Back to Basics: Checking & Carrying On Luggage

With boarding pass in hand (you printed it out at home), and transportation arranged, you are now ready to arrive at the airport with at least one less thing that you’ll need to take care of.

If you did not check in from home, you can do so at the airport at one of the airline self-service kiosks (similar to the process that you follow from home), the sky cab curbside, or at the ticket counter.  You’ll need to allow extra time at the airport to accomplish this, regardless of the method you choose.

But, if you’ve already checked in, you then just have to take care of your bag.  Which leads to the the next decision to make:  To check your bags or not.

If you’re traveling with a lot of stuff — whether that’s kids, bags, or pets, I’m a big proponent of checking your bags.  It’s not without some risk, but you can minimize your chances of a bag going astray by following the tips that I’ve written about previously.

If you do opt to check some bags, keep in mind that some items should NEVER be placed in check bags. 

With these tips in mind you should be able to navigate the murky waters of checked bags, carrying on only those items that you’ll need to use, or keep secure, during your flight.

Now you’re ready to proceed to security!

Photo credit:  morgueFile

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