How can I be a more organised flyer?

[Redhairandhottubs]

Just got back from 4 nights away. I took a small cabin case and a large bag. Both jammed full and weighed a ton. Really struggled getting on and off the plane, plus juggling passport, phone for boarding pass, etc.

Would be grateful for any tips on how to travel with less stuff and be generally less faffy!

I generally travel hand luggage only and the following work for me as we travel somewhere almost every month. I have standard lists for different types of holiday:

1. Pick a colour palette so everything works together. If going for longer than a week we would typically have access to a washing machine and I take laundry sheets and colour catchers. I plan outfits depending on activities.
2. I use accessories to make outfits more interesting - scarves, belts, jewellery.
3. For winter trips I wear boots and pack trainers; for summer wear trainers and pack sandals and flip flops or birkies
4. I have solid versions of cleanser, shampoo and conditioner and use soap and stick deodorant which frees up my liquid bag to pack rest of my day/night cream, makeup etc. I buy suncream and insect repellent airside if needed and don't bring home.
5. Use compression packing cubes in wheeled cabin bag.
6. Always take a lightweight down jacket as this packs up to almost nothing. If I need a bigger coat I wear it to travel. Merino jumpers that you can layer up if cold.
7. For the airport I use one of the uniqlo cross body bags and this holds passports, small water bottle, credit cards, phone, chewing gum. It pops inside my under seat bag. I use this as a day bag when out and about on holiday and have a small evening bag that packs flat.
8. Underseat bag depends on trip - backpack if we will be doing lots of walking, le pilage if smarter city break, straw basket if beach holiday

A four-day break is a tricky one. Hand luggage only is just about fine for v short breaks or 3 nights and underm

Pack what makes you happy. Check your suitcase in. Forget about it until baggage reclaim at the other end.

For me, life is too short to be washing clothes and pants in a hotel sink on holiday. I will put my wash bag into the suitcase so I'm not faffing about with decanting stuff into travel bottles.

I took this on my last trip. It's not the most attractive but it was really useful. It's big enough for phone and passports. There's also room for cards, tickets etc. It can be worn either cross body or around the neck. You can hide it under your clothes if you think pickpockets could be a problem

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I travel alot and have been pretty crappy with travelling light despite the frequency!
However a few tips, if only going for a few days bring the tiniest containers you can buy to bring any moisturiser etc, free samples are really handy for this. Also I used to travel with a medicine bag with half a pharmacy in it 😂🙈
But I recently purchased this and its great

Travel Pill Organizer Box with Labels - DIY Pill Organizer - Pocket Portable Pill Case - Travel Medication Holder Dispenser for Fish Oil Vitamin Supplement Storage (White)
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A small cross body bag to hold passport/phone etc

Wear heavier shoes on flight to save weight in bag.

I'm currently packing for a 3 week long haul holiday. I am checking in a case of about 22 kg. But I am going through this same process.

re clothes I make sure each item can be worn multiple ways and everything mixes & matches. I usually wear dresses - so I take 4 dresses & 2 cardigans & silk wrap. That is potentially 8-12 outfits.

Agree re packing around activities - we well be doing hiking, swimming, I need clothes for yoga, outdoor activities, dinners out, day wear.

Every hotel shampoo/conditioner/soap I've ever used has been rubbish & very harsh. I always take my own.

It doesn't sound like you actually want tips, just to be told to take extra luggage.

However, I have a bag that is the exact size for my flights (I mostly fly easyJet, so I've got one of these).

Wear your coat and biggest shoes. Stuff underwear and/or T-shirts into any other pair you're taking. As everyone says, choose your clothes for multiple use. If the weather is going to be changeable, take layers rather than extra clothes.

Roll your clothes, they take up considerably less space like that.

Toiletries - travel sizes, or decanted into small pots or bags like these.

A small adapter like this.

Did anyone mention travel cubes already? I got some recently and they are a game changer. One for underwear, one for tops, one for bottoms. Or you could do one for each outfit. For me, it makes it possible to pack 1 week's worth into an under-the-seat backpack. But I've done a lot of travel for work over the years and am OK with a simple look/layering and not a lot of cosmetics etc when travelling.

I travel quite a bit and rarely take anything other than the small free of charge carry on.

