tfar

EDIT: PLEASE (!) do keep this thread clean of individual luggage tip questions. It is meant to be a resource/compendium of knowledge, not a pool for individual little questions. THANKS!


The questions of how to pack and especially how to pack suits and shirts come up again and again. I thus decided to create this as a masterthread that will hopefully be stickied.

To kick this off successfully I am posting a compilation of links from previous threads that should be "required readings" and will most likely answer already most of the questions. Of course, it will be very helpful if people can still ask their specific packing questions here if they don't find the answer in any of the links.

How to fold a suit jacket (with video and comments):
http://www.1bag1world.com/blog/2009/....html#comments

How to fold a suit jacket (with pictures and comments):
http://www.1bag1world.com/blog/2009/...r-folding.html

How to best pack a 22" (standard) rollaboard (works for almost any normal suitcase, too):
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...od-22-a-2.html

The above contains a third suit packing technique that is ideal for shoulder bags in post #15.

The basic technique of the "wrap-around-shirtfolder" trick can be seen here (with pictures and comments):
http://blog.makingitclear.com/foldingsuit/

A short resume of the most common packing techniques and their uses:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...s-packing.html

A little treatise on packing accessories like folders and packing cubes and how to best use them:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...e-packing.html

The above contains a "case study" of packing a bag. You will also find the best way to pack ties.

A discussion of the pros and cons of the bundle wrapping method that can be found on the onebag.com website among others:
http://www.1bag1world.com/obow-light...um/post/878417

I hope this helps!

Till

tfar

Here's another one from PH with photos and comments:

http://www.practicalhacks.com/2009/1...mith/#comments

This one is on packing liquids (311) - with sample photos:
http://www.practicalhacks.com/2009/1...1-liquids-bag/

And this one is on traveling without liquids:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ht=liquid+free

with its sister thread on OBOW:
http://www.1bag1world.com/obow-light...um/post/922386

A dedicated discussion of the Eagle Creek 18" pack-it folder with video:
http://www.practicalhacks.com/2009/1...ek-pack-it-18/

Till

tfar

Thanks for the sticky! ^

Here are two more threads this time specifically for the ladies. The first one deals with classic overpacking syndrome:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/women...-possible.html

The second one deals with overpacking out of inexperience and features detailed examples of the thought process that is useful when you want to reduce your load:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/women...ggestions.html

Till

tfar

One of the tools to work on the great packing light challenge is a good and precise scale to actually weigh items. You'll be surprised how much your electric razor weighs and how much a men's shirt weighs - actually about the same at 200-280 gram. That's easily half a pound.

So here is what I use (no connections to the seller at all):
The fantastic MyWeigh 7001DX here
http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/my-weigh-7001dx.aspx

It is a kitchen and postage scale, exact to the gram. It will convert on the fly between grams, kg, lbs and ounces. The LCD is backlit which makes it even easier to read. The numbers stay on even after you take the weighed object off for those times when you weigh something so big it covers the display. It has a tare and a reset option and it is very accurate. It has been to the gram exact with the calibrated scale at the USPS office. It weighs up to 7kg which is not so common for kitchen scales and very handy for luggage purposes. I weighed most of my bags and accessories with it, too.

I have been on the same set of AA batteries for 4+ years but you can use a wallwart. Just bought one for my best friend, too. It comes with a bowl and two postage devices; one for envelopes and one for poster rolls, so they don't roll off.

I use it a lot and it's never given me grief. The seller is also very reliable and the price is right.

A packing strategy of two bags (probably the most common one):
http://www.1bag1world.com/obow-light...um/post/894037

And some considerations on getting a bag with the right volume to weight ratio:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...criterion.html

tfar

PhlyingRPH made a very good comment on piggybacking a briefcase on a rollaboard here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12995363-post7.html

There are two ways to do that. One is to stack the briefcase atop the rolling luggage and attach it to the expansion handles. This is quick and gives a flat and high silhouette. The other option is to hang the briefcase from a hook resting against the front side of the roller. This is also quick except that you need to affix the hook. It will give a bulkier look but has one potentially important advantage. The center of gravity will be lower and the weight will be born by the wheels instead of your forearm and shoulder.

Try it out. If you have a heavy briefcase this really makes a difference.

Thanks, PhlyingRPH!

tfar

While the following link is not purely on packing, it contains many good travel tips relating to packing and the security of your luggage:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...l#post13015987

Till

tfar

I added the suit folding technique tutorial that inspired my "wrap-around-shirtfolder" trick. See post #1.

