7 Risky Carry-On Packing MISTAKES You’re Probably Making, by Project Untethered on YouTube. 10 min 20 s.
- Video length
- 10 min 20 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Check your airline's carry-on size and weight limits before you start. Budget airlines often allow less than the common 22 x 14 x 9 inches, and an overweight bag can cost you a fee at the gate.
Pack liquids in a clear quart-size bag. Each container must be 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less, and the bag goes in an easy-to-reach pocket so security screening stays quick.
Roll soft clothes or use compression packing cubes to squeeze out the air. Cubes keep a week of clothes compact and let you lift out one bundle without unpacking the whole bag.
Carry your passport, cards and cash in a money belt or a zipped inner pocket, not an outside bag pocket. Split your cards between two places in case one goes missing.
Keep your bag with you in airports, queues and cafes. Add a luggage tag with your name, phone and email, and photograph the bag and its contents before you leave home.
Plan a capsule wardrobe for the week: about five tops, two bottoms, one layer, and a week of underwear and socks. Pick one colour scheme so everything mixes together.
Choose merino wool or quick-dry synthetics over cotton. They resist smells, dry overnight after a sink wash and pack smaller than heavy denim or thick knits.
Pick items that do two jobs, like a stuffable travel pillow you fill with clothes, pants with hidden zip pockets, or a sling bag that doubles as a day pack.
Wear your bulkiest shoes, jacket and heaviest layer on travel day. That leaves bag space and weight for everything else.
Tips and common mistakes
Weigh your packed bag on a bathroom scale before you leave, since a couple of kilos over the limit can mean a fee at the gate.
Put a change of clothes and any medication in your personal item in case your bag gets gate-checked at the last minute.
Leave about a fifth of the bag empty so you have room for souvenirs on the way home.
Use a TSA-approved lock if you lock your bag, so security can open it without cutting the zip.
Questions
How many clothes do I need for a week in a carry-on?
Around five tops, two bottoms, one warm layer, and a week of socks and underwear. Plan one sink wash mid-week and you can travel with less.
Can I bring a carry-on and a personal item?
Most airlines allow one cabin bag plus one small personal item such as a purse or laptop bag. Check both size and weight limits, because some airlines weigh them together.
Do compression packing cubes really save space?
Yes. They press the air out of soft clothes, so bulky items like fleeces and jumpers take up far less room than they would loose in the bag.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
