![<\/a><\/span>](\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flights.com%2Fblog%2Fhow-to-pack-a-carry-on-bag-avoid-checking-fees%2F&media=http:\/\/flights.waveinteractive.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Body-boy-playing-in-snow.jpg&description=How+To+Pack+A+Carry-On+Bag+%26%23038%3B+Avoid+Checking+Fees\"){kind=link}
![\"Body](\"http:\/\/flights.waveinteractive.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Body-boy-playing-in-snow.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nWhether you need to get away for the weekend or you want to know how to pack for a long trip without checking a bag, check out these globetrotter-tested, TSA-approved carry-on packing tips instead:<\/p>\n
Remember, Size Matters<\/strong><\/h2>\nSure, the true test of any bag is how you use it, but size (and shape) does matter. Your carry-on luggage needs to fit in the overhead bin when it\u2019s filled to capacity, so take a measuring tape shopping with you, and play the comparison game. We won\u2019t judge. A little structure never hurt either. Soft duffels may be tempting, because they lack deceptively bulky-looking hardware, but a small softshell suitcase makes the most of its space without crumpling and collapsing, while still staying flexible in a tight spot\u2014sounds like the ideal travel buddy, actually.<\/p>\n
Make Your Own Rules\u2026After Passing Security<\/strong><\/h2>\nYou may be thinking, \u201cRules? Where we\u2019re going, we don\u2019t need no rules.\u201d Think again, partner. Don\u2019t be that guy holding up the line because he somehow forgot that a fifth of whiskey is both flammable\u2026 and a lot of whiskey (you can be that person after you land). Save yourself some time at the security gate by researching current TSA regulations before you leave for the airport. When you know what you can take onboard, go at it. Be sure to ditch everything that doesn\u2019t make the \u201cOK to carry on\u201d list, like sharp objects and large aerosol cans. Yes Banksy, that means no in-flight graffiti for you.<\/p>\n
Challenge Accepted<\/strong><\/h2>\nBefore you start packing a carry-on, challenge your stuff to some multi-tasking. Do you really need three pairs of shoes\u2014sandals, sneakers, and boots\u2014or can you walk the same streets with your sneaks that you were planning to tread in your half-calf boots? If you can sightsee in the same jacket you wear on the plane, you\u2019re already ahead of the game! We\u2019re not saying your socks need to double as mittens if the weather takes a turn, but if they can, wouldn\u2019t that be awesome?<\/p>\n
Roll with the Pouches<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/a><\/span>![\"Body](\"http:\/\/flights.waveinteractive.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Body-rushing-through-airport.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nHave you heard the debates about folding clothes vs. rolling them? It can tear jet-setting families apart (for reals). We\u2019ve tried both packing methods and here\u2019s the deal: Thicker fabrics are tough to roll snugly enough to save space\u2014just imagine the Pillsbury Doughboy trying to roll himself into your bag\u2026Sorry, that got weird. Thinner articles of clothing, on the other hand, roll up and tuck into unused corners like stealthy ninjas. So, what\u2019s our two bits on how to pack a carry-on bag tightly? Think of your luggage as a puzzle. Fold the bulkier \u201canchor pieces\u201d first and then add your other clothes and supplies as they fit\u2014rolled or folded or wrapped into a tiny ball.<\/p>\n
Stuff Your Pockets<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\nYou may have to empty your jeans pockets to get through security, but the outer compartments of your carry-on are fair game, so fill \u2018em up. Leave some space free for any last-minute reshuffling or that stack of magazines you pick up from the airport newsstand. If you take a laptop and other electronic gear, give them their own compartment so they\u2019re handy for the security check and some in-flight entertainment. Just because you\u2019re packing light that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t indulge with your favorite episodes of \u201cDownton Abbey\u201d (may it rest in peace). Oh, and you can always stuff your pockets with snacks once you\u2019re through airport security.<\/p>\n
