Pack MORE In Smaller Bags Tips for Flying Carry-On Only ️

I bring along worn-out undies that I will toss out as I travel. I also divide my clothing by 1/2 of the number of days that I will be there. I wash clothing along the way.

Soo true I never crowd the gate becuz my seat is assigned

I have worked in Aviation for #47 years and I have to tell you,
Your advice and suggestions are right on point,
Please keep your videos coming,
Thank You 🙏

Whether we are traveling by air/train/cruise, or going camping in our Roadtrek, we use packing cubes. Socks and underwear in one, short sleeve tops in another, shorts, leggings in another. Shower items in another. Keeps us organized and we know exactly where everything is! And even easier, different colour cubes to identify even quicker!

As a family of 4, we took a road trip through Croatia this summer with carryon luggage. We flew on 2 different budget airlines and hired a VW T-cross. We stayed in 7 different places and got packing the boot down to an art. As well as our 4 carryon cases, hubby carried an insulated cool backpack for his personal item, I carried two totes inside each other as mine and a foldable grocery bag (as our daughter has allergies and we bought and carried a lot of food round with us for the 2 weeks). Having those 2 extra bags worked out brilliantly and none of our friends can believe we did it! Final tip was we bought things like sun screen at the airport AFTER security. We headed out to a remote island the day we arrived and all the shops were shut so we needed to take those things with us and couldn't rely on buying on arrival. Don't know if we'll go back to checking a bag again. The game changer for us has been thay youngest is now big enough to just use an inflatable booster carseat that rolls up and she carries herself (a Bubblebum), so we are no longer having to hoik to 2 size carseats with us on our travels anymore!

RE: you "have" to check your bag because it is slightly overweight... Just wear a bunch of your clothes so it weighs less. Like you said, unless they start weighing passengers lol

I travel with a lot of camera gear--2 bodies, multiple lenses and accessories. When I can, I take a carryon size camera backpack and a small duffle. When I have bush flights, with smaller carryon allotments, I have a messenger camera bag and the duffle that I sometimes have check on a bush plane. On a regular airplane, I don't care if I have to check my dirty laundry on a return flight, I have a packable daypack I can use as a carryon with my camera bag as the personal item. Except for when I got married in my hometown and had my dress as my carryon, I haven't checked a bag outbound for 30 years. My tip, depending on where you are traveling is to ship stuff home. Sometimes I ship purchases (didgeridoo, sheepskin rug, Alaska birch sauces in 10 oz bottles), sometimes the day before my return flight, I ship my dirty laundry and use my carryon for my purchases.

Wheeled bags are great, but they add weight when when your connecting flight has a 12 kg limit for carryon, you need to cut somewhere.

Hi Nora, what are your thoughts on the Osprey Ozone 2-Wheel Carry-On 40L/21.5" vs the daylite bag?

Pay extra for first class and TSA FAST TRACK

NO WAITING

I mail my souvenirs back home before I leave and they are at home when we arrive home

You didn’t roll your clothes

Been living out of a GoRuck GR2 for six months now.

I’m with you always keep a stow away backpack Justin case. I keep one even in my backpack. 😂 As always great info. I do believe they need to weigh the person, too. I agree with charging the individual for 2 seats. Not trying to be discriminatory….just for safety. Safe travels!💥🛬😎

If you're plus sized, you can't always find what you need at your destination, for example, undies and clothes, in many parts of Asia. Also, if you need hypoallergenic products

I hate the idea of Americans just leaving their trash along the way as they travel. It can't be good for the host countries in bulk long term. I hope that travel "packing" strategy doesn't gain momentum.

Hi Nora!
I actually had not seen this video until now when I saw it referenced in the Short that you released today. (11-10-23) 😊(so embarrassed...)
I am pleased to see that you mentioned many of the things that I had added in the comments to your more recent video:
"Experienced Travelers' No Pack List" concerning my tendency to travel carry-on only when possible.

The first time I traveled carry-on only overseas was in 1995 when I traveled as part of a charitable organization to Bosnia during the last year of the Serbian Bosnian War.

At that time you could check up to two bags (or parcels) per passenger, weighing up to 70 lbs. each, on international flights.

We each checked two large parcels of relief provisions (about a dozen of us) and brought all of our personal items carry-on.

This means that we were able to take more than 1,500 lbs. of provisions directly into Central Bosnia and supervise their distribution without added cargo costs.

On a mission whose primary focus was to make sure that funds got distributed effectively, and those who needed them taken care of, it provided a nice extra layer of assistance where needed. It was an easy sacrifice to make.

That trip taught me that traveling without checked baggage is possible.

To alleviate any concerns, let me make it clear that each and every one of us paid their own way on that diplomatic Mission of Mercy, so that all money donated (including our own) could go where needed.

