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Squeezing it all in for the new luggage squeeze - Tips - MSNBC.com
Squeezing it all in for the new luggage squeeze
As travelers try to avoid checked baggage fees, packing habits must change
updated 4:43 p.m. ET, Thurs., May. 22, 2008
NEW YORK - It's time to think of the inside of your carry-on suitcase as real estate: Make the most of what you've got, keep it functional and make neatness count.
The carry-on bag could be the solution to some of the summer travel season's likely woes — including checked baggage fees on American Airlines and possibly other carriers — but it also has the potential to cause headaches. You don't want to find a rumpled mess when you arrive at your destination or spend your vacation shivering or sweating because you weren't ready for the weather.
It is possible to pack fashionable clothes in an efficient way. Some tips from the pros:
Choosing a good bag
Wendy Perrin, consumer news editor for Condé Nast Traveler, uses a standard rectangular-shaped bag with wheels for business trips because clothes are less likely to become wrinkled. For recreational travel, however, she prefers soft-sided duffel bags.
"One way to pack play clothes to fit into space more economically is to roll them and stuff them into a bag like cigarettes into a cigarette box," she says.
Perrin doesn't buy into bags with a lot of compartments, mostly because all those zippers, flaps and folds add unnecessary weight. Instead, she separates undergarments and socks into one zip-top plastic bag, tech gear such as cords and batteries into another, and toiletries all in yet another. (Any liquid needs to be stored in a see-through bag.)
"You want to start with the empty cavern and make your own compartments with smaller packs," agrees travel-gear store Flight 001 founder Brad John.
John says that you might be asked to open carry-on bags during a security check. It will go much more smoothly if items are organized than if everything comes spilling out.
But Deborah Lloyd, co-president and design director for Kate Spade, insists her bag has a roomy outside pocket for easy access to her laptop computer, which is kept in a protective sleeve, and her magazines.
Carry-on bags tend to be treated more gently than checked bags so Lloyd says there is an opportunity to choose more of a fashion-forward bag than basic black. Plus, she adds, a bright color or graphic print — she's starting to use a black-and-white pattern bag with black patent leather stripes — will make it easy to find your bag in the overcrowded overhead bins.
Also, be mindful of your airline's size limit for carry-on bags. American's, for example, is 45 linear inches.
Click for related content
Fee for all: Avoid new airline luggage charges
Clever luggage tips from a flight attendant
What to pack
Perrin chooses a neutral color palette — maybe blue and tan, maybe black and white — and then sticks with it for the trip. By limiting the number of colors and patterns, everything matches and there's no need for that extra sweater to go with the lime green skirt. To keep her wardrobe from being boring, she'll pack colorful scarves, which, she notes, take up very little room in a bag.
Susan Foster, author of "Smart Packing for Today's Traveler," tucks her accessories into her shoes, filling up what would just be wasted space.
And bring things you love: If you're going to wear the same sweater several days in a row, make sure it's one that makes you feel good, says Foster, who also runs smartpacking.com.
"If I have my favorite choices, I don't mind wearing them day after day. You can always wear them in different combinations," she says.
Jersey fabrics, as well as washable silks and athletic fabrics, usually pack flat and travel well, according to Foster. She recently became sold on The Limited's new travel suit, made in a polyester-wool-and-Lycra blend, because it has a slimmer, more modern cut than most travel-specific clothes.
Perrin believes in the layered look, with enough T-shirts, camisoles or shells for each day, but only one sweater and light, water-resistant jacket to go on top.
Toiletries tend to take up a lot of room and liquid products are also subject to the 3-ounce security rule, so Foster has moved toward dry products, such as a stick deodorant and mineral cover-up makeup, when she can. She'll also pack shampoo with a built-in conditioner and moisturizer with SPF.
Some business travelers are forgoing the toiletry hassle altogether, ordering travel-size products (she recommends minimus.biz) to be waiting for them at their hotel.
What to leave home
"A different outfit for every day is the worst strategy because you might need different shoes, a different handbag and different accessories for each one," Foster says.
Instead, she suggests, switch out only the pieces that other people notice. "Change the tops, scarves, etc., but who'll notice which black pants I'm wearing today?"
Jeans might be the basis for many vacationers' wardrobes, but not Foster. They're too bulky, can't effectively be washed in the sink and take too long to dry, she says.
Too many shoes are the downfall of many packers. Women shouldn't travel with more than three pairs, says Foster, and men, simply because their shoes have a larger profile in the suitcase, shouldn't have more than two.
For most trips, she can live with a comfortable pair of walking shoes and a pair of dressier shoes for dinner.
