Packing for work travel

[undecidedowl]

Ok, I know I am way over thinking this BUT I am going on a 3 night work trip this week and I am trying to figure out what to pack. I feel like I shouldn't check a bag but how would I do that if I need a purse, briefcase, and a suitcase? Also, I always get nervous about hoping my rolling suitcase fits on the plane as a carry-on. I don't have a lot of bag options. Would it be stupid to check it? It would mean my coworkers would have to wait for me to go to baggage claim.

[y4m]

You shouldn't need to check a bag. Can your purse stuff go in your briefcase and your empty purse in your carryon?

It's one thing if you're traveling alone, but with coworkers, I wouldn't. You don't want to be the holdup at baggage.

[undecidedowl]

Jul 12, 2014 19:18:58 GMT -5 melmaria said:

Jul 12, 2014 19:12:34 GMT -5 y4m said:

You shouldn't need to check a bag. Can your purse stuff go in your briefcase and your empty purse in your carryon?

It's one thing if you're traveling alone, but with coworkers, I wouldn't. You don't want to be the holdup at baggage.

Agree, especially if you're flying to your work destination in the morning and going straight there.

Have you measured your carry-on and compared it to the airline requirements? 

We have to fly the day before, but I still agree it would be preferable not to check luggage.

But, ugh, I just measured my rolling bag and it looks like it is too big. Wish I had thought about this sooner.

[y4m]

If it's barely too big, it shouldn't be a problem--the airlines recently changed rules but I haven't seen it enforced yet. And if they do, oh well, your coworkers can't hate you.

What group do you board in? An early one or a late one? Are you traveling with a frequent flier who will get you earlier boarding?

[cheezer]

Do not check a bag. Your CWs will not like you. My H checked a bag on a trip the other month and I haven't let him live it down because we were waiting at baggage claim forever. I don't think you need a purse & a briefcase. I just have a work tote that fits my laptop, wallet, chargers and several files.

[mskitkat]

You should be fine not to check it. Worse case, they force you to gate check it, and your coworkers will only be slightly annoyed instead of incredibly ticked off.

I have a big purse that I carry for work travel. My laptop fits inside, and while it's bigger than I would generally like for dinner out, it's not terrible. Or put your purse in your suitcase and put the stuff you absolutely need at the airport (ID, wallet) in your briefcase.

[sillygoosegirl]

I normally just bring one bag when I travel for work, to keep it simple. I bring a purse that's more of a "wallet on a string", and it spends a lot of time in my backpack. I also keep my laptop and any papers I haven't scanned yet in my backpack (it has a separate laptop compartment, which is nice, but not strictly necessary). All my clothes go into packing cubes so they can come out of the backpack as soon as I get to the hotel, and still stay organized. Then the backpack stays with me with my laptop in it a lot of the time, though the wallet on a string purse means when I do have the opportunity to leave it somewhere secure, I can take just the purse. Granted, when I've traveled for work, even once on site I've needed to move from place to place with my laptop a ton, so most people have some sort of laptop bag that's more ergonomic than a briefcase, mostly backpacks or wheeled bags.

[aurora]

Are you by any chance flying Frontier? They've been checking carry-on sizes recently on most of the flights I've taken.

If not, I'd just put your purse in one of your other bags and do carry-ons.

[giantsgirl]

Yeah, I don't care what my co-workers think. Unless i am only going away for one night, I always check a bag. I rarely have a very long wait for my bags, and if I do, any co-workers can go and grab the rental car and pick me up. The biggest reason why I check is bag is because of the 3oz liquid rule, I hate trying to keep my toiletries under that limit and won't do it for more than a night.

Do what you are comfortable with!

[crashgizmo]

I have a wristlet wallet that goes in my purse when I am at home and then I just toss it into my laptop bag. It holds my phone and credit cards/ID perfectly.

That said, I sometimes still check a bag so I can bring more clothing options, if I am flying on an airline that doesn't charge for it. I travel alone, though, when I travel for work.

[bryantpark]

When I was traveling a lot for work if there was a person who checked a bag they typically were taking their own taxi to the hotel. And I worked with incredibly nice people but that was a general rule.

[Deleted]

My coworkers and I usually check bags. I think you're fine either way.

Unless you're going to LAX. At least on Southwest that place takes FOREVER to get the luggage out.

Everywhere else you pass it on the way out anyway and it''a usually out by the time everyone has used the bathroom.

