<p>I have a few questions about moving in & baggage:</p>
<ul>
<li>Is it recommended to buy as much as you can in Ithaca?</li>
<li>I have to transfer planes twice (a huge pain) - does anyone know from experience whether the airlines transfer your baggage for you, or do you have to transfer it from flight to flight yourself? Also, if you transfer this many times, how likely is it that your bags will be delayed/lost?</li>
<li>I'm buying a new laptop for sure, but how necessary is it to bring a printer to school? </li>
</ul>
<p>Answers to any of these questions would be greatly appreciated!! :)</p>
<p>I guess I could answer about the flights... I'm from Europe, and have traveled a lot, including to the USA and Canada, taking up to 4 flights in order to get to a certain place.
So concerning your baggage, you have to ask the company with which you'll be traveling. They usually differ in their options. For instance, I know that I'll have to take my stuff at Paris, and check them in again. But then, I'll fly from Paris to Philedelphia and from there to Ithaca, and my suitcases will arrive directly at Ithaca, with no second check in.
I've been traveling even before I can remember, and till now, I've experienced a loss of a suitcase, returned in 2 days returning from the UK. A friend of mine lost a bag and got it back on the next day going to the USA, and my father has had his suitcase lost in Italy, but received it in a week. So, in my 20yrs of experience... I'd say it wouldn't happen too often :)</p>
<p>Sunny - if you are traveling in the US - the airlines will usually tell you that your luggage is "checked thru" meaning you don't see it again until you arrive at your final destination. You are not the only one doing this, but it is a little harder...</p>
<p>there is generally a 50 lb limit PER bag for checked luggage - not average - so make sure each bag of the two that you can check are just under 50 lbs..</p>
<p>Pack a carry-on big and full enough so that IF your luggage does not make it right away you have a change of unmentionables and fresh shorts/t-shirt, perhaps a sweatshirt, swimsuit for that oh so critical swim test and perhaps going to the gorge with new friends, toileteries...</p>
<p>then plan to get the rest of the stuff you need in Ithaca - there is a Bed Bath & Beyond that the kids on this forum have said will let you order at home and pick up in Ithaca.</p>
<p>If you're flying on any airline, there's a high chance that your luggage will be late or that they'll "lose it". People have said that United is bad, and I think US air doesn't do that good of a job either. You mist likely will need a printer, I'd recommend a black laserwriter since you'll have a lot of papers, especially for your writing seminar. </p>
<p>You might want to ship some stuff that you don't need right away. Also, you can get a lot of stuff at the mall or Wal-Mart or someplace like that.</p>