Whether it’s a short break or a big a family holiday there are loads of benefits to travelling light, especially if you’re flying.
Cost: Budget airlines tend to charge for every bag put in the hold. For example, easyJet will charge between £9.49 and £37.99 for a 23kg hold bag (slightly less if it’s below 15kg) if you do it online in advance. If you leave it til check-in you’ll be charged £40 per bag. (*2020 prices).
Packing only carry-on avoids this hit and leaves you more to spend while you’re away.
Speed: No hanging around the reclaim conveyor playing baggage roulette so you can be up, out and on your way.
Security: Your stuff is never more than arms-length away and shouldn’t be shaken up too much.
Freedom: A small, light pack saves struggling with a well-stuffed suitcase, even one with wheels can be a drag.
Here are 11 tips on packing hand luggage for flights.
1. Check the airline’s exact dimensions and weight restrictions
Don’t guess or rely on what happened last time. Things change and if you are over the stipulated size for your chosen airline you may have to put it in the hold.
EasyJet, for example, will accept any weight as long as you can place it in the overhead locker; Ryanair says up to 10kg for priority boarding passengers but only a small personal bag 40cm x 20cm x 20 cm for the rest of us.
The Civil Aviation Authority website is a great place to start, but individual airlines have their own rules, so always check with your carrier.
And don’t assume you have the right to take up all the overhead locker space. If a flight is busy be prepared to hand over your precious luggage. We usually have a small day-sack packed inside our hand luggage just in case we have to repack at the boarding desk. It always comes in useful during the trip.
2. Choose the right bag
Light-weight and soft-sided for maximum capacity with lots of secure zip pockets for quick organisation of essential items while travelling. Wheeled cases can be great but hands-free is better and a back pack is easier to carry, and more comfortable in the long run.
3. Keep documents close
The Michael McIntyre sketch about the panic-stricken walk we all adopt in airports with the constant touching of pockets to check passport and boarding pass absolutely nails it. It’s hilarious because it’s just so relatable.
I always have a small ‘bumbag’ around my waist with everything I need inside – all documents and an emergency snack. Pork Belly relies on inside jacket pockets.
Which reminds me once again why do clothes designers Never. Give. Women. Enough. Pockets.
Sorry, rant over.
4. Plan a capsule wardrobe
Mix and match is key for travelling light. Pick colours and styles that all work together. The rule of threes works well – 3 tops, 3 trousers and 3 jumpers gives you 19 possible outfits.
Or adopt my approach of comfort over style. Either way layering will help you cope with different temperatures.
5. No ‘just in case’ items.
Be strong. You can do without!
6. All I need is the air that I breathe…
People need air, cases don’t!
Vacuum pack bags save space and using a selection of small ones make it easier to unpack when you reach your destinations.
But you don’t have to buy expensive ones – Pork Belly can achieve pretty much the same thing by packing a small bag, squashing it and taping it down before it puffs up again! Plus at the end of your trip you have separate bags to stash anything you haven’t been able to wash before you travel home.
7. Rolling in the deep
Roll your clothes, don’t fold them. And make use of spare spaces like shoes by stuffing them with small items – socks, undies etc.
If you’re worried about dirty shoe soles rubbing against your clean clothes, a couple of cheap shower caps will give protection without taking up any space.
8. Solid worth
Airlines allow small amounts of liquid but go for soap and solid deodorants to be on the safe side.
You can also get solid state shampoo bars. Plus, there’s no risk of messy leaks.
9. I can see clearly now….
And to make life easier at security, put all your toiletries and meds in a see-through bag. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, although there are some cute ones on the market; a ziplock freezer bag is lightweight, space-saving and re-usable.
10. You wear it well
Bulky items like coats, extra woolies and walking shoes can be worn to save space. You can always strip off when you’re safely on board.
11. Duty Free clause
Make use of the duty-free bag option most airlines allow – you can buy last-minute essential items like bottled water, a book and some toiletries and put them in one carrier bag from the air-side shops.
8 things you must NEVER put in your flight hand luggage
Okay you’re a packing maven, but we can all make mistakes. So here are 8 things you must never, ever put in your hand luggage if you are flying.
Rules change but these are always a no-no.
Liquids over 100 mls: The exception is prescribed essential medication but you’ll need evidence such as a letter from your doctor or a copy of your prescription.
When travelling with a baby you’re allowed to take enough baby food, baby milk and sterilised water for the journey.
If you don’t have your baby with you you can still take breast milk in your hand luggage, as long as it’s not frozen and is in individual containers of no more than 2,000 mls each.
Be prepared for security checks though and airport staff might need to open the containers to screen the milk inside.
Aerosols count as liquids, and the 100 mls rule applies.
Musical instruments: You’ll get away with a kazoo or a pitch pipe (I always have one of those for unexpected acapella encounters) but nothing more unless it’s small enough to be hand luggage, in which case you’ll have to say goodbye to packing your undies.
Sports equipment: The general rules means no raquets, bats, walking poles, fishing rods and martial arts gear!
Corkscrews, knives, etc: You’re allowed tiny nail clippers and tweezers, but nothing bigger.
Work Tools: Sorry DIYers who can’t take a few days off – screwdrivers, hammers, nails etc are all forbidden.
Fireworks; No explanation necessary.
Multiple lighters: Since you can’t light up onboard or in most airports this doesn’t seem too arduous but if you have to have a ciggie or vape almost as soon as you’ve landed you will be allowed one in your hand luggage. Just one.
Tent pegs: Just in case your hand luggage is mainly taken up with a pop up, don’t attempt to take any tent-pegs on board. Poles yes, pegs no.
And finally…
If despite your best efforts you can’t pack everything small enough to be hand luggage only, don’t despair. But it’s best to know before you go and pre-book it online into the hold.
If you wait ’til you’re at the gate you may have it taken from you and an excess baggage fee charged, which will cost you more.
Confession time: Do we follow our own advice?
Not always. Most times when we fly Pork Belly’s entire hand luggage allowance is taken up by his photo gear and my bag is full almost to the brim with laptop, chargers and electrical gubbins, with barely room for a spare pair of knickers!
Oh and use the security check as an opportunity to repack your bag plane-side so anything you’ll want during the flight is within easy reach. Makes it so much quicker when you’re boarding to have your book, pillow, earphones etc nice and handy.
Happy travels.
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