Those Times TB has Saved the Travel Day!

[one acorn]

I have had several instances in the past few months where my TB bags have saved me a lot of headache and frustration while traveling. I thought it might be fun to share and also to hear about similar situations from others. I searched the forums a bit, but didn’t see this as a focused topic, so I figured I would start a new thread. I guessed at this forum header as the best fit, so mods please feel free to move it there’s another that fits better. Thanks!

Most recently, my TB bags saved the day on a return flight from Lisbon. We were delayed over 2 hours out of Lisbon, jeopardizing my connection in Dulles. When we finally landed I had 20 minutes to make my connecting flight - meaning 20 minutes to deplane, clear customs, and get to my next gate. Impossible, right? Not with TB bags! With my A30 on my back and my travel docs handy in my TC, I was able to skip the checked bag retrieval, hurry through customs (thankful also for Global Entry), and sprint to the next gate just in time to board before the doors closed. It turns out I was the only one from the Lisbon flight to make the connection because I didn’t have checked bags (on international flights you have to retrieve your checked bag and then recheck it when you land in the US). I was out of breath, but elated to not have to deal with a missed flight and more delays. Thanks TB!


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[one acorn]

In another instance, I was traveling to Florida for a family visit and was booked on United Basic Economy. With Basic Economy you’re only allowed a “personal item” onboard and United makes you check in at the ticket counter to ensure you’re not bringing a bigger bag. The counter attendant on this day was being VERY particular and I watched her reject several bags people were trying to pass as personal items (forcing them to pay checked baggage fees). I had my A30 on my back and my TC crossbody for travel docs. I had left one of the end pockets mostly open in case I needed to pack the TC inside on the flight, but I was still feeling a bit anxious as I got up to check in. The counter attendant eyed my A30 and then sent me on my way, much to my relief! Not only did I not want to pay baggage fees, but I really, really didn’t want to check my A30! So I guess I can safely say the A30 will pass as a personal item, even under the critical eye of United.


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[AlaskaGirl]

Greetings,
I had a water bottle malfunction dump all the water into the inside of my Synapse25. The inside of the entire bag was wet and the lower front pocket was damp. My camera was ruined, but everything else was in Tom Bihn organizers or pouches and it was all perfectly dry! The outside of the Synapse25 was perfectly dry!

My clothes were in Packing Cube Shoulder Bags. All papers were in Double Organizer Pouches. My travel sudoko puzzle book was loose, but tucked between the Organizers, so it was barely damp on the corners.

The seam coverings in the Synapse25 and on the Organizers and Pouches had absorbed a significant amount of water. So while the main compartment of the Synapse25 was dripping wet, there wasn't that much water. It was amazing!

On arrival at my destination, I emptied all the Pouches and Organizers and hung them up overnight. The Synapse25 interior got a thorough wipe down and was propped open all night. In the morning, the seam tape was still a bit damp, but I had to leave. Everything got packed back where it had been and I was off with my rental car. That evening, I unpacked it all and hung it up overnight again. It was thoroughly dry by morning.

I was and still am astonished that everything in the Organizers, Pouches, and Packing Cubes was dry! The camera was in a soft case and was a total loss, but I'm okay with that.

The annoyance of having to dry out all my clothes and belongings was avoided. That convenience was worth ten times what I paid for each Tom Bihn product! Thank you, Mr. Bihn and Awesome Crew, for such amazing products! elisa

ETA corrected an omission.

[Sydneygirl]

Great thread!

While in Japan heading to catch the Shinkansen one morning we decided to stop and pick-up coffee and breakfast to take on the train. With my A30 on my back and small crossbody bag this was very easy as I had both hands free to juggle the coffee, breakfast and my JRP easily. My companions who had wheely bags did not find this as easy. They struggled to move their wheely bags (including up stairs) while holding the coffee and food and getting out their JRP to show the trail ticket officers, made me feel like my choice to one bag it was definitely the right one!

[ClicketySnap]

My first trip with my A30 and SK was also my first time ever travelling solo. I travelled with my parents to Washington DC for a week, and then they went on to Europe for a river cruise and I moved into a hostel in Washington DC to begin a week of solo sightseeing. Kind of cheating on the solo travel, but the point was a test run by myself before going on a big solo trip overseas.

This was in March, while all of those Boeing planes were being grounded. The day I was supposed to go home to Canada I had turned off my phone data (I knew the way to the airport, and since I was only going to be in the US for a few hours I didn’t want to waste money for the international phone plan that day). On the way to the airport, the silver metro line wasn’t going all the way to the bus stop I needed. I had to reroute at the metro stop where I had free wifi. I got to the airport a little later than planned, got through customs, and when I got to my gate discovered that my flight had been cancelled because the plane was grounded. And the airport wifi was down.

Literally everyone else spent hours in line to rebook their flights and get their checked baggage back. I phoned the help line to get rebooked and had my A30 on my back the whole time. They rebooked me at a different airport, so I had to reload my metro card and make my way back across the city (I didn’t feel like standing in that huge line of rebooked people for a free taxi ride).

