At the time of writing, the issue of baggage delays has really come to the fore. Therefore, our top tip right now is to travel with cabin hand luggage only!
Firstly, it’s important to note that over 95% of all holidays experienced minimal or no disruption, but of course it’s still important to plan! Please take a look at our article packed with helpful advice if you’re flying this Summer.
If you have already booked a holiday, perhaps it’s been rebooked, and rebooked again and you’ve got a question or concern please get in touch for our free holiday advice service.
If you’re like me you will want to make the full use of the airline’s baggage allowance, but I often return home with only half of my clothes worn….
Firstly, check the cabin hand luggage allowance for your specific airline as these vary enormously! Most airlines have a dimension restriction of 55 x 35 x 20 cm, and also others impose a weight limit (usually from 7 to 10kgs). Others also allow a second handbag or rucksack sized item… so it’s essential you check at time of booking!
Here’s some useful links to the key airlines I work with:
So here are our top tips!
- Ideally chose a bag or case that’s got an easily accessible front pocket for your liquids, this prevents you having to open up your case fully at security.
- Remember your liquid bottles need to be under 100ml (regardless of how much liquid is in them!). You can buy travel size toiletries however these can be expensive, so I recommend investing in some travel size refillable bottles, which is a great eco option too! Also, take a look at solid toiletries i.e. bars of shampoo and conditioner, and also pots of solid toothpaste and perfume. I thought this was a really useful article from Lush.
- My make up bag is one of my bulkiest items, so I’ve now invested in two bespoke palettes from Tropic which include lipsticks, blusher, bronzer, concealer, highlighter and eye shadows which are all solids! All I need is mascara and I’m good to go!
- Consider investing in packing cubes which help you to compartmentalise your packing, or compression bags. These are sealable plastic bags with one-way pressure valves that let air out but not in. By removing excess air, your clothes are compressed, and you save space. Compression packing bags work particularly well for bulkier items like fleeces and sweaters, so they are useful when packing for cold weather. But remember they won’t reduce the weight of your packing!
- Wear your largest items while travelling (think coats, boots etc).
- Plan ahead and create a holiday ‘capsule’ wardrobe and pack plenty of versatile items. For example, a pashmina can be used as a blanket, as a scarf, or as a way of accessorising an otherwise boring outfit. When planning to travel with only hand luggage, it’s worth remembering that you’ll likely need a lot less than you think. And you can always rinse a few things in the sink, or use the hotel or ship’s laundry service.
- You generally only need three pairs of shoes! Your super comfortable travel/walking shoes, a dressier pair for evenings, plus a pair of flip flops.
- Limit your gadgets! Do you need both a laptop and an iPad? Also, make your gadgets work hard for you; download your favourite magazines and invest in audio books. You can take the entire library with you, without being weighed down by heavy and bulky books and magazines.
Advice, recommendations and tips are made in good faith at the time of writing, however, things are constantly changing therefore it’s essential that you remain up-to-date with any requirements that may impact your holiday.