TSA got on me at an outstation recently about my 26" international roller bag. Dude try to claim it wouldn't fit in the machine because it has to be in a bin. Apparently the bins have RFID tags, and that's how they ID which ones to shoot sideways. Anyone else had them give grief over that? Seems absurd to me. Who cares if it doesn't have a tagged bin under it. Can you not manually grab it and pull if you need to?

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Were you at TLH? Flew with a guy that had that issue there when they first started using the new, slow, pos machines. Their solution was drop it at ticket counter, gets run through luggage machine, then pulled and brought up jetway to him.

 

My solution would be to throw that pos bag away and buy a smaller, lighter bag that doesn’t scream aircrew and meets the normal travel standards. The travelpro bag is about $200, basically a bar bill. These are petty things in the big picture of things. Not worth the hassle.

Your other option is to keep using that bag and get a hard time every single time you go through security while hoping they actually let you through with your bag

 

There is another option...

 

I would be more concerned about rogue gate agents especially in ATL when non reving or commuting. They can demand you check the bag and would be correct under Delta policy. Once took a delay out of JFK waiting for a pilot to retrieve his bag.

 

Well for me, I'm basically stuck with either a 26" or 4 bags. I have to carry medical crap (refrigerated med, plus a machine plus spares) that takes half of a 26 up.

My 26 has been great because I don't have a bag-o-medical crap that is easily breakable hanging off a smaller bag. Especially during cold weather season.

My load out isn't crazy but I don't care how minimalist you pack theres a limit to how small you can go.

n=trip length
Clothes
n+2 underwear
1 white t per fly day
1 pair black socks per fly day
n+1 white socks
n+1 metal/dirtbike T shirts. They double as gym shirts
2 pairs gym shorts
1 pair jeans or shorts depending on season
1 Hoodie fall/spring/or cold destination
1 pair gym shoes that are also my layover walking shoes
Spare uniform shirt/pants on 3 day or longer trips

Standard toiletry bag. Nothing huge. I use hotel shampoo/ soap.

I've summoned papa smurf and taken a delay over this.

Something smaller sized people do forget is bringing the same stuff, if you are bigger so are your clothes. My size 17 running shoes take up a lot of bag space.

Me and my wife have almost identical packing lists for going on the road for motocross races.

My stuff takes up 2x the space. Even with her having normal bras, sports bras and more shoes.

She's 5'5" 135# with size tiny feet
I'm 6'5" 230# with 17EE shoes.

 

My thoughts exactly. Have no issues with my non aircrew looking 22” bag for 6 day trips. I also don’t throw my back out when I have to lift it into an overhead bin.

 

The 22" LW suiter (extra thick) has equivalent volume to the 26" bag. It was my choice for over a decade of long international trips until downsizing.

 

Got it. You’re not willing to adjust and picked other option.

 

What do I adjust down to? Wear same white T and socks for the whole trip? Use both sides of my underwear?