I was booking a flight recently and the checked bag fee was $35-40+ each way, so $70-80+ round trip just for one bag. That stings, especially when the ticket itself wasn't cheap to begin with. I've started seriously thinking about going carry-on only, but packing light for a week is a real challenge. Has anyone else made the switch? What tricks actually work — packing cubes, wearing your bulkiest clothes on the plane, doing laundry mid-trip? And are there times when you still think paying the checked bag fee is worth it?
Carry-on only works for a week if you plan around a few outfits that mix and match and do one quick sink or laundromat wash mid-trip. Packing cubes help with organization more than space. Before switching, check your fare type: basic economy on some airlines doesn't include a full-size carry-on, and an airline-branded credit card or status often gives the first checked bag free, which can beat paying $35–40 each way. Checking a bag still makes sense for winter gear, long trips, or anything with liquids over the 3.4 oz limit.
I've switched to carry-on only for most trips now, and it really changes what I bring. I plan outfits that mix and match and wear the bulkiest shoes on the plane, which helps a lot. The trade-off is that I skip some "just in case" items and do a quick wash mid-trip if I need to. For longer or colder trips, though, I still think paying for a checked bag can be worth it.
Worth checking the airline's exact carry-on dimensions before you go all in. Some budget carriers charge more for a carry-on at the gate than for a checked bag paid online in advance. For a week trip, a personal-item backpack plus a carry-on is plenty if you pick one color palette so everything matches.
I've mostly switched to carry-on only too, and $70–80 round trip for one bag is hard to justify on a short trip. Packing cubes and wearing my bulkiest shoes on the plane help a lot. I still pay for a checked bag on longer or winter trips, though — some things just don't fit in a carry-on.
Carry-on only works best for trips under a week. Packing cubes and wearing the bulkiest shoes and jacket on the plane free up a lot of space. Just double-check each airline's size limits, since budget carriers are often stricter than the big ones.