Are you an expert when it comes to packing only carry-on luggage?
Share your secrets with the rest of us who tend to pack like we’re going west to stake our claims.
Leave your tips as a comment below…
What are your best carry-on luggage tips?
By
/ February 21, 2011 
The vacuum bags for clothing helps compact your luggage by a lot. If you do not have those, I use zip lock bags as well. They are great for packing wet or damp clothing too.
Travel bottles are great for carrying small portions of shampoo, soap, etc… instead of carrying larger bottles.
If you pack an extra pair of shoes, one can shove items in the footing when stored in the bag.
Back packs with many pockets helps organize your items.
I’ve waited as long as an hour for my checked l uggage with this sickening feeling of having my bag lost at the start of your vacation. If I can avoid that conveyer belt I would.
Use a good quality back pack. It will hold as much as most carry-ons , but will fit even in the overheads on commuter airlines. It lets you be hands-free as well – I travel with my 90 year-old Dad occasionally & have to push him in a wheel chair thru airports.
I am not one of those people who try to put everything into a carry on, and make all the rest of the passengers wait, trying to cram big bags of mostly easily replaaceable stuff into the overhead bins! The more I travel, the less I take!
I’ve learned to put a change of clothes, my umbrella, swim suit, scarf, extra glasses, fliashlight, camera, chargers, small first aid kit, meds, copies of my medical, insurance, reservation and passport info with guide books/arrival info in my carry-on. I wear a light fleece on to the plane in addition to my coat. If there is room, I put my coat in the overhead. If charter sailing, I roll up my “foulie” pants and life jacket (with cartridge detachedi n the carry-on, and wear my “foulie” jacket onto the plane.
A soft pouch put under my seat carries my purse with a little local money and sun glasses, reading material, book light, blow-up neck cushion, airplane socks, and some personal hygiene items.
I carry my passport, airline tickets, credit cards, trip moneoy and reservation info in a body pouch and copies in an on-line “vault” in case of loss.
My actual luggage is one light weight piece that I can handle alone with my pouch and carry-on, and is completely replacable if misplaced or lost – an inconvenience at worse.
But it’s worth the wait at the luggage carel to have to not cram my three changes of mix and match clothes, undies and socks, extra shoes, light robe and sports equipment into one carry-on!