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Original poster

EasyJet cabin bag for 5 day trip - possible?

127 replies

HereWeGoAgainPart2 · 26/05/2021 20:56

I’m going on a short break with my boyfriend in a couple of weeks to Portugal, arriving middayish on Friday, leaving midday Tuesday. As we don’t have much time as it is he’s suggested we just take a carry on bag (46x36x20cm average backpack size) each.

I’ve been with him for less than a year and due to lockdown it will be the first time I’ve spent more than a couple of days with him. He seems to think I’m pretty low maintenance and I haven’t done anything to suggest otherwise. But having looked at a bag that size it will hardly fit my makeup and straighteners, let alone any clothes Sad.

Could you do it? I think if I wear leggings, trainers, jumper, jacket on the plane then in my bag I’ll just need underwear, sandals, bikini, couple of dresses, shorts and a couple of tops. It would involve very little makeup though. Straighteners are non-negotiable as I have a fringe which is determined to stick straight up.

Any tips?

OP posts:
Mumdiva99 · 27/05/2021 06:20

Pay the money. This is supposed to be a fun trip not a stressful endurance test. All the worry from now till then about what you can/can't fit in. By the time you walk through to the baggage hall (which you normally walk through to leave anyway) your bags will almost be there anyway.

There is nothing fun about having to wear damp knickers because they didn't dry properly overnight.

JudgeRindersMinder · 27/05/2021 06:20

I’ve taken a cabin bag for 3 weeks in Portugal! However there’s a washing machine in the villa we go to.
Forget toiletries =they sell them in Portugal!
Straighteners-buy a teeny travel set
Make up-dual purpose products

Have a fabulous time-Portugal is my happy place

denverRegina · 27/05/2021 06:25

"I’ve taken a cabin bag for 3 weeks in Portugal!"

The OP is talking about a handbag sized bag, not a cabin bag.

purplesequins · 27/05/2021 06:27

easy if you don't pack a full new outfit for each day.
think capsules: 2 trousers/skirts in plain(ish) colours. one top for each day plus a couple fir occassions. underwear.

shampoo and other toiletries, possibly towels, flip flops I would buy at the destination and leave them there.

a lot of make up is classed as liquid and you can only take a very limited amount.

ginislife · 27/05/2021 06:29

Unless things have now changed all the shops in the airport were closed - this was a couple of weeks ago now though. I'd either check or not rely on Boots being open

camelfinger · 27/05/2021 06:31

I’ve rarely taken a checked-in bag on EasyJet but a PP has suggested that EasyJet aren’t as generous now so definitely check the dimensions.

If it’s time rather than cost you’re concerned about then it’s probably worth getting a bag between you. Sometimes the flight was so full that EasyJet would force you to put your bag in the hold anyway free of charge. And it would take ages to disembark as everyone’s cabin bags were randomly shoved in lockers away from where they were sitting.
Anyway my top tip is to have a carrier bag or something like that ready to decant things into once you’ve boarded in case you’re forced to check in the bag or if it’s stored away from where you’re sitting.

torquewench · 27/05/2021 06:32

@HereWeGoAgainPart2

It’s more the time of waiting to pick up a bag that we’re worried about, cost isn’t really an issue. I’ve done plenty of breaks with just cabin bags before but other flights I’ve been on it’s been a ‘normal’ sized carry on rather than the EasyJet allowance which is just a small rucksack size and anything bought in the airport needs to be squeezed in there too.
But because so many people only take cabin bags only now, the wait for bags is minimal. Even less time if the flight isnt full. Also, youre on holiday, where do you need to go in such a hurry anyway? 😉
Oblomov21 · 27/05/2021 06:36

I too can't wait to have this problem again. Post covid. Angry

We go got lots of European city long weekends and I am getting better and better at packing.
We are booked to go to Lisbon in October.

I totally disagree with all posters saying book a cabin bag, it's so not needed.
I wouldn't wear sandals on the plane either, I'd wear trainers, or the shoes you plan to walk around in, and put the lighter sandals in my bag.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 27/05/2021 06:37

Clothes wise I'd be fine with a cabin bag but I wouldn't want to waste time shopping for toilettries that suit my sensitive skin on holiday. Also underwear takes up a lot of room, two bras and the bag is almost full!

Hazelnutlatteplease · 27/05/2021 06:39

Yy to some of the early packing suggestions referring to the old baggage size.

I can just about fit the clothes I need for a 5 day 4 night winter trip into a new sized bag, (I actually tried it) but my wash kit struggled to fit, I only use soap and water and wouldn't have been able to fit hair straighteners. I also use packing cubes and roll my clothes very small. So I dont think summer 5 nights would be impossible. Just very very hard

But

I had spent many hours finding the maximum capacity bag that fit their new limits (it's a large kankan or Kipling backpack at 31l). Your average backpack/bag seems not not be quite the right dimensions. In most cases the average bag you have lying around the house that fits the new dimensions is usually smaller in one direction and therefore closer to 21l. I definitely couldn't do it in a 21l bag.

