EasyJet cabin bag for 5 day trip - possible?

[HereWeGoAgainPart2]

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 .

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?

Also dont forget we are going to be longer going through passport control generally now we are outside the EU.

Ah get the hold luggage! He can travel light as he likes, but that doesn't mean you have to. If you wear makeup even when in the sea, he's a but silly thinking you're a low maintenance, pair of knickers and a toothbrush kind of gal! People who are v low maintenance never get it (DH). You have to make it clear you don't travel that light. It's not going to ruin a 5 day trip having to wait for luggage.

Bit silly*

No, no and thrice no.
A backpack is for carrying your book, table, phone, meal deal from the airport WHSmith etc.😂
I wouldn't be able to fit my knickers and flip-flops in a backpack 🙄
Suggest you pay for one suitcase and put both of your stuff in it.
It's OK people saying buy sun cream etc from the airport but it's expensive and lacks choice.
I need my preferred shampoo, hair care products etc.
I tried a carry on once and it was totally stressful, arrived at the destination and trying to find somewhere to buy what I needed, I ended up looking a frizzy mess and it ruined my trip, never again!
Be honest and tell him you wouldn't be able to fit what you need in a backpack.
It's OK for fellas, they don't need half the stuff we need

If it is your first trip away with your boyfriend you may want to look and feel your best and i worry for you that cramming fives days worth of stuff into a backpack will leave
You stressed and with too many compromises.

Im not an everything but the kitchen sink girl but am not a minimalist person at all.

Also by the time you replaced all toiletries and make up you would have spent your half of a check in bag so i would bite the bullet.

I've done carry on for weekends and it is such a PITA going through security and fishing out all your liquids, especially when your backpack is packed full. Ditto finding anything on the plane, like your book, phone, lip balm etc, while pulling out a flip flop and your pants at the same time.

I'm totally ranting here. I feel very strongly on this point! Hold luggage forevaaaaaah !!!

Also, yes, it is really exciting seeing holiday luggage packing threads again!

@MaryTheMiddle

Also, yes, it is really exciting seeing holiday luggage packing threads again!

Yes, and wedding threads, especially wedding abroad threads

Swimwear can double up as underwear during the day and easy to rinse out and dries overnight,

Just book a hold bag. Much more relaxing to just have what you need for the flight with you.

Does anyone know if you're allowed a duty free bag in addition to the backpack ?

According to Telegraph you are allowed to bring one duty free bag too. But bear in mind it all has to fit under the seat in front - I don't think you're allowed to use the overhead lockers? Am I reading that right? easyJet aren't known for their spacious seating, so it will all be under your feet if you have to have it under the seat.

www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/advice/easyjet-hand-luggage-restrictions-rules/

Article is here.

I went to Portugal last weekend and we shared a small extra cabin case £20 each way and took a back pack each, couldn't have managed without it, especially as I bought a beautiful kingsize cotton bedspread out there for only 35 euro! You can buy suncream everywhere out there.

I could in the summer I definitely couldn't in the winter.
I've never flown EJ, do they allow a handbag the same as RA does?
I have to admit I do love having no luggage to mess around with on the luggage claim.

I’d pay the extra and take a suitcase. I find now a days cases come off really quickly and doesn’t take hardly any extra time

Bags with EJ are pretty expensive. I'd buy a bottle of Factor 50 in the departure lounge but decant everything else into tiny bottles. You can now get shampoo and conditioner bars - Boots and Holland and Barrett do travel sized ones.

Am I reading this right - EasyJet now charge you to use the overhead locker??? I've been dreaming of travel for over a year now, but stuff like this just fucks me right off. Way to show you hate your customers.

@HoldontoOneMoreDay no they have reduced the size of the free carry on bag to handbag/small rucksack proportions rather than the huge wheely cases people took on.

IMHO it's fair enough, if you want significant luggage then pay for it, airlines have lost a fortune over the past year.

Is it really so hard to spend 15 mins when you land, waiting for your case to arrive? It would save you all this stress about packing?

If your straighteners are just for your fringe, you could buy a mini pair. I got Babyliss minis for less than £20 and they’re great for travelling.

Ok so.

Buy toiletries in Portugal. Or use the hotel ones.

Look at make up palettes. I bought a Charlotte tilbury one for the last hand luggage trip and it was amazing.

Download books on your phone. Get your partner to bring some stuff for you.

Easyjet relies of quick turnarounds and there are safety issues with large cabin bags.

Historically fast turn around meant empty holds. But baggage handling is getting better and more efficient. Your chance of a bag being lost is much less than it used to be for example.

Conversely the number and size of bags in the cabin is getting ridiculous. Its slowing down the load and unload time. But more importantly as the videos from a recent air evacuation showed, large numbers of big cabin bags are a safety hazard. Thankfully everyone got out ok and but it hadnt involved any big disaster like fire. However I think it came out that people collecting overhead baggage could make the difference between life and death if you were more than 3 rows from a emergency exit. Of course if people could be trusted to not collect their belongings 🙄🙄🙄 it would be a different matter....

I'm far happier paying a little more and flying in an emptier cabin.

Do people really buy toiletries and flip flops while away, use for just one week and then chuck?

Surely it's better plastic use to buy the mini empty bottles and decant a bit?

Regardless of the consumption issue, I'd rather wait 10 mins for my bag than spend time trying to find somewhere that sold a brand of shampoo and suncream I liked.

When I flew last summer, my hold bag beat me to the carousel and an airport guy had it standing by waiting for me as I came through passport!