How to be Flight Baggage Savvy

Discover our top tips to beat the airlines baggage rules and become flight baggage savvy.

Gone are the days when economy suitcases weighed up to 32kg, were given an orange heavy label and the cost was free. Instead, the cost of flights having not gone down has seen the price of luggage steadily go up.

Airlines are becoming more business minded by packaging flight purchases in such a way that passengers erroneously believe that they are somehow getting a good deal despite having to pay for their seat, meal and luggage separately.

It seems so long ago when EasyJet’s hand baggage allowance was as many bags as you could carry, especially since it has now been so drastically reduced to a small, single under the seat bag.

Passengers are fighting back, having found creative ways to beat the system particularly when traveling on budget airlines that charge you for absolutely everything. The problem is when these travel hacks go viral, the airlines are catching on. One such solution was removing the stuffing from a neck pillow and re-filling it with clothes. However, assuming that you can no longer get away with that, here are a few tips from us at MyGreat.Holiday on how to manage your luggage weight when traveling:

Tip 1 - Choose your suitcase

When researching which suitcase to buy for your next holiday, it's important to consider the weight restrictions of the airline you're flying with. You may want to sacrifice size for beauty, but make sure that your bag meets the airline's height and width restrictions. Additionally, consider your carry-on needs. How many electronic devices do you have, and what are their sizes? Make sure you know the answer to these questions before purchasing your ticket, as some airlines have restrictions on the number and type of bags you can bring on board.

Once you've decided what needs to go in your carry-on, weigh the bag with and without the electronics. If you absolutely need to bring all of your devices, see if there's a way to wear some of them. Or, can you safely carry a laptop without its case?

Finally, think about other essentials that should be in your carry-on. Even if there's plenty of room after packing your electronics, keep in mind the weight limit. You may want to pack some clothes and toiletries too.

You can save space by rolling your clothes, or by using compression packing cubes.

No matter what type of vacation you’re taking or what country you’re visiting, you’ll want to consider the features of both checked and carry-on bags. Are you planning to backpack or go hiking? Will you be staying in one place or moving frequently? These are all important factors to consider before making your final purchase.

Once you've decided what size and type of bag you need, the next step is to focus on its weight. The lighter your bag, the easier it will be to carry. You can save space by rolling your clothes, or by using compression packing cubes. These cubes can help you make the most of the available space in your bag. Just bear in mind that they may cause your clothes to become dome-shaped.

If you need a backpack that can handle everything, consider one with wheels. With modern technology, there are always new and improved ways of doing things. Backpacks with wheels give you the best of both worlds: the flexibility of a backpack with the convenience of a suitcase.

Tip 2 - Dress appropriately

You can avoid excess baggage fees by carrying some items on your person, like your mobile phone, chargers, and other small electronics. Dressing appropriately doesn't just mean you're more likely to get an upgrade to first class; it also means your luggage will be lighter.

Dressing appropriately doesn't just mean you're more likely to get an upgrade to first class; it also means your luggage will be lighter.

Consider wearing heavier clothing. For example, you could wear a sweater or winter coat tied around your waist. Or, if you're a woman, you could wear leggings under your trousers or two pairs of tights. There are also trousers that double as shorts, separated by a zip. Another great idea for sweaters is to get ones with a hood and a pocket across the front. This pocket is the perfect size and shape for bulky things like books or even an iPad.

You can also invest in a money belt to keep your passport secure and close to hand. This also provides extra space to store small items, like miniature toiletries. By following these tips, you'll be able to stay warm and enjoy your winter travels.

You can take advantage of the fact that airlines don't weigh or scrutinize passengers' clothing by wearing a coat with deep pockets. This allows you to carry things like a small foldable bag, books, toiletries, underwear, and anything else you can think of. Just be aware that this could change in the future, so enjoy it while you can!

Tip 3 - Ask nicely

Traveling can be a great experience that everyone should enjoy. While it can be stressful for some, there are ways to make the process smoother and simpler. By being polite and respectful, you can make everyone's travel experience more enjoyable.

Ticketing agents play an important role in making sure that customers can board their flights safely. However, since the pandemic began, agents have been given more power to deny boarding to customers who are unvaccinated or who do not have a valid PCR or antigen test result. This means that it is even more important for passengers to make sure they are on good terms with the agents. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, no matter what their job is.

By being polite and respectful, you can make everyone's travel experience more enjoyable.

It's always worth being polite and courteous, especially when it comes to your luggage. When you're at the airport, finding the right desk for your flight, and getting in line, take a step back and observe the ticketing agents. Listen to your gut instinct about who you think you can build a rapport with, and who might be willing to extend you some grace. If there's an agent who stands out for all the right reasons, even if you have to wait a bit longer in line, it'll be worth it in the end.

As best as you can, you want to make this a smooth process for both yourself and the agent. One thing that My Great Holiday has repeatedly tried and tested, is casually asking the agent if there is any space remaining in the checked bag, even though by doing so the weight would then exceed the baggage allowance. Time and time again, the agents have made allowances for a few more kg of items to be added to the bag at no extra cost. When this happens, you of course need to be prepared, which is where the baggage cart comes in handy, specifically the heavy items that you had earlier removed from either your checked bag or carry-on item, that you placed at the top of the cart, and discreetly covered over with a coat.

On the off chance that the lovely agent declines your request then you can resort back to filling your pockets, wearing extra layers, and discreetly placing them back inside your carry-on bag but only after it has been weighed.

So What Next?

With all this information under your belt, both figuratively and literally, My Great Holiday suggests that a worthwhile investment would be Samsonite Manual Luggage Scales which although cannot give exact readings, are the most reliable because they don’t require batteries. Where clothing is concerned, both men’s and women’s zip off trousers can be found on Amazon or hiking stores. For cabin baggage, Cabin Max Greenwich has both a 44L carry-on bag and 30L under seat hand luggage bag both with comfortable back straps and wheels. Whilst for checked baggage, Mountain Voyager has a 50L backpack with wheels.