As you fly so infrequently, would it be worth getting something without wheels? Since most of your other trips would be by car/bus/taxi/train/etc, it's nice to be able to smoosh your bag into a tight spot sometimes.

I've had insane luck finding awesome, awesome luggage at TJMaxx - Samsonite, etc - and at department stores, especially now, at the end of the summer. Keep an eye out!

Oh, and this classic AskMe on buying luggage, plus the AskMe luggage tag (heh).

Thanks mdonley. This will immediately be for NYC, flying in, taking the bus from LGA to the train, schlepping it a few blocks off the train to where we are staying, then in reverse at the end of the trip.

TJ Maxx is a good idea to look. . .

I use the same messenger bags (either a medium Timbuk2 shoulder bag, which easily fits within carry-on limits, or a large Chrome backpack-style bag, which can be squeezed into them) that I use for pretty much everything.

If I was forced at gunpoint to buy a new carry-on, I'd probably buy some variant of the Patagonia MLC.

I'd get wheels. In fact, I'd get one that has four wheels, not two.

I have a 21 inch carry-on with wheels and one without and I prefer the one without. With the same amount of gear in the bags, the one with wheels is significantly heavier than the one without. Also, I get to the airport by walking through the Big City downtown and taking the public transportation, where I find the wheels to be a liability (uneven roads, curbs, narrow train & bus aisles). The only place the wheels make it easier is at the airport itself and the trade-off is not worth it to me. The wheeled carry-on only fits in the overhead bin, which means I have to carry a second underseat bag for things I want access to in-flight or I have to remember to take them all out when I board.

The wheeled bag holds more, but I'm at the point in my traveling life that if I have packed that much, I either rethink whether I really need it, or I just check the damn bag.

My carryons are both Skyway (but I don't see either exact bag at ebags, where I got them) and they are very sturdy.

I have a wheeled bag that's ostensibly within the carry-on limits, but it's such a hassle that I only use it if I'm going to check it. Otherwise, depending on where I'm going and what I'm doing, I bring a shoulder bag or backpack.

I have an Eagle Creek bag. It's got wheels and you can carry it on. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Depends on my mood.

It comes with a detachable backpack that zips on, so if I don't bring the entire bag on board, I bring the backpack.

I like to travel as light as possible also, but once a trip reaches 1 week I'd rather have the extra room. Besides, one carry on size bag isn't traveling heavy.

I don't fly a lot, but enough that I'd die without the wheels. Lugging it across Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta would be a nightmare.

And though it costs more, eagle creek has amazing service. I got a rip in my backpack on a long trip to Ireland and they replaced it no questions asked overnight.

(also, though it's obviously a suitcase, it also comes with backpack straps in case the mood strikes you.)

I just got a wheeled duffle-type bag from LLBean(not the camo). It fits in the overhead, holds enough for a weekend, and was affordable, plus having their guarantee.

I hate bags with wheels, especially the boxy stiff-sided models. Besides the awkwardness of the wheels, they always seem to have less room than you'd think. In contrast, I'm always surprised how much my non-wheeled duffle-style bag will seem to stretch to fit my crap.

As for checking...well, the new charges kind of change the game a bit. Prior to that, I always preferred to carry less bags through security and around the airport if I had any sort of wait before my flight. Nothing worse than schlepping two bags as you browse the newsstand or try to grab a seat at a restaurant.

But it's not worth $15 for that luxury, unless you have a REALLY long layover. Now you have an incentive to take every possible thing you can through security, even if you don't think it'll fit in the overheard compartment. The flight crew may require you to check your bag as you board (or heck, you can straight up offer it to them), but they won't charge you if that happens. Perhaps they'll start charging in that scenario (or if you bring something absurdly big), but it hasn't happened to me yet.

Also, I've stopped packing my toiletries in a plastic bag and removing it for security. I still adhere to the 3oz limit, but I don't bother removing anything from my carry on as I go through security. No problems since I've stopped doing it about a year ago.

I should have added that if you're taking weekend trips you don't need much more than a backpack or small duffle.

I'm a little surprised at the negativity towards wheels. I took a recent 3 week trip to ireland and took my one eagle creek bag. The airport and hotel distances I trekked were amazing. There is no way I could have done that without a bag with wheels. You would be insane to try.

You should check out some of the ask metafilter threads on luggage. There's a huge difference between a 50 dollar bag and a 250 dollar bag. Eagle Creak bags are amazing. It's according to your needs. Okay, I'll shut up now. Good luck.

I prefer a wheeled backpack, so that after I checked in my suitcase, I could wander round Heathrow Terminal 3 Duty Free for hours without needing to carry anything.

But that was when I was saying with ex-Boo, so I'd be met at the airport and he would wheel my suitcase while I had the wheely carry-on. I can't wheel two things and I just bought a netbook, so on my next trip I'll have that in a lightweight backpack, along with my necessities (noise-cancelling headphones, neck pillow, toothbrush, moisturiser, book, US cellphone, UK cellphone, camera, etc.). Then I'll have a cross-body small handbag with tickets, passport, money, etc. in it.