I’m not sure which one it was (may have been Spirit), but I’ve heard of at least one low-cost carrier that installed bars under the seats to block most underseat luggage. Maybe a small purse would have gotten through, but not a backpack.
I’m not doubting you, but wow, that’s a low bar. (heh).
Idk…seems wasteful if the items get thrown out instead of donated. Plus, if they’re unwanted and I’m not wearing them at home, I sure don’t want to wear them on vacay…
If I remember correctly, carry on luggage costs more than checked on the budget carriers.
My gf recently took her mom to Florida to visit relatives. Because Latrobe Airport is closer to us than Pittsburgh, she flew Spirit. She was actually shocked how cheap the tickets were.
But, her mom needed an aisle seat due to knee issues. And baggage fees. And carryon fees. By the time all the extra fees were paid, she said it cost as much as flying a real airline.
I guess I’m a minimalist. Not quite a single change of clothes and a toothbrush, but not that far off, either. I’m confident I can acquire anything else I need wherever it is I’m going.
Carry on luggage that has to go in the overhead bin costs more. A small item that fits under the seat, like a backpack, is free. Literally the only thing you can bring with you for free (Unless those bars under the seats that @Dr.Strangelove mentioned are true).
Burrito backpack I guess? Everything rolled and squeezed into a backpack, making it big enough that they can’t try to make me jam it under the set in front of me on the plane. I did a week in Europe that way.
I don’t find it wrinkles the clothes, however. There’s no space for wrinkles!
More advice.
A), you can generally find a place at many urban destinations to donate clothing.
B), lots of us have clothing that we don’t hate but are ready to be done with, for one reason or another. For instance, I generally pack my raggediest old underpants when travelling (sorry Mom!). They make it through one final wearing on the trip, and then get thrown in the trash, which is probably less resource-intensive than washing and re-transporting them anyway.
Bonus, if the loss of those raggedy garments has depleted my usable underwear supply too much, I can get some nice foreign undies as a souvenir of my trip! (No I do not show them off to guests, very funny.)
The One Super Useful Weird Tip for long-stay travel packing, though, is: Thrift stores at your destination. I left for a six-months overseas trip last year with one modest half-filled suitcase containing a few key garments and the abovementioned ratty underwear. And for less than US$100, I obtained a lavish temporary wardrobe (including shoes) that I then cleaned and re-donated before returning home.
Think of it as just a rental fee for having all the clothes you need without either the hassle of massive packing, or the environmental costs of transporting massive amounts of luggage.
Gangnum
Is that where you pack Korean horsey dancing clothes?
This is key for me. I only make sure that I have enough meds to last me for a week past my expected return date. Otherwise, I can buy anything I may need or find a laundromat. The one time I didn’t pack extra meds, I got caught short and had to go through a crabby pharmacist to fill four doses of each for me. The cost was very high, as he was filling it out of the normal refill schedule and insurance wouldn’t pay for that.
Basically, if it won’t fit into a carry-on, I either don’t need it or I shouldn’t be going on the trip. The wife is the same way.
The ultimate manifestation of this philosophy occurs in the Jack Reacher novels.
When the clothes you’re wearing get dirty/stinky, buy new ones and discard the old. No need to carry luggage or sit around in laundromats.