Top 5 Packing Tips From a Former Flight Attendant
Last updated on February 9th, 2024 at 08:58 pm
As many of you know and have probably experienced firsthand, traveling can be extremely stressful for first-timers, couples, families, and everyday people. There’s a lot that can go wrong in a short amount of time ranging from missed connections to weather delays and more. When it comes to traveling, there’s a certain philosophy that I like to live by..
You can only control what you can control
…everything else is left up to the airplane and weather gods.
Luckily, one of the things I’m able to control is how well I pack and how prepared I am for a long day of traveling ahead. During my previous life as a flight attendant, I was fortunate enough to master the art of packing for all four seasons into an appropriate sized carry on.
Listed below are my top 5 packing tips and tricks that I live by! I’m sharing these with you in hopes of helping you de-stress while packing more efficiently for your next upcoming vacation.
Keep in mind that this site contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. However, this does not impact my honest reviews and comparisons. I only make recommendations based on personal experience(s), in order to help you make the best decisions while traveling!
1. Never check a bag – Anyone that’s traveled with me knows that this is a rule that I religiously live by. You wouldn’t BELIEVE the number of bags I’ve seen never make it to a passenger’s final destination, especially if you have a connecting flight. My parents have ended up in London when their bags were in Frankfurt. One time, my aunt arrived in Taiwan and her bag was hanging out in Dubai. She didn’t receive her belongings for an additional 3 days into the trip.
In addition to bags arriving late (or never at all), the baggage handlers treat suitcases with as much finesse as a bull in a china shop. Ramp agents are measured on the ability to load and unload bags quickly, resulting in careless tactics that will get the job done in a timely fashion.
Things to keep in mind if you insist on checking a bag:
• double check the tag has your final destination listed
• try to avoid checking a bag at the start of your vacation
• keep valuables on you at all times
• don’t bother buying expensive checked luggage
2. Sign up for an airline credit card – Just about every major airline offers a branded credit card these days which is a great perk for consumers. If you can’t avoid checking a bag, check to see if you’re eligible for an airline credit card. For example, United’s Chase Explorer card gives travelers their first checked bag for free! Don’t let the airlines sucker you into paying extra fees for luggage when there are ways around it.
3. Roll your clothes – There has been an age long debate among travel enthusiasts on whether rolling or folding your clothes is the more efficient method when packing. Well, I conducted my own very scientific study involving a mix of 20 tops, 5 denim jeans, 2 sweaters, and 2 pairs of shoes to see which method yielded more room in my suitcase. The final verdict? Rolling all my clothes allowed me to fit everything into this adorable and very functional Samsonite standard 21-inch carry on.
When attempting to fold my clothes, I was left with having to decide between bringing a couple pairs of jeans or the sweaters.
Always roll your clothes! I promise it’s worth the extra time and effort.
4. An empty duffel bag is your best friend – By now, you probably think I’m a crazy person that just travels insanely light all the time. That’s definitely not the case. I always remember to pack an empty duffel bag that can be used for anything I buy abroad. Since I don’t mind checking a bag on the leg home (tip #1) – I’ll usually move all my new things to my suitcase, move existing clothes to the duffel bag, and check the duffel bag straight to my home airport.
5. Wear your heaviest shoes on the plane – These will typically be tennis shoes (or maybe booties for women), but by doing so, you’ll end up leaving extra room in your suitcase for things that matter more! This rule applies for heavy winter coats as well!
Bonus Tip for 🍷 Lovers
+ Don’t waste money on shipping wine home from international destinations (unless you’re purchasing an immense amount). Get a pack of reusable bottle protectors from Amazon – these will change your life! Prior to purchasing these, I seriously can’t believe I used to wrap wine bottles in clothes and hope they would make it to my final destination in one piece.
Now that you’re all packed, make sure to check out these destinations for some travel inspiration.
Do you have any other packing tips and tricks? Please share them in the comments below!
Last updated on February 9th, 2024 at 08:58 pm
As many of you know and have probably experienced firsthand, traveling can be extremely stressful for first-timers, couples, families, and everyday people. There’s a lot that can go wrong in a short amount of time ranging from missed connections to weather delays and more. When it comes to traveling, there’s a certain philosophy that I like to live by..
You can only control what you can control
…everything else is left up to the airplane and weather gods.
Luckily, one of the things I’m able to control is how well I pack and how prepared I am for a long day of traveling ahead. During my previous life as a flight attendant, I was fortunate enough to master the art of packing for all four seasons into an appropriate sized carry on.
Listed below are my top 5 packing tips and tricks that I live by! I’m sharing these with you in hopes of helping you de-stress while packing more efficiently for your next upcoming vacation.
Keep in mind that this site contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. However, this does not impact my honest reviews and comparisons. I only make recommendations based on personal experience(s), in order to help you make the best decisions while traveling!
1. Never check a bag – Anyone that’s traveled with me knows that this is a rule that I religiously live by. You wouldn’t BELIEVE the number of bags I’ve seen never make it to a passenger’s final destination, especially if you have a connecting flight. My parents have ended up in London when their bags were in Frankfurt. One time, my aunt arrived in Taiwan and her bag was hanging out in Dubai. She didn’t receive her belongings for an additional 3 days into the trip.
In addition to bags arriving late (or never at all), the baggage handlers treat suitcases with as much finesse as a bull in a china shop. Ramp agents are measured on the ability to load and unload bags quickly, resulting in careless tactics that will get the job done in a timely fashion.
Things to keep in mind if you insist on checking a bag:
• double check the tag has your final destination listed
• try to avoid checking a bag at the start of your vacation
• keep valuables on you at all times
• don’t bother buying expensive checked luggage
2. Sign up for an airline credit card – Just about every major airline offers a branded credit card these days which is a great perk for consumers. If you can’t avoid checking a bag, check to see if you’re eligible for an airline credit card. For example, United’s Chase Explorer card gives travelers their first checked bag for free! Don’t let the airlines sucker you into paying extra fees for luggage when there are ways around it.
3. Roll your clothes – There has been an age long debate among travel enthusiasts on whether rolling or folding your clothes is the more efficient method when packing. Well, I conducted my own very scientific study involving a mix of 20 tops, 5 denim jeans, 2 sweaters, and 2 pairs of shoes to see which method yielded more room in my suitcase. The final verdict? Rolling all my clothes allowed me to fit everything into this adorable and very functional Samsonite standard 21-inch carry on.
When attempting to fold my clothes, I was left with having to decide between bringing a couple pairs of jeans or the sweaters.
Always roll your clothes! I promise it’s worth the extra time and effort.
4. An empty duffel bag is your best friend – By now, you probably think I’m a crazy person that just travels insanely light all the time. That’s definitely not the case. I always remember to pack an empty duffel bag that can be used for anything I buy abroad. Since I don’t mind checking a bag on the leg home (tip #1) – I’ll usually move all my new things to my suitcase, move existing clothes to the duffel bag, and check the duffel bag straight to my home airport.
5. Wear your heaviest shoes on the plane – These will typically be tennis shoes (or maybe booties for women), but by doing so, you’ll end up leaving extra room in your suitcase for things that matter more! This rule applies for heavy winter coats as well!
Bonus Tip for 🍷 Lovers
+ Don’t waste money on shipping wine home from international destinations (unless you’re purchasing an immense amount). Get a pack of reusable bottle protectors from Amazon – these will change your life! Prior to purchasing these, I seriously can’t believe I used to wrap wine bottles in clothes and hope they would make it to my final destination in one piece.
Now that you’re all packed, make sure to check out these destinations for some travel inspiration.
Do you have any other packing tips and tricks? Please share them in the comments below!
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