Pack Efficiently and Travel Far

Airport and Airline Pointers

Check with your airline about baggage and carry-on fees so you won’t be caught off guard. These fees may take into account weight, size, and types of items. Additionally, some airlines allow only one carry on item, while others may allow more.

Check the MyTSA app or the TSA website to see what you can and cannot bring as a carry on item. Follow the 3-1-1 liquids rule for carry-ons, which stands for: 3 ounce (100 ml) containers or smaller, 1 quart-size clear plastic bag, and 1 bag per traveler.

On that note, what’s the difference between a carry-on and a personal bag? Well in general, a carry-on goes in the overhead bin in your flight cabin while a personal fits under the seat in front of you.

Checking In Your Luggage?

As described on TSA's website.

There’s a variety of luggage types that you can choose. From duffel bags to hard shell luggage to soft shell luggage, so choose a suitcase that meets your preferences and serves your needs. Choosing lightweight duffle bags mean you don’t have to worry as much about specific weight limits. Hard and soft shell suitcases weigh a little more and are more durable than duffle bags. Invest in sturdy suitcases for more protection if you’re traveling with more fragile items.

Pro-tip: add ribbons, bows, or some sort of marking on your checked in luggage. This will help differentiate your bag from others when you’re waiting at baggage claim. It will definitely make the process much smoother.

Carry On + Personal Bag

First off, never check in your essential, valuable items like money, passports, electronics or anything else you don’t want to lose. Instead, bring those items with you in your carry-on or personal bag.

Try and organize your carry-on luggage categorically so it’s easy to find important items while traveling. For example, bring folder that holds all your important travel information and documents including flight info/confirmation, train tickets, hotel bookings, etc. Designate an area or pocket for your identification items such as driver’s license, passport, social security, green card, visa, etc. Basically, if you know you’re going to need access to something during your flight, keep it in an easy to reach area so you’re not struggling and rummage through your bag.

Besides your travel documents and identification, think about the electronics you’re bringing on your trip. Remember to pack all the necessary cords, chargers, and plugs. Also, don’t forget to bring some snacks in case you get a little hungry during your flight.

Additional Packing Tips

Make sure your carry on
fits your airline's dimensions!

Many people will tell you to roll your clothes with packing. While that is definitely a space saver, I, Emily, like to fold my clothes on the flight going to the destination and then roll them on the way back home. This way, I allow more space to bring back souvenirs.

In an effort to not over- or under-pack, bring layers that can be multi-purposed so you’re ready for both warm and cold weather.

You’ll usually find a lot of dead (unused) space in your shoes. Put rolled socks or other small items into your shoes to save space

If you’re checking in any fragile items, make sure to pack them in the center of your suitcase so they’re protected during your trip. Not only pack them in the center but make sure they’re well-cushioned with surrounding clothes incase TSA handles your luggage roughly. You may also need to do this if you’re worried item(s) may be taken in the TSA regulation process.

For each bag you’re bringing, whether you’re checking it in or stowing it in the overhead bins, put a card or paper with your contact information inside of the bag and always use the provided airline identification tags to attach to your bag. In case your bag gets lost or misplaced (whether it’s by the airlines, or if another passenger accidentally mistakes your bag for theirs) you have a higher chance of getting your bag back quickly.

If you’re going abroad, look into purchasing a universal outlet converter and adapter. But what is the difference between an adapter and a converter? I didn’t know either, but I did some research and here’s a general overview:

• An adapter changes the plug type so you can plug your item into the different outlet. Adapters are needed when traveling to a different country with different plugs and you have a dual voltage plug. If the item you’re plugging in is not dual voltage, you will need a converter rather than an adapter so you can convert the voltage to match the country you’re visiting.
• A converter not only changes the plug type, but also converts the electricity and voltage of your item’s plug. This is helpful for plugging in items that are not dual voltage. If you’re unsure whether your item is dual voltage or not, research beforehand so you don’t run into any electrical issues, which can be dangerous and harmful to your belongings (which is how I, Marisol, blew up my dad’s US vacuum in Sweden).

Still looking for more packing assistance? Download the app PackPoint for some help making a checklist. The app looks at the weather forecast for the dates and location of your trip. It also allows you to select activities you may participate in during your trip (i.e. business meeting, swimming, fancy dinner) then offers a list of items you should pack based on these activities.

Whether you’re going on a one hour flight from SoCal to NorCal or a 12-hour flight to Sweden, we hope you’ve found some new tips for packing efficiently. If you have any other personal tricks that have helped you out while traveling, please comment and share it with us!

-- Emily and Marisol