Why do people act like it’s a moral failure to not pack light? AIBU to enjoy taking stuff on holiday with me?

[igotitbadforyou]

I’ve noticed this on a lot of packing/holiday threads. Lots of sneering and looking down on people for packing more than is “needed”.

Technically you could go on holiday with the clothes on your back and a spare pair of underwear and that be that, but I enjoy having options and taking some of my home comforts with me.

Why do people act like it’s wrong to do this? It doesn’t impact anyone else.

I kid you not!

Not all the time but some of the time. It's a standing joke. Ive even had people ask to borrow my clothes!

Basically the airlines can’t stop you from buying in the airport so they allow purchases on board in addition to your luggage allowance. It must be in an airport shop bag . Eg Ryanair officially permits passengers to bring one standard airport shopping bag into the cabin alongside their regular hand luggage.
I buy a boots bag for life, then I put my small cross body bag at the bottom of that for boarding cos technically I’m not allowed that either. Never been challenged and I fly 5/6 times a year

I do the same

@Frillysweetpea the other thing about ordering online for click and collect is that it’s at normal prices not airport prices, and you can get a far wider range of products at exactly the right size for the duration of your trip

I can’t pack light if my life depends on it. Even my toiletries bag weighs a ton!

I am tired of people who pack light and then fill up every overhead bin with their stuff. And it's not even near their seats.

I’m kind of with you OP. I take plenty of what I want with outfit options etc.

However, DD16 takes the piss. 2 huge toiletry bags of full sized products plus very large make-up bag. Practically every item of clothing in her wardrobe. I’m talking about 20 tops, 10 skirts, 10 shorts/trousers, 10 pairs of shoes for a week’s holiday!

We come to blows the night before every flight. She then goes to her DB and DF begging them to put some of her stuff in their cases.

So whilst I agree with you, there is a limit!!

I hate paying for luggage,espec when they started charging for a cabin bag. I go away with what I’m wearing and a couple pairs of knickers, spare t shirt, light trousers and socks in my coat pockets. And a comb. I buy toiletries when I get wherever , toothbrush and toothpaste. Wash stuff out at night and hang up ready for next day. I hate waiting at carousels, too.
But my DiL takes loads..a swimsuit for every day, 3 changes of clothes for each day, several pairs of shoes/ sandals etc ..the works. Whatever makes ppl happy. I’m happy travelling with the minimum. Don’t care what anyone else does. We do sometimes come back with luggage, and the last time it was boxes..5000 cigars before Brexit. Then I gave up smoking them, so he’s working through them himself 🤣

I'm more shocked by the number of holidays abroad than the packing to be honest. Packing amount sounds reasonable but are there many people taking 12 to 16 flights a year for leisure?

Not criticising this particular poster. But if this is becoming common, surely it's not sustainable in environmental terms (however light the packing)?

I hate the whole packing light thing as much as I hate the "capsule wardrobe". Of course there may be practical reasons sometimes but generally it's all about getting the cheapest possible flight. And of course it's the fault of airlines for charging for hold baggage, which they never used to do. If you look forward to your holiday then you want to take enough clothes with you to enjoy and not have to worry about washing clothes when you are away or wearing the same thing the whole time.

Just watch these light Packers carry on when they get to their destination airport and find out that their
luggage has been lost, delayed or put on the wrong plane,

Is it? Can you say more about this?

Yes my DD has just gone inter railing for a month with a tiny rucksack and a bumbag. I thought she’d forgotten her luggage. Total respect but I couldn’t do it!

Did those people pay for your holiday? No? Then who cares what they think?

How's that packing light if the fill every overhead? I pack an osprey 40 litre back and have underseat bag. That's not filling every overhead bin.

Many airlines don't let you cart on that much anyway

In my case it's not " getting the cheapest possible flight"

It's that I travel around countries a lot. I do not want to be lugging cases etc on buses, trains songthaews ferries etcvery 5 mins. So I will stick with my 40 litre backpack

I don't think it's a moral issue at all though. I dont give a damn how much luggage others take

This thread is so weird.

When I see people lugging around big suitcases I don't think "what an idiot who cannot to on holiday without her kitchen sink"

I think "oh how nice they must be going on a really long trip, sabbatical, sports holiday, relocating etc etc. They must be so excited"

I totally agree! I take one case per person as I genuinely can't be bothered to stress about packing light! I don't want to decant things, or roll my clothes, or have to do laundry out of necessity whilst away. I like options!
The cost is part of the holiday for me.

a solo traveller, staying in an air BnB for 10 days? - I’m surprised you need a lot tbh. Are you dressing up and going out every evening? @igotitbadforyou

I have sometimes packed light and sometimes not. Never felt a whiff of judgement either way.

And I have never felt a whiff of interest in the extent to which others travel.

And yet it would appear some are surrounded by odd people that actually have strong views on this!

Late responding to that, sorry, but FWIW many of the Long Haul crew (cabin and techical crew) where I worked regularly went HBO even for the longer trips, which could sometimes mean over a week away from home/base, usually operating multiple sectors.

TBF unlike the passengers they did have a slight advantage of firstly not having much choice as to what to wear in "the office" - but what they wore had to clean and tidy, even on day/night 8 or 9, and secondly if they'd been in the job for a while they tended to know what worked as casual wear at the various slip hotels/destinations...

I likely will be, yes! And I like to wear nice clothes during the day. I know that after night 2 or 3 I’ll need new pyjamas - that’s at least 4 pairs. Things like dresses etc I’ll wear once or twice, but then they’ll smell. I’m not going to do washing on holiday, no matter what people say.

Plus toiletries etc!

Your dress smells after 2 wears? Seriously see your GP, that is not normal.
As long as you air your pyjamas what on earth is wrong with wearing them 10 nights, unless you have huge night sweats , it's fine, again see your GP.

Something that touches your armpits smelling after 2 days in a hot climate is totally normal.

I'm with you on the pyjamas aspect though.

It has all come about because of charging extra for the basic thing of having a suitcase in the hold.