Never Check a Bag: How to Travel With Carry-On Baggage Only
Every frequent — or infrequent — flyer knows that few things are more frustrating at the end of a long flight than waiting by the carousel to collect your checked baggage.
Actually, one thing that’s even more stressful is fearing or finding out the airline has lost your luggage.
If you’re taking the family on a two-week vacation in the US or abroad, you can’t really avoid checking some baggage.
However, you might be surprised at how far and long you can fly using only carry-on baggage.
Now that many carriers are decreasing checked baggage allowances and raising their fees, you may also be shocked at how much money you can save.
Here’s how to optimize your carry-on baggage and personal item allowance…
But first, let’s explore why you should never check a bag if you can avoid it.
Understanding the Drawbacks of Check-In Luggage
(Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics)
Rising Airline Fees for Checked Bags
Checked baggage is a big business.
The US Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) found that 13 American-based airlines collected almost $7.3 billion in baggage fees in 2024.
It’s estimated that passenger airlines raked in about $33 billion in baggage fees in 2023, and — except for a COVID pause — the numbers just keep going up.
Even budget airlines that built much of their brand identity on perks like free checked baggage, like Southwest Airlines, have ended free luggage policies and now charge $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second.
In a highly competitive landscape, more and more airlines rely on “hidden” fees and charges that aren’t reflected in the published or advertised ticket price.
Time and Inconvenience
Airline travel is stressful enough.
Even if you don’t have a fear of flying, no one likes being stuck in an airport line to check their luggage or waiting at a baggage carousel.
If you’re traveling internationally, going through customs with giant suitcases often attracts the attention of baggage inspectors, leading to yet more unpleasant delays.
If you have tight connecting flights, there’s a decent chance your bags won’t arrive at the same time you do.
The fewer bags you have to check, the less time and inconvenience you’re likely to suffer.
Baggage Delays
Every frequent flyer has experienced that moment when there’s only one bag left on the carousel and it isn’t yours.
Airlines have actually improved the handling of checked baggage over time.
In 2007, BTS reported that the airlines mishandled an average of 7 bags per 1000 passengers, a rate of 0.7%.
(Source: BTS)
The most current figures show that the mishandling rate has nudged back up to 5.8 in 2024.
Unfortunately, it also spikes heavily at arguably the worst times of year, like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Baggage delays are one thing, but what if it never turns up?
(Source: Unclaimed Baggage)
Lost and Damaged Luggage
According to the AirHelp Baggage Report, around 36.1 million bags worldwide were lost, delayed, or damaged in 2024 — approximately 6.92 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers globally.
US-based airlines aren’t required to track lost luggage separately from mishandled baggage.
However, NPR reports that “US airlines lose 2 million suitcases a year.”
Depending on what was in your lost bags, you might find out the hard way that standard payouts from airlines are shockingly low — especially on international flights.
According to the US Dept of Transportation, the maximum liability for lost luggage on almost all international flights is currently 1,519 Special Drawing Rights (approximately $2,175.00 US) per passenger.
On US domestic flights, the maximum liability for lost or damaged luggage is $4,700 per passenger.
Keep in mind, any compensation you receive will be based on the depreciated value of the lost goods — not what you paid for them in the first place.
Airlines can also demand itemized lists with proof of purchase receipts showing the original value of any goods before agreeing to pay out.
All in all, a headache that’s well worth avoiding if possible!
Most bags find their way home eventually, but not always.
Less than 0.03% of all checked luggage goes unclaimed.
Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro, Alabama, is the only store in the US authorized to sell unclaimed luggage from airlines, trains, and buses.
Many items end up being recycled or donated to charity, but about ⅓ are sold in the store, which has about 7,000 items in stock and many more thousands of items available online.
Over the years, everything from a live rattlesnake to a shrunken human head has gone unclaimed and ended up at the store, although neither made it to the shop floor.
Theft
Theft of valuable items from checked baggage is statistically rare, but not as uncommon as you might think.