10 clever luggage tips from a flight attendant - Tips - MSNBC.com
10 clever luggage tips from a flight attendant
Check it out! Bag the controversy and find your happy medium
By James Wysong
Travel columnist
updated 2:07 p.m. ET, Tues., May. 13, 2008
Check your luggage — or not?
Should you avoid the wait at your destination while accepting the risk of the airline losing or damaging your luggage? Or just lighten the load and hope for the best?
Many travel experts suggest carrying on all baggage versus checking. As a flight attendant, I may seem like the last person to be impartial, but since I am also often a passenger, I see both sides.
As the airlines invent new ways to extract the almighty buck from the passenger, it is apparent that common sense has checked out. This is the case with the new trend of charging passengers a fee for checking in multiple bags. Anyone with a lick of sense will tell you that once airlines charge for a second bag, more and more passengers will start carrying them on board, adding to the sea of already overcrowded storage space. This will mean more hassles at the gate, delays, and those of you who only bring on a small bag will many times have to store it in the cramped space under the seat in front of you.
My only explanation for the lunacy is that the airlines have plans for charging for extra carry-on bags next.
There are good arguments for both sides of the bag controversy.
Pros for checking bags in:
1. You will have a lot less hassle at security and throughout the airport.
2. You don’t have to cram your gels and liquids into three-ounce bottles and you can buy duty free abroad as you can check larger bottles that you can’t carry on board.
3. You don’t have to worry or hustle for overhead bin space once you board the aircraft.
4. You aren’t forced to pack light and wear the same outfit day after day, or purchase clothing abroad.
5. If you have minimal time between connecting flights you are much more mobile if you must run for your next flight.
6. You avoid the evil glare that the flight attendant gives you.
Pros for carrying on:
1. There is no danger of the airline losing or damaging your bags.
2. You don’t have to wait for your bags at the baggage carousel.
3. You can access the contents of your bags at all times.
4. You can use the computer check-in function more freely.
5. You get the flight attendant to give you an evil glare as opposed to the painted-on smile.
There are valid points on both sides, but you have to find a happy medium. Aren’t you disgusted when you’ve decided to adhere to the carry-on restrictions, when lo and behold, here comes Mr. Last Minute with what seems like 13 carry-on bags? You know in your heart when it is right to check-in your bags. Act on that instinct.
Here are some quick carry-on tips:
1. Size matters. Get a roller-board suitcase that fits into the overhead with the wheels or handle first. Many times the ones that have to go in sideways take up too much room and are difficult to find space for.
2. Shut it. Make sure the overhead bin shuts because even though you might have been there first, a protruding bag will be the first one yanked.
3. Try to be a softie. Use a soft exterior bag with some give to it. Many times hard cases just don’t fit regardless of how much you shove.
4. Water works. The liquids and gel ban is still in effect. At security checkpoints, travelers are permitted to carry travel-size toiletries (three ounces or less) that fit comfortably in one quart-size, clear plastic, zip-top bag.
5. Weight it out. The golden carry-on rule is if you bring it on board you need to be able to lift it and store it. Most flight attendants are not covered by their insurance if they injure their backs with your luggage.
6. Close by. Try to use an overhead bin in your immediate area for safety and security reasons. It doesn’t have to be directly overhead, but you should be able to see it from your seat. When opening an overhead bin, always put your hand up, ready to catch anything that might drop out.
7. Give it up. If your bag is selected to be checked at the gate due to space limitations, don’t worry, as it is pretty much guaranteed to be on that flight and will probably be the first one out at baggage claim.
8. It’s not personal. If you have something in your bag that you do not wish the security personnel to see, put it in your checked luggage. Trust me on this one.
. Lend a hand. Help out those in need, especially mothers. Don’t get too mad at those who abuse the carry-on policy, be amused instead, but be sure to duck and be prepared if they are utilizing the overhead directly above you.
10. Utilize common sense. Recognize when your bag is too big to be considered carry-on and check it in.
Honestly now, how many of you have tried to de-liquefy your bags in order to carry-on everything? You know, change your gel antiperspirant to dry, leave the perfume and cologne at home, and yes, actually use the dreaded hotel shampoo and conditioner? I had an unexpected trip as a passenger and admit that I attempted it. I ended up cutting myself multiple times from shaving with soap and water, forgot certain essential items, and smelled like a putrid almond from the complimentary lotion.
Good luck with whatever you decide. See you on the plane.
James Wysong is a veteran flight attendant who has worked with two major international carriers. James recently released a new book, “Flying High With A Frank Steward: More Air Travel Tales From the Flight Crew.” For more information about James, visit his Web site or send him an e-mail.