I didn’t get food or coffee until 2pm that day because of all the rushing around, I ended up having to turn my data back on so that I could receive emails with instructions about my cancelled flight, and I didn’t leave Washington DC until 4pm (which was when I was supposed to be arriving back in Calgary).
The flight leaving Washington was very delayed, so my layover in Montreal was way shorter than I would have liked. I ended up running to catch my flight, but I made it.

I had never been more grateful that I travel carry on only than I was that day, and I was so ridiculously grateful to be able to carry my bag on my back. The organization of my SK made security so easy (I know by feel where everything is in my SK because of the excellent pockets), and I had intentionally packed everything that had to come out for TSA into one corner of an end pocket of the A30 so that I could move as quickly as possible. It was brilliant.


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[Lia]

In another instance, I was traveling to Florida for a family visit and was booked on United Basic Economy. With Basic Economy you’re only allowed a “personal item” onboard and United makes you check in at the ticket counter to ensure you’re not bringing a bigger bag. The counter attendant on this day was being VERY particular and I watched her reject several bags people were trying to pass as personal items (forcing them to pay checked baggage fees). I had my A30 on my back and my TC crossbody for travel docs. I had left one of the end pockets mostly open in case I needed to pack the TC inside on the flight, but I was still feeling a bit anxious as I got up to check in. The counter attendant eyed my A30 and then sent me on my way, much to my relief! Not only did I not want to pay baggage fees, but I really, really didn’t want to check my A30! So I guess I can safely say the A30 will pass as a personal item, even under the critical eye of United.


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I wear my SE crossbody so when I sit in the bulkhead I always have access to the stuff I need in flight and never need to pull my bag out of the overhead. I've done this dozens of times -- turns out a small crossbody bag is an extra space packing freebie!

Also, I carried my synik 30 onto one of those flights where they spend 20 minutes announcing it's full so they're going to be checking bags. They checked sizes on many bags before me, but didn't even look twice at the Synik. It fit under the seat in front of me, and I didn't have to sweat overhead bin space.

[LordAnubis]

Not really a saved the day moment but posting this here as a comparison between my pack (the mini duffel and next to the H&M bag there’s just visible my mars red DLBP) and two other peoples luggage. For a three week trip. There was also two extra bags in the back seats. I’m pretty sure they brought the kitchen sink.



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[Ellsass]

For a three week trip.

I've seen people bring more stuff for an overnight...

[PaulT00]

A couple of examples, one recent and the other many years ago...

Most recently, on my first international trip in years, I was very grateful on the outbound journey that I had only carry-ons - my trusty A30 and an LCB personal item. My other half and I headed for the (local) airport in good time, only to discover a massive queue of traffic to get into the site. Bristol airport (SW England) has automatic number plate recognition cameras all over the place and will issue fines to people who try to stop or exit their vehicles other than in approved (and chargeable! Ka-CHING!) car parking/drop-off & collection areas. So we had to queue all the way to the far end of the airport site to the drop-off zone, which took a chunk of time. Then I went into the terminal, massive queues for check-in, and through to security to find a huge queue and only half the security channels open! Was definitely sweating and compulsively checking my watch, and then when I'd finally made it through security I had to run for the gate. Made it with 4 minutes to closing - wouldn't have made the flight if I'd had to stop and check baggage. Then the flight was delayed due to weather conditions at the connection (Amsterdam Schiphol) and there was a mad rush across the airport and through passport control (transition between Schengen and non-Schengen) to catch the connection to Luxembourg. Thank heavens for carry-on!

The other situation which sticks in my mind is from years back, when my partner and I were "camping" in the late in-laws' house in Penzance. My partner has a number of chronic health issues (mainly heart and lungs related) and is reliant on a significant collection of prescription meds. I corralled all the medications into a Solar Travel Tray - they just fit! - and it travelled back and forth with us dozens of times as we were driving the 170 miles there, complete with 4 dogs, camping out for about 3-4 days at a time and then driving 170 miles home before repeating the process a few days later. On one trip home after a particularly stressful few days, I was loading the car while L wrangled the dogs; I did a final check pass through the house before leaving and - thank heavens for Solar! - spotted the Pill Podule, as it had been dubbed, sitting on a counter. Grab, pull the drawstring closed, throw it in the back of the car and we were off. Were it not for that brightly coloured container, I'd probably have had to drive all the way back to Penzance from home, and back home again... a 6 hour round trip... to collect the vital medicines.

[yeg780]

My TB bags save the day every time is use them


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[TRD]

So many! I dislike flying Southwest because I always forget to check-in the second the window opens and end up in the last boarding group. I may end up sitting in the dreaded middle seat but thanks to TB I've never had to check a bag.

[twosandalz]

I had a vacation rental which didn't have a level surface anywhere. And those surfaces were so highly polished that nothing would stay put. Walking through the room produced enough vibration that smooth things slid right off the tables. A bottle of lotion, tissue packs, jewelry case, everything. Except my Travel Tray.

I've since sold the TT. That was the only time I used it. And I was very happy to have it.