I’m a carry-on girl. They say experience makes one wiser, and when it comes to getting on and off a plane in a flash, I’ve wisened up more than I care to remember. No more wrestling with huge, ungainly suitcases to and from the airport, thank you very much. I did that for at least two overseas ventures, and I’ve learned my lesson! Nowadays, no matter what distance or length of vacation time, all I bring is what I can carry with me onto the plane.
Yes, that’s right—just a wheelie and a tote bag. I jump in and I jump off, not needing to check in extra luggage, and bypassing fellow passengers who’re still waiting at the baggage carousel. No more anxiety over delayed or lost luggage! It means being able to get out of the airport faster. It means savoring my trip from the start.
It also means—if I’m returning to the States from time abroad—not having to wait in the stuffy, crowded carousel section after already having put up with the teeming throng at Immigration. Believe me, the latter is enough of an endurance trial. It doesn’t need assistance.
A carry-on traveler can also switch destinations at the drop of a hat. Feel like detouring from your Roman vacation to a weekend in Florence? Get on a train and boom, no worries about dragging along bags weighing more than you do.
The key to surviving on carry-on is packing smart. Obvious, yes, but that doesn’t detract from its truth. Not only does it help avoid overpacking, but if you ever wind up having to bunk overnight at a bare-bones Tokyo hotel thanks to a drastically delayed flight— speaking from experience, here, and let’s face it, Tokyo “overnight” hotels make you feel like there should be violins screeching the Psycho theme music in the hallways—you’ll have all you could possibly need within easy reach. Voila.
“Well, yes,” you say, “but there are some things I simply can’t do without.”
And that, ladies and gents, is where the term “packing smart” comes into play again. Admittedly, there are times when check-in can’t be avoided. Having to bring additional equipment and supplies for a business trip, for example. The inevitability of families lugging as much luggage as they’re allowed by the airline (although I’ve seen some make it just fine on just one duffel bag per member, which really makes you think).
But I would recommend, at least twice in your adventuring lifetime (okay, thrice), to try this. Take just your carry-on with you on your next venture, and enjoy the liberating ease of that journey. It’s a huge time-saver. You can share a secret smile as you zip off to your next destination, leaving ripples in your wake.
Whether you’re a light traveler or still prefer checking your bags at the counter, here are three musts when it comes to your carry-on luggage.
1. Size Matters
Use carry-on items that can fit into any overhead compartment. And when I say “any,” I mean any. You don’t want to be one of those people struggling for fifteen minutes to stuff their bags into a cramped overhead compartment, causing a long line of passengers to seethe behind you. Make sure your portable is truly portable.
I witnessed a couple of incidents during a recent trip to California. The first involved a couple who inexplicably hauled aboard three large pieces of luggage. Two of them were hefty wheelies hip-high, and the third looked like it could have been stuffed with an eight-year-old child with plenty of room for toys. Of course, they took up all the compartment spaces available in their row. Now, that is a rather extreme case of loving one’s carry-on. I may be a carry-on girl, but if you’re hoisting something you could fit your nephew inside, check it in!
The second incident took place on my return flight. The plane’s compartments were packed to the brim, and the final four rows hadn’t even boarded yet. The flight attendants announced that further carry-on items would have to be checked in to each person’s final destination. At least one passenger refused to believe this was so.
“He won’t check it in!” one harried flight attendant exclaimed to her colleague as she marched down the aisle. I wondered what the man was expecting—for the sea of bags to magically part to give him space? The attendant’s mood wasn’t improved by a fellow who pointed out that there was supposed to be room for all items on the aircraft: “Isn’t this a 757?”
We like carry-on. We rely on carry-on. But you can avoid aggravating your flightmates or adding to plane delays by making sure your carry-on fits the bill. Or, I should say, fits the space.
If you’re so inclined, I recommend these dimensions in picking out a carry-on piece: 12” x 18” x 7”. It’s a good compact size which, believe it or not, fits anywhere, no matter how tiny your choice of transportation may be. In fact, that is the size of my own years-old Samsonite carry-on. I’ve had to hop onto little Wisconsin aircrafts that convey the spatial sensation of a shoebox, and this size truly does fit all. Flight attendants, on checking carry-on luggage at the gate and tagging those they deem too big, have only to glance at my little wheelie before giving me the automatic okay.
2. Easy Rider
Speaking of wheels, get them. These days, most carry-ons already come equipped with wheels for ease of travel. This comes unbelievably in handy when your connecting flight is at a whole other terminal, or if the gates change every half hour, as often seems the case for today’s hectic airports. When you’re running, you need all the speed you can get.
Even with the convenience of a shuttle, all that walking is still going to be hard on your shoulder. Give yourself a break. Just toss your tote or briefcase atop your wheelie and you’re on your way, trotting as fast or sauntering as slow as you need to.
3. Suck It In
“But there’s no way I can bring all the clothes I’ll need in my carry-on,” you protest.
Agreed. Sometimes, even after following the mix-and-match tip, and even after carefully whittling down your checklist of attire (half of half of what you think you need, as the old advice goes), you’re still left with quite a lump to pack. What now?
Vacuum-seal storage bags, that’s what. They’re how I managed to last two weeks in Malaysia with only the teeny carry-on I mentioned above. No need to splurge on the pricey stuff sold via infomercials (besides which, they require equipment to suck the air out, and who has time to bring and store that?). You can get cheap ones at the local convenience store. Fill them up with clothes until the dotted line, then wring the air out of them. Ta-da, all nicely compressed!
Vacuum-seal bags reduce the amount of space taken up in your carry-on, so that you’ll have plenty of room yet for toiletries, a good book, and even a couple of souvenirs. Give your clothes a good shake when you take them out afterwards, and hang them up to air out.
Here’s a tip: get at least two vaccum-seal bags. One for clean clothes, the other for dirty laundry in time for your return. I keep track of which is which by pasting a small strip of white tape on the “used” bag. This way, I know at a single glance which contains clothes already worn. The “used” bag should be cleaned after the return of every outing. Also, this way, you’ll never have to wonder which is the “clean” bag by the time you start planning your next vacation.
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