Ever feel confused about how to pack your your carry-on? You feel that you figured it out until you realize you’re holding up the security line trying to dig up your laptop and liquids. Don’t worry, it’s happened to us. So take a seat and read our suggestions for packing your carry-on.
1. Make a list
There are plenty of things we pack in our carry-on. Sometimes it’s cause we feel it’s safer to have it close to us. But 9 times out of 10, we don’t really use all of those things on a flight. For us, the most important things are:
- One change of clothes
- Valuables (jewelry, electronic devices, etc.)
- Camera, laptop or other electronic devices since you shouldn’t put it in your check-in luggage
- Headphones, book or other form of entertainment
- Any medications you would need to access right away
- Sleeping essentials like neck pillow or eye mask
- Toiletries (this is a must if you’re expecting a layover)
2. Choose your carry-on bag
There are a ton of bags to choose from. You may want to start off by reviewing the carry-on size restrictions on the airline’s website. Also, do you want a hard shell or soft shell? Do you prefer international carry-on size or domestic? Or maybe you just want an underseater instead of a conventional carry-on. You should also ask yourself, do I need to keep a lot of things with me?
If all you need is a change of clothes and a place for an electronic device, maybe your camera, then an underseater would be suitable. Besides, underseaters are more accessible to you since you just stow it under your seat. Flight attendants love this.
Now, if you have a bunch of things you need or maybe a lot of electronic devices that do not fit in your underseater or personal bag, you should probably opt for the regular carry on.
3. Pack the least needed items first
This may be that extra pair of clothes. Go ahead, pack that first. You want to pack these items first so you can easily access the things you really need. You don’t want to be searching high and low for your glasses. Not only is this an inconvenience for you but also for the person sitting next to you.
And please refrain from packing your camera, laptop, and toiletries first. These should be last since TSA will ask you to put them in a bin. For more regulations please visit, the TSA website. The more you know the more prepared you’ll be.
4. Separate small items in bags
This includes your toiletries, makeup, glasses, headphones, etc. This will make your searching for small things way easier than having to search for loose items. The three main bags you should have are: toiletries bag, makeup bag, and miscellaneous. You may want to put your passports, favorite lipstick, and gum in your miscellaneous bag.
5. Roll your clothes
This is a great technique as opposed to folding. In addition to saving space, it also minimizes creases and wrinkles on your clothing. Trust us, it works!
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