Squeezing it all in for the new luggage squeeze
As travelers try to avoid checked baggage fees, packing habits must change
updated 4:43 p.m. ET, Thurs., May. 22, 2008
NEW YORK - It's time to think of the inside of your carry-on suitcase as real estate: Make the most of what you've got, keep it functional and make neatness count.
The carry-on bag could be the solution to some of the summer travel season's likely woes — including checked baggage fees on American Airlines and possibly other carriers — but it also has the potential to cause headaches. You don't want to find a rumpled mess when you arrive at your destination or spend your vacation shivering or sweating because you weren't ready for the weather.
It is possible to pack fashionable clothes in an efficient way. Some tips from the pros:
Choosing a good bag
Wendy Perrin, consumer news editor for Condé Nast Traveler, uses a standard rectangular-shaped bag with wheels for business trips because clothes are less likely to become wrinkled. For recreational travel, however, she prefers soft-sided duffel bags.
"One way to pack play clothes to fit into space more economically is to roll them and stuff them into a bag like cigarettes into a cigarette box," she says.
Perrin doesn't buy into bags with a lot of compartments, mostly because all those zippers, flaps and folds add unnecessary weight. Instead, she separates undergarments and socks into one zip-top plastic bag, tech gear such as cords and batteries into another, and toiletries all in yet another. (Any liquid needs to be stored in a see-through bag.)
"You want to start with the empty cavern and make your own compartments with smaller packs," agrees travel-gear store Flight 001 founder Brad John.
John says that you might be asked to open carry-on bags during a security check. It will go much more smoothly if items are organized than if everything comes spilling out.
But Deborah Lloyd, co-president and design director for Kate Spade, insists her bag has a roomy outside pocket for easy access to her laptop computer, which is kept in a protective sleeve, and her magazines.
Carry-on bags tend to be treated more gently than checked bags so Lloyd says there is an opportunity to choose more of a fashion-forward bag than basic black. Plus, she adds, a bright color or graphic print — she's starting to use a black-and-white pattern bag with black patent leather stripes — will make it easy to find your bag in the overcrowded overhead bins.
Also, be mindful of your airline's size limit for carry-on bags. American's, for example, is 45 linear inches.
Click for related content
Fee for all: Avoid new airline luggage charges
Clever luggage tips from a flight attendant
What to pack
Perrin chooses a neutral color palette — maybe blue and tan, maybe black and white — and then sticks with it for the trip. By limiting the number of colors and patterns, everything matches and there's no need for that extra sweater to go with the lime green skirt. To keep her wardrobe from being boring, she'll pack colorful scarves, which, she notes, take up very little room in a bag.
Susan Foster, author of "Smart Packing for Today's Traveler," tucks her accessories into her shoes, filling up what would just be wasted space.
And bring things you love: If you're going to wear the same sweater several days in a row, make sure it's one that makes you feel good, says Foster, who also runs smartpacking.com.
"If I have my favorite choices, I don't mind wearing them day after day. You can always wear them in different combinations," she says.
Jersey fabrics, as well as washable silks and athletic fabrics, usually pack flat and travel well, according to Foster. She recently became sold on The Limited's new travel suit, made in a polyester-wool-and-Lycra blend, because it has a slimmer, more modern cut than most travel-specific clothes.
Perrin believes in the layered look, with enough T-shirts, camisoles or shells for each day, but only one sweater and light, water-resistant jacket to go on top.
Toiletries tend to take up a lot of room and liquid products are also subject to the 3-ounce security rule, so Foster has moved toward dry products, such as a stick deodorant and mineral cover-up makeup, when she can. She'll also pack shampoo with a built-in conditioner and moisturizer with SPF.
Some business travelers are forgoing the toiletry hassle altogether, ordering travel-size products (she recommends minimus.biz) to be waiting for them at their hotel.
What to leave home
"A different outfit for every day is the worst strategy because you might need different shoes, a different handbag and different accessories for each one," Foster says.
Instead, she suggests, switch out only the pieces that other people notice. "Change the tops, scarves, etc., but who'll notice which black pants I'm wearing today?"
Jeans might be the basis for many vacationers' wardrobes, but not Foster. They're too bulky, can't effectively be washed in the sink and take too long to dry, she says.
Too many shoes are the downfall of many packers. Women shouldn't travel with more than three pairs, says Foster, and men, simply because their shoes have a larger profile in the suitcase, shouldn't have more than two.
For most trips, she can live with a comfortable pair of walking shoes and a pair of dressier shoes for dinner.