I have bags in the exact sizes for Ryanair and EasyJet.

I’ve done 4 nights with just the Ryanair sized one and that’s small!

I don’t wash clothes while I’m away and don’t re-wear tops (take up to two for each day/evening) but would generally only take one or two extra pair of jeans/ trousers as well as what I wear on the plane.

But I am quite happy to take minimal make up, don’t use hair straighteners. I would not feel the need to take an iPad - I just use my smartphone.

I plan exactly what I’m going to wear each day and evening and only take flat sandles as extra footwear.

If you’re staying 2 nights or more, consider getting travel day clothes washed either in hotel laundry or sling in washer if you’re doing apartment/villa type trip.

Another vote for packing cubes as they make clothes take up much less space. For a four day trip consider forgoing the night cream and just use the day cream at night.

if you are doing these trips often look at non liquid alternatives for makeup and toiletries - find bar shampoo and conditioner that works for you, Mitchum solid stick for deodorant etc. Bobbi Brown do a powder foundation thing which I use on cabn bag only trips for example.

Rationalise plugs/adaptors - I have a usb plug that takes 3 usbs and just take the cables I need.

I went to copenhagen in November. I took one small rucksack(the sort a teenager puts books in) plus a cos cross body bag.

Crossbody bag has lip balm, lipstick (these thing NEVER get flagged on the scanner in 20years since the rules changed). Passport. Phone. Sunnies.

Rucksack has clothes and then clear travel makeup bag on the very top easy access. I have a proper durable see through makeup bag rather than a flimsy thing. Small pot of handcream, tube of cc cream, mascara, eyebrow pencil, mini deo, moisturiser/spf all in one.

All other toiletries are from the hotel.

Two pairs shoes, one on, one in bag. One pair of jeans for the weekend. Two tops.

I've hated taking morethan the bare minimum for years. Going out at night isn't the thing it was in my 20s. My husband doesn't give a toss what I wear of if my hair is straightened now I'm mid 40s.

We fly a lot; always hand baggage only. That includes a 10 day trip to the US last October. My tips FWIW:

• Wear your heaviest clothes travelling out; usually that’s your jeans/hoodie/boots/coat or jacket etc.
• Wear a coat/jacket with plenty of accessible pockets for phone/passport etc, so they’re close at hand and not constantly opening up handbag. My favourite is a man’s coat; has deep inside pockets for my phone,
• Small cross body bag for my purse/keys. Can be a 3rd sneaky bag but can be popped inside the main handbag. I can keep this on me for take off etc.
• Packing cubes, and roll your clothes. You can squeeze in so much more.
• If packing shoes, use the toe space for pants or socks. If I’m packing my son’s drinking bottle, that gets filled with pants and socks. Every inch of dead space gets used.
• Capsule wardrobe. I focus on items that worked with other pieces to create multiple items. So a black dress that layered a top over to become a jumper/skirt combo. Everything needed to create 3 separate outfits to make the cut.
• Jewellery carefully chosen to work with the outfits ; just 3 pairs earrings including travelling out.
• Beauty kit: freebie sachets plus decanting. Minimal makeup. I swear by Nuxe l’huile prodigeuse Or … works as face/body highlighter, eye shadow etc. Mini toothpaste samples from dentists. Use hotel shower/shampoos.
• Solid laundry soap; allows me to take less underwear/socks (for longer trips). No way I’m taking 11 pairs of pants on a 10 night trip!

I have a crossbody bag with essentials, then a backpack with extras so I'm hands free which is key. Then I have a suitcase with a handle and wheels that I check in for the rest of my luggage.

💯
Also I pack, then I go through it again to remove what I don't actually need. I find I always take too much stuff that doesn't get worn

I use a Kipling duffle bag - it is aceptable as cabin baggage and it's like a Tardis - I've easily used it for 7 days in the USA.

I also take a foldable backpack from Uniqlo and tend to use that for my toiletries, book, purse, mobile and a little clear bag on inflight essentials - earplugs, tablets, headphones, chewing gum. I also have a clear wallet in there for my passport and all tickets.

