I consider myself fairly frugal when it comes to travel. I’ve booked the 6 a.m. flight to save $50 and have flown basic economy more times than I’d care to admit.
But after visiting 17 countries, there’s one little luxury I can’t go without when flying: checking a bag. Yes, the average airfare for a US roundtrip flight alone is upward of $360, and checking a bag both ways can be expensive — usually about $50 to $70 both ways. However, I believe a more comfortable travel experience is worth the splurge.
Checking a bag makes my time in the airport less stressful and more enjoyable, which helps set the tone for my trips. Here’s why I’ll always swear by it.
Checking my bag and forgoing a carry-on makes moving around the airport easier
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I hate maneuvering a carry-on around bathroom stalls or pulling my bag behind me while holding my lunch. I find that my carry-on bag is practically tied to me while I’m in the airport, which can become annoying.
To avoid this, I forgo a carry-on and pack everything in my checked bag. Once I turn my bag in to an agent, I don’t have any cumbersome luggage to bring to the gate. This allows me to move around the airport much more easily.
Boarding a plane without a carry-on is less stressful
Checking a bag means I can avoid the Hunger Games-type madness that comes when it’s time to board the plane.
Most passengers with a carry-on try to board as quickly as possible before the space in the airplane’s overhead bin runs out. Avoiding this anxiety-inducing exercise and not rushing to board is a little luxury worth the price of checking a bag.
Opting for a large checked bag means I can pack everything I want to bring on my trip
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When I traveled with a carry-on, there were times when I ran out of space. I often felt like the abominable snowman, wearing multiple layers and a jacket, which wasn’t a nice experience.
Now, packing all my belongings in a large checked bag gives me more choices for what I can bring on my trip. As someone who’s a bit indecisive and dislikes the concept of packing light, I feel great having this space to pack several clothing options.
After all, the clothes I’m in the mood to wear when packing may differ from those I want when it’s time to get dressed.
In my experience, a large checked bag doesn’t make transportation from the airport more difficult
I used to think that having a carry-on would be the most advantageous when I landed — this type of luggage is usually smaller than a checked bag, so I figured taking it on a train or other form of transit would be easy. But in reality, I find that the size of my bag usually doesn’t matter if I’m just going from the airport to a hotel.
If I were backpacking across Europe, sure, I’d take as little baggage as possible. But in my opinion, cramming things into a smaller bag doesn’t make sense when the effort to get from point A to point B is the same either way.
Traveling can be expensive and anxiety-inducing. But if you ask me, checking a bag is a relatively easy way to have a better travel experience.
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