Trying (and failing) to outsmart the system by gilabrand
On my recent trip to Rome, my cousin, who was traveling with me, decided she wasn't going to check any luggage. She brought a small piece on wheels and a very large open tote bag stuffed to the gills with everything else. According to the rules, she theorized, you can take a carry-on and a purse. She argued that the tote was her purse. At the airport, it turned out the tote bag weighed more than the luggage and they would not let her take either of them aboard. As the tote was open at the top, with no zipper, she couldn't check it through, and had to put stuff in MY suitcase.
On the way back, loaded with souvenirs, she had even more trouble, and was busy juggling her things around until the very last second, cursing and sweating - and then being singled out for special security screening on top of it. So whatever you consider taking on board, make sure there is some way to close it in case you are forced to put it through as checked baggage.