A young woman packing her suitcase and preparing to leave the hotel in a hurry. You are trying to close your excess luggage. Young businesswoman packing for work trip. (Image: Oscar Won via Getty Images)
We all experience pre-flight luggage panic and are desperately ensuring that our bags meet the airline's weight and size limits to avoid unexpected charges at the airport. Some airlines offer generous baggage, while others are tougher and if the straps and wheels in your bag become too big for the sizer of your bag, it can potentially catch you.
However, flight attendants who spend most of their time glove trotting are experts in overcoming baggage restrictions and organizing suitcases. It helped me match some of the top packing hacks and organize my luggage like a pro.
Read more I abandoned the UK and live in a cheap 26C English-speaking country in winter
Cube mesh bag with round clothes, T-shirts and trousers. (Image: Sasimoto via Getty Images)
“The biggest hack ever” for flight attendants to save space on luggage
Kat Nesbitt is a flight attendant working for major US airlines and frequently shares travel tips to his YouTube channel. The packaging cube acts as a portable wardrobe organizer with 2-4 separate compartments for clothing. Some types also have zip compartments at the bottom of items such as shoes and toiletries.
After stuffing your belongings into the clothing organizer, you can compress them using two handy straps. Once you've closed, you can put this in your luggage to leave room for additional items.
Kat explained how to use this in baggage when traveling for work.
In the revelation set to revolutionise the Holidaymakers Pack, Kat's product reviews were full of excitement.
Fits 14-day clothing in carry-on bags
Flight fanatics and enthusiastic sailors adorn themselves in search of the ultimate space-saving trick that can be seen as “clothes for 12-14 days” only in carry-on bags.
An anonymous traveler's post to the Reddit Forum shares advice from a cabin crew member under the pseudonym Phxflyer.
Phxflyer talks about how gentle clothes miraculously compress an impossible amount of clothes into a manageable bundle. A Reddit user vowed to “definitely roll your clothes.” “A little less spinning in the winter allows me to wear my portable wrap bag for 12-14 days. The flight attendant told me about it.”
Travel + Leisure Mavens further clarifies and proposes a technique known ominously as “ranger rolling.” The tactic reportedly means folding up the troublesome, folding air pockets and more space in the suitcase.
Experts explained, “To lay clothes items flat to properly roll your clothes.” “Then, turn the bottom two inches inside out and create a pocket type along one side of the clothing.
Rolling clothes saves space (Image: Getty)
“From the other side, roll the item tightly until you reach the pocket you created. Fold one side of the pocket onto the roll to secure it in place.”
Are you heading to the beach?
This hack saves weight and space on your towel. Packages on beach holidays often require bulky towels, which can take up a lot of space in your suitcase, and even exceed your weight limit.
The solution is in a microfiber towel, and has a texture similar to a regular towel, and can be dried after a swim, but is much lighter and bulkier.
Protect your clothes while traveling with these 6P items
Once you arrive at your destination, you can get frustrated just to find that your clothes are dirty during shipping. But former flight attendant Kat Kamalani proposes unconventional hacks to keep your clothes from getting dirty without breaking the bank.
In Tiktok's “packaging masterclass” flight attendant Kat leaked her top travel hack.
It may seem unconventional, but using a hair net when packing can protect your clothes from the mud of your footwear, but it is invaluable if you prefer light-coloured outfits.
When tackling this packaging challenge, choose an opaque or paper hairnet for best results.
Experts advocate for the correct use of bag tags to protect your luggage
Despite impeccable packing, baggage accidents have occurred, and the Claims Compass reports that it mishandles 208 million incredible bags each year, supporting the need to protect its property while traveling.
You can attach tags to your package that contain personal information such as your name, address, phone number, email, and more to ensure identification.
However, veteran flight attendant Ally reveals a common flaw through Tiktok.
She said, “I see a lot of people with luggage tags and it's visible for everyone to see. Their name, address, phone number and email.
Keep luggage tags private (Image: Getty)
She continued, emphasizing the importance of discretion. “Instead, you simply flip your contact information over the other side. If the bag is lost or stolen, some people will get the contact information so that the bag will take out the paper and flip it over to the other side.”
She added: “It's great to have a luggage tag. Make sure everyone sees at all times. Get a lot of trains, there's a lot of crazy on the train. Everyone needs information just to see.”
When it comes to avoiding extra baggage charges, travelers should not overlook the importance of choosing the right bag size. Especially considering that various airlines have different baggage requirements.
In this context, one particular bag has received online acclaim for its adaptability and is called the perfect companion of Jet2, EasyJet and Tui Flyers.
Furthermore, explaining in her remarks, she states: “All airlines mentioned are allowed about 55cm on economy tickets, which is 45cm, so it's for baggage.”
However, the Cabin Max suitcase could be no go for Ryanair flights.
Its size can cause problems for other airlines as well. Before expanding, be smart and check your carrier baggage rules.
Get the right cabin bag (Image: Tatsiana Volkava via Getty Images)
If you're looking to carry-on your nifty Cabin Max, double check these dimensions.
You will need something to measure at 45 x 36 x 30 cm.
Neck pillow hack
For creative ways to enhance your baggage allowance, try the neck pillow hack.
One Tiktoc Maestro shares a sly trick. Replace the typical plush neck cushion with a fillable version and place it in the extra apparel.
A well-known traveler known on Tiktok as @cheapholidayexpert, tried out the strategy for himself and hailed it as a “game changer.”
Ziploc bag for extra space
Ziploc bags are great for carrying liquids through airport security in baggage, but their uses don't stop there.
The large Ziploc bag acts as a DIY vacuum pack to compress clothes and free up space in your suitcase.
If you're on a short trip and want to plan your outfit in advance, or if you need to organize your holiday wardrobe for your kids, a Ziploc bag is your friend. Lay out each outfit, fold it neatly and place it in a separate Ziploc bag.
Next, sit on the bag to expel air before sealing, greatly reducing the space your clothes occupy.
To make things even easier, you can label each bag with its contents and quickly find the clothes you need.
Choose a lightweight travel bag for a hassle-free journey
If you're aware of your suitcase a bit of notice on the heavy side, it may be time to consider investing in a lightweight bag. Many airlines have weight limits on both their hands and baggage, meaning they can pack more bags without exceeding their allowance.
However, before splashing new packages, check the size limits outlined by your chosen airline.
Ziploc bags are perfect for suitcases (Image: Getty)
Plan your clothes in advance
It may sound basically, but what you plan ahead is a top-tip flight attendant who swears to maximize luggage space. Speaking solely to Express.co.uk, cabin crew member Miguel Muñoz stressed, “It's very important to only take the clothes you actually need.”
Overpacking is super easy, packing all your favorite items into your suitcase, but you just realize you don't need half of them. Miguel said, “Don't make the mistake of bringing two things to each of them, “just just in case.” He urges travelers to carry 'essentials', including toiletries and makeup items. “You don't need two perfumes,” he pointed out.
An easy way to plan your clothes is to lay out everything you want before packing them in a suitcase. You can choose clothing that can be paired and paired, create capsule wardrobes, mix and match.
Wear the heaviest clothes
If you are working on weight limits on luggage, or if you have bulky clothing that monopolizes carry-on space, the clever solution is to wear your heaviest garments. This trick is especially useful when traveling with heavy coats or heavy shoes.
You can also pack your coat pocket with extra items such as socks or clothes that can be folded compactly. Don't forget to empty your pocket before passing through security.
