The last thing most travelers want is to be told their carry-on must fly as checked baggage. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides the following suggestions to help save your carry-on from this fate:
- Be sure that the total of your bag's height, width, and depth do not exceed 45 inches, the maximum allowed. Everything else must be checked.
- When packing, pack all but a few items in your checked luggage.
- Ask the airline about their carry-on guidelines, if you plan to bring more than one carry-on aboard.
- Be prepared for the possibility of a unique situation that will require every bag to be checked, regardless of size.
- Stow a heavy carry-on under the seat in front of you, rather than in the overhead bin. A heavy bag could injure another passenger, if ejected from the bin during heavy turbulence.
- Never stack items inside the overhead bin.
- In an emergency, evacuate yourself from the plane, but leave your carry-on aboard. Even one second spent retrieving your belongings can hamper the safe evacuation of the plane.