirements from the FAA. Unfortunately, British Airways decided my luggage wasn’t fit for carry-on and there I was, unpacking my bags on the cold airport tile floor, attempting to throw everything that could fit into my one allotted carry-one handbag. You can imagine my anxiety as I handed over my trusty blue piece of carry-on luggage.
But as I walked through security, with only bag on my shoulder and only a handful of must-haves close to me I was suddenly struck by an overwhelming feeling of relief. Without the luggage, I was able to move about more freely and it got me thinking: If we can check-in our personal baggage with carry around with us on a daily basis, would life be a little more manageable?
What if, on a random Tuesday morning, I woke up and checked my unanswered emails from the night before and started my day without the weight of looming questions from employers? What if instead of panicking before I went to bed, I checked my insomnia at the bedroom door and opted for a good night’s sleep? What if, despite all my angst and anxiety, I left my personal fears at my front door and went out on the blind date without any preconceived notions?
If we check our personal baggage like we do our travel luggage, could we live a simpler life?
It was such BS that you had to check it. I stick to my theory that airlines are going to slowly start shifting the allowed sizes of carry-ons… Thus forcing consumers to check bags (and pay a fee) that they have always been able to carry on.