Story: Don’t want to pay extra fee at the airport

I am preparing for a short domestic trip next month. It’s for 15 days. I expected to pay for the suitcase, but I reminded previous travel. When I went to Chicago, IL, for the conference. I was charged for a suitcase(Rimowa/Brown/H26 inches), at the airport. my friend had a small suitcase and he did not pay for it. He gets used to a business trip. So, he quite knew it. When I returned to Vancouver, BC, I exchanged the suitcase with him.

I don’t have much experience to use an airport and a flight. I am still nervous when I use it. Anyway, I look for a carry-on suitcase.

COVID TEST

Updated: 2021.08.21

If you visit this page, I assume that you already bought an airplane ticket for domestic travel in Canada. Then, you realize carry-on suitcase. Before that, we have to care about COVID restriction. This trip is the first time for me during(after?) COVID. I checked.

I scanned each resource, but I could not find a clear answer easily. According to the CBC, I don’t have to take the COVID test.

Travelling within Canada
The rules can also be complex for domestic travellers.

Air passengers travelling within Canada don’t have to take a pre-arrival COVID-19 test.

However, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba and the territories still require some inter-provincial travellers to quarantine. – from CBC Website

Carry-on Baggage

I use Air Transat in September. I could choose Air Canada as well. The airplane of Air Canada is sometimes too narrow to me who heights 187cm. It happened when I backed to Japan. It was really narrow. Therefore, I choose Air Transat for the first time.

Each career has a different dimension for carry-on. I have to meet all the criteria. I don’t want to buy 2 suitcases. I don’t know how much restriction about personal bags. Basically, everyone brings a laptop.

D9 in × W15.5 in × H21.5 in / D23 cm × W40 cm × H55 cm

D9 in × W16 in × H20 in / D23 cm × W40 cm × H51 cm

D9 in × W15 in × H21 in / D23 cm × W38 cm × H53 cm

D9 in × W15.5 in × H21.5 in / D23 cm × W45 cm × H55 cm

According to the regulation size above, safety size is D9 in × W15 in × H20 in. The heights of Air Transat is tricky. Is it NG if the height is 21 in?

Amazon Basic

Product Dimensions: ‎D23.37 cm x W36.58 cm x H54.61 cm

There are controversial for Amazon Basic. Congress wo/man asked Jeff Bezos about the product and data usage which Amazon has. I am not an Amazon Prime member and I don’t often buy something online. So, cheap and acceptable quality is good for ordinary consumers.

Air Canada

Total exterior dimensions including wheels and handles: D9 in x W14.5 in x H21.5 in

The size is okay. It’s an Air Canada brand. I thought I can trust it, but I saw 1 review which makes me nervous about this product.

MUJI

Dimensions: D20.5 cm x W32 cm x H47 cm
*Please don’t trust the size.

In Japan, MUJI is very familiar and so many shops in the country. Affordable and reliable. I have one MUJI suitcase, a second large size? I have no issue so far.

Herschel

Dimensions: D9 in x W14 in x H21.5 in

Proudly Canadian brand. Compared to MUJI, product and price, I choose Herschel if I pay $200 for carry-on baggage. I checked the carry-on suitcase on Herschel Gastown. Actually, Black was better than Night Camo.

Dimensions: D8.25 in x W13 in x H21.5 in

I don’t know which should I choose, soft or hard.

Away

©Forbes

Exterior measurements: D22.9 cm x W34.8 cm x H55.1 cm

I saw the video before. I knew there is a suitcase which installed a battery. I saw some news of a battery explosion (Samsung or cell phone?) I don’t know flight companies possibly reject Away or not.

Monos

Exterior measurements: D9 in × W14 in × H22 in

There is another product, Carry-On Pro. I don’t consider the Monos based on the budgets, but It looks nice.

Rimowa

Size: Cabin D9.1 in x W15.8 in x H21.7 in

On my list above, zero competitors at this price point, extremely expensive. There is the other collection, ESSENTIAL LITE. It costs $690. On the website, Rimowa shows the carry-on luggage size for all airlines. It shows Rimowa is different levels of products compared to others.

When I was working at an advertising agency in Tokyo, Japan, I bought Rimowa for the company travel, South East Asia. I don’t remember even I compared with other brands or not. My co-worker, also graphic designers, had Rimowa. So, I might think it’s standard. I spent $300-$500 for clothing easily if I liked it. I was young at that time. Now, I cannot do it.

Bouns: Personal bags

I don’t have a plan to buy a new bag for the coming soon travel, but a new bag is always attractive even I have 2 bags. I can change the feeling.

Minimalist Packing Tips & Hacks – Travel Light With Only Carry-On Luggage!

©Exploring Alternatives

The benefit of carry-on luggage:
– Save the money
– No missing the luggage
– No need to wait
– Universal size(estimate): 9″ × 14″ × 21.5″

Digital book/audiobook is convenient. Do people care about batteries? My iPhone 7 will be dead in half a day.

TSA: What Can I Bring?

Conclusion: Acceptable budget and long-term usage

I don’t buy new baggage if it does not break. I don’t have many chances to use it, once 1-2 years. So, I expect that I need to keep it long.

I can choose the cheapest one. At the same time, I don’t want to buy something which I don’t like. Therefore, I searched the carry-on baggage. I still have not decided which carry-on baggage I buy yet.

Reference:

Travel+Leisure: Travel Guides
Lonely Planet: Travel Guides
AFAR: Travel Magazine and Guide
Medium: airbnb magazine