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Hi, @montyhiker,
That’s a good point, even if your bag makes it as a carry-on on a US carrier, you might have to deal with another airline’s regulations. But the beauty is that gate-checking is SO much less worrisome than regular check-in, because you are sure that it got on the plane with you!
Hey Monty, just my two cents. There are may be a couple of items in my gear that would be problematic getting through TSA security checks if my pack were carry-on (e.g., pocket knife). I also hate unpacking my pack at the TSA line if there is an issue. So, I’d prefer to make my pack checked baggage. Bonus: won’t have to hassle squeezing it into overhead bins.
Those words can only be spoken by those lucky pilgrims whose checked bags have never been lost at the start of a camino. I know the rate of loss is very small (though it has increased a LOT) but it is also true that every year we hear reports on the forum of someone whose bag didn’t arrive. Of course it’s not the end of the world, but the hassles and disruptions that follow are unpleasant and unnecessary. It took me a long time to get the perfect packing list, replacing it at the last minute in Spain would be impossible.
Having only two previous Caminos, I guess I’ve been lucky. Just hate TSA lines, lugging carry-on bags down narrow aisles and squeezing them into overheads. I’ll take my chances.
For the first time ever the Lufthansa agent in Madrid made me check my backpack this fall after it wouldn’t fit in the sizing template they brought over. The template was much smaller than the overhead bins on the plane, but it was the rigidity of the frame that kept my backpack from fitting in the sizer not the length or width. They checked 3 other people’s bags and there were nearly 10 empty spots on the flight making all that unnecessary. The gate agent did not make his friends or employees put their bags in the sizer. As a result of this and all the other issues I had I won’t be flying Lufthansa again.
Some excellent answers above, especially that from @Vacajoe . There are just so many variables.
I have a 48L and my wife a 36L both have never been a problem in the overhead space, and we collapse our trekking poles inside the packs.
I carried my 36L Osprey pack from Charlottesville through Charlotte with no issues. I didn't bring my poles. I bought poles in Pamplona and checked everything for my return flight.
Agree about checking travel bags. My wife and I checked two travel bags, one for each pack, and had to pay extra to American Airlines for each one. On the way home, we figured out that we could put the larger pack, plus a lot of loose items, like souvenirs, the other person's poles, clothes, pocket knife, etc., in one checked travel bag and carry on the mostly empty smaller pack. If we had thought of that from the beginning, it would have saved us both money and dealing with the second travel bag. Lesson learned.
Mine was larger because that's the size I had. So I went to the airport and up to the desk of the carrier I was going to be on and they helped me figure out that carry on was perfectly fine! I took an extra small box that I sent under which had my poles and my knife. It worked perfectly. I'd say there's no one right way, but checking with your airline is not a bad plan!
I walked the full Portuguese from September to mid October with a Gregory Jade 28 litre and it was large enough for all my needs. I have travelled with this same backpack in Europe and North America and it has always been accepted as carry-on. I also always wear a very small waist pack just large enough to my passport, phone, credential and money. I highly recommend this as your essentials are always on your body when you have to be apart from your pack. My total pack weight was 6.2kg, Your pack can be smaller and lighter if walking in the warm months. I deliberately chose the smallest pack I could get away with because I did not want to be tempted to carry anything that I didn't really need.
My Osprey Sirrus 36 always meets the frame requirements traveling on International flights from the US. I see you are from the UK, and assume you fly Ryanair or similar.
Thank you ALL for your responses! I’ve packed my Osprey 34 at under 12 pounds. I’m so nervous and excited to do this. Can’t wait, and hope to see some of my fellow Pilgrims on the trail from SJPDP to Santiago!
It depends on the airline, on long distance flights I think it should be ok but Ryanair the biggest budget short haul airline in Europe it's free to carry on one bag that can fit under the seat but you have to pay to fit a bag in the overhead bin and I always have to pay extra to carry on my 33L backpack to store it in the overhead bin.
Sometimes people are allowed to take them onboard. Often they are confiscated by airport security. There is no simple rule. Personally I would not gamble on losing an expensive pair of poles that way. I buy a cheap set on arrival.
It seems the majority who have Black Diamond brand or similar "bungee" style poles that collapse smaller than most three part telescoping poles are able to bring them successfully in their backpacks.
That's what I do now, after losing a couple of pairs on my early Caminos. I never choose to check my backpack or other items so bringing them is not an option for me.
It depends on the TSA / EASA (security) regulations in your country of origin (potentially, your region/State too if you’re flying out of the USA) and how rigorously enforced they are. Potentially, any transfer points too, should you happen to have to go through security there as well.
Despite many things in the UK having gone to hell in a hand-basket in recent years there is, thankfully, nothing as yet which might fairly be described as ‘similar’ to Ryanair
Maybe, maybe not. Or some can and some can't. Here's my story of both cases just a few minutes apart. She could, we couldn't.
Four flight's so far, no problems. BUT: next time?
