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We Race, We Carry On

We thought it was time for another Think Out loud Thursday post. Can you believe that I am just now finishing up my laundry from my last  Race-cation Disney trip? Seeing as I probably only do (my own) laundry about once a month, that is not hard for me to believe at all. What is hard for me to believe are the crazy prices the airlines charge for their luggage.   I know this might seem a little random for me to be bringing this up but as I was unpacking my clothes I was thinking about it.
thirty one bag
 
Back in November, when we were flying to Las Vegas for the RnR Las Vegas Marathon and Half, I flew an airline that I have never flown before. It had good flight times there and back, was a direct flight, and it was cheap.  After I booked it I realized why it was so cheap. They were going to charge me $100 to carry on my luggage! Oh, no, this was NOT going to happen. Personal items were allowed on for free. My mission was to fit everything I needed into my "Personal Item". This meant I was layering clothes on like I was going to Alaska!
carry on packing tips


                                
 I packed one of those drawstring backpacks ( you know the ones that you sometimes get at  race day packet pickup). I folded this up and put it in my jacket pocket. When I got on the plane, I un-layered myself, put all my extra clothing in that drawstring bag and used it as a pillow for that long flight to Las Vegas!  This technique worked out well and I saved $100!  And actually that first layer paired with the gray cardigan in layer 4 actually became an outfit for one of the days I was there.  I have some very deep pockets in that jacket I wore ( layer 5) so I was able to stash more items, including my magazine for the trip.

Since it worked out so well, it now became a game with me.  When it was time to go to Disney for Marathon weekend I flew a different airline yet I happily paid for extra luggage because I had lots of "Giveaway" items for our meet-up. I was seriously surprised that all those Lara bars did not put me over the weight limit..lol.



All of this fit in my Thirty-One bag. The 3 ziplock bags have race outfits in them. As you can see, I came home with more than I left with.


But when Princess weekend came around, I didn't see any reason why I couldn't pack all my stuff in a "personal" item bag again. I got this great Thirty-One bag for Christmas and it was the perfect size!
I didn't have to do nearly as much layering as I did on the Vegas flight ( but I probably could have since it was so cold).  I can't believe how much stuff I was able to fit in this bag. I attribute it to packing all my race outfits in ziplock bags.  I don't like to wear the same shoes to the park that I will be racing in, so I slung an extra pair of shoes over my shoulder strap and no one ever said a word about it.



I certainly took advantage of every nook and cranny in that bag. Yes, I even snapped my Magic Kingdom popcorn bucket to the handle.
 
Like I said, this has become a little game for me just to see if it can be done.  I was able to  pack everything I needed but I did have a comfort in knowing that I was traveling with my sister who is a flight attendant and can pack pretty much everything we need ( for free)..lol
 
I'll be traveling cross country for my next race-cation so I have a feeling I might need a bigger bag next time.   -M
 
Where are you traveling on your next race-cation? Will you be flying?

37 comments:

  1. I am always determined not to pay for my carry-on and that has meant I have become very creative with my packing haha

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    1. That is what I am doing from now on, especially with this airlines that have such high fees!

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  2. No way jose...one hundred dollars for luggage? That's insane. Major kudos to you for figuring it out!! I love that picture of you with all the layers...so funny!

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    1. Yea, those airlines think they are so clever selling cheap tickets and then charging that much for luggage. I wasn't letting them win that one!

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  3. Wow, that is impressive packing my friend!! I've never travelled on a flight where I had to pay for my luggage!

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  4. I also try to pack everything into a carryon so I don't have to check luggage. Putting a bag in your pocket & taking your layers off on the plane & putting them in the bag is a great idea!

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    1. Yea, I normally carry one of those foldable bags with me now. You never know when it will come in handy!

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  5. Nice job with your packing. I'm headed to Boston for my next racecation and yes, my luggage will be on the plane with me. I never check baggage for a race trip, but that $100 carry on fee is crazy. Nice work just having a personal item!

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    1. Thank you! I always try to carry -on, but charging for a carry-on is kind of ridiculous!

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  6. $100 for a carryon is crazy! That was a great way to avoid paying the fee!

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    1. Yea, I think the fee's for carry-ons have got out of control!

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  7. I'll fully admit, I'm an over packer. I always think "Well, I might need this or I might need that." We have free checked luggage with one airline, so we either try to fly with them, or fly Southwest which offers everybody free checked luggage. But I also make sure that my running shoes are in my carry on. Everything else can be replaced if necessary, but not my broken in shoes!

