Thread: carry on bags

Why would you only take hand luggage with you? Check the final load of the flight with the ticketing agency at the airport just prior to its departure and then check in your luggage as you'd normally do.
If there are let's say 15 seats open 2 hours prior departure with only 4 people on stby, the chance of being bumped is extremely small on an intercontinental flight: if anything less people will show up than booked, the reverse hardly never happens....

I know there are a lot of people out there telling you to only take hand luggage so you can run from one gate to another at the very last minute, but whereas this may be true for domestic flights in the US, you can basically forget about this when it comes to intercontinental flights. Besides, how on earth are you ever going to be able to take enough stuff with you for a longer trip in just one small trolley? Don't forget European carriers are generally quite strict on carry ons too, especially when their flight is near full.

Gate checking of bags? Is it what is called 'Delivery back at aircraft' in Europe?
It only applies to luggage the size of acceptable carry ons. Don't try it with a huge piece of luggage: you probably won't make it to the gate with that when you fly an EU airline, but even if you do, they will be pissed if they have to take them from the gate to the holds... pissing off the gate agent as a non-rev is never a good idea.

In short: decide which airline to fly on PRIOR check-in and live the flight as any other pax would do. Forget about changing flights last minute once at the gate, it's not going to work out as it should.
In the event you are bumped off the flight at the very last minute, ask to collect your already checked in luggage the way the arriving pax do at the arrival level, after which you can return to the departure level of the terminal and try your luck on another later flight. Of course, if all flights leave within a 1 hour time frame, you're indeed stuck for the night.... but if you have like 3 hours or so, it is possible. I've done it already.

Oh, don't forget to ask back your flight coupon when you are bumped off the flight! It will normally have been attached to the boarding pass issued at check in and whereas the boarding pass isn't of any use any longer, the flight coupon definitely still is!