Carry-ons and laptop

Every time I've flown I've always had a carry-on (usually an LL Bean tote with lots of pockets) plus a smallish handbag for wallet, keys, passport, etc. I like to stuff the handbag in the tote and shove it under the seat in front (I am height-challenged and find it difficult dealing with the overhead locker unless I stand on the seat!)
I flew Virgin last Sept. and had no problems but DH keeps telling me airlines are limiting people when they get to check-in to only the one bag (in spite of all the online info about being allowed a carry-on plus a "small item". Anyone experienced this? I'm trying to shift as much stuff as possible this time so would hate to have to leave anything behind.

I've never flown with a laptop before but I know all about how you have to take it out of the carry-on for security, etc. It has a sleeve and I was going to put it in a bag with a padded pocket but now thinking I'll just put it in my tote. But the dang thing makes the bag so heavy, even though it's a small laptop (MacBook Air). Any suggestions?

Which airline are you flying?  Different airlines have different restrictions.  I have a BA flight coming up soon and I saw this when I checked their site-

You can bring one small carry-on bag plus one personal item per passenger as long as the carry-on bag fits comfortably in the sizer without being forced and does not exceed overall dimensions of 45 inches (length + width + height).

The maximum dimensions cannot exceed any of the following measurements: 22" long x 14" wide x 9" tall or 115cm (56 x 36 x 23 cm). All carry-on items should be stowed in an overhead bin.

Personal item - includes: purse, briefcase, laptop bag OR a similar item such as a tote that does not exceed 36 inches( length+width+height) and must fit under the seat in front of you.

I think you will have to check the website for your airline to see what they will allow.

Every time I've flown I've always had a carry-on (usually an LL Bean tote with lots of pockets) plus a smallish handbag for wallet, keys, passport, etc. I like to stuff the handbag in the tote and shove it under the seat in front (I am height-challenged and find it difficult dealing with the overhead locker unless I stand on the seat!)
I flew Virgin last Sept. and had no problems but DH keeps telling me airlines are limiting people when they get to check-in to only the one bag (in spite of all the online info about being allowed a carry-on plus a "small item". Anyone experienced this? I'm trying to shift as much stuff as possible this time so would hate to have to leave anything behind.

I've never flown with a laptop before but I know all about how you have to take it out of the carry-on for security, etc. It has a sleeve and I was going to put it in a bag with a padded pocket but now thinking I'll just put it in my tote. But the dang thing makes the bag so heavy, even though it's a small laptop (MacBook Air). Any suggestions?

I fly every couple of months

You're generally allowed one personal item such as a handbag plus one carry on item which must fit in the overhead bin. They do mean handbag though, so book/kindle, purse etc not giant gym bag + carry on, ideally your personal item should fit under the seat in front.
If I were you I would get a cabin sized roller suitcase and put your laptop into the outside pocket, then you can retrieve it easily for security without carrying it.

I have an Eastpax one (like this but plain) http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Eastpak+Tranverz+S+Roy+Say/178572315,default,pd.html it's great because it's soft so expands/contracts as well. Gets very flat for storage.

I've flown with it at least 20 times, including on budget, never had to check it and I always carry a handbag

Definitely check your airline's website, like lisapower pointed out. There are some - like Ryanair, etc (usually the lowcost carriers) - that mean one & only one carryon such that your handbag must fit within the carryon case so you end up with only one.

However, most of the big 'flagship' international carriers (Virgin, BA, Delta, etc...) do allow for one piece of carryon luggage plus one personal item.

For us, that means I pack a carryon size rolling case - one each - for both DH and me. And then I have either my handbag or <cough> sometimes a slightly larger tote bag (but not a giant gym bag either). And DH will have either his camera bag or a smallish rucksack as his personal item.

Yeah, all the major airlines that I had checked pretty much say the same thing -- a carry-on sand small personal item (with size restrictions). I don't know where he's getting this idea from 

I would go with a rolling carry-on except I'm checking in two rolling duffles. And I've only got two hands 

I just flew back last week on USAirways. My carry on was the largest allowable rolling bag - I think something like 10x14x20 plus my normal purse. I also checked a monster bag that just scrapes by on the dimensions.

In the past I've taken a smaller rolling bag that fits under the seat on puddle jumpers, but NOT the large planes. It has a laptop sleeve built in, which eliminated the need for a padded laptop bag.

Transatlantic flights are more accommodating than domestic; maybe DH is just thinking about the UK flights to the continent, which have totally different rules.

I would go with a rolling carry-on except I'm checking in two rolling duffles. And I've only got two hands...