No, I am not a rich man, but we do what we can.

Happy Travels! ☺🛫

Sooo... you don't use packing cubes as they weigh too much, but then you have a wheeled carry-on? I bet your wheels/handle weigh more than my plastic cubes, and take up more physical space! My backpack carry-on is 2lbs, while yours is 5lbs. (I was curious so I looked at the link!) And my personal bag is a very small day bag. Your personal bag looks like my carry-on! I've always been well below weight limits (13 lbs. for 5 weeks in Europe last summer), and never a problem stuffing my carry-on in small overheads of European short-travel planes.
I love how you say to stay organized! That's one reason I like the packing cubes. 😀

Nora, I just discovered you and have watched quite a few of your videos already. All have been very insightful and helpful. Glad I found you!! Thanks a lot for all your information and suggestions. Art

Thank you times 10 Nora. I feel so much better about my trip, because I haven’t flown in about 10 years with all the changes. I think I will be ok from now on.

When going to 3rd world countries I often pack oldish tee shirts etc and leave them with the hotel cleaners, who can wash and keep them. Charity shops often have cheap goretex type jackets that pack down to a small size. Really appreciated in countries like Nepal.

Love your videos, especially since I believe you are Canadian, and love supporting Canadian.
The one small challenge to carry on, and I do try to do it whenever possible, is if u r plus size, then it can be challenging to find things at your destination. Asia is a bust (no pun intended) and even Europe can be challenging. It is not the end of the world, but better to not count on it.
I still do my best, and fortunately I am a warm person so can get by without too many layers.
Keep the videos coming, and ask Unbound Merino to expand their size range😂😂😂

Does anyone advocate for have checking your hardsided spinner 🧳and carrying on your 40L backpack 🎒

When I travel long haul I usually pack stuff that I will leave behind eventually like white T. shirts that I've had for a while I never pack clothes that can be ruined in the wash each journey you take you gain experience

On our last flight, I noticed that Delta airlines made almost everyone check their carryons. It was a maneuever to get everyone boarded quickly. I saw tons of overhead bin space as I boarded. I get that the crew wants to leave on time but dont lie and say there's no overhead bin space.

as an older person I'm looking at having a carryon that weighs no more than 15 lbs-- otherwise I'll never be able to get it in the overhead bin, let alone do I want to schlep it all over creation. Fortunately, over the years i've become comfortable with wearing wrinkled, handwashed clothes, so my carryon will only contain a pair of leggings, 4 tee shirts, a sweatshirt and a spare pair of shoes.

I can pre-load my personal item (20 liter packable knapsack) with the cabin essentials, then slip it into the front pocket of my main carry-on (E-Bag Mother Lode). At the gate or on the plane, presto! I'm ready to divide and conquer.

In my 20’s I bought a beautiful leather backpack, imagining all the amazing places it would go. Small, always carry on. Now in late 60’s and a bit 😉 overweight, am choosing a small (15”) soft, 2 wheely bag after lugging my backpack and watching people not carrying but rolling along with their bags. Haven’t flown since 2016, so am thoroughly enjoying your videos!👍👍

Amen! Thank you!

Thank you very much for all your videos. ❤ 🫶 Always helpful for me - even for being an experienced solo traveller.
I use Tetris system for packing - yes, I know Tetris, even the original on that small game device 😂 - I still love it to play, but now via smartphone.😂
Back to topic, I don't have checked luggage at all, if I can avoid it. My capsule wardrobe is perfectly organized with Tetris 😂. 🧳💼 Have a great day.

Flying tips: 1. Having some bulky stuff in wintertime, for example my beloved woolen cardigan (hand-knitted by my granny), I put it into an empty zip pillow cover. So I have an additional pillow on long flights and it doesn't count as personal item and fits easily between handles of my carry-on suitcase.
2. Checking on international flights weight and size restrictions with all airlines, I fly with. Bc if it's a codeshare flight, weight and size restrictions can be different with operating airline than with booked airline. Once I was at gate at SFO for international flight to Europe, I had to check in my carry-on suitcase due to other weight restrictions on operating airline, although it was okay with booked airline the flight before (same ticket, no separated tickets).

I've kind of gone on a different direction with my travel. I used to always bring a carry-on roller suitcase and an over the shoulder bag as a personal item, and a checked bag for longer trips. What I've found is that I hate having to lug around a bag in airports. I really hate competing for overhead bin space. Now, I always check a bag and that way I don't have to sweat what I'm bringing with me, and I carry a small backpack as a personal item with (rarely) valuables, an iPad, headphones, a pen, medications, power bank, charging adaptor for the country I'm going to, car mount for my phone in case the rental doesn't have Android Auto or navigation, one change of clothes, and a few basic toiletries. I just accept the risk around the checked bag, since basic survival is handled and I can change my clothes once.

