Choosing your bag

If you don't already have one, the right carry-on bag is the key to getting the most from your baggage allowance. Start by checking the airlines you usually fly with. You can also filter by airline right here on the site to find a bag that fits.

Choose a bag that is the absolute maximum size your airline allows.

Hard or soft

You can't force a hard shell bag into the sizer. If it doesn't fit, it doesn't fit. A soft bag gives you more flexibility.

Carry-on bag shapes and styles

Unless you also plan to use the bag every day, the Dora the Explorer look is the best airport fashion. Choose a square bag that is designed to fit the sizer, not one that wastes space trying to look good.

Choose a bag with only the pockets you need

Pockets add up and take space. This matters most when you travel with only a personal item or free small bag, where every centimetre counts. So decide if you will really use all of those pockets.

My personal preference is to avoid laptop sleeves that zip from the top, because they take up a lot of space when they are empty. I carry my laptop between packing cubes in the centre of the bag. It protects the laptop better, and at security it is just as easy to reach through the main zip. But everyone has their own preferences.

Packing

To fit as much as possible into your carry-on allowance, compression packing cubes are one of the most useful things you can own. Regular packing cubes are good for staying organised, but compression cubes actually reduce the space your clothes take up.

Clothes

Be minimal. You can wash clothes on the trip if you need to, so don't try to pack your entire wardrobe. Choosing the right clothes matters too. Jeans are heavy and take up a lot of room, so consider chinos or lightweight trousers instead.

For jumpers, merino wool is a good choice. It is lightweight, takes up less space than a normal jumper and resists odours naturally, so you can wear it several times before you wash it. It keeps you warm when it is cool, without getting too hot when the sun comes out.

Hotels have towels, so don't waste space on a large one. If you are going to the beach, take a small microfibre travel towel. It folds down small, weighs very little and dries quickly.

Shoes take up a lot of room. Wear your bulkiest pair when you travel and pack only what you need. Use the space inside packed shoes for socks and other small items.

Choose the most generous airline

Some budget airlines are very strict about personal item sizes. Others are much more generous.

Jet2 is a good example. Its free small cabin bag allowance is generous compared with other budget airlines, and in my experience it doesn't have personal item sizers at the gate.

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