Till

tfar

This thread is self-explanatory:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...-warranty.html

For checked bags make sure you get one from one of those brands.

tfar

Here is an exemplary list for the male traveler from an OBOW post. I call it the "ultimate packing list". Well, of course, it isn't but it's a REALLY good starting point.

http://www.1bag1world.com/obow-light...um/post/862808

I note on the clothes that you are wearing on the plane that if you are paranoid about these things your chances of suffering very bad burns will be less if you wear natural fibers instead of man-made fibers. Wool is especially fire-retardant and is basically the single best clothing material if ever there was one.

Till

tfar

Very often passengers are allowed one maximum legal carry-on size piece of luggage plus one personal item. The size for the MLC piece is usually given and sometimes even weight specs are given. However, the size or weight limit for the personal item are usually NOT given. What they do is they give examples like: purse, small backpack, briefcase, photo bag. A common sense definition has to be applied here. There are photo bags that are so big you could park a garbage truck in them and there are women that carry purses that are so big they could carry the kitchen sink.

What the personal item is basically defined as is an item that fits under the seat in front of you. That means two things. It means that this item should actually go there and not in the bin. So please keep the personal item personal and keep it at your seat and don't fill the bin with it. I've even heard that more and more from FAs recently. It makes perfect sense.

The second thing is that now, of course, we want to know: What fits under the seat in front of me?

There are two answers. A general guideline and a very specific answer.

General guideline:
Look for something that is not bigger than 17-18 by 11-12 by 8. You want to top out at around 36-38 linear inches.


Specific answer:
jaxbill had a very clever answer to this. I link his post here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/13589659-post11.html

He says, look up the maximum hard shell pet carrier size that is allowed. They must be stowed under the seat in front of you. So these can differ from airline to airline and from plane to plane. In order to be sure you should do two things. 1. Call the airline. 2. Check on seatguru.com. They will tell you if the seat in front of you has an "entertainment box" installed under it. You don't want these seats if you want to maximize space.

Till

quan98

Another packing suggestion:

Article

Pictures

theshaun

in the last photo when she's sitting on the bag, it looks like she has the "expander" unzipped. My understanding is that with the expander open, most carry ons are no longer of carry on size.

JMN57

You missed the key point - she's a FA. How many times have you seen them roll on with a roller, bag stacked on-top and a bag hanging from the hook? I don't begrudge them but the flight crew isn't/doesn't seem to be as bound by carry-on regs as us passengers.

(not a complaint, just an observation)

MODS - can you delete this post of mine - I just realized that this is a sticky and the comment is too trivial for a sticky topic - thanks

tfar

Thanks for helping to keep the sticky clean and compact, gentlemen!

There is already another discussion of her article and pictures in this post:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...-ny-times.html

Till

Mr. Elliott

[QUOTE=JMN57;13928292]You missed the key point - she's a FA. How many times have you seen them roll on with a roller, bag stacked on-top and a bag hanging from the hook? I don't begrudge them but the flight crew isn't/doesn't seem to be as bound by carry-on regs as us passengers.

I believe flight crews are exempt from the 2 carry-on limit and also from the 3-1-1 liquid limit.

I believe flight crews are exempt from the 2 carry-on limit and also from the 3-1-1 liquid limit.

I often see flight crews, mostly FA’s with a third black case, these are usually insulated food bags that the FA’s carry with them because they keep the per diems that the airlines give them and thus can not afford to eat out, so they carry 3 to 4 days worth of food with them.


I use a 5” wide hard shell Samsonite attaché case as my personal carry on item, it is exactly 35 linear inches so it meet all the rules. The internal size is 12” x 17” so it can easily take a net book or a thin laptop and still have room to spare. I always pack my laptop in my roller board because I do not have the need to access it in flight, so I use my attaché case for other items. It has file folder compartments which I use, but they can be cut out if not needed and then the internal depth is 4.75 inches.

Because it is a hard shell, I use it as a footrest when I place it underneath the seat in front of me, and once airborne, I place it vertical behind my legs to free up the space under the seat in front of me. I hook it to my roller bag with the bags supplied strap and it balances my roller bag perfectly so I can hold the handle with one finger as I walk through the terminal.

Another item I carry on board with me is a small insulated soft collapsible food bag, these are allowed under the rules because the rules say a bistro sized food bag can be carried on board in addition to the other 2 items allowed. It is large enough to hold a six pack of cans, so sometimes I buy or bring sandwiches from home to eat on board. To keep my food cold, I pack a zip lock bag of ice when I leave the house, dump the ice before security, but keep the bag and refill the ice from a food vendor in the terminal. I have even got ice on board the airplane if I needed it to keep my food cold for a long time. I usually tell who ever I ask for ice I need the ice to keep my medicines cold, it works every time.

Occasionally I have been told by non airline security guards before I get in line at security that I have 3 carry on items, I tell them that it is a food bag and is allowed under the rules, so they let it pass, they have never asked me to open it for inspection and I have never had a problem with the TSA either.

Mr. Elliott