How to Pack for Air Travel

If you’ve never or infrequently traveled by air, you may be confused and overwhelmed with what to pack. Guidelines seem to get more and more confusing all the time, and now there are sometimes fees to pay? If it’s difficult to make sense of, you’re not alone. And after a trip or two, you’ll have the below tips and tricks down to an art.

Steps

Packing Your Carry-On

If you can’t live without it, pack it in your carry-on. For what you’re literally going to take with you on the plane, pack the essentials: undergarments, shoes, a set or two of regular clothes, something to do, medication and, for longer flights, basic toiletries. Some people fly with the belief that they may never see their luggage again – and that’s not exactly crazy. In your carry-on should be the basics of what you need to survive should you lose your luggage.
- Make sure to bring all your medication and everything you need to be comfortable. Prescription and non-prescription medication is allowed and you’ll speed through security if you have them in their original bottles. And it’s easier to get away with extra liquids if they’re medically needed, like with saline solution.
- In order to cut down on the amount of clothes to pack, choose items that are interchangeable with other items of clothes. For example, it’s easier to pair some smart-looking jeans with a dressy or casual top than it is to find an appropriate top for a hot-pink leather skirt (not that you own one of those!) . Choose accessories to spice up an outfit; for example, scarves are small to pack, and an easy way to brighten up an outfit.

Pack all your valuables in your carry-on. Anything valuable should come with you in your carry-on. On the off-chance your luggage gets lost or looted, you’ll then be safe. This goes for everything from jewelry to electronics to anything of sentimental value. If you’d be heartbroken if you lost it, take it in your carry-on.
- Large electronics will need to taken out at security, so pack those last. This way, you won’t need to go digging around when time is of the essence and be that person who holds everyone up.

Pack your electronics together.^[1] This is good for two reasons:
- You’ll probably get bored on your flight, and having your electronics together lets you know where everything is so you can access your iPod, iPad, Kindle, or whatever else you need as quickly and easily as possible.
- The TSA requires electronics to be screened – when they’re all in the same place and easy for the agents to see, you won’t be the one holding up the line at security.

Make sure you have your documents. In order to get on the plane, you’ll need some identification, such as a passport or driver’s license. Don’t forget your ATM card and credit card; however, it’s probably a good idea NOT to take every piece of plastic you own because you run the risk of losing the cards (and your mind).
- In an easily accessible pocket of your carry-on luggage, store your flight information: the airline, the flight number, your confirmation code, and the flight details. This comes in handy at the self-service check-in kiosks that so many airlines provide now at the airport.

Decide whether or not to bring toiletries. Many people have mixed feelings on bringing toiletries with them. The fact is, you can pretty much find toothpaste and deodorant all over the world now. By not packing these items, you only run the risk of not getting the exact brand you want.
- If you do bring toiletries, the 3-1-1 TSA regulations still applies. You can fill as many 3 oz bottles of toiletries (100 ml) as you want into ‘’one’’ quart-size plastic ziplock bag (limit one per flyer), but you have to take out the bag at security screening.^[2] Go to www.tsa.gov for the full rules and regulations.

Have a first aid kit with the basics, especially pain medication. Sometimes flights can be the opposite of fun, so have a pack ready just in case this happens to be that one. A few things you may want to pack:
- Painkillers
- Bandages
- A sedative
- Anti-nausea medication
- Chewing gum (for air pressure changes)
- Tissues

Packing Your Checked Luggage

Avoid checking luggage if you can. Checking luggage is becoming more and more a pain in the rear. You have to worry about packing it, dragging it with you, meeting weight requirements, likely paying extra fees that you didn’t know about, and then hoping the airlines don’t lose it. If you’re traveling for less than two weeks, consider it. It’ll be a challenge, but it’s doable.
- Flight attendants and crew do it all the time. They can go over a week with just a carry on.^[3] If they can do it, so can you. You can then use the extra $50 for whatever please.

Pack as light as possible. In addition to meeting the weight requirements, it’s just easier to pack lighter – fewer things may get lost (via flying or when you leave them in your hotel room), it’s a lighter bag to tote around, and you’ll have plenty of room for souvenirs and impulse buys. And it’ll take less time to repack.
- Though you should hold off on bringing too many shoes, you have to bring some. And those should be packed in socks to avoid soiling your others goods unless they’re brand new.

