Checking an empty bag?

sunshine_day_dreams

Is this a red flag of some sort?  I never thought anything of it, but my H is getting sort of paranoid about showing up to the airport with an empty bag.  I mean, what's the worst that could happen - they give us extra questioning/screening and we explain our situation, right?

We're flying Southwest, so will not have to pay for the bag.  I could ship it if it's going to be an issue, but I'd rather check it through and not pay.  Also, it's a solid frame backpack that cannot be folded up inside another bag.  And yes, it has to be this bag and not another one that can fold up; it's a grad gift for my brother, who will be traveling with it a few days later.

Publius

I go back to the US with an empty bag all of the time so that I can load it up with goodies while I'm there.  I've never been given grief over it.  A lot of people check empty bags. 

sunshine_day_dreams

Thanks.  That's what I thought!  I'll let my H know my suspicions are confirmed - he's a paranoid nutjob. :-)

ukyankee

We tend to put one of our suitcases within another suitcase and fly that way...they are used to it and we never get flack.

madhatter2003

ukyankee:

We tend to put one of our suitcases within another suitcase and fly that way...they are used to it and we never get flack.

 

This is what we do. We always fly to England with 2 suitcases and fly home with 4 checked...on the way over the 25" ones are inside our 28" ones.

GilliC

madhatter2003:

ukyankee:

We tend to put one of our suitcases within another suitcase and fly that way...they are used to it and we never get flack.

This is what we do. We always fly to England with 2 suitcases and fly home with 4 checked...on the way over the 25" ones are inside our 28" ones. 

Ditto.

And I was actually talking to someone at a conference the other day who likes to check an empty bag just to give himself extra time to get to his gate! If you're checked in with no luggage, there's not a lot of incentive to hold the plane if you're late getting to the gate. However, they can't take the bag if you're not on the plane, so if you have a bag checked, it would mean offloading it before they push back for takeoff. In most cases, they'd rather wait a few extra minutes for you to get there instead of spending 10-15 minutes finding your luggage to offload it! And if the bag is empty, he doesn't have to worry about luggage delays or damage. I think it's a bit extreme, but I find the concept amusing!

roar

My cousin does this when he travels to visit family in the Philippines. There are a lot of things there that we can't get here, so it makes it easier. He does the pack one bag in anther bit. No problem at all!

CloudBee

What about throwing an oversized duffle into your regular suitcase?  May be easier.  You can pull the strap over your luggage on the return trip, and whell them together.