Traveling can be a stressful endeavor, especially if you need to pack for a relatively long stay and need to take several pieces of luggage with you.
In this article, we’ll give you 5 great packing tips that will help you make the most of your baggage allowance and reduce the likelihood of you facing any holdups while going through security in the airport.
5 Awesome Packing Tips When Traveling
1. Wisely Pack Your Carry-On Bags
You can typically take two carry-on bags with you: one in the overhead bins of the plane and one other, smaller bag, such as a laptop bag or a handbag.
It’s really important to wisely back these bags, as you won’t have access to your checked luggage when going through security, waiting for your flight and for the duration of it. So, it’s a good idea to think about what items you might need during this time, such as your phone, charger, and any important documents necessary for your trip, and to be sure to pack them in one of your carry-on bags (though you must also remember that there are some restrictions on what you can pack.)
2. Pack Dual Purpose Clothes Whenever Possible
Packing dual-purpose clothing can be a good way to make the most of your baggage allowance, as it saves you from needing to pack additional items. So, if you already own a few pieces of dual-purpose clothing, taking them with you is a no-brainer (assuming that they are suited to the climate of the place you’re headed.)
3. Know & Follow the 3-1-1 Rule
The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) 3-1-1 rule states that passengers may only carry liquids, gels and aerosols in travel-size containers that are either 3.4 ounces in weight or 100 milliliters, and each passenger can only have one quart-size bag of liquids, gels and aerosols in their carry-on luggage.
Failing to follow this rule can lead to delays and the confiscation of any offending items when going through security, so it’s important to make sure that you follow this rule and pack the majority of your liquids, gels and aerosols in your checked luggage.
4. Roll Your Clothes
Most people tend to fold their clothes when packing a suitcase, but this actually isn’t the best way for two key reasons. Firstly, rolling your clothes instead of folding them will allow you to make the best use of your baggage allowance, as rolled clothes are typically more compact than folded ones.
Secondly, rolling your clothes instead of folding them reduces the risk of them developing deep creases as a result of being folded in your suitcase for a long period of time.
5. Layer Your Belongings
The last step in our list of packing tips is one that many people already follow, but not necessarily intentionally.
Layering your belongings in your suitcase makes it easier for TSA agents to see what your bag contains when scanning it and therefore reduces the likelihood of them needing to open it up for further inspection (and thus reducing the likelihood of you being delayed when going through security.)
The TSA team suggested packing your belongings in layers. Clothes in one layer, shoes in another layer, gadgets in the next layer, and so on. Doing so will give them a clear picture of what’s inside your luggage. The faster they screen your items, the quicker you’ll pass the security line.
Final Thoughts
Following our 5 packing tips should help you make the most of your baggage allowance and hopefully reduce your chances of getting delayed when going through security, leading to a less stressful travel experience.
Furthermore, by making the most of your baggage allowance, you can save money by not having to purchase additional allowance, which can be quite costly, especially for international flights.