Travel tip #144: What to do if you can't lift your carry on bag

Hi Reader,

How are you this week?

I am currently in Hoi An, spending a few days in this cute town before continuing north.

If you're keen to visit Vietnam and Cambodia, join the waitlist to be the first to know when the trip goes live. And follow my trip in Instagram stories.

This week I wanted to talk about a common question from women in our community - what to do if you cab't lift your carry on bag to place it in the overhead bins.

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What to do if you can't lift your carry on bag

I always travel carry on unless I absolutely must check in. This has been my policy for the last 25 years and after the airline lost (completely lost) my luggage in December (more on that in a future newsletter when the case is legally resolved), my commitment to this travel lifestyle is even stronger.

Airlines typically have a 7 to 10 kg allowance for carry on bags, though some airlines will let you carry whatever you can lift, and in Business Class the likelihood of your carry on being weighted is low, so I will admit that I have occasionally carried onboard more than 10kg.

Because I have been dragging my suitcase up and down airports, stairs and streets for years, my right arm is visibly larger and stronger than the left, yes that is true.

My trusted Tumi carry on which I've had for 12 years and the previous Tumi carry on bag I had for another 10 years, only have 2 wheels not 4, so I need to actually drag it.

While the suitcase usually weighs less than 10kg, my handbag, which I always place on top, can weigh another 5kg with the laptop, electronics, my noise cancelling headphones, sleep mask, cables, battery pack, etc. That means I typically drag 15kg of weight around airports.

I fly a lot. In fact, I have taken between 50-100 flights a year for the last 20+ years. That's a lot of time dragging a heavy suitcase around.

About a year ago, I realised that it was becoming harder for me to lift my bag and place it in the overhead bins, and that was an alarming realisation.

You see, I am pretty young to have strength issues, and I have many years of carry on travel ahead of me. That was enough motivation to join the gym. Not even kidding. Now I am back to being able to lift my bag without issues.

Here are your options for carry on bag if you have limitations on lifting a bag:

1. Firstly, most airlines will tell you that if you can't lift your bag, you should check it in. This is the easiest solution, and one that may be preferable to those who don't like the alternatives below. But bear in mind the issues with delayed luggage, or even lost bags like mine. You can practice at home to confirm if you can indeed lift it or not and remove items until you do.
2. Strength training like me. You can always improve your physical strength, especially your upper body, to be able to lift your bag. If you fly as often as me, this may be the best solution, so you can continue to travel carry on and be self sufficient. You can also target your training to making sure you strengthen the muscles that are required to lift a bag, so that you also prevent injury, which is a risk in that weird effort required to lift a bag in a constrained space.
3. Bring a smaller bag that fits under the seat in front of you. These can still be pretty roomie and large, and be enough for a shorter trip. I recently went to a conference and brought only a change of clothes and a toiletry bag in my handbag which fit under the seat in front. If you are flying Business Class, the seat may have a compartment to store your bag at floor level.
4. Ask a flight attendant for help. This is always an option, but know that they may say no, not because they are rude or don't want to help, but because they risk injury and in some countries like in the US, they aren't paid until the flight takes off so the injury wouldn't even be considered on the job. Some airline also discourage or forbid staff from helping because of liability and worker's compensation. If a crew member gets injured, then the flight may end up being cancelled. So, while it never hurts to ask, you should accept a negative.
5. Ask another passenger for help. This may be the easiest choice for you, and it is likely that someone around you will offer help of they see you are struggling or if you simply ask. Most group members said that when they had to, they always found someone willing. If you are shorter and this is not a weight limitation, you can always specify that you need help because you can't reach the overhead bins. Some of them are really high and even I struggle to reach them sometimes.

In all of the above, I am assuming a healthy individual with no injury or special needs. If you have either, you should notify the airline in advance and can even request assistance which will include help carrying and lifting your bag. You are also more likely to get help from fellow passengers or the crew if you state those upfront at the time of boarding. There is always a stewardess greeting passengers, try to board early and ask them to help you place your bag. They may do it themselves or ask another passenger to.

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I hope you have an amazing weekend ahead!

Solo Female Travelers Co-Founders