Well you're moving over... Can you get a taxi (or a lift) to the airport there & then just get a trolley (to put all your bags onto) until you get through check-in? Then a trolley over here as well for the in-between points. Would that work? (It's what I would do.)

Get a luggage strap and you can strap your smaller case to your larger one for rolling.

Like this, so when you tip your bigger one to roll, your smaller one rolls with it, then you can unstrap, check your bigger one and roll through customs


If you do that in conjunction with MrsR's using a trolley, you should be fine for all eventualities

Just check your airline's rules as they are all different. Your boyfriend might be thinking of the restrictions that were in place in the UK shortly after 9/11, when carryon baggage was restricted to one bag (although you could stuff one bag inside another).

I fly a lot and can confirm that different airlines have different restrictions and sometimes they weigh your carryon luggage, sometimes they don't. Being informed before you get on a flight, making sure that you are within the limits, and printing off those limits is a good idea. No kidding, my husband was flying business class with Malaysia Airlines recently, and had to pull up the carryon and checked baggage limits on his smartphone to show the check-in staff who were trying to charge him excess baggage fees!

I travel a lot too (husband works for an airline).

Flying transatlantic, airlines tend to be cool with a suitcase that fits to their measurements plus another small item such as a briefcase or handbag. I always bring a case that fits the maximum allowance, plus a handbag. I also commonly see people with a suitcase and two or even three (!) other small items, like a handbag and shopping bags from duty free, but I stick to the one-case-one-personal-item rule. It's been very inconsistently that my carry-on case gets weighed, so you have to be prepared for that. Long-haul carriers tend to be very accommodating though!

I've flown recently on RyanAir and EasyJet, and RyanAir was less strict, allowing a (small) carry-on case and my handbag. EasyJet in the UK had no problem with the same exact thing (small case and handbag), but coming back from Barcelona, the ground staff made me stuff my handbag into my case. I can't say 100%, but I'm pretty sure EasyJet has no weight restrictions on the stuff you carry on.

Gatwick is pretty consistent with asking you to take out laptops and tablets, and seem to be okay with leaving e-readers in your case or bag. I've had variable experiences at Heathrow, but to be fair I don't bring a laptop often when I travel. 

Oh and I second the idea for the luggage strap- great idea!

Luggage strap works a treat! A couple of my bags had one included.

Luggage strap sounds like a good idea. Thanks for that, CB. The trolley is fine within the airport but transferring to the tube could be problematic -- and then trying to find another trolley at King's X. (I'm working on the worse case scenario that I may have to negotiate all this on my own -- in case DH's health situation worsens. And anyway, this is a man who travels pretty much with only a change of underwear and a toothbrush! Could be his ulterior motive in trying to persuade me to take only one carry-on?!  )

In the best of all possible worlds, I could stay on the tube to Cockfosters and be met by friends in Herts., sleep off the jet lag at their house (they have a lot of visitors from Oz so are used to it  ) and then get the train from there to Leeds 

Luggage strap sounds like a good idea. Thanks for that, CB. The trolley is fine within the airport but transferring to the tube could be problematic -- and then trying to find another trolley at King's X. (I'm working on the worse case scenario that I may have to negotiate all this on my own -- in case DH's health situation worsens. And anyway, this is a man who travels pretty much with only a change of underwear and a toothbrush! Could be his ulterior motive in trying to persuade me to take only one carry-on?!  )

Airport 1st will do LHR to Kings Cross for £40, their cars are clean and reliable, I use them all the time.

Appreciate that £40 is £40 but if you're on your own, you've got loads of luggage etc, would probably be worth it to just roll off the plane, have someone take everything to their car and then put you on a train.

http://www.airport1st.com/

Airport 1st will do LHR to Kings Cross for £40, their cars are clean and reliable, I use them all the time.

Appreciate that £40 is £40 but if you're on your own, you've got loads of luggage etc, would probably be worth it to just roll off the plane, have someone take everything to their car and then put you on a train.

http://www.airport1st.com/

Also £40 is probably cheaper than your DH making the trip down and back on the train, tube, etc.

Also, your personal item can be a school-type backpack, it doesn't just have to be a handbag or briefcase. As long as it fits underneath the seat you should be good. You can put a handbag in the backpack, of course but it frees up your hands entirely to deal with the rest of your luggage.

Alternatively, I have a larger backpack that has wheels and is carry-on size that has an attached day pack to it. If you got something like that, you could use the wheeled part as your carry-on, the day pack as your personal item and in a worst case scenario, it can all go on your back to free up your hands for your checked luggage (I did this when I studied abroad in order to bring the most I could back and forth). It's similar to this: http://www.ebags.com/product/high-sierra/at6-carry-on-wheeled-backpack-with-removable-daypack/221653?productid=10228857