The Luggage Mistake Seniors Make (A Flight Attendant Explains), by Lekesha Dixon on YouTube. 19 min 11 s.
- Video length
- 19 min 11 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes, spread over 3 days
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Plan for three bags, not two. A personal item that stays on your body, a soft-sided carry-on for 4 days of clothes, and one checked bag for shoes, extra layers and bulky items.
Pack medications, documents, phone charger, reading glasses and anything irreplaceable in the personal item. Keep this bag with you at all times.
Pack like the trip is 7 days, however long it really is. Take 7 tops, 4 bottoms, 7 pairs of underwear and 4 pairs of socks.
Put full-size toiletries in the checked bag. For the carry-on, decant liquids into containers of 3.4 ounces or less and seal them in one clear quart bag.
Weigh the packed carry-on on a bathroom scale. Aim to stay near 22 pounds, the point where many people over 60 struggle to lift a bag overhead.
Lift the bag above your head at home before you leave. If you cannot do it slowly and steadily, remove items until you can.
Start packing 72 hours before your flight. Then remove one item from each category on each of the next three days: one top, one pair of shoes, one toiletry, one just-in-case item.
Check your airline's carry-on size limit before you pack. Dimensions vary between airlines, and an oversized bag gets gate-checked at the last minute.
Tips and common mistakes
Small extras add up fast: three hardcover books, a hairdryer and full-size bottles can add 7 pounds before you pack any clothes.
Choose a bag with a handle long enough that you can pull it without leaning over.
Keep medication in your personal item, since a checked bag can land in another city without you.
A soft-sided bag is easier to squeeze into a full overhead bin than a hard-shell roller.
Questions
How heavy should my carry-on be?
Aim for around 22 pounds or less. Above that, many older travellers cannot safely lift a bag into an overhead bin without help.
What happens if my bag does not fit in the overhead bin?
It gets gate-checked and you collect it at baggage claim, which can cost you 40 minutes and a tight connection.
How many outfits do 7 tops and 4 bottoms make?
About 28 combinations, which is plenty for a week or more without repeating a full outfit.
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.
