It sounds easy to pack a carry-on until you arrive at the security checkpoint or boarding gate with a problem that you were not expecting. Prohibited items in forgotten pockets and bags that are fine and get checked anyway are just some of the common mistakes that can cost time, money, and serious stress. Check out these seven packing blunders you may be making when packing a carry-on and how to avoid them before your next excursion.
Mistake #1: Not Starting With a Completely Empty Bag
A very common error is to put new items in a bag that already contains items from your previous trip. It’s a very frequent issue that’s seen with backpacks and personal carry bags. Every corner of these small, little-used zippered pockets can contain forgotten food or prohibited items such as pocket knives. Always empty the suitcases completely and look into all compartments before placing new items in them.
Mistake #2: Thinking Everything Has to Fit Inside Your Carry-On
Many travelers stuff their suitcases to the brim when they could be using their body and personal items as extra packing space. Wear your bulkiest clothes and boots on the plane. Use a fanny pack and fill it up. Layer up. Some travelers pack clothes inside a neck pillow to save bag space. This allows for more packing without extra checked bag fees and helps keep carry-ons within airline weight limits.
Mistake #3: Choosing the Wrong Travel Fabrics
While cotton and denim are staples in the wardrobe at home, they are not so when you are traveling. These fabrics are cumbersome, slow to dry and catch odor easily. Merino wool and polyester-spandex combinations dry rapidly, have an odor-resistant ability, and are compact. With performance travel fabrics, you can cut your packing list in half, so you’ll have more space and less weight in your suitcase.
Mistake #4: Using Plain, Generic Luggage
If your bag looks like a regular black suitcase or backpack, you’re in danger of a mix-up and may be targeted for theft. The study shows that at least millions of bags are lost at airports each year – and that having them become mixed up is one of the main causes of this. Make carry-ons easily recognizable with color, custom luggage tags, stickers or patches.
Mistake #5: Packing Clothes the Wrong Way
The technique you use to pack your clothes makes a huge difference in how much you can fit. Tossing items loosely into a large packing cube just lets everything expand and waste space. Instead, use smaller packing cubes filled completely to the brim so nothing has room to shift or puff up.
Mistake #6: Storing Valuables in Exterior Pockets
It’s easy to place your wallet, phone, or passport in an outer pocket where they can be easily accessed, but you will actually be an easy target for a thief. Airports are noisy, busy places, and opportunistic thieves have a good idea about where passengers keep their valuables. Have essentials in a zipped fanny pack or secure inner pockets.
Mistake #7: Packing Single-Use Items
There should be at least two uses for each item in your carry-on bag. Separate casual pants, dress pants and hiking pants take up a lot of space. Rather, seek items that can be worn for several purposes: a gray sweater that can be worn to a dinner date and a hike in the woods, a dark-colored blouse that can be worn for a beach date and a restaurant.
