Has anyone carried their Camino pack on a plane as hand luggage? If so, which pack did you use, and on the road was it big enough to hold all you needed?

Hi Stephen,
I did carry my backpack on as hand luggage a few years ago (2003 a 30 liter bag) but it would be difficult to do that now I think because of so many new restrictions. You could check with your airline about their opinion on certain things that you may be taking - walking poles, overall weight,nail clippers, scissors, size of liquids for washing or anything else that could be perceived as dangerous. Not that your airline has the last word but they'll have an opinion.

Since then I have always sent my backpack as luggage and definitely recommend putting it in a carry sack or wrapping it in airport wrap so non of the straps can dangle. Last year my back pack was essentially destroyed as the straps which hooked it to the top were ripped right off. They must have caught in something somewhere. My pack has always arrived with me except for a one hour flight from Madrid to Leon last year when it arrived the next day.

Buen camino, Cecelia

Hello!
Last autumn I brought my backpack as a handluggage from Oslo to Paris on a SAS flight. It is a 55l backpack. I took out my walkingsticks and some toiletarticles and a couple of things I would not miss so much if it got lost, put them in a packet and sent as luggage.
I had heard several times about people that had lost their things on the train.
Had no trouble at all with this.Also took it back to Oslo from Santiago via Madrid, MUnich, Copenhagen to Oslo.
The good thing is that you have to set a limit about what to put into your backpack. Went the camino three times and It was always difficult to set a limit to what to bring.
Puy

I flew back from Spain to Canada last week... (May 30) by Iberia and British Airways.

I've taken my 30 litre Arcteryx backpack as carry-on luggage for 3 Caminos.
My hiking poles, razor, scissors and knife are in a separate bag and get checked in.

This way, if my checked bag gets lost, I can still start my camino. No delays.

I met a couple who checked in a bag with important items and for some reason, it ended up on a different airplane, same destination, 10 hour delay. They hung about the airport until midnight when their bag finally arrived, and began their camino at 7:00 am the following morning.

Carry-on, or hand luggage is the best way for me.
Buen Camino
David, Victoria, Canada

I have traveled 6 summers (and a bit more) in a row without checking in baggage at all. I simply take my backpack (a smaller Alpine Lowe), and an even smaller canvas "day pack" on the plane with me. My backpack can barely fit in the overheads, but I make it work every time. I also bring a packable nylon bag to place my boots in once I'm on the flight, store up top, and switch to sandals for a more comfortable flight. Any "heavier/bulkier" clothes I'll have on my body in layers and then peel off once I'm on the plane. It's really quite easy for me and saves time and/or the hassle of lost/delayed luggage. I can usually exit a plane and be on the subway/bus/foot within 20 of entering a foreign country!

Keep a smile,
Simeon



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/06/2010 04:27AM by mralisn.