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Original poster

To Wonder if you spread your packing out across all the cases?

85 replies

girlfriend44 · 06/01/2023 17:41

Having been watching Rip Off Britain about holiday problems and also hearing it more and more recently I was wondering this.

Do you worry about your cases getting lost if going abroad?
Nightmare thought being left with no luggage.

Do you spread the packing out and pack something from everyone in each case rather than having your own case?
This would give some reassurance if cases or case got lost.
Will definitely be thinking of this more now.
Some people have been left without luggage for the whole duration of their holiday.
How do you Pack?

OP posts:
Firstawake · 06/01/2023 17:46

Have always done this for our family of four.

WednesdaysPlaits · 06/01/2023 17:48

Yes. I also carry a bikini, flip flops, undies and a couple of sundresses in my hand luggage. Plus all my make up. Just in case

Pothoswithasparkle · 06/01/2023 17:48

Yeah we do in case one suitcase gets lost in transit. Just few basic things not half and half

QueenOfHiraeth · 06/01/2023 17:49

We always spread ours out and also all take a change of underwear and a swimsuit in hand luggage (that's for a beach holiday). We have had luggage go astray several times so play safe

Magenta65 · 06/01/2023 17:49

I do always pack a few outfits in my hand luggage, toiletries can be bought abroad and means I’ll never be without underwear

Lozzybear · 06/01/2023 17:50

Yes, I have done it for 20 years since DH and I first went on holiday together. I do it for the kids clothes as well. I also make sure that we have spare clothes, underwear and (if it’s a beach holiday) swimwear in our hand luggage.

PandaG · 06/01/2023 17:51

My mum did this in the 80's. Split our clothes across all the suitcases, though I don't recall any cases going missing.

I put my wash kit and one set of clean underwear plus a t shirt in my carry on luggage last time I flew, and was thankful as my hold luggage didn't arrive for 36 hours!

Catterpillarwithconverse · 06/01/2023 17:51

No I don't do that

GreenManalishi · 06/01/2023 17:52

In all my life and numerous numerous flights I have only had a case not make it onto the same plane as me once, it got caught up in Zurich on a very tight transfer and followed me a few hours later in a taxi. So, no, I don't worry about it.

GoodVibesHere · 06/01/2023 17:52

Yes I always spread out clothes and towels so that we have at least some to keep us going.

It is a bit of a ballache when we get there rummaging around in the cases for our clothes though!

Setyoufree · 06/01/2023 17:53

Yep I do that. Luton airport lost my bag for 1/2 a holiday once so we were very grateful that everyone had enough clothes. Other thing to be careful of is to make sure all medication is in hand luggage.

thunderstruckk · 06/01/2023 17:53

Always done it!

Any expensive items in my hand luggage, along with two days of under wear and two spare tops.

I also put airtags in every suitcase so I can track them wherever they are.

Thecatisboss · 06/01/2023 17:53

We do ever since we had one case go missing with all my stuff in it with all suntan lotion in etc. Now we make sure all cases have a mix of items and lotion etc.

Twospaniels · 06/01/2023 17:54

Just me and husband now and we can usually manage with one case, but if we take two then I divide everything so there’s a bit of everything in both cases just in case one goes missing.

doodleygirl · 06/01/2023 17:54

I always used to do this when kids were little, for some reason I stopped. Went on holiday to Greece in the summer, they lost my luggage. I looked like a bag of nails the whole holiday.
Will always spread the luggage in future.

VanGoghsDog · 06/01/2023 17:55

I have done this when I've gone away with a partner I've lived with. Too much hassle to bother with people you don't live with.

Also more important for long haul or where you have have connecting flights, as that's where your bags are more likely to get lost.

lieselotte · 06/01/2023 17:56

Yes, if we have more than one case we usually divide stuff up. We usually put a spare top, knickers and pair of socks into hand luggage as well. But we're gradually travelling lighter and lighter and just take carry on where we can now.

My ds went on a school trip to Berlin and about half the group's luggage went missing. It was a 4 day trip and it arrived the night before they were due to go back. Must have been a right pain in the proverbial for the teachers, having to organise them emergency clothes.

Last time I flew our flight was cancelled once we were in the departure lounge. Fortunately there was another flight about 3 hours later and we were booked onto that. But also fortunately, we only had hand luggage, because I doubt our bags would have made it onto the revised flight, having been checked in for the other one.

FrenchOrEnglish · 06/01/2023 17:56

Yes absolutely.

I pack in two "rounds" as we have a case per person for big trips. I get the the cases out a week or two before we travel and as I remember and as things are washed/bought/remembered I pack things into a case for each of us.

Then once it's time to properly pack I split everything across all the cases as evenly as I can.

It would still be shit if I case went missing but at least this way then really other than toothbrushes we'd be able to carry on for a few days without being too affected.

Intransigentcat · 06/01/2023 17:57

I've been to a wedding abroad where my clothes didn't arrive. I had to borrow some which were a size too small. The photos are not good.

On holiday to Spain where my case went to the USA before finally arriving with me (baggage belt broken at Gatwick caused chaos). On another occasion my son's case got lost and we had to try and buy him a new wardrobe. So yes it gets spread out

We also have one set of clothes, swimsuit, flip flops etc in each hand luggage.

Hoppinggreen · 06/01/2023 17:57

Yes we do

NewYearNewName2023 · 06/01/2023 18:00

Yep, we always pack clothes for everyone in each case - it gets sorted into outfits and then these are distributed across all cases. I also make sure that I have swimwear in each case and in my hand luggage (I'm booby, so can't just buy some from the hotel shop!)

HermioneWeasley · 06/01/2023 18:02

Yes, I can’t think why you wouldn’t? Small bits like pants, socks, swimwear go into a vacuum bag and rolled up and one for each person in each case (plus some in carry on as others have said). Other “multiples” get spread across cases, so one bottle of sun cream in each etc.

Dryandirriatble · 06/01/2023 18:04

Nowadays I do my utmost not to check any luggage. You never wear everything you take anyway and packing light means less unpacking/washing when you get back, but yes, when I have checked luggage always split across the cases and packed one set of clean clothes in hand luggage

Urguth · 06/01/2023 18:05

Yes, and essentials inc a change or two of underwear in the hand luggage. And always always keep my car keys pinned to my bra strap when flying home. Then if we lose everything (eg have to evacuate either the plane or airport)I can still get home afterwards if I’m still in one piece.

FictionalCharacter · 06/01/2023 18:10

I do now, ever since 2 out of 4 of the family’s suitcases were delayed 2 days on a long haul trip. Complete nightmare because the destination had nowhere to buy clothes, toiletries and undies.

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