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    1. Actually with all three of the trips I recently took, there was stuff I packed that I didn't even use. So in essence I could have gotten away with even less...lol

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  8. Impressive! I am not good at packing only a carry on but when I'm going to a race I'll be sure to pack my running items with me in my carry on and not the luggage I check. I wouldn't want to loose my shoes or costume!
    Karen @karenlovestorun

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  9. That is some dedication to packing!

    My next racecation will be to Virginia Beach, but we are driving. I can pack as much as I want!

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    1. I love when I can drive to a race-cation. I know I totally over pack then, cus I can!

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  10. Lol that's so funny! Nice work! I wonder how big the savings is to fly those airlines vs Southwest. We've got kids so traveling gets so expensive, especially if they tack on fees. Hence why we usually go SWA. Don't like surprises.

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    1. I'm hoping to find a Southwest flight for my next trip!

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  11. Thank goodness these flights were in the Winter months. I would have looked ridiculous flying in all these layers had it ben July!

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  12. Color me impressed!! The trick of the draw string bag is epic - definitely doing that next time I travel. Very, very smart traveler!!

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  13. You crack me up! I love how something that was borne out of necessity has become a game - and one you are playing really well! :)

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  14. Wow you did fit a lot in your carryon! Impressive! I always fly southwest because they have 2 bags free and delta because I have their credit card and I get a free bag. But I am paranoid and pack a carryon with my race outfit in it just incase it gets lost!

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  15. I've never heard of paying for carry on luggage! I can just picture you standing there with all those layers on Haha too funny and clever!

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  16. So thankful my husband has his pilots license and I can avoid the nightmares of paying for baggage! With 3 small kids and all their asthma and allergy medicines , nebulizers, and clothes we pack like we are going on a 3 week journey instead of a week lol. I can't wait till they are older and we can go back to normal amounts of luggage like this!

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  17. I always try and carry-on! I hate paying the airlines more money! Love that 31 bag - any chance you know the style name?

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  18. Girlfriend you are INSANE! But I love this. Luckily the Mr. and I fly Southwest nearly everywhere so we don't have to pay for bags but I think I can learn a thing or two from you. The Disney merch is always so hard to resist, I don't know how you don't end up bringing home two massive bags after a runDisney race. haha!

    p.s. love the popcorn bucket snapped on :)

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  19. This is just one more reason I love Southwest Airlines. You can check 2 bags for free. Plus, their service is great and reasonably priced!

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  20. $100 for luggage, that's just crazy! I'm pretty good at packing the hardest part for me is the liquids and staying under the limit. I've never though of layering up my clothes before though. Going to use that trick.

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  21. Wow, way to beat those luggage fees!!!

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  22. great packing tips! I hate to pay those luggage fees too! My daughter I are headed to Nashville next month for the R n R and you can bet we both will get everything we need it our overnight bags! I would rather spend my $$ on an overpriced cocktail! LOL!

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  23. Can you provide a list of what you did pack? I always overpack and need a list to stick to, in order to avoid the what-if add-ons!

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    1. Absolutely. Check out this post http://www.fairytalesandfitness.com/2015/02/the-check-list.html If you can't copy and paste the address, it can be found in the archives from February titled "The check list". We also have other posts on what to pack for races as well.

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  24. Race packing for flights, is really an art. It took many fights before I perfected my own system. Although next time I fly, I am going to be incorporating a few of your ziploc suggestions, I really liked that idea!
    I hate when airlines charge for bags. I have always flown Delta, I rarely ever book anything different, and if I do it has to be a good reason. I only do it because of the rewards program always gives me free carry on items, and if I ever check luggaged I get 1 bag free:)
    I think the luggage fee thing they charge is ridiculous, but at least you do have your sister I would assume if you fly on her airline you can get additional things through, or have her take them for you:) Awesome perk, well that and Lacey probably gets to fly for free, which would seriously be awesome, I totally should get a job with an airline just for that:)

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  25. Wow that's clever! I love how you beat the airline system! I'm also super jealous that you do laundry once a month. I'm a 10 loads per weeker.

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Fairytales and Fitness is a personal blog authored and edited by us, Meranda and Lacey. The thoughts expressed here represent only our own and are not meant to be taken as professional advice. Please note that our thoughts and opinions change from time to time. We consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind in an ever changing society. Any thoughts and opinions expressed within our out-of-date posts may not be the same, nor even similar, to those we may express today. Some links may contain affiliate links. Some links are just to pages we'd like to share.