If you’re planning on heading abroad this summer you may be planning on travelling light if only going away for a long weekend, or perhaps you have a big trip planned but still want to have your essential items packed in your hand luggage. If you are someone who struggles to efficiently have everything stored and packed to airport specifications, you may find the below advice helpful. Handbag specialist from handbag and clothing brand Fairfax & Favor, Charlie Cooke, has put together some essential tips for your carry-on bags this summer.
1. Check your carry-on bag sizes with your airline of choice
Nobody wants to feel the worry of having to fit their bag into the cabin bag checker, especially in front of an audience. You should check ahead of your flight what the rules are for carry-on bags. Most airlines allow a small bag and charge extra for slightly larger, carry-on suitcases. The size requirements can vary from airline to airline so it’s best to know in advance so you can choose a suitable bag ahead of time and avoid extra charges.
2. Find the perfect carry-on bag with good compartments
The bag you choose as your carry-on can make the world of difference to your airport experience. Investing in a carry-on bag which is close to the maximum airline size guide will ensure you have as much space as possible. You should also choose a bag which has flexible materials, instead of rigid structure. Should you need to fit this in the cabin bag check points, you’ll have more wiggle room to make this fit in should it be on the borderline of size requirements.
3. Wear heavy clothing to the airport
Need a big coat or jumper on your trip? Wear it when boarding to save some space and you can remove it once on the plane. You can tie this over your shoulders or hold loosely whilst in the airport to avoid being too hot, only wearing when required to go through your gate to avoid extra charges.
4. Keep your electronic devices packed loosely and easy to access
If you plan on bringing a laptop or hairdryer with you on your trip you will need to get this out when going through security, ensure you have this easy access where you won’t need to unpack your bags at the airport. Try to keep electronic items loose and near the zip of your bag for quick access. You should wrap wires tightly around each device with a wire to ensure these don’t become tangled amongst other items and are harder to remove from your bag.
5. Invest in packing cubes
Whilst it’s good to have a bag with compartments for storage, you should also consider purchasing packing cubes to sort larger items more efficiently in your hand luggage. This makes your life so much easier when you arrive at your destination and need to access specific types of clothing or items. You can segment clothing by item type or by day of wear, however suits your plans best. There are good options for packing cubes, which offer a range of different sizes and styles suitable for cosmetics, clothing and other items. Having bulkier items segmented in a cube also makes it easier to access your loose items packed alongside them.
6. Roll your clothes to save space
The smaller you can roll your clothing, the more space you’ll have to pack more items. If you need to bring several items of clothing in your hand luggage, aim for lightweight pieces which will be smaller to pack. To roll each clothing item efficiently, lay it out flat on a surface, fold the bottom two inches in on itself and roll as tightly as you can. For bigger items you may want to fold in half first to roll these more efficiently.
7. Purchase your own liquids bag in compliance with airport requirements
Although airport liquid rules were meant to be scrapped from this summer, many airports are not on track to hit this deadline which means rules could still apply for another 12 months. This may mean you need to present your liquids for inspection at security and must keep them under 100ml each. A handy tip to ensure you can bring as many liquids as possible is to purchase your own clear liquids case online. You can buy airport approved clear bags which are actually bigger than the standard plastic ones offered at the airport, leading to more space for your liquids to be packed.
8. Purchase 100ml reusable bottles for your shampoos and conditioners
One tip to save money purchasing new shampoos, conditioners or shower gel at your destination is to invest in 100ml or less reusable bottles. These bottles can be labelled so you keep track of what is in each one. This way you can fill the reusable containers with your existing shampoos, shower gels or conditioners. This tip is even more useful if your cosmetics of choice are hard to find to purchase in the country you are visiting. This means you save on cosmetics shopping on your travels and you can efficiently pack your essential cosmetic liquids for your trip without issue.
9. Store your expensive or sentimental items in your carry-on
When travelling abroad there is always a risk of stored items going missing. Whilst these may be able to be claimed on insurance, there may be sentimental items that are too precious to lose. It’s recommended to always store your valuables in your hand luggage, such as jewellery, purses or watches. You are more likely to keep track of your hand luggage as it will always be on your person and you can rest assured your valuables are close by as you travel.
10. Invest in a luggage tag tracker
Just as with stored luggage, it could be worth adding a luggage tracker inside your bag. Sometimes carry-on bags may need to be stored in the overhead lockers, not always directly above your own seat. You may have valuables in your bag or be carrying a bag which is expensive itself and at risk of theft. Adding a tracker means you can keep track of your bag should anything happen and you need to find where it is using an app on your phone.