Yy to paying to upgrade the seat for the old size bag then it's easy. Or booking a hold suitcase.

But actually it may work out cheaper/easier to book their "hands free". You drop their old size cabin luggage (35-40l)into the hold and just take a small (new size cabin) bag through the airport. We found this was easier through the airport and you dont need to worry about your liquids.

So...

If this was something I was only doing once one way or another I'd pay for a larger bag. If the convenience of hand luggage only was the main thing, I have packing cubes and this is something I might end up doing 2 or three times, I'd buy a large size kanken for £16. If this was something I was doing very regularly and I have packing cubes, I'd be getting an expensive kipling go Seoul large backpack.

ChipsAreLife · 27/05/2021 06:45

Every flight I went on in 2019, They were making half the flight put their hand luggage in the hold. That was easyJet and BA. Was bloody annoying when you'd packed so carefully to fit it in! Probably waited five minutes for them to come out.

I get you'll save time but then do you lose that time going to buy toiletries, suncream etc? Honestly just tell your BF it's much easier with all the restrictions on size, liquids to put it in the hold. Enjoy!

KillingMeDeftly · 27/05/2021 06:46

If you're flying to a small regional airport in Portugal then the waiting time for hold baggage will be minimal - probably about 10 mins max.

hanketypankety · 27/05/2021 06:53

@Coffeepot72

..... or just pay for hold luggage?
This. I just cough up the extra £50 to take an actual suitcase on holiday Hmm
Roselilly36 · 27/05/2021 06:57

Easy, enough I would say for a short trip. We always do this. I can’t stand waiting by the reclaim carousel.

KillingMeDeftly · 27/05/2021 07:03

I once managed a 2 week holiday with just a cabin bag as back then there were no weight limits but I heard Easyjet is not as generous these days. Seriously, just pay for the hold bag. You won't be waiting hours to collect it.

CupoTeap · 27/05/2021 07:13

I feel for you op, you don't want to appear as a princess but still want to look and feel good. Loads of great ideas here just remember it's meant to be fun.

extravirginoliveoil · 27/05/2021 07:15

All this buy airside, buy in Portugal, slim down this, wash that etc gives me anxiety! Check in a case and be happy with what you are taking on holiday. Enjoy and have a great time. Your BF can wait the half hour or so for the case to come into arrivals.

Original poster
HereWeGoAgainPart2 · 27/05/2021 07:23

iploughthefieldsandscatter yes, it’s a small backpack that I’m trying to fit stuff in. If it was a ‘normal’ carry on sized bag it wouldn’t be an issue at all.

There is a little shop check in side but it’s only got a couple of stands of make up, I can’t remember which brand they are and as I have the skin tone of chalk it’s unlikely they’ll have the shade I need.

I gave it a try last night - I can just about get everything in there if I wear an awful lot of clothes 😂. I’ll be sweating like a pig.

OP posts:
daisypond · 27/05/2021 07:23

That bag size is fine for just five days. Wear your heaviest or bulkiest stuff. Everything has to fit in the bag - no extra handbags or carrier bags. Biggest issue is to think about your liquids.

ImInStealthMode · 27/05/2021 07:28

A lot of posters here saying they 'used to' and possibly not realising that Easyjet have shrunk their cabin baggage allowance by half during the pandemic.

OP can you book upfront seats and pay the supplement so you can at least take a proper cabin sized case?

Hazelnutlatteplease · 27/05/2021 07:28

Easy, enough I would say for a short trip. We always do this.

Unless you you've been travelling regularly since Februaryish when the new luggage limits came in you havent done this regularly....

The old limits were 56 x 45 x 25 cm, a 35-40l bag. The new limit is 45 x 36 x 20 cm. Most bags listed on Amazon as new easyjet sized are actually much smaller at 21l. It is a very significant change.

Although it's worth noticing that if like my kids you used an old sized cabin bag not chosen for size for example the American Tourister Disney hard sided 4 wheel suitcase at about 35l; you wouldn't find it too hard dropping to a 31l kanken backpack.

If like me you had a 40l backpack chosen for maximizing voluntary like a cabin Max or osprey transporter, you're going to notice the difference far more.

Original poster
HereWeGoAgainPart2 · 27/05/2021 07:33

Upfront seats are all already booked unfortunately

OP posts:
Hazelnutlatteplease · 27/05/2021 07:36

Look at their hands free. So much easier if you need to carry significant liquids and usually cheaper than hold luggage.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 27/05/2021 07:36

The last few times I flew the cases were ready by the time we got through passport control. The one exception being ski season, when you had a lot more people awaiting their outsize bags...

ImInStealthMode · 27/05/2021 07:40

@HereWeGoAgainPart2

Upfront seats are all already booked unfortunately
In that case book a checked in bag. I've managed with hand luggage only on a few trips when the reason has been a tight connection between flights to make, but if you're just going from A to B then another 20 minutes to pick up your bag is worth it for avoiding the stress of packing & potentially leaving things out.