Guest Author - Emily Wilska
Picture this: you’re lugging three large suitcases through an unbelievably crowded airport, trying to keep tabs on your kids and spouse, who are somewhere in the mob behind you. You finally reach the ticket counter, where the agent informs you that there will be an extra charge for your extra heavy bags. Things don’t get any better at the security checkpoint, where the carefully wrapped gifts you’ve stashed in your carry-on bag get unwrapped so they can be inspected. To make things even worse, when you finally make it to the gate, the agent there tells you you’ll need to check your carry-on, as it’s too big to fit in the cabin.
Holiday travel—or travel at any busy time—is stressful enough; you don’t need luggage nightmares to make it worse. Take the time to do a bit of pre-planning and some careful packing, and you may just be able to avoid the baggage blues. Here’s how.
Plan ahead
Before piling the better half of your wardrobe into a suitcase, do your homework: what will the weather be like where you’re going? How long will you be there? Will you need dressy clothes, or will casual duds be the order of the day? Will you have access to laundry facilities while you’re away?
On the basis of your answers to those questions, choose a few basics—shirts, sweaters, pants, skirts—that you can mix and match to create different outfits. Add a few special accessories, undergarments and socks, and one or two extra pairs of shoes. (Remember, you’ll be wearing an outfit and a pair of shoes on the plane, so be sure to count those, too.)
Follow these same steps with anyone else you’re packing for, such as children or a spouse. If at all possible, aim to limit each family member’s luggage to one checked bag, one small carry-on, and a purse, briefcase, or small backpack.
Pack neatly
Once you’ve decided what you’ll bring, fold all of your clothes neatly and pack them carefully. You may want to use packing cubes and envelopes, which help keep clothes folded and together and help prevent wrinkles. Slip shoes into plastic bags to keep them from getting your clothes dirty. Gather together any toiletries you’ll need to bring (see my Traveling with Toiletries article in the archive for more information) and stash them all in a Dopp kit or a large Ziploc bag.
If you’re traveling with gifts, don’t wrap them, as TSA agents may need to unwrap them to inspect them when your bags go through security. If you’re bringing valuables of any kind with you—jewelry, electronics, prescription medications, and so on—DO NOT put them in a bag you plan to check. Most airlines take no responsibility for valuables that are lost or stolen from checked luggage.
Check on weights and sizes
Before you finalize your packing, it’s worthwhile to check with your airline (or with Amtrak if you’re traveling by train) to see what the restrictions on baggage size and weight are. Airlines generally have a baggage weight limit for each passenger; if you exceed it, you may have to pay extra to get your bags on board. Also be sure that any bag you plan to carry on to the plane will fit either in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you so you won’t have to worry about checking bags at the gate.
Traveling at busy times of the year may never be fun, but by taking some time to plan ahead and get organized as you pack, you can help make it less stressful. By the time you get on the plane, you’ll be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy your bag of peanuts and in-flight movie.
