Carry-On Only Packing 101

Why Just a Carry-On?

Simply put? It's an easier packing process and feels less stressful when traveling!

Most people drastically overestimate what they need for their trips. Becoming more comfortable with less and packing strategically makes traveling easier and lighter!

Here are a few reasons why you might want to ditch the large luggage for a carry-on and personal item combo:

Get off the plane and get where you need to go, faster.

There is something freeing about deboarding the plane and heading for your ride without a (sometimes very lengthy) stop at the baggage carousel.

While everyone else is waiting for their bag to circle around, you're well on your way to getting to your destination sooner.

Checking in for flights is often easier without checking luggage.

When you don't need to check a bag, you can sometimes avoid the airport lines and check in online. For certain destinations, you might need to check in at the airport and present your identification before receiving a boarding pass.

Worry less about lost luggage.

When your bags are with you, you don't need to wonder if they are getting where they need to go.

While you might sometimes be required to gate-check a carry-on, more often than not, you'll have both this bag and your personal item very close by.

Make sure you adhere to the airline's size/weight requirements for carry-on luggage!

You could save money.

Avoiding checked bag fees is one more incentive to condense the packing to a carry-on and personal item. While some airlines charge for carry-on bags, for many flights, this won't be a concern.

How to Become a Carry-On-Only Traveler:

Now that we've covered the why, let's take a look at how to pack a carry-on bag:

1. Start by choosing a great piece of luggage

Without a well-designed bag, you're immediately setting yourself up for packing problems. Try to purchase a bag after handling it in person, or at least do thorough research before committing.

2. Pack a capsule wardrobe

Choose your clothing wisely by selecting items appropriate for the weather and activities in your destination and ensuring that you can mix and match your items. (Start with black or navy blue as your base color and build from there!)

3. Roll clothes and use packing cubes

Try rolling your clothes to help reduce wrinkles and save space in your luggage. Then, put items into packing cubes and inside your packed shoes to maximize your luggage real estate.

4. Plan on doing laundry

The ease of doing laundry on vacation runs the gamut, but if it is an option for you, this small chore can really help simplify packing. Detergent and dryer sheets are very easy to pack for self-serve laundry (at Walt Disney World Resorts or with Disney Cruise Line for example), or you can explore the cost of laundry services before travel.

5. Wear your bulkiest items

Keep your jacket, hooded sweatshirt, or bulky sweater on your person and sport your largest, chunkiest shoes. You might benefit from layers on a cold plane, and your carry-on bag will benefit from more space for other necessary items.

6. Be smart about toiletries

Toiletries are one of the easiest things to overpack for vacation. Start with thinking about the products that will be available to you at your destination, or from the resort or cruise line. Can you use those instead of packing your own? For items you do need to pack, remember the TSA rules for liquids in a carry-on bag and plan accordingly. For some destinations, you might be able to order a delivery to obtain necessary items, too!

7. Choose a great personal item

Part of being a carry-on-only traveler is also having a fantastic personal item, which can take a bit of trial and error...not to mention, certain trips might call for specific types of personal items. A wheeled under-seat bag? A backpack? A messenger bag? A diaper bag? Consider your travel needs to find what works best for you for the specific trip. If you also carry a purse, cross-body bag, or belt bag, stuff it into your carry-on or personal item until you can retrieve it. Even with similar dimensions, personal item bags are not created equal.

Don't forget your travel documents and appropriate forms of identification!​​​​

Packing an In-Flight Bag:

One of the considerations when shopping for or packing a personal item is the ease of accessing items in your bag while it's stowed under the seat in front of you. For longer flights especially, there are a variety of items you might need during travel. Not all bags are made with quick-access storage in mind, and a confined space makes it even more challenging to grab what you need mid-flight.

If your personal item isn't quite up to the task due to its lackluster layout and organization (or even if it is!), an in-flight bag can come in handy.

Start with a zipper pouch that (ideally) fits into one of the exterior pockets on your personal item. This could be a repurposed cosmetics/toiletry bag, or even a small fanny pack or purse that you wear while sightseeing or visiting a theme park.

Then, load the bag with the essentials you're most likely to reach for during your flight: tissues, ear buds, lip moisturizer, hand sanitizer and lotion, gum or candy, an eReader device, your phone, a hair tie or clip, and medicine are a few examples.

Keep this bag in an easy-to-reach spot, either next to you in your seat or in an easily reachable exterior pocket of your personal item.

Once in destination, the small in-flight pouch can be tossed into your crossbody bag or backpack so you have your essentials in one spot when you're out exploring.

Are you ready to become a carry-on-only traveler?

Let's book your next trip so you can practic​​e your packing skills!

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