The modern-day suitcase: How to comply with airlines’ shrinking baggage allowances

Once upon a time, in the beginning of budget airlines, we were almost spoilt with baggage allowances. In a bid to get more of us to swap the domestic coast for a more exotic getaway across the Med, airlines were doing everything in their power to get us to book a seat. It wasn’t uncommon to have a complimentary 20kg suitcase as part of a standard seat booking.

Suffice to say, things have changed. You generally have to pay extra to get anything above 10kg worth of hand baggage, with some airlines even charging for anything larger than a lady’s handbag.

Unfortunately, if you’ve found a deal offering the latter, today’s piece doesn’t offer much hope. However, if you’ve got around 10kg to play with for the week, our article might be able to help you get the most out of your small allowance, so you don’t have to pay the exuberant checked-in baggage fees.

Pro-tip #1: Most resorts have washing facilities

One of the biggest reasons why most of us feel as though we don’t have enough space to play with is because we take too many things. Sure, several decades ago resorts may not have been blessed with laundry facilities – but things have changed.

Most have some form of laundry, or even a washing machine in the apartment where you are staying. As such, if you’re going for a week, you don’t need seven outfits (or fourteen, if you are that way inclined). Take a few and let the laundry facilities cope with the rest.

Pro-tip #2: Make sure you are insured

A slightly different tip comes in the form of your insurance. Just because you are pledging your faith with a carry-on suitcase, it doesn’t mean to say that all risks are eradicated. Things can get broken, lost and stolen, and this is where travel insurance providers like Staysure come into the picture. The key to being savvy with your baggage isn’t cutting corners at every opportunity, it’s picking your moments when to be stringent.

Pro-tip #3: Wear clothes that mix and match

The next tip is to wear clothes that mix and match. You should look at the practicalities of what you’re wearing. If you’re taking seven outfits, you’re going to end up needing to wash clothes (and that leads us back to the first point we spoke about).

With this in mind, it’s important to wear clothes that mix and match so you can minimize the amount of washing you have to do. It’s all about thinking about the bigger picture of our trip, rather than having the mindset of ‘one outfit per day’.

Pro-tip #4: It can come down to shoes

They’re big, heavy and take a whole lot of space. As such, be prepared to make some tough decisions on shoes. You can’t wear several pairs as you travel (see our next point) and as such, some will need to stay at home.

Do you need three pairs of trainers? Do you need trendy evening wear shoes, or can you get away with lighter flip-flops?

Pro-tip #5: Don’t be afraid to wear bulkier clothes as you fly

If you want to get super savvy, and you’re not in the peak of summer, don’t be afraid of wearing several of your bulky items as you fly.

For example, take a winter coat. It’s by no means a small item and will consume the majority of your 10kg suitcase. As such, when it comes to embarking your flight, slip it on.

Of course, that’s an extreme example, but you can make a significant difference by simply being shrewd about what you’re wearing on departure day. Just take a look at this barely believable example for inspiration!