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How to sneak a third bag onto a plane

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) on Nov 5th 2009 at 9:30AM

We all try to travel light and avoid those pesky baggage-check fees, but it can be difficult to cram all your goods into your suitcase and "small personal item" (which, for most people I know, has become a pretty big bag). So, when I received a SCOTTEVEST/SeV jacket to try, my hope was that it would be the ultimate, wearable, third carry-on of which I've been dreaming.

The "technology-enabled clothing" from scottevest.com has a lot of secret pockets, from attractive casual men's shirts with 3 hidden compartments to superjackets like the Scott Jordan Signature System combo (which our own Scott reviewed last September here), which features a fleece and jacket with a total of 52 pockets, many of them specific to particular items like water bottles or pens, and a patented "Personal Area Network for earbud wire management." The jackets also have a "Weight Management System" which helps distribute the weight of all your worldly belongings evenly on your shoulders.

You probably have the same question I did: "How much can it really carry?" Not only could this jacket potentially save you money at the bag check, but it could also mean no more carrying a bag (or dreaded fanny pack) while sight-seeing, or even replace a backpack on a hike.

I decided to test out the 18-pocket, $120 SCOTTEVEST Women's Essential Travel Jacket by attempting to load everything from my gigantic handbag into it (thus freeing up my hands for a whole other "small personal item"). Check out my findings in the gallery below.

Gallery: Can the SCOTTEVEST be your third carry-on?

Filed under: Gadling Gear Review

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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)

Marianne Nov 5th 2009 6:39PM

I carry 2 bags: one is a small carry-on with wheels and the other is a satchel/purse in which I put my handbag. (handbags/purses count as a carryon). When I get on the plane I remove my purse and when I deplane I carry it off with me like I normaly would.

colin Nov 5th 2009 6:47PM

great, but what happens during the summer? your going to wear this 10+ pound jacket when it's 80+ degrees out?

Annie Scott Nov 9th 2009 8:13PM

Summer trips also involve smaller clothes and shoes, and more room in the luggage.

EB Nov 5th 2009 7:02PM

Why would anyone want to wear a coat that made them look fat? Where do you put it if you take it off? My parents travel and they take 1 large checked piece and each have a small carry on (3 total). As a Girl Scout (10+ years) we had a saying "You bag, you drag it." Nobody helped with your stuff, so I learned to travel light.

Sue Nov 5th 2009 6:58PM

The rule is
1 carry on item
1 personal item....may be a purse, computer bag, backpack
The personal item should be able to fit under the seat in front of you.
Also know that if you put an item like your purse in a bigger bag to go through security and then take it out before you board the plane the person taking the ticket will not allow you on with 3 items.
The only time someone is able to carry on a third bag is if it is medical equipment. It does not count as an extra bag. This would include a machine such as CPAP or oxygen. As a person who carries this equipment, know that it has to be taken out of the bag and go through the "bomb sniffer". In other words, don't think you are going to be able to just say the third bag is medical equipment without being searched.
I do agree with the fact that since the airlines have started charging for bags the amount people try to carry on has gotten out of control. The amount of time to board and deplane has also increased. I have always wondered why they don't start loading the back of the plane first so people aren't trying to squeeze past a person who is already sitting and reach over them to load their carryons.

Liz Nov 5th 2009 7:12PM

This is the sort of thing that is sure to add to the wait in security lines for the rest of us. And how do they get bottles of liquids through when the rest of us are limited to 3 or 4 oz. bottles in our carry-ons? These are also the people that have their stuff flowing over into other peoples seating area and being inconsdsiderate.

Andrea Nov 5th 2009 8:21PM

It depends on what airline you take. Some are 2 carry ons and 1 personal and some are 1 carry on and 1 personal/ You just have to check thier web site and see. I hate the people that just get on the plane and sit down without even BOTHERING to check what seat they are in. I went to Fl in late September and almost EVERYONE was bring those "pilot bag" on as carry ons. That IS NOT a carry on if you ask me.