Fly Light with Carry On Baggage

Fly light with carry on baggage and save yourself a lot of time and perhaps frustration …

Sitting and watching people at airports is a great pastime and I am constantly amazed at the large number and size of bags some people take along for a holiday. The travelers often look subdued, but more often frazzled, unhappy, and definitely frustrated and sweating – oftentimes seen in the last minutes scrambling to repack and check in (and pay for) excess luggage before boarding their flight! Carry on Luggage, when possible, is a super way to ensure your baggage arrives with you at your destination.

Fly Light

Back to our simpler lifestyle – in the last few years we have travelled overseas spending months away at a time, on several occasions with only 11 to 14 articles of clothing and have not felt deprived, under-dressed or any other negative emotion ! Mind you, I was not invited to meet royalty so didn’t have to pack a ball gown and the crown jewels. I highly recommend easing your air travel burden by :

1.Taking as little as possible with you – take just what you need

2.Pack what you love and is comfortable and wear it – often

Here’s a few suggestions to lighten your load

For the Female Traveler 

Wear : (Comfortable for a long flight)

• Slacks (easier to sleep in)
• Short sleeve blouse
• Light weight jacket, sweater or top
• Coat
• Shoes (to wear with slacks or skirt)

(This outfit – all matching – should be able to be worn at a dinner out or matched with a skirt on a semi formal occasion)

Pack :

• Skirt (knee-length or longer)
• Top – ¾ length sleeve – dark colour – to match skirt
• Pashmina (black with bling works great) to wear as a scarf or head cover

Also take :

• One pair Slacks (or lightweight jeans)
• Sweater (also lightweight)
• Spare short sleeve top
• One extra pair of comfortable shoes / sandals

For the Male Traveller

Wear :

• Slacks (dressy casual)
• Short sleeve shirt
• Jacket or sweater
• Coat
• Comfortable shoes

Pack :

• One pair Slacks (or lightweight jeans)
• Short sleeve shirt
• Tie
• Sandals or flip-flops

Both : His and Hers

• 4 pair underwear
• Two bras (or 3 singlets as the case may be!)
• Bathers = swim suits (ladies add a wrap for walking through the hotel lobby). Gents can always wear a short sleeve shirt
• 2 – 3 pair socks (or knee highs for the ladies)
• Nightie or cotton PJ’s (wash and quick dry)
• Umbrella (small fold up)
• Watch
• Prescription medications, vitamins
• Toiletries (liquids all under 100 ml)
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Camera
• “Notebook” the computer kind – a luxury but we don’t leave home without ours !

Helpful Hints

Depending on country of destination, availability of shopping, etc. it can be advisable to buy required articles on arrival – for example the weather turned very cold on one trip and I daily wore a second-hand thermal (fleecy) sweater and substantial shoes I bought, and donated before departure, to an “opportunity” shop.

Another idea would be to buy clothing articles similar to those worn by locals (i.e. in South America, Asia, Hawaii, etc.) which also assists in your not standing out so much as a tourist.

Be honest – have you returned from a trip and there were clothing items you did not wear?  Remember carry on luggage may just save on lost baggage, lighten your mood and brighten your trip!

It’s your choice but remember “light” is an easy way to go – happy travelling !

Extra Notes

• The key to travelling light and easy is layering clothes – and you can always buy a shirt, etc en route
• Travel colours of choice are black or navy slacks or skirts (for both) and lighten up with contrasting  colour co-ordinates
• Obviously, clothes choice also depends on climate (summer or winter = light or heavy = more or less) and type of travel (a cruise?)
• All the clothes should mix and match for both Him and Her
• A “hooded” jacket helps if caught in a sudden rainfall
• Cotton, wool and other natural fibres are great but for travelling, in flight, etc. synthetic blends are easier to care for and to arrive at your destination after a long flight looking like you haven’t really slept in your clothes
• Easy care and wash and wear are of major importance as sometimes daily “washing” of clothes is a must !
• Keep prescriptions (with your name) and vitamins in original packaging for Customs and a letter from your doctor depending on where you are travelling
• Prescription medications should be kept with you at all times i.e. Twinjet / Epipen, puffers and your passport and credit cards if you are forced to check in all luggage at the last-minute.
• Travelling with jewellery is not recommended – real or otherwise as it always seems to set off security alarms. Ditto with some shoes – although we are told repeatedly neither is supposed to
• Lost or stolen personal jewellery is irreplaceable
• Remember to check carry on weight limitations and size of luggage – some airline carriers / countries it is 7 Kg or 10 Kg and dimensions of baggage differs and number of bags included in carry on, etc.
• While away – post back gifts, etc.
• If you plan on a lot of road travel and there is a GPS program available (i.e. Australia) they are great for getting around
• This information is very general and minimalist but it is manageable
• We have to plant a lot of trees to wipe out our carbon footprint

Links and References

• Air Canada Baggage Policy
• United Airlines (one of the largest airlines in the world) Baggage Policy
• Lufthansa Baggage  Policy
• Qantas Domestic Baggage Policy (Domestic and International requirements differ)
• Mr. Rick Steves, North American “master” of travel – check out Travel Tips and Carry on Totes – watch the weight especially with rollerboards as they can weigh 2 to 4 pounds alone  
  
• Amount of luggage lost each year a staggering