Citing TSA data, Conde Nast Traveler found that between 2010 and 2014, 30,621 claims of stolen luggage were filed, with an estimated ~$2.5 million in total loss due to theft from checked baggage.
Needless to say, it’s wise to keep valuable items in your carry-on bag and not leave them vulnerable to theft by baggage handlers or customs agents.
Items Prohibited from Cargo Storage
The list of items prohibited from being placed in checked baggage is long — 494 items are listed as banned or restricted on the TSA website as of September 2025.
Many of the items make intuitive sense, such as flammable materials and containers of compressed gas.
However, many travelers are unaware that lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, such as those found in portable power banks and many electronic devices, are not allowed in checked baggage or the storage hold of passenger airplanes.
Even the best power banks, like EcoFlow RAPID Pro, must be carried onboard — not checked.
Some airlines, such as Southwest, now prohibit the use of portable rechargeable batteries in overhead storage bins.
Power banks with storage of up to 100Wh (~27,650mAh) are permitted for use, but must remain visible to passengers and flight crew, such as in the seatback pouch or on the retractable tray.
After a faulty power bank was blamed for a fire on an Air Busan flight in Korea in January 2025, airlines like Korean Air, Asiana, Hong Kong Airlines, and Cathay Pacific only permit storage in clear sight and prohibit the use of power banks on their planes.
All traditional lithium-ion batteries carry a tiny risk of thermal runaway, which, in rare instances, can lead to fires and explosions. Even a small fire or arcing from a damaged battery could be disastrous if it occurs in a plane's baggage hold.
Flight attendants are extensively trained in fire suppression techniques should a battery fire occur in the plane's cabin.
Even if you plan on taking a rechargeable Li-ion battery device to keep your phone or laptop running during a long flight, make sure it’s a TSA-approved power bank before you leave for the airport.
Or you might be forced to leave it behind.
Freedom and Mobility
Even the best rolling suitcases and bags slow you down.
Heavy suitcases are clumsy to maneuver, especially if you’re taking public transportation to the airport.
Check-in and customs procedures tend to take longer when you’re checking bags.
Overall, traveling with carry-on baggage only or minimizing checked luggage makes for a less stressful, smoother air travel experience.
The Best Carry-On Baggage Only Strategies
Choose the Right Luggage: Maximize your check-in allowance by selecting a lightweight, regulation-size carry-on bag and a spacious personal item bag that fits under the seat in front of you.
Plan a Capsule Wardrobe: Stick to a simple color palette and pack versatile, mix-and-match clothing items that can be layered and worn for multiple occasions.
Master Space-Saving Packing Techniques:
Roll your clothes instead of folding them.
Use packing cubes or compression bags to organize and condense your items.
Stuff small items like socks inside your shoes.
Wear Your Heaviest Items On Board: Wear your bulkiest clothing and shoes, like boots and jackets, on the plane to save space and weight in your carry-on bag.
Go With Solid Toiletries: As you probably know, liquids are heavily restricted in carry-on luggage. Containers must be 3.4oz (100ml) or smaller, and all travel-sized liquids must be kept in a single quart-sized bag. Switch to solid toiletries like shampoo and conditioner bars, toothpaste tablets, and stick deodorant to bypass the TSA 3-1-1 liquids rule and save space.
Consolidate Your Tech: Bring a single universal travel adapter and a TSA-approved power bank to charge all your essential electronics in flight.
Final Thoughts
Traveling light with carry-on baggage only or minimal checked luggage is one of the best ways to ensure a stress-free trip.
EcoFlow’s RAPID Pro Power Bank offers the FAA-maximum 100Wh (27,650mAh) battery storage and 300W of output to power all your energy-hungry electronics, including multiple phones, laptops, and mobile workstations.
EcoFlow makes a wide variety of power banks and portable power stations to meet your needs, from charging your phone to backing up your entire home during outages.
Check out our selection today.