Put copies of your important documents in your checked luggage. Just in case something were to happen to your carry on, you forget to pack your carry-on correctly, or something unfortunate happens on your trip, put copies of important documents in your checked luggage. Scan your passport, visa, and anything else that you may need in the worst of circumstances. If you do it, you won’t need it. But if you don’t, you may.

Prepare for bottles to leak. If you’re bringing toiletries with you, it’s more than possible at least something will leak. Each item should be wrapped separately and stored in bags to make sure none of it gets on your clothes. Keep these in a separate area in your bag, too.
- Here’s a tip: take the lid off of each bottle and saran wrap the top; then put the lid back on. This means that even if the lid opens, you should still be fine.^[4]

Roll your clothes. If you’re not already rolling your clothes, get on the bandwagon. It prevents awkward square-shaped wrinkles and it saves room, so hop to it. Start with the heavier ones on bottom as lighter ones are generally more moldable to the shape of the top of your bag.
- The tighter the roll, the more room you save. If you’re a little paranoid or an over packer and want as many clothes available as possible, just roll tighter. You’d be surprised that half an inch here and there goes a long way.

Bring an extra plastic bag or two. Some airports are courteous enough to provide plastic bags for you, but if yours isn’t one of those, bring them yourself. They’re always useful, especially if you’re traveling in a group – someone always forgets. And this way if your first round bags get soiled, you have a backup.
- The zipper kind – the kind that literally has a zipper on it. The resealable ones are better than the non-sealable kind, but the zipper kind are best – the resealable kind can open when force is applied.

Play tetris with your belongings. To get the most out of your bag, you’ve gotta pack it according to shape and size of your items. Start with the biggest, heaviest items on bottom and work your way up to the light items – this will make it easier to close your bag when all is said and done. If something is an odd shape, pack clothes around it – make it a point to never pack air.
- In general, it’s easier to back long, cylindrical items than odd shaped bottles and containers. In the future, to streamline your packing look for items that are of more basic shapes and sizes. They take up less room overall.

Preparing for Your Trip

Know the duration of your flight and trip. Your trip destination will determine the kinds of things to pack, and the length will determine how much of each item is to be packed. What days do you have special events planned? How can you use the same pieces over and over?
- If you can, try to avoid needing a checked bag. More and more airlines are charging for that first checked bag, and a cheap flight can turn into an expensive one in a matter of no time. If flight attendants can live out of a carry-on for over a week at a time, so can you.

Check the weather. You’ll only know what you absolutely need to pack if you check the weather beforehand. Sure, you probably have a basic idea, but what will it be like that week? Checking the weather will let you know if you really need to pack that tank top or that umbrella.^[5]
- If you do notice inclement weather forecasted, take the bare essentials, like an umbrella or one set of mittens. Don’t try to stuff 4 winter coats into your bag to match every style.

If you’re leaving the country, check what’s available or different. If you’re going to a different country or overseas, odds are certain things will be different. For starters, plug-ins. Will you need an adapter?
- And then there’s accessibility. Taking a trip to visit your Grandma in Florida is different than taking a trip to visit hyenas in Mali. If you can get it where you land, that’ll be much, much easier.

Tips

Always put valuables in your carry-on in case your suitcase gets lost.

If you’re packing belts, don’t roll them up. A space-saver is snaking the belt around the perimeter of your luggage case.

Having extra underwear or more than you think you’ll need is a good idea. Jeans and t-shirts will last just fine, but a fresh pair of underwear just might save the day.

If you’re a backpacker, going on the grand European tour, put the frequently used items at the top of your pack so you’re not shoveling into the deep abyss for lost items at a busy airport.

Don’t bring a bunch of shoes in your carry-on. Again, about the shoes: two pairs are really the maximum, no matter how long the trip is. The problem with shoes is that they take up so much space in your precious luggage real estate, and add considerable weight to the pack. Simply choose one pair for the ‘active’ shoes, and one pair for the ‘sensible dressy/up’ shoes. If you wear one pair to the airport, you’ve already created more real estate.

Bring headphones to listen to music and an eye mask to help you sleep better.

Rule of thumb: if you can get 3 or more uses out of the item, pack it. If you’re thinking you’ll take your snorkel gear “in case we go swimming,” that’s over packing.