Good video. The airlines dirty secrets ( always travel carry on) . I worked for a major airline for 10 years, and never checked a single bag. Not worth the risk and the inconvenience

Iceland for 7 days. Carry on

Spain for 5 days. Carry on

Greece for 9 days...Carry on!

I'm not getting my bag stolen, lost or having to wait in line for my gear. Good size personal bag and garment duffle bag.

underwear/socks 1 pair per two days
undershirts can double as regular shirts

2 pairs of jeans, max, regardless of days traveling

Sweats and shorts bc they pack easy and dry fast

I NEED your necklace! Where did you get it? Love your content. You’ve helped me so much

For international travel

1. Do all airlines allow a personal handbag/backpack and a carry-on bag?
2. Do all airlines do not weigh the handbag/backpack and only weigh the carry-on bag in the 7kg carry on weight limit?
3. Do all airlines not weigh whatever we are wearing like coat/sweater, phone, headphones, watch, etc.?

Any recommendations for traveling to get a Guide Dog and flying then return with dog

There is another type of carry-on luggage (besides a pet carrier or backpack): a regular shoulder strap bag. Easy to fit in the overhead etc. I use to do that but now I only the absolute essential. I believe checking your laptop is permitted. Air Canada allow "up to 20 devices"... I think one is okay. I can't lug around a laptop and a huge cat. I check one big suitcase and carry-on my cat + his stuff in his backpack pockets (wipes, paper towels), plastic bags, spare thin blanket - YES we've had a No,2 incident... and he's a long-haired cat LOL - and then a tiny bag with just a book, snacks, water, essentials, headphones, everything else in pockets. I use FeliWay but it needs to be checked once at the airport because it is aerosol. Why don't they make a spray only version for longer flights?

While this is a great video, the majority of it doesn’t apply anymore. It is now September 2024. Airlines have really gotten strict about luggage size. I’ve traveled domestically and internationally and never had a carry-on weighed…. Maybe it’s luck of the draw. What you’ll see now is people having their luggage checked with the fee for having to check it at the gate and the check luggage fee because their carry-on is oversized and I’m talking about even just an inch. I’ve looked online for a new carry-on because mine is, almost 2 inches over now 22 inch high standard. Companies are saying that their luggage is carry-on size and when people get it they find it’s not so read the reviews. Now I am in the process of finding new luggage and I carry a tape measure. is there are fewer brick and mortar stores to visit. if you order online do it with plenty of time to return it if necessary.
Again, Airlines have buckle down on the size of carry-ons .

Now, as a senior, it is no longer comfortable to hoist that luggage up into the bin so I like to check my luggage at the gate majority of times they always ask people to do that anyway.. You cannot count on someone helping you hoist that baggage up, and these stewards or stewardesses are not allowed to help you though I have seen some do it. Don’t count on it. Pay attention to the dimensions of your bag because you never know if they’re going to be super picky and you’re going to be the one picked on.

Actually, I’m ahead of you on leaving stuff behind. I go to the thrift store and get stuff and after wearing I leave it neatly folded behind for the cleaning staff to either think it’s a gift to them or they can toss it!

When I camp I always have a DEsignated Gear Rock and everything goes on top of it and nowhere else. This prevents me from forgetting things, losing things in the grass, and stepping on my glasses or other stuff. Keep it all together and put it back in your pack before dark because little bandits love to carry your stuff away while you sleep.

The hotel staff in Oslo hit the jackpot after I was leaving at the end of a 12 day Baltic cruise. I bought wool sweaters, wool jackets, wool hats through 9 countries, and had extra clothes purchased since SAS lost my bag for 3 days prior to departing on the cruise in Copenhagen. As a result, my large checked bag was significantly over the 75 pound limit on SAS/United. Seat cushion, power bank, neck pillow...I left about 10 items behind and was still 78 pounds at check-in. The agent graciously overlooked it. Now I always bring my most worn-out undies, PJs, and the like if I need to dispose of weight, though I travel much lighter now (and with merino wool) after dragging 28" suitcase, carryon, and personal item a mile along cobblestones from metro stations to the hotel.

Your videos are so helpful!

3:weeks in portugal I just used a super cheap 55*40*20cm duffel bag and a small daypack. 8kg combined carryon+personalitem limit. I used the shoulder strap to wrap and compress it when others were handling it - to protect the zipper. I'll add loops for next trip so the shoulder strap can become backpack straps.

When boarding i put all my heavy stuff in my raincoat pockets. Toiletries, battery pack, charger,phone, wallet,mini guidebook, mini umbrella.

Mesh bags and plastic bags instead of packing cubes. Weight limit was more restrictive than volume limit, so compression was not needed.