Travelling by plane is one of the most popular methods of travel, with around 36.8 million commercial flights taking off each day around the world according to IATAs 2017 statistics. However, while largely convenient, air travel does come with its own set of rules and regulations which can be particularly stringent. This is especially true of hand luggage, with many airlines increasingly enforcing even stricter policies around how much travellers can and can’t take.
In fact, many budget airlines renowned for their cheap tickets, make up their costs elsewhere in the form of luggage payments.
That means passengers who pack too heavy or bring a bag that is a little too large could face charges.
Ryanair, for example, allows passengers just one small bag of specific measurements. If a passenger hopes to bring a larger or second item, they must pay a fee.
Similarly, easyJet also only allow one cabin bag per passenger, and they must fit into the overhead locker.
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If a bag is deemed larger than the laid out measurements, travellers can face a hefty fee to check their bags in.
With so many rules surrounding bag size and weight, it can be difficult to figure out how to pack everything for a holiday without overdoing it.
However, an ex-army veteran posted to Reddit to share a handy tip that soldiers are taught when packing.
The Reddit user explained: “In the army, we were taught to roll all of our clothes, similar to that.
“However, I’ve always been a fan of putting a set of clothes in a Ziploc bag and squeezing all the air out. Ended up saving me a lot more room after repacking my clothes from BCT when they were just rolled.
“Furthermore, not only does it take less space and just as convenient for setting up a day’s wardrobe, but also being packaged in a Ziploc, the clothes are protected from water and the like.”
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The handy tip means that passengers can fit more into a smaller space, ideal for those hoping to cut-costs by travelling with just cabin bags.
Meanwhile, travel expert and frequent flier Nicky Kelvin, Director for Content at the Points Guy UK, ask has some top tips for travellers.
“Always be fully aware of baggage limits and charges. Think ahead, because it’s always so much cheaper to pay for extra bags or weight ahead of time than at the airport,” he says.
“Have the right size bag for the cabin. EasyJet and BA allow a wider bag for example than most airlines. Don’t get caught out by this if you make a connection.”
Packing cubes are fabric compartments that can be slotted into a suitcase and help divide up the contents in a more organised fashion.
“Packing cubes can help you carefully pack your suitcases and travel better in a number of ways,” say the experts.
“Whether you’re an expert traveller or packer or someone who rarely goes on holiday, packing cubes can benefit everyone.
“But they can be especially helpful if you want to fit as much as possible in a carry-on. Using compression cubes when travelling on low-cost carriers with size limits means you can put in all your clothes then zip the compression cube, which will shrink it into a more manageable size, allowing you to fit more in.”