Thin the Herd\u2026Again<\/strong><\/h2>\nThat sounds brutal, but that\u2019s exactly what you need to bring your baggage down to size. Your haul may do double-duty, but the big question is, do you need all of it? Can you use shampoo at your hotel, or maybe bum some organic, gluten-free body wash off the friend you\u2019re visiting in LA this weekend? Can you leave just one of those long-sleeve shirts behind? If the answer is \u201cYes,\u201d try leaving two. There\u2019s no shame in being an outfit repeater\u2014or washing your socks in sinks\u2014when you\u2019re charting a new path.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/span>![\"Body](\"http:\/\/flights.waveinteractive.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Body-guy-relaxing-in-airport.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nSavor the Experience, Not the Stuff<\/strong><\/h2>\nTravelling is all about exploring new landscapes, meeting interesting people, sampling intriguing flavors, and seeing what life is like in another neck of the woods. If you\u2019re having trouble parting with your personal sound system or Beanie Babies collection, remember the real good stuff won\u2019t even fit in your suitcase\u2014whether you\u2019re a folder or a roller!<\/p>\n
Travel light and live large!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Wear your \u201ccheapskate traveler\u201d badge with pride! You already bought your stuff. Why pay an arm […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":2408,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[276,277,278],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2403"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2410,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403\/revisions\/2410"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
You may be thinking, \u201cRules? Where we\u2019re going, we don\u2019t need no rules.\u201d Think again, partner. Don\u2019t be that guy holding up the line because he somehow forgot that a fifth of whiskey is both flammable\u2026 and a lot of whiskey (you can be that person after you land). Save yourself some time at the security gate by researching current TSA regulations before you leave for the airport. When you know what you can take onboard, go at it. Be sure to ditch everything that doesn\u2019t make the \u201cOK to carry on\u201d list, like sharp objects and large aerosol cans. Yes Banksy, that means no in-flight graffiti for you.<\/p>\n
Challenge Accepted<\/strong><\/h2>\nBefore you start packing a carry-on, challenge your stuff to some multi-tasking. Do you really need three pairs of shoes\u2014sandals, sneakers, and boots\u2014or can you walk the same streets with your sneaks that you were planning to tread in your half-calf boots? If you can sightsee in the same jacket you wear on the plane, you\u2019re already ahead of the game! We\u2019re not saying your socks need to double as mittens if the weather takes a turn, but if they can, wouldn\u2019t that be awesome?<\/p>\n
Roll with the Pouches<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/a><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\nHave you heard the debates about folding clothes vs. rolling them? It can tear jet-setting families apart (for reals). We\u2019ve tried both packing methods and here\u2019s the deal: Thicker fabrics are tough to roll snugly enough to save space\u2014just imagine the Pillsbury Doughboy trying to roll himself into your bag\u2026Sorry, that got weird. Thinner articles of clothing, on the other hand, roll up and tuck into unused corners like stealthy ninjas. So, what\u2019s our two bits on how to pack a carry-on bag tightly? Think of your luggage as a puzzle. Fold the bulkier \u201canchor pieces\u201d first and then add your other clothes and supplies as they fit\u2014rolled or folded or wrapped into a tiny ball.<\/p>\n
Stuff Your Pockets<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\nYou may have to empty your jeans pockets to get through security, but the outer compartments of your carry-on are fair game, so fill \u2018em up. Leave some space free for any last-minute reshuffling or that stack of magazines you pick up from the airport newsstand. If you take a laptop and other electronic gear, give them their own compartment so they\u2019re handy for the security check and some in-flight entertainment. Just because you\u2019re packing light that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t indulge with your favorite episodes of \u201cDownton Abbey\u201d (may it rest in peace). Oh, and you can always stuff your pockets with snacks once you\u2019re through airport security.<\/p>\n
Thin the Herd\u2026Again<\/strong><\/h2>\nThat sounds brutal, but that\u2019s exactly what you need to bring your baggage down to size. Your haul may do double-duty, but the big question is, do you need all of it? Can you use shampoo at your hotel, or maybe bum some organic, gluten-free body wash off the friend you\u2019re visiting in LA this weekend? Can you leave just one of those long-sleeve shirts behind? If the answer is \u201cYes,\u201d try leaving two. There\u2019s no shame in being an outfit repeater\u2014or washing your socks in sinks\u2014when you\u2019re charting a new path.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\nSavor the Experience, Not the Stuff<\/strong><\/h2>\nTravelling is all about exploring new landscapes, meeting interesting people, sampling intriguing flavors, and seeing what life is like in another neck of the woods. If you\u2019re having trouble parting with your personal sound system or Beanie Babies collection, remember the real good stuff won\u2019t even fit in your suitcase\u2014whether you\u2019re a folder or a roller!<\/p>\n