10 clever luggage tips from a flight attendant - Tips - MSNBC.com
10 clever luggage tips from a flight attendant
Check it out! Bag the controversy and find your happy medium
By James Wysong
Travel columnist
updated 2:07 p.m. ET, Tues., May. 13, 2008
Check your luggage — or not?
Should you avoid the wait at your destination while accepting the risk of the airline losing or damaging your luggage? Or just lighten the load and hope for the best?
Many travel experts suggest carrying on all baggage versus checking. As a flight attendant, I may seem like the last person to be impartial, but since I am also often a passenger, I see both sides.
As the airlines invent new ways to extract the almighty buck from the passenger, it is apparent that common sense has checked out. This is the case with the new trend of charging passengers a fee for checking in multiple bags. Anyone with a lick of sense will tell you that once airlines charge for a second bag, more and more passengers will start carrying them on board, adding to the sea of already overcrowded storage space. This will mean more hassles at the gate, delays, and those of you who only bring on a small bag will many times have to store it in the cramped space under the seat in front of you.
My only explanation for the lunacy is that the airlines have plans for charging for extra carry-on bags next.
There are good arguments for both sides of the bag controversy.
Pros for checking bags in:
1. You will have a lot less hassle at security and throughout the airport.
2. You don’t have to cram your gels and liquids into three-ounce bottles and you can buy duty free abroad as you can check larger bottles that you can’t carry on board.
3. You don’t have to worry or hustle for overhead bin space once you board the aircraft.
4. You aren’t forced to pack light and wear the same outfit day after day, or purchase clothing abroad.
5. If you have minimal time between connecting flights you are much more mobile if you must run for your next flight.
6. You avoid the evil glare that the flight attendant gives you.
Pros for carrying on:
1. There is no danger of the airline losing or damaging your bags.
2. You don’t have to wait for your bags at the baggage carousel.
3. You can access the contents of your bags at all times.
4. You can use the computer check-in function more freely.
5. You get the flight attendant to give you an evil glare as opposed to the painted-on smile.
There are valid points on both sides, but you have to find a happy medium. Aren’t you disgusted when you’ve decided to adhere to the carry-on restrictions, when lo and behold, here comes Mr. Last Minute with what seems like 13 carry-on bags? You know in your heart when it is right to check-in your bags. Act on that instinct.
Here are some quick carry-on tips:
1. Size matters. Get a roller-board suitcase that fits into the overhead with the wheels or handle first. Many times the ones that have to go in sideways take up too much room and are difficult to find space for.
2. Shut it. Make sure the overhead bin shuts because even though you might have been there first, a protruding bag will be the first one yanked.
3. Try to be a softie. Use a soft exterior bag with some give to it. Many times hard cases just don’t fit regardless of how much you shove.
4. Water works. The liquids and gel ban is still in effect. At security checkpoints, travelers are permitted to carry travel-size toiletries (three ounces or less) that fit comfortably in one quart-size, clear plastic, zip-top bag.
5. Weight it out. The golden carry-on rule is if you bring it on board you need to be able to lift it and store it. Most flight attendants are not covered by their insurance if they injure their backs with your luggage.
6. Close by. Try to use an overhead bin in your immediate area for safety and security reasons. It doesn’t have to be directly overhead, but you should be able to see it from your seat. When opening an overhead bin, always put your hand up, ready to catch anything that might drop out.
7. Give it up. If your bag is selected to be checked at the gate due to space limitations, don’t worry, as it is pretty much guaranteed to be on that flight and will probably be the first one out at baggage claim.
8. It’s not personal. If you have something in your bag that you do not wish the security personnel to see, put it in your checked luggage. Trust me on this one.
. Lend a hand. Help out those in need, especially mothers. Don’t get too mad at those who abuse the carry-on policy, be amused instead, but be sure to duck and be prepared if they are utilizing the overhead directly above you.
10. Utilize common sense. Recognize when your bag is too big to be considered carry-on and check it in.
Honestly now, how many of you have tried to de-liquefy your bags in order to carry-on everything? You know, change your gel antiperspirant to dry, leave the perfume and cologne at home, and yes, actually use the dreaded hotel shampoo and conditioner? I had an unexpected trip as a passenger and admit that I attempted it. I ended up cutting myself multiple times from shaving with soap and water, forgot certain essential items, and smelled like a putrid almond from the complimentary lotion.
Good luck with whatever you decide. See you on the plane.
James Wysong is a veteran flight attendant who has worked with two major international carriers. James recently released a new book, “Flying High With A Frank Steward: More Air Travel Tales From the Flight Crew.” For more information about James, visit his Web site or send him an e-mail.
