How to Prepare Luggage for a Trip

Know what items are not allowed on the plane. You also need to know the regulations on safety, size, weight of luggage, even food, because all these factors have certain limits.

• Each country has different safety regulations, but all include regulations on easily identifiable dangerous items (knives in hand luggage, flammable liquids in general luggage), dangerous items that are not easily identifiable (nail clippers or nail files in hand luggage) and some other inexplicable items (for example, an unopened water bottle on US flights – unless you bought that water bottle after going through security).
• Baggage weight and size limits will vary by airline, so check the airline website first for more details. Most midsize bags and carry-on bags advertised as checked baggage will be allowed in the cabin.
• Avoid bringing peanuts on the plane. Peanuts can cause allergies to other passengers.
• If you have to cross the border, do not bring agricultural products (vegetables and nuts), meat or dairy products. Although you can bring these products to some countries, many countries have restricted these items to reduce the spread of disease and the spread of foreign organisms.

Separate the solution from the rest of the items in hand luggage. Solutions must be in an easily accessible place so that you can remove them from your luggage when checking in at security. In the United States, the specific solutions and gel regulations are as follows:

• You are allowed to bring up to 100 ml of liquid/gel in each container (not the whole thing). For example, you are allowed to bring a 60 ml bottle of shampoo, a 60 ml bottle of toothpaste and 100 ml of facial cleanser.
• Liquid containers must be placed together in a 1 liter ziplock bag (the bag will be provided to you when you go through security). Before putting your baggage in the scanner, you need to place the liquid bag on the baggage conveyor for inspection if necessary.
• To avoid the hassle of having to pack and store liquids separately, bring solid bathroom items (e.g. solid body deodorant, concealer, etc.). You can also bring liquids in hand luggage.
• Liquid regulations also generally don’t apply to prescription drugs (provided you have documentation to verify the medication), formula, breast milk, and similar liquids. Just make sure you store these substances separately from other liquids and tell the counter staff that you have these products.

Avoid checked baggage if possible. Many airlines make a lot of money into their accounts by collecting money for checked baggage from passengers. Even if you don’t mind paying extra, waiting for checked baggage to be checked and returned upon arrival can cost you an extra half hour or more at the airport. Besides, when your luggage is lost, it will take a long time for you to get it back. If traveling with young children, make sure each person is allowed to bring as much luggage as possible within the allowable limit (if possible); from there, when traveling in groups, you can bring extra luggage in the passenger compartment. Wear the largest amount of clothing (e.g. jeans, running/tennis shoes, sweater) when traveling to save space. Consider replacing jeans with lightweight travel pants, which both save space and dry faster.

Consider purchasing a laptop bag that is approved by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). If you’re flying to or through the US and your laptop is in your luggage with lots of other items, you’ll have to remove the computer before the baggage is X-rayed. This step can cause all sorts of problems. Rear passengers are slowed down, even causing chaos if the check-in process is not organized properly. When you’re still shopping for a carry-on bag, you’ll want to purchase a bag designed to avoid this process (typically a laptop compartment with a flap that opens and is separate from the rest of the bag, from which The computer will be X-rayed without you having to take it out of your pocket.)

Keep the most important items in your smallest pocket. Most airlines allow you to carry one small and one medium piece of luggage, so everyone can bring items like women’s bags and diaper bags. You’re more likely to pack a larger bag in the compartment, so avoid putting items you’ll need in-flight (e.g. sweaters, books or snacks) on it, or you’ll end up standing in the aisle and looking for stuff mid-flight.

Divide heavy items evenly between bags. Trains allow for the transport of large amounts of luggage, making them a great alternative to airplanes in some cases. Similar to airplanes, these items are also placed in the overhead compartment, but because your luggage may be large instead of small bags, lifting and lowering will be difficult. Make sure you don’t have any luggage that’s too heavy, or you’ll end up stuck in the hallway, shaking your knees from lifting a bag over your head, and having to ask strangers to rescue you.

Keep valuables with you. Stacking your luggage in the overhead compartment can make you feel like you’re on a plane and that your important items will be safe there, too. However, the belongings on the train were not noticed by the flight attendants, not to mention that train passengers often boarded and disembarked. Always carry valuables with you, especially when you want to go for a walk, buy snacks or sleep.