Member-only story
How to Pack with Only Carry-On Suitcase & Backpack
If you’re planning a trip, you may be worried about fitting everything in your suitcase. After all, isn’t it safer to check baggage instead of risking your clothes getting lost or damaged?
Well, no — it’s not. I’ve traveled with only carry-on luggage for years and never had any problems with lost or damaged items while doing so! All it takes is planning and using clever packing techniques to maximize space in your suitcase while ensuring that everything fits. So follow these tips and tricks for packing light (and avoiding the dreaded checked bag fee) on your next trip:
Understand the rules.
The first step to packing your carry-on luggage is to understand the rules. There are regulations for checked baggage, gate check luggage, pets, and strollers. You can learn more about each of those below:
Airlines define carry-on baggage as any bag you can fit under the seat in front of you or an overhead bin. Typically this includes smaller bags that are less than 45 linear inches (L+W+H) and weigh less than 40 pounds (including contents). Your airline may have specific size requirements for their planes. Still, most will allow a personal item such as a purse or laptop bag and one “personal item” (purse, laptop bag, etc.), which is typically allowed on board for free but may be…
