So it had been more than 10 years and one child since my last trip to Europe. Travel is definitely more of a hassle since then. Learn from my mistakes. Here's what I'm telling people:

1) If you want to start your vacation on the right foot and avoid regrets from the get-go, DO NOT CHECK ANY BAGS. Yes, this can be challenging, but domestic travel in the US is completely different from travel to Europe these days. I checked a bag with all of my essentials for 2 weeks in Europe and the bag was not recovered until my vacation was OVER. Sounds like a hassle, but I was one of the lucky ones. 10,000 people per year who fly with British Airways like I did NEVER SEE THEIR BAGS again.
2) Get travel insurance, especially if you can't do #1. But trust me, it's better to follow #1 than to check bags and get insurance. There will be enough hassles just going to Europe (the US dollar excahnge rate is at an all-time low anyway) without having to deal with this mess when you get there.
3) Most airlines to and within Europe allow only ONE carry-on bag. If you carry a purse, you will have to either stuff it into the ONE carry-on, or consider your purse your only carry-on.
4) You are allowed one 8"x8" clear ziploc bag of creams and gels which do not exceed 100 ml each (3.4 ounces). For liquid medicines exceeding that amount you must prove they are necessary during the flight (meaning, they would prefer you get another prescription in Europe than take it on the plane).
5) You think Atlanta or O'Hare is crowded? Well you're in for a real treat at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Rome Fiumicino or any other major airport. Madness. There are many many cheap flights to everywhere from the UK-- kind of the equivalent of JetBlue and Southwest Airlines which makes for extremely crowded airport conditions. If you have ever felt like cattle with domestic travel, it's even worse in Europe. Plus there are more real terrorist threats there (recall the recent UK attempted bombings).
6) If you can afford to upgrade to Business Class or First Class, by all means, do so, especially if you are travelling with a child under 12 (nothing like more space and free movies to keep kids from having meltdowns) or are taller than 5'4". Coach class REALLY sucks on a flight that lasts more than 8 hours. If you're in your 20s, flying solo, and are under 5'4" tall, you might do fine. 30s and above you'll be amazed at how old you feel after being crammed like a sardine for 8 hours.
7) Get some chemical help from your doctor if you can for the flight. Avoid booze, however, which is dehydrating, will make you feel worse than miserable, and just add to the jetlag.
8) Eat well before you go.

Good luck. I am done with travel to Europe now for at least another 5 years. It is very stressful and not a relaxing vacation. I needed a week to recover from my 2 week vacation to Europe. Thank God someone found my luggage and shipped it home. I will never check my luggage on a international flight agai. It's just not worth the hassle.

Generally agreed with most of this, although a few things to add...

There are restrictions to the dimensions of a bag you take on board with you. Those dimensions are pretty big though; after losing my suitcase on the way to Athens one time, I was (by the skin of my teeth) able to take it on board on my way back and it was a bag that, I reckon, would take a good week's worth of clothing and footwear and other assorted bits & bobs. So if you're going for longer, unless you're fairly economical with your packing and will have access to washing facilities on your trip, you may have no option but to pack a huge bag and check it in.

Always take out travel insurance - it's not just for loss of baggage!

About your point about liquid medicine, you do have to prove you will need it on your flight if you want to carry it on in your hand luggage. Otherwise, pack it in your checked-in baggage. There shouldn't be any need to get a prescription in Europe, and I would always encourage everybody to take as much, or possibly more, of any meds they're likely to need. But if you don't need it when you're on your flight, you just can't carry it on. And then of course you're risking losing it along with your checked-in baggage but it's a risk you take, I'm afraid.

And yeah, airports can be mondo crowded but it never hurts to check out your airline's website, or the website of the actual airport, to figure out where you're headed in terms of check-in and terminals and whatnot. It becomes a whole lot less stressful if you're at least confident about where you're going.

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Deux hommes font une promenade amicale. L'un des deux porte un parapluie à son bras.
Il se met à pleuvoir. L'homme n'ouvre pas son parapluie et l'autre lui demande pourquoi.
- Parce que ça ne servirait à rien, lui répond son ami. Il est plein de trous.
- Alors, pourquoi l'as-tu pris?
- Parce que je ne pensais pas qu'il pleuvrait.

I just looked up the carry on bag rules for Glasgow and they are:
Hand baggage - one bag rule
Each passenger may take only ONE item of hand baggage through security control. It must be no larger than:

• 56cm (22in) tall
• 45cm (17.7in) wide
• 25cm (10in) deep



what if your bag ends up being a bit bigger than this?

I've never had the size of my hand luggage checked, and I've never seen anyone having theirs checked.

I guess if you were majorly pushing your luck with it by taking a BIG case, they may well check, and you might be forced into buying a smaller case and stuffing your things into it. But if it's just an inch or two bigger here and there, you'll probably be fine. I personally wouldn't risk it myself.

