While packing for air travel, a lot of thought has to be put into it as it is a lot different than other travels. While traveling by plane, you need to follow a lot of rules and regulations set by the TSA and the specific airlines. So there is no room for packing without thinking. That’s why one must know the best way to pack luggage for air travel.
As there are restrictions in place regarding the weight and contents of the luggage, it is better to first take extremely necessary things. While you are packing, also make sure you put the items in their proper places, such as not putting things in carry-ons that are not supposed to be inside them.
Without further delay, let’s find out how to pack your luggage for air travel properly.
How to Pack Luggage for the Flight
When traveling abroad, it is a must that you know how to pack luggage for international travel. You don’t want to pack your things in a disorderly manner and then face unwanted difficulties at the airport. You need your journey to be as stress-free as possible, so follow the following steps :
1. Picking the Correct Sized Bag
The very first thing you have to do while packing your luggage is to pick the right bag. The right bag means it should be the right size and tough for the journey. Check the airlines’ travel requirements before buying one. If they don’t have any requirements, then it’s better to buy a suitcase that is 22 inches tall and hard-sided. The benefit of this is it will not allow you to pack unnecessary things while flying. You can use a portable luggage scale to weigh your luggage & avoid extra fees.
2. Doing A Countdown for Clothing
The best way to pack your clothing is to follow the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rule. This means that if you are flying for a whole week, you should pack five sets of undergarments, four tops at most, three bottoms, a couple of pairs of shoes, foldable travel slippers, and only one hat. But this list is not rigid. You can easily tweak it according to your need and the duration of the visit.
3. Laying the Necessary Things Out First
You should have a second thought about the things you are going to put into your luggage. If you think you can buy something while traveling, don’t pack it. Also, after laying out the things, if you realize you don’t NEED something, refrain from putting it into your suitcase also.
4. Playing Tetris with Your Items
Ever played Tetris? The game needs you to fill up every possible vacancy on the screen. Playing Tetris with your items in the luggage will allow you to do just that. You should stuff your socks in the shoes and go on like that. A few popular strategies are to roll the clothes up, to use small bags known as packing cubes, space saver vacuum storage bags, etc.
5. Keeping Liquids in a Place That’s Easy To Gain Access To
You should always keep liquid toiletries in an easily reachable place. Because the TSA might ask for you to open the bags for a sudden check. Also, keep them separate from other items, so when you do need them, you don’t have to go through the entire luggage.
Airline Travel Tips for Carry-on Luggage
There are two types of luggage during air travel, carry-on luggage, and checked-in luggage. Packing for carry-on luggage is trickier because you can carry only a few things in them. Here are a few tips for preparing carry-on luggage.
1. Packing the Essentials
If you think you can’t do without something, pack it in your carry-on luggage. This includes an extra set of clothes, a few essential toiletries, medicines, and some form of entertainment. Basically in the unfortunate event that you lose your checked-in luggage, the bare minimum of things you would need to survive are the things you should put in the carry-on luggage.
2. Packing the Valuables
You probably know this already, but every time you fly, there’s a chance that you have bid farewell to your checked-in luggage forever. This happens because airlines lose luggage regularly. So it is a bad idea to put your valuables such as money, passports, jewelry, watches (use a watch travel case for protection), etc in the checked-in luggage. Instead, pack all your valuables in your carry-on bag to ensure their safety.
3. Packing Electronics Together
You should pack all your electronics for a couple of reasons. First, you will need some form of entertainment while traveling, especially on a long flight. Keeping all the electronics together will allow you to gain access to them easily. Second, the TSA might want to double-check the electronics, in which case keeping them together will make life easier for you. You won’t have to rummage through all your things to get them out, rather they can easily be taken out and put in after the check.
4. Making Sure That You Are Carrying All the Documents
You can travel without your bags, but if there’s something that you can’t travel without are your documents. These documents include your passports, ATM cards, etc. Use a travel document organizer for protection & put it into your carry-on bags.
5. Carrying A First Aid Kit
You never know when a medical emergency arises while traveling. That’s why having a first aid kit on hand is the best choice. Pack painkillers, bandages, tissues, anti-nausea pills, etc in them for emergencies.
6. Dressing in Layers
You will not be charged for anything you wear. So if it’s possible, dress in layers. This will allow you to bring extra clothes with you like long sleeve tops, travel cardigans, and hiking boots.
Final Words
The best way to pack luggage for air travel is only to take necessary things. That way, you will be exempted from facing unnecessary troubles at the airport and your plane journey will be a smooth one.