[doobeedoo]

I avoid checking bags whenever humanly possible. I just avoid large structured purses because unless they can also hold my laptop, they will need to be packed and that doesn't work so well. A nice wallet/purse combo or a Longchamp nylon foldable bag are my go-to items for work travel.

[Deleted]

When I travel for work, I almost always check my bags. Why? The company will pay any checked bag fee (I'm stingier with my own money) and I don't want to agonize over how to pack efficiently if I'm not going to get any enjoyment out of this trip.

I've never been in a situation where coworkers were visibly bothered by it, and if they wanted me to take a cab by myself instead of waiting for me -- which would totally be fair -- I don't see how that's a big deal? Depending on who I am traveling with, I might prefer to be in my own cab anyway!!!

[mpc]

For a trip that length I don't check a bag because I don't want to have to wait for it at the other end. I usually have a carryon sized roller bag, a laptop bag, and a purse. For a short trip, my suitcase is never full, so I stick the purse or the laptop bag in my suitcase for the flight to meet the 2 bag rule. It's easy.

[msmerymac]

Will your company pay for your bag check? Or are you willing to pay the fee yourself?

I packed a small rolling carry on suitcase on my last trip, but I also wanted to bring my purse, and obviously my computer bag. I just put all my purse essentials - makeup, sunglasses, kindle, wallet, water bottle, keys - in my work bag, along with my computer and some plane snacks. I packed my empty purse in my suitcase.

[msmerymac]

Jul 14, 2014 8:43:50 GMT -5 v said:

When I travel for work, I almost always check my bags. Why? The company will pay any checked bag fee (I'm stingier with my own money) and I don't want to agonize over how to pack efficiently if I'm not going to get any enjoyment out of this trip.

I've never been in a situation where coworkers were visibly bothered by it, and if they wanted me to take a cab by myself instead of waiting for me -- which would totally be fair -- I don't see how that's a big deal? Depending on who I am traveling with, I might prefer to be in my own cab anyway!!!

I work for a small company that would look askance at too many superfluous charges. Including rental cars and too many cab rides. :/ So taking separate cabs? Frowned upon. Check bag fees? Frowned upon. Beer with your dinner? Totally not covered. So it depends on the situation. 

[lindsaymg]

When carrying on I take a carry on type laptop bag (Lo and Sons OG) and a purse (Tory Burch Reva cross body) that will fit in the carry on plus my suit case (Tumi Alpha Garment rolling bag) I am leaving for a work trip today and that is how I am packed.

For longer trips we agree ahead of time and check and our company doesn't care.

[livinitup]

I couldn't imagine dealing with a lost bag on a business trip. Even for a few hours.

[definitelyO]

for a 3 night trip - no one in my company would check a bag. And depending on who up the chain we were traveling with they would say something and not be happy about having to wait.

My company will pay for all baggage fees - so that's not the issue.

for 3 days - it should all fit into a carry on. I pack around one color scheme and one pair of shoes for business - pack others if you workout, etc...

I take a large purse that holds my laptop and I have a wristlet wallet for phone/id, etc... so that minimizes the additional "baggage"

[L]

Jul 14, 2014 9:55:02 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I couldn't imagine dealing with a lost bag on a business trip. Even for a few hours.

No kidding.  My company and my frequent flyer status both cover the cost of checking a bag but the PITA factor of having to replace everything in my suitcase would be so awful that I still avoid checking bags at all costs.  I avoid gate checking as well after an unfortunate incident when my bag was dropped into some unknown but foul smelling liquid that soaked through everything in my suitcase. 

For only a three day trip, I can easily fit everything (including running shoes and suits) in a small carry on that's about the size of a rolling laptop bag and fits under the seat in most airplanes.  I carry a large tote bag with my laptop in it and either use that as my purse during the trip or put a small purse inside it.

[ewall]

My coworkers and I always check our bags. The company pays for it so why not? We're never in a hurry to get to our final destination - worst case scenario, one person goes to get the rental car while the rest of us wait on bags. Also, we like to arrive early on departure day and eat at the airport together. Much easier to jam ourselves into an airport bar if we don't have our bags. (Our travel agenda is a very leisurely pace, mostly because we give ourselves plenty of extra time to eat, drink, and socialize. Work can wait!)

[boston340]

I don't usually take my regular purse on work trips. I use a clutch or wristlet and just bring cash, credit card, driver's license, and insurance cards. That will save you a lot of space there - slip the wristlet into your briefcase/work bag.