Hand luggage only! 10 tips to save space and money when packing for vacation - while being ready for anything
Anya Lakovlieva, who posts on TikTok as @nolimitua, had 25 million views for the airport selfie video she posted last September. It wasn't because of a Balenciaga tracksuit or a Timothée Chalamet photobomb, but because a peek inside her travel pillow revealed she'd removed the foam padding. and had it stuffed with clothes – to maximize a few extra cubic centimeters of storage space.
If you're rolling your eyes at what looks like an over-the-top ploy, you might want to read a little more carefully the fine print of your holiday flight booking. EasyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air now charge hefty fees, not just for baggage stowed in the hold, but also for bags and rolling suitcases that need to be stowed in overhead bins. Only a bag small enough to fit under the seat in front of you is included with most seats. And – just in case you were thinking of changing it – yes, those rules are enforced. On my way home from Bilbao airport recently I saw firsthand Ryanair ground crew imposing penalties on passengers with wheeled suitcases they hadn't paid for, some of whom were surprised because they hadn't realized the rules had changed.
Meanwhile, this summer's airport chaos adds an adrenaline rush of risk of seeing it again one day to the financial cost of l checking in your baggage. A shortage of baggage handlers has left passengers at Gatwick facing anxious waits for luggage stuck on planes as there are no staff to unload it. On one particularly bad day at Heathrow recently, three-hour queues at check-in counters left some travelers with a tough choice between missing their flight and leaving their suitcase behind.
Full disclosure. I am not a natural light packer. For many years, my rule of thumb was: if I can lift my own suitcase, I don't have enough shoes. So trust me when I say if I can travel light, anyone can. I've changed my ways and now I much prefer a streamlined bag, not least because it cuts down on that tedious pile of laundry after the holidays. It will also reduce your carbon footprint as a lighter aircraft consumes less fuel. Meet: A 10-point plan for your smallest vacation wardrobe.
1. Know your rightsRules vary from airline to airline. For example, your bag size under the free seat is 40cm x 25cm x 20cm on Ryanair, but 45cm x 36cm x 20cm on easyJet. Some airlines charge different fees for extra cabins and checked baggage depending on weight. some only care about measurements. These are not facts you want to grapple with for the first time in the departures hall, eyes cloudy and tired at 6 a.m. If you're traveling with kids, or you're going away for a long time, or you really can't live without your yoga mat or your omelette pan or whatever, consider sharing a suitcase with your friends or your family so you are only paying for one.
2. Travel Light by Dressing HeavyYou know that episode of Friends, The One Where No One's Ready, where Joey is wearing all of Chandler's clothes at once? Well, Joey Tribbiani is your style icon for your airport attire, my friend. If you're traveling super light, with only what fits in a bag under the seat - we're talking about the size of a standard backpack, the kind you see on high school students at the bus stop - then you will have to wear almost as many clothes as you wear. (When you get on the plane, stay cool by turning on the ceiling fan.) Just because you won't need a coat on vacation doesn't mean you shouldn't wear one in the office. Airplane: Pull out a light coat or jacket with big pockets and stuff it with your phone charger, vacation reads, socks, whatever. If you have, or can borrow, one of those little flat zippered shoulder bags, put your passport, wallet and sunglasses in it and wear it under your jacket, where it will keep them safe and won't be able to not be seen, then will not count towards your allowance - it will also be useful on vacation.
3. A few fun clothes are better than a lot of boring clothes…You know how you're told that a "capsule vacation wardrobe" should be coordinated in navy and white or whatever? Absolute waste. It's a vacation wardrobe, not a school uniform. The way to be happier with fewer clothes is to pick pieces that you love and that instantly make you feel well-dressed. Grab your favorite vintage band tee instead of three neutral crewnecks. Take a dress that is comfortable but special enough to wear for dinner, and wear it during the day as well, instead of boring shorts and a cardigan.
4. …but be realistic about your vacation
Anya Lakovlieva, who posts on TikTok as @nolimitua, had 25 million views for the airport selfie video she posted last September. It wasn't because of a Balenciaga tracksuit or a Timothée Chalamet photobomb, but because a peek inside her travel pillow revealed she'd removed the foam padding. and had it stuffed with clothes – to maximize a few extra cubic centimeters of storage space.
If you're rolling your eyes at what looks like an over-the-top ploy, you might want to read a little more carefully the fine print of your holiday flight booking. EasyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air now charge hefty fees, not just for baggage stowed in the hold, but also for bags and rolling suitcases that need to be stowed in overhead bins. Only a bag small enough to fit under the seat in front of you is included with most seats. And – just in case you were thinking of changing it – yes, those rules are enforced. On my way home from Bilbao airport recently I saw firsthand Ryanair ground crew imposing penalties on passengers with wheeled suitcases they hadn't paid for, some of whom were surprised because they hadn't realized the rules had changed.
Meanwhile, this summer's airport chaos adds an adrenaline rush of risk of seeing it again one day to the financial cost of l checking in your baggage. A shortage of baggage handlers has left passengers at Gatwick facing anxious waits for luggage stuck on planes as there are no staff to unload it. On one particularly bad day at Heathrow recently, three-hour queues at check-in counters left some travelers with a tough choice between missing their flight and leaving their suitcase behind.
Full disclosure. I am not a natural light packer. For many years, my rule of thumb was: if I can lift my own suitcase, I don't have enough shoes. So trust me when I say if I can travel light, anyone can. I've changed my ways and now I much prefer a streamlined bag, not least because it cuts down on that tedious pile of laundry after the holidays. It will also reduce your carbon footprint as a lighter aircraft consumes less fuel. Meet: A 10-point plan for your smallest vacation wardrobe.
1. Know your rightsRules vary from airline to airline. For example, your bag size under the free seat is 40cm x 25cm x 20cm on Ryanair, but 45cm x 36cm x 20cm on easyJet. Some airlines charge different fees for extra cabins and checked baggage depending on weight. some only care about measurements. These are not facts you want to grapple with for the first time in the departures hall, eyes cloudy and tired at 6 a.m. If you're traveling with kids, or you're going away for a long time, or you really can't live without your yoga mat or your omelette pan or whatever, consider sharing a suitcase with your friends or your family so you are only paying for one.
2. Travel Light by Dressing HeavyYou know that episode of Friends, The One Where No One's Ready, where Joey is wearing all of Chandler's clothes at once? Well, Joey Tribbiani is your style icon for your airport attire, my friend. If you're traveling super light, with only what fits in a bag under the seat - we're talking about the size of a standard backpack, the kind you see on high school students at the bus stop - then you will have to wear almost as many clothes as you wear. (When you get on the plane, stay cool by turning on the ceiling fan.) Just because you won't need a coat on vacation doesn't mean you shouldn't wear one in the office. Airplane: Pull out a light coat or jacket with big pockets and stuff it with your phone charger, vacation reads, socks, whatever. If you have, or can borrow, one of those little flat zippered shoulder bags, put your passport, wallet and sunglasses in it and wear it under your jacket, where it will keep them safe and won't be able to not be seen, then will not count towards your allowance - it will also be useful on vacation.
3. A few fun clothes are better than a lot of boring clothes…You know how you're told that a "capsule vacation wardrobe" should be coordinated in navy and white or whatever? Absolute waste. It's a vacation wardrobe, not a school uniform. The way to be happier with fewer clothes is to pick pieces that you love and that instantly make you feel well-dressed. Grab your favorite vintage band tee instead of three neutral crewnecks. Take a dress that is comfortable but special enough to wear for dinner, and wear it during the day as well, instead of boring shorts and a cardigan.
4. …but be realistic about your vacationWhat's Your Reaction?
