Vocabulario de viaje: valijas, maletas y bolso de mano

What does “valija de bodega” mean in Spanish?

In her suitcase tour she holds up her big, heavy case and says it is the “valija de bodega” — the one you hand over at check-in that rides below the plane. “Bodega” usually means a cellar or small shop, but for a plane it is the cargo hold under the floor. So this is your checked bag, not the small “valija de cabina” you carry on. She later paid extra for it because it was too heavy.

She says: “Esta, en un avión, es la valija de bodega.” — “This one, on a plane, is the checked suitcase (the hold bag).” In Argentina people say “valija”; in many other places they say “maleta.” More travel examples: “Tengo que despachar la valija de bodega” = “I have to check in the hold suitcase.” “La valija de cabina va con vos en el avión” = “The cabin bag goes with you on the plane.” “Pagué extra porque mi valija estaba muy pesada” = “I paid extra because my suitcase was too heavy.” Use “valija de bodega” for the big bag that goes under the plane, and “valija de cabina” or “bolso de mano” for what you carry on board.