Travel light and live large!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Wear your \u201ccheapskate traveler\u201d badge with pride! You already bought your stuff. Why pay an arm […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":2408,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[276,277,278],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2403"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2410,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403\/revisions\/2410"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/a><\/span> Have you heard the debates about folding clothes vs. rolling them? It can tear jet-setting families apart (for reals). We\u2019ve tried both packing methods and here\u2019s the deal: Thicker fabrics are tough to roll snugly enough to save space\u2014just imagine the Pillsbury Doughboy trying to roll himself into your bag\u2026Sorry, that got weird. Thinner articles of clothing, on the other hand, roll up and tuck into unused corners like stealthy ninjas. So, what\u2019s our two bits on how to pack a carry-on bag tightly? Think of your luggage as a puzzle. Fold the bulkier \u201canchor pieces\u201d first and then add your other clothes and supplies as they fit\u2014rolled or folded or wrapped into a tiny ball.<\/p>\n You may have to empty your jeans pockets to get through security, but the outer compartments of your carry-on are fair game, so fill \u2018em up. Leave some space free for any last-minute reshuffling or that stack of magazines you pick up from the airport newsstand. If you take a laptop and other electronic gear, give them their own compartment so they\u2019re handy for the security check and some in-flight entertainment. Just because you\u2019re packing light that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t indulge with your favorite episodes of \u201cDownton Abbey\u201d (may it rest in peace). Oh, and you can always stuff your pockets with snacks once you\u2019re through airport security.<\/p>\n That sounds brutal, but that\u2019s exactly what you need to bring your baggage down to size. Your haul may do double-duty, but the big question is, do you need all of it? Can you use shampoo at your hotel, or maybe bum some organic, gluten-free body wash off the friend you\u2019re visiting in LA this weekend? Can you leave just one of those long-sleeve shirts behind? If the answer is \u201cYes,\u201d try leaving two. There\u2019s no shame in being an outfit repeater\u2014or washing your socks in sinks\u2014when you\u2019re charting a new path.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/span> Travelling is all about exploring new landscapes, meeting interesting people, sampling intriguing flavors, and seeing what life is like in another neck of the woods. If you\u2019re having trouble parting with your personal sound system or Beanie Babies collection, remember the real good stuff won\u2019t even fit in your suitcase\u2014whether you\u2019re a folder or a roller!<\/p>\n Travel light and live large!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Wear your \u201ccheapskate traveler\u201d badge with pride! You already bought your stuff. Why pay an arm […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":2408,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[276,277,278],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2403"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2410,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2403\/revisions\/2410"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flights.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nStuff Your Pockets<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Thin the Herd\u2026Again<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nSavor the Experience, Not the Stuff<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![<\/a><\/span>](\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flights.com%2Fblog%2Fhow-to-pack-a-carry-on-bag-avoid-checking-fees%2F&media=http:\/\/flights.waveinteractive.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Body-rushing-through-airport.jpg&description=How+To+Pack+A+Carry-On+Bag+%26%23038%3B+Avoid+Checking+Fees\"){kind=link}
![<\/a><\/span>](\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flights.com%2Fblog%2Fhow-to-pack-a-carry-on-bag-avoid-checking-fees%2F&media=http:\/\/flights.waveinteractive.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Body-guy-relaxing-in-airport.jpg&description=How+To+Pack+A+Carry-On+Bag+%26%23038%3B+Avoid+Checking+Fees\"){kind=link}