Pro packing tips for your next holiday

Carry-on luggage, also known as hand luggage or cabin baggage, is the luggage that you take with you onto the plane. Typically weighing in between 7kg and 10kg (depending on the airline), it can either be stowed in the overhead locker above your seat, or under the seat in front of you.

When it comes to carry-on luggage, you’ll want to prioritise essential items, because it’s all you’ll have with you throughout the flight – and possibly the entire trip, in the unlikely (and very unfortunate) event that your checked luggage goes AWOL. Whether it’s a duffle bag, mini suitcase or backpack, you may want to pack the following:

• power banks and chargers
• prescription medication and scripts
• a spare set of clothes (undies, a t-shirt, socks) and light layers like a hoodie or cardigan for warmth.
• personal care items like your toothbrush, deodorant and moisturiser (within allowable limits).

Don’t forget as well to pack a few creature comforts for the flight, especially if it’s a long one. Here are just some ideas:

• an eye mask for better sleep
• a neck pillow for support (there are inflatable ones to save space)
• flight-safe earplugs to reduce discomfort from altitude changes
• noise-cancelling headphones to help you zone out.

As part of your carry-on, it can be helpful to have a travel wallet or small cross-body bag to keep your most important items handy at all times. We’re talking about your:

• passport
• smartphone
• travel SIM card
• printed flight tickets and boarding passes
• cards
• cash in different currencies.

Many travel wallets are equipped with RFID protection, helping to keep your information safe from electronic theft. They also tend to have multiple compartments so that everything has its place, offering convenience and peace of mind while you navigate through the airport and board your flight.

When you’re travelling in another country, immigration officers will often ask:

1. To see your passport and in some cases, your visa.
2. Where you’re staying.
3. How long you’re staying for.
4. Why you’re in the country.

These questions shouldn’t be hard to answer, but when a uniformed immigration officer is staring you down and you’re sleep deprived or jet lagged after a long flight, in an unfamiliar place, with an ever-growing queue of restless travellers behind you, it’s normal to feel caught off guard. So, rather than scrolling through all your devices and emails to find what they’re asking for, you can simply pull out a folder of pre-prepared documents like a pro. Plus, if your passport gets lost or stolen (quick, touch wood!), it’s handy to have a copy of it to help speed up the replacement process.

So don’t be shy, if you don’t have your own printer, head to your folks’ house or the local library and print off copies of your important documents.

Anyone who has set foot into Heathrow Airport sadly knows that checked luggage can be delayed, lost, damaged or stolen (no shade, UK, it’s a big airport... things happen!). But for real, no matter where you go, there’s always the risk of something going wrong (ominous as that may sound). Try to only pack things in your checked luggage that you can afford to go without, and pop the jumper your grandma painstakingly knitted for you (and any other highly valuable or sentimental items) in your carry-on instead.

Available individually or as a set, packing cubes are made of lightweight fabric with a zip, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some cubes even have a mesh compartment or labels to help you quickly identify what’s inside (how handy-dandy). An organiser’s dream, packing cubes allow you to separate and organise clothes and belongings by function or size, and can be positioned upright or flat in a suitcase to help you make the most of the space you have.

With the right packing technique — some people roll, some people fold — these handy organisers can hold quite a few items, so have a play and see what method works best for what you want to pack.

While we may risk sounding like your mum, we’re going to go ahead and suggest it anyway. Don’t forget a laundry bag. There’s nothing worse than having dirty socks and undies mingling amongst your clean clothes because you haven’t found a laundromat yet. OK. It feels good to get that off our chest. Safe travels!