Why Checked Bag Is Always Worth It, From Frugal International Traveler

• After visiting 17 countries, I will always swear by checking a bag during my travel experiences.
• Forgoing a carry-on and checking a bag means I don’t have to compete for overhead bin space.
• When traveling with a large checked bag, I get to pack everything I want to bring on my trip.

I consider myself fairly frugal when it comes to travel. I’ve booked the 6 a.m. flight to save $50 and have flown basic economy more times than I’d care to admit.

But after visiting 17 countries, there’s one little luxury I can’t go without when flying: checking a bag. Yes, checking a bag both ways can be expensive — usually about $50 to $70 both ways. However, I believe a more comfortable travel experience is worth the splurge.

Checking a bag makes my time in the airport less stressful and helps set a positive tone for my trips — which is why I’ll always swear by it.

Checking my bag and forgoing a carry-on makes moving around the airport easier

I hate maneuvering a carry-on around bathroom stalls or pulling my bag behind me while holding my lunch. I find that my carry-on bag is practically tied to me while I’m in the airport, which can become annoying.

To avoid this, I forgo a carry-on and pack everything in my checked bag. Once I turn my bag into an agent, I don’t have any cumbersome luggage to bring to the gate. This allows me to move around the airport much more easily.

Boarding a plane without a carry-on is less stressful

Checking a bag means I can avoid the Hunger Games-type madness that comes when it’s time to board the plane.

Most passengers with a carry-on try to board as quickly as possible before the space in the airplane’s overhead bin runs out. Avoiding this anxiety-inducing exercise and not rushing to board is a little luxury worth the price of checking a bag.

Opting for a large checked bag means I can pack everything I want to bring on my trip

When I traveled with a carry-on, there were times when I ran out of space. I often felt like the abominable snowman, wearing multiple layers and a jacket, which wasn’t a nice experience.

Now, packing all my belongings in a large checked bag gives me more choices for what I can bring on my trip. As someone who’s a bit indecisive and dislikes the concept of packing light, I feel great having this space to pack several clothing options.

After all, the clothes I’m in the mood to wear when packing may differ from those I want when it’s time to get dressed.

In my experience, a large checked bag doesn’t make transportation from the airport more difficult

I used to think that having a carry-on would be the most advantageous when I landed — this type of luggage is usually smaller than a checked bag, so I figured taking it on a train or other form of transit would be easy.

However, in reality, I find that the size of my bag usually doesn’t matter if I’m just going from the airport to a hotel.

If I were backpacking across Europe, sure, I’d take as little baggage as possible. However, in my opinion, cramming things into a smaller bag doesn’t make sense when the effort to get from point A to point B is the same either way.

Traveling can be expensive and anxiety-inducing. Still, if you ask me, checking a bag is a relatively easy way to have a better travel experience.

This story was originally published on August 12, 2024, and most recently updated on December 13, 2024.