Ever since wheeled airline luggage has become popular, travelers have been adding many more pounds to their suitcases, which adds to the weight that the airliner must carry. Even if a passenger adds just 20 pounds over their previously hand-carried luggage because of the wheeled advantage, this means that a flight of 100 passengers would add a TON of extra weight to the flight, which would result in more fuel usage and more expense for the Carrier, which would increase air fares. I would like to see wheeled luggage banned from all passenger flights. I can hand-carry my own, so why can't everybody, as they did before? Hal
@Hal Pollner there is still a weight limit on checked luggage. The problem may be in the carry-on luggage. I have always resented those passengers who carry on (and are allowed to do so despite airline policies) those huge carry-ons that they can barely manipulate. I would like to see the overhead bins kept closed until all passengers not using the overheads have departed the aircraft. It will never happen, but I like to dream. My carry-on luggage always fits under the seat in front of me since I want access to what is in the bag. Everything else I check, and, since 9-11 is is a violation of Federal law for an aircraft to carry luggage without an accompanying passenger, I have never lost a bag that was checked and, at least with Alaska Airlines, luggage is available with 20 minutes of an aircraft arrival.
I doubt that the wheels add "20 pounds" to a similarly-sized non-wheeled case. I hardly ever check a bag except occasionally on Southwest where the checked bag is free. I can get along fine for up to a couple of weeks with a wheeled carry-on of airline-approved size. And the wheels are important to me as I travel from a gigantic airport to another gigantic airport with a lot of walking. I am quite capable of putting my carry-on into the overhead bin myself, but I wouldn't want to have to carry it through an airport. For the past year, I have been walking on a foot broken in two places, in and out of an orthopedic boot, so carrying a suitcase simply wouldn't work for me. So, it's "life on wheels" for me.
I seldom travel, except when my daughter, Robin, takes me along on one of her trips. When we go out to Idaho to visit her brothers, then we each check one suitcase, and carry on a backpack, which fits under the seat in front of me. I totally agree with what @Don Alaska posted, and I think that travelers who do have their carry-on luggage in their hands or in a backpack, should be allowed to leave before the overhead luggage bins are allowed to be opened. Not only would it be faster for people to get off of the plane, but it might discourage some people from rolling those over large (but allowable) size carry-on suitcases which they are not using during the flight anyway. Of course, some people would still want/need to use those suitcases, but probably people who didn’t have to do that would carry something smaller so they could get off the plane sooner. When I went from Idaho to Virginia on the train to visit Robin (she was still in the military then), I had to carry my luggage from one train to another and all the way across to where we loaded up for the next connection. I was seriously glad to have a suitcase that rolled that trip !
OK, OK everyone...your defenses of wheeled luggage are valid. It's just that I wouldn't feel right having luggage-toting made that easy! Hal
Hold it @Mary Robi... You misunderstand! It's not that the wheeled containers weigh more, it's just that since the passengers don't have to carry them, they're inclined to stuff a lot more in them! Hal
Ive flown a lot and through some very big airports and I thank God for wheels on bags. You can carry your bag @Hal Pollner but do you care that there are many people that can’t because of injuries or bad backs or any number of reasons??
In Australia both Jetstar and Virgin airlines allow a 20kg bag at the extra cost of $18 and $20 and you was allowed to carry on a computer and a handbag as well as an extra 7 kg for Jetstar and 10 kg for virgin. The last time we flew to Queensland and back ( July / August 2018) We was still allowed 20kg for Jetstar ( $20) who we flew with, and only 7 kg including your computer / handbag I useally take a light cotton type backpack in place of a handbag that way I can put my iPad a bottle of water ,snack purse ect in the one bag . Our last flight in 2018 to Qld , Jetstar workers stood by the top of the ramp you walk down to board the plane, ( in Adelaide) weighing everyone’s carry on they even insisted weighing my bottle of water I had in my hand which weighed just under a Kg. I was lucky my backpack was not overweight if it had been they charge $15 for each and every Kg your over the allowed 7 kg, mine weighed 5 kg with everything including my bottle of water After they weighed everyone’s bag they placed a orange sticker around the handles or straps of bags so they could be checked at the bottom of the ramp by a Jetstar worker. We have been flying up,to the Gold Coast ( Qld) for 9 years and that was the first time we had our carry on luggage checked at the boarding area.
We do that on international flights, or when a lot of luggage is involved, but we fly often enough that we load outr own luggage when only one or two bags are being checked.
Guess not enough if you want it banned. And truth is I doubt people pack an extra 20 lbs just because it has wheels.
This trend of wheeling your luggage behind you is a disservice to the airlines! Those wimps who find it too hard to carry their luggage by hand are now stuffing an extra 20 pounds into their wheeled luggage, since they don't have to lift it! With 100 passengers boarding, this amounts to an extra TON of unnecessary weight the aircraft has to take off with, thereby using more fuel. If I ever have to travel in an aeroplane, I'll CARRY my luggage like a man, instead of pulling it behind me like a toddler with a toy on a string! Hal