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Deux hommes font une promenade amicale. L'un des deux porte un parapluie à son bras.
Il se met à pleuvoir. L'homme n'ouvre pas son parapluie et l'autre lui demande pourquoi.
- Parce que ça ne servirait à rien, lui répond son ami. Il est plein de trous.
- Alors, pourquoi l'as-tu pris?
- Parce que je ne pensais pas qu'il pleuvrait.

i try not to check luggage if i can avoid it. esp if i'm flying in/out of johannesburg. you get out of the airport so much faster if you don't have to wait for checked luggage too.

asida from my main luggage, the only other hand stuff i carry is my passport and ticket. a book, maybe. if it's a long flight

you don't need nearly as much as you think you do when you go on holiday. i've perfected the art of packing light. in fact. everything i own right now, i can carry on my back. go me.

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you'll go to hell for what your dirty mind is thinking

Can I add 9?

Never, ever under any circumstances book a flight with priceline if there is even a remote possibility that you may have to change the dates/times/other passengers.

Their customer service line is hell on earth, an audio merry go round of recorded voices and number punching. They don't even list a website that automatically gets you a human being. The website, gethuman 500 database from Paul English, rates their customer service at a big fat F.

Avoid it!

don't travel british airways at all. they have the worst record on losing luggage, but are shit in a million other ways. overpriced, corrupt, even sinister and criminal

Ian Hislop seemed to have had his goat well and truly got as the new series breathed its first. He took great joy in telling the infamous story of John Gorman, a traveller who was subjected to threats, abusive phone calls, violent attacks and vandalism after he dared to complain to British Airways when he swallowed broken glass in his brandy during a trans-Atlantic flight.

british airways thought he was a virgin atlantic stooge during their feud with each other

is it true that in the UK you can not have a carry on bag and a purse? that they count that as two? (most US airlines let you have a purse and a carry on bag)

Correct, you'd have to put the purse/handbag inside the carry-on case when you're going through security. It doesn't really matter the rest of the time, like when you're boarding the plane. But security are really REALLY strict on this, they wont allow you to have two separate bags. I've seen loads of people sent back from security to check in one of their carry-on bags b/c they couldn't fit one bag into the other, and I've never seen anybody get away with it. So best not try.

I don't think that matters when you're coming into the UK though, just when you're departing from here.

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Deux hommes font une promenade amicale. L'un des deux porte un parapluie à son bras.
Il se met à pleuvoir. L'homme n'ouvre pas son parapluie et l'autre lui demande pourquoi.
- Parce que ça ne servirait à rien, lui répond son ami. Il est plein de trous.
- Alors, pourquoi l'as-tu pris?
- Parce que je ne pensais pas qu'il pleuvrait.

Thanks! Oh I see your in Edinburgh, I will be there. I am going to see my fiance who lives in Bellshill (outside of Glasgow) and he is taking me to Edinburgh, Ayre and Glasgow. (my first trip to Scotland!)

Ah awesome. I sort of know where Bellshill is, never been there though so not really sure what it's like. Never been to Ayr either, actually. I'm not particularly well-travelled in my own country. I love Edinburgh. I hope you like it here. The weather is pish though. So pack your thermals!

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Deux hommes font une promenade amicale. L'un des deux porte un parapluie à son bras.
Il se met à pleuvoir. L'homme n'ouvre pas son parapluie et l'autre lui demande pourquoi.
- Parce que ça ne servirait à rien, lui répond son ami. Il est plein de trous.
- Alors, pourquoi l'as-tu pris?
- Parce que je ne pensais pas qu'il pleuvrait.

What the hell flight is 8 hours long in Europe?

I think having a less-than-12 year old with you added to the stress more than you're letting on. Kudos to you for taking him/her along to broaden their horizons, but clearly, don't blame intra-Europe travel for that part of the stress equation.

I generally agree with a lot of your tips, though.

I think the thread starter was talking about her 8 hour long flight from North America to Europe?

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Deux hommes font une promenade amicale. L'un des deux porte un parapluie à son bras.
Il se met à pleuvoir. L'homme n'ouvre pas son parapluie et l'autre lui demande pourquoi.
- Parce que ça ne servirait à rien, lui répond son ami. Il est plein de trous.
- Alors, pourquoi l'as-tu pris?
- Parce que je ne pensais pas qu'il pleuvrait.

I fly cattle class from Australia to Europe every now and then, and that's all up a 24 hour flight. I recommend getting an aisle seat if you are tall, that way you can at least stretch one leg.

I also recommend getting vegetarian meals, they're less gross and you get to eat first.

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Juices like wine, like the blood in the sands.

i agree with avoiding checked bags when possible, but on a non-stop flight the airline is much less likely to lose your bag as long as you check-in with plenty of time before departure.

i definitely agree with choosing a special meal. i'm a big fan of muslim and asian vegetable compared with the chicken pasta or what have you.

and DUH go first class if you can, where the seats are not only better but you get to eat normal food. i mean who has the means to go first class and chooses not to?