Carry-On Only: Packing Hacks That Actually Work

Carry-on allowances are not standard. Size limits differ between airlines, some carriers also weigh cabin bags, and the cheapest fares on some airlines only include a small personal item that fits under the seat. Check your airline's website for your exact fare before you buy a bag or start packing.

Many US airlines use a carry-on size of around 22 x 14 x 9 inches, including wheels and handles, but do not assume: a bag that fits one airline's sizer can be turned away by another. If your trip has several flights on different airlines, pack for the strictest one.

The trick is not packing less of everything. It is packing pieces that all work together, so every top goes with every bottom.

• Pick one color palette with a couple of neutrals and one or two accent colors.
• Plan a few tops for each pair of pants, shorts or skirt.
• Choose layers over bulk: a light sweater and a packable jacket beat one heavy coat.
• Pick fabrics that resist wrinkles and dry quickly, so you can wash them in a sink.
• Limit yourself to two pairs