Carry-on luggage is a topic that I know a lot about, which I should given that I live out of it. As a professional pilot, my luggage is as much as part of me as my cell phone. I know when it’s lighter than it should be, balanced incorrectly, or if I have forgotten any other bags. This being said, I have also seen a lot of passengers struggle with their carry-on luggage and most of this struggle is typically self inflicted. Therefore, I would like to offer some suggestions on how to master the art of packing a carry-on bag.

Tip 1: Type and size of bag.

With all of the various options for suitcases and bags available, it can be difficult to determine which bag is the right one for you. In the mind of what’s important to a flight crew, we see 4 basic categories of carry-on: soft sided, hard sided, smart bag, and duffle. Please note that your personal item (the one that goes under the seat) can be anything as long as it fits.

Airline overhead bins are specially designed to accommodate as much baggage as possible up to a standard size. That standard is typically 22x14x9 inches, though be sure to check with your specific airline for exact measurements. If your bag is larger than this, you will be asked to check the bag under the aircraft, which adds time to your visit at the destination airport.

NEVER FORCE A BAG INTO A BIN! I cannot stress this enough. If you break that bin, you get to sit there with every other passenger’s eyes fixed squarely on you as you wait at least 20 minutes for a mechanic to come out and either repair or, more likely, render the bin unusable. I have seen this process take up to an hour and we are required to wait.

Soft sided bags are bags with a rigid framework with a cloth or canvas outside. These bags are my preferred option as the tops can be compressed a bit to fit the bag into the overhead bin. However, this option offers a bit less protection under the aircraft. I recommend doing research and buying a good bag with a nice sturdy frame. The extra money will help ensure your bag holds up to the punishment of belts, sorters, and handlers. My bag actually has an all metal aluminum frame, but also cost $350. Quality is worth paying for.

Hard sided bags are very similar to soft sided, except that the outer shell is made of hardened plastic. This option offers good protection for the contents of the bag, but at the hardest to get into an overhead bin, as they offer little to no wiggle room to help it fit. Commonly, the bin is large enough but the bag can be caught on a latch other obstruction which is where the rigid shell is not as convenient. Also, do not over stuff these bags. Again, there is no wiggle room.

Smart bags have been growing in popularity lately. They feature built in chargers for mobile devices within the bag themselves. Some of these batteries used to charge are removable and others are not. If you wish to go with this style of bag, ensure that the battery is removable. It MUST be removed if the bag is being checked under the aircraft and the battery carried aboard with you. If it is not removable, your bag doesn’t go. That’s the FAA regulations, I’m afraid. These bags also come in hard and soft sided variants, so see the above suggestions.

Duffel bags are a good soft sided bag with good capacity, flexibility in all directions for stuffing it into a bin, and are very simple and reliable, but they also must be carried. So, its a good option for a couple days of clothes and light toiletries, but remember you will be carrying it everywhere you go. A good shoulder strap helps tremendously.

The important take away here is that you must find the bag that works best for you and your needs, but understand the complications that can come with it.

Tip 2: Think Thin

The most common issue I see with carry-on luggage, which ultimately results in it being removed and put in the cargo hold, is overstuffed bags. Most bags come with an additional zipper for expansion room. This zipper, while useful if you just need to get everything in, is actually not as helpful when trying to get it in an overhead bin.

When I started putting together my carry-on for work, I bought two very useful pieces of luggage equipment: compression cubes and a specialized toiletries bag. The compression cubes are helpful for slimming down my clothing items as well as putting them back into the bag in a precise order and position, keeping my bag’s overall width to a minimum. Additionally, the toiletries bag is very thin, spreading out the contents as opposed to being thick like most others I’ve tried. So, if you want to ensure your bag will fit, keep it as thin as possible.

Tip 3: Do You REALLY Need That?

This particular tip became very useful when Karly and I went on our 9 day vacation to Phoenix. The problem was fitting 9 days of clothing into carry-on bags and still possibly leave room for souvenirs. The answer: you don’t. When I travel for work, I carry very little with me. I have one set of “civilian” clothes that I wear around and outside the hotel, my bathing suit, changes for underclothing for every day I’m out, and 1 extra work shirt, since it’s white. Lastly, I bring exercise clothes and running shoes. This all fits perfectly within my bag. So how about 9 days of regular street clothes?

First, consider what you are wearing. Do you really need 9 different outfits that are completely original, or simply enough to keep it interesting? If you were to bring 2 pairs of pants and 4 shirts, you’d have 8 different outfit combinations. Include what you are wearing while you travel and that’s even more options. Contrary to belief, a shirt does not disintegrate if it is worn twice before being washed. The only issue would be if you got really sweaty, then you just take that item out of the future mixes. It’s also worth noting that most hotels these days have laundry facilities and can sell you the detergent and quarters needed to use them. Limiting your clothing to make your combinations numerous and easy is a great way to cut down on stuff you bring.

Additionally, consider what the hotel or place you’re staying has to offer as amenities. You can skip the shampoo and conditioner if the hotel has it. Additionally, as I make Karly leave hers behind now, they also have hair dryers that are just as effective at heating up air as your home one is, at least good enough for the time you’re away. Still bring whatever you want, but consider your options at least.

Now, it is worth mentioning that all of this is nullified if you check a bag. However, with the additional fees, potential missed connection of your bag, and the added time and hassle of going to baggage claim, carry-on only is a serious benefit. An option that we employed coming home was to box up all of our souvenirs and extra clothes and mailed it home. Wasn’t cheap, but was still less than the cost of a checked bag both ways, so something to consider.

Conclusion

Carry-on bags are a very convenient way to get your stuff onboard the aircraft for the easiest and quickest way to your destination. You get to skip a lot of lines and a stop to baggage claim that you don’t need to do. This can quickly turn on you though if you aren’t careful. I hope that these tips have shed some light on best practices to ensure that your bag goes with you. Lastly, please follow all crew member instructions. If a crew member says that your bag is too big, they know it is. It’s easier to figure it out at the boarding door rather than take it all the way back out through all the other people trying to board when you realize they were right. We really are trying to make your trip easier for you, I promise.

I hope these were helpful as you head out on your next big adventure. Until next time!