How to efficiently pack your hand luggage

How do you pack for a holiday with just hand luggage? It’s a challenge, but it can be done.

If want your luggage to be light and compact, follow our guide below – you’ll soon be packing like a pro.

How do you pack for a holiday with just hand luggage? It’s a challenge, but it can be done.

If want your luggage to be light and compact, follow our guide below – you’ll soon be packing like a pro.

Written by

Anna McEntee

Home, pet and travel insurance expert

Posted

12 JANUARY 2021

3 min read

Quicker – no need to hang around the baggage hall waiting for the carousel, simply go straight through to customs
Safer – your luggage is with you all the time, so there’s no chance of it getting ‘lost’ or thrown about by baggage handlers
Easier – no airport trolley needed and you won’t need to drag a heavy suitcase around with you on your travels
Cheaper – most low-cost airlines charge you for hold baggage, so you’ll save money on your ticket. If you’re hiring a car, you can opt for a cheaper one with less boot space

Choose the right luggage

There’s no standard size or weight for cabin baggage; each airline has its own restrictions.

Most dimensions tend to be around the 55x45x23cm mark. The average maximum weight is between 7kg-10kg for most of the airlines, although some companies don’t have a weight restriction.

Check with the airline before you fly – if your hand luggage doesn’t meet their requirements it will be put in the hold, and you might be charged an excess fee.

Decide if you want a hard-shell or soft-sided case. Hard cases add extra protection, but using a soft variety means you can often squeeze in a little bit more. Even a small case can get heavy after a while, so maybe consider one with wheels.

How to pack your hand luggage like a pro

We could all do with help from an expert, so we’ve enlisted former Royal Marines commando James Johnson. During his service, James was trained to pack a small suitcase at a moment’s notice, so he’s the perfect person to help you pack a week’s worth of luggage into a carry-on bag. Here’s how he does it:

Prioritise packing your essentials

Separate everything into two piles: one for essentials and one for ‘nice-to-haves’. Now it’s time to be ruthless and cull the ‘nice-to-haves’.
Choose a capsule wardrobe with clothes that go together to create different outfits – consider items that can be worn as layers rather than packing bulky clothes.
Accessories take up less space and can easily change the look of an outfit. For example, a pashmina or sarong can be worn as a shawl or a scarf, while a fancy pair of flip flops and fashionable jewellery can transform a daytime outfit into eveningwear.
Limit the number of shoes you take – just choose a couple of pairs that go well with all your outfits.
Make sure anything large is collapsible.
Think about whether packing a towel is essential. Will there be one at the hotel or can you buy a cheap one when you arrive?
Leave any non-essential bulky cosmetics at home. Shampoo, conditioner and sunscreen can be bought when you’re there – the rest, as our video shows – can be de-boxed and decanted into small plastic containers and bottles. Most supermarkets sell mini versions of products specifically for travelling. Don’t forget the 100ml rule.

Bag everything up

Dispense any toiletries and other items that could leak into small, clear, resealable bags; it’ll make things easier when you go through customs, as you can place them into a larger plastic bag. Remember, you’re only allowed one plastic bag per person in your carry-on luggage.
Pack your flight essentials in a go-to bag or wallet at the top of your luggage. This can include your passport, travel insurance documents, a phone charger and a book or tablet for the flight.
Most airlines let you take one piece of hand luggage per person, plus a carry-on handbag. Choose a bag that’s comfortable to carry as well as spacious – something that can double up as a beach bag during your holiday, for example.

Top tip

Cut down on excess weight and bulk by downloading books, your boarding pass and even travel insurance details onto your smartphone. Just make sure it’s fully charged before you board the aircraft.

Roll your clothes up

Rolling your clothes not only saves space, it helps to prevent them getting creased.
Try to keep everything roughly the same size, as it’s easier to fit them next to each other in your bag.
If you can’t quite perfect the ‘Ranger Roll’ method shown in our video, just roll each item as tightly as possible.
You can also use rolled socks to secure items.

Make the most of the space

The best way to pack a hand luggage bag is in reverse.
Firstly, pack bulky items that you won’t use until you arrive.
Leave anything you might need, like baby wipes or snacks for the kids, on top.
Then, treat all your bulkier rolled items like the bricks of a wall and the smaller items as mortar, which fill the gaps in between. It’s all about making use of the unused spaces.
You can pack valuables in your shoes or in small zipped compartments. This will make the contents less prone to shifting around during the flight.
Wear what you can. If it’s a winter holiday, wear your ski jacket as a coat – the same goes for hiking boots.

And finally…

Remember, there are strict rules as to what you can and can’t take, so make sure you check before you leave for the airport to avoid a nasty fine, or confiscation.

Customers with pre-existing medical conditions

If you have a serious health condition, your travel insurance is likely to be more expensive. Whatever happens, always declare any medical conditions and never lie to an insurance provider, because this could mean your claim is rejected. When you declare any medical conditions on our website, we’ll only show you quotes from insurance providers who will cover them, with no exclusions.

If your condition is more serious, MoneyHelper has a directory of insurance providers who may be able to provide quotes over the phone. You can call MoneyHelper on 0800 138 7777.