I'm a good packer and even have room for stuff to take back. Minimise shoes, no hair things like straighteners. TBF I don't need them but I read somewhere that running a tumble dryer sheet along dry hair helps frizz so for those who might want to leave their straighteners at home it's worth a try I suppose! Little pots with toothpaste, moisturiser. I use powder foundation and powder blush that's all I need and a coloured lip balm. I buy anything else I need in the local shop or pharmacy. A similar colour palette works great. So navy and white, khaki and cream, that kind of thing works. Plain tops jazzed up with statement jewellery and sparkly bright silky scarves.

I only bring my phone now, and watch Netflix etc. and read the Kindle from that - amongst other things. A phone is just a mini Ipad anyway IMV!
I have a small soft leather cross body passport holder. It stays on me throughout the journey. Easy to access passport, and phone. The underseat bag just has a cardigan or lightweight puffer jacket that can be sqeezed into a ziplock bag (depends on the time of year travelling). Some snacks, medication and other essentials. I use a soft cross body bag (big) for underseat and I found that putting smaller zipped bags inside it for various things really helps the rummaging around! Different colours for different things.
If going for more than 3-4 days I ALWAYS check a bag in. Not worth the hassle of trying to minimise everything for a week or 2 stay. I do put a spare pair of knickers and a t shirt in the underseat bag to get me though if my case is delayed or lost.

Shoes are the big space user and can be reduced a lot. For summer holidays I just wear a pair of birkenstocks - that is it

I have just come back from four days in Germany - 2 days for work and 2 for leisure, I wore trainers out and packed a pair of smart flats for the work days.

All those clothes for four days?

I wear a small cross the body bag and put my passport, mini bottle of water, phone and glasses in it. I then carry a shoulder bag with more water, a small hairbrush, deodorant and lip salve, a magazine, phone charger.
I check in a suitcase and have a nice light and airy airport experience.

Too right!
I'm going away for a nice holiday.
I need clothing options. And I refuse to faff about washing clothes in a sink.

This. I have a different outfit during the day to the evenings, I swap clothes and wear things several times but I go on holiday to feel good, go to nice restaurants and outings, want to look good also, wear my best things on holiday. I take plenty of shoes, you shouldnt wear the same shoes day in day out in any case and on holiday of course you're on your feet all day walking around so need to be comfortable.

We go away for a long time and take a large duffle in the hold. Two trolley cabin cases and an under the seat bag each.

We have decided for next long trip it's easier not to be faffing with 2 small trolley cases and are taking another duffle in the hold instead ... particularly hate carrying a 10kg case up and down steps, nightmare.

I think there is an idea that "seasoned traveller" means you pack really light and never check a bag.

I am the opposite, when I first started travelling I had one carryon backpack for 6 months backpacking - now I check a bag even for long weekend trips, even if it's small enough to fit in the cabin! The only time I don't check a bag is if I'm travelling for work with other people. Life's too short to lug suitcases around airports ;)

My tip is to focus your "pack light" efforts on the airport journey. Organise your handbag very well for each part. Don't pack a million magazines for the plane if you're just going to listen to music. Have liquids etc ready to go. Don't wear boots/bulky coats as you'll feel flustered at security when you take them off. Since it's so small, I often bring my handbag down under my feet just before landing so I can just walk off. I don't mind waiting for luggage in a big wide luggage hall but hate jostling in the narrow plane walkway!

Well, a "seasoned traveller" is one who doesn't want to spend and extra half hour/hour waiting around at the luggage reclaim, hoping that their bag hasn't gone missing...

I got home from a trip a couple of hours ago.

My checked 10 kg small bag, that cost less than it would have to take in the cabin, was on the belt when I exited passport control.

Well worth the 5 mins it took to drop it off to not have to carry up and down steps and round the airport. And YY to a well organised cabin bag where you only have essentials for the flight and know where it all is.

I think once in hundreds of flights a bag has been delayed and never had to wait more than a few minutes.

Thats not what a seasoned traveller is, someone who is experienced at travel just knows and is au fait with the routine and requirements of airports and carriers, is prepared at various transport routes, transfers, etc etc, someone who has travelled a lot and regularly. Its not some morally superior position.

and its not predicated on whether you check in a bag or not!! How ridiculous

In any case factually speaking since Brexit, passport control is often the longest part now and by the time you've got through that and had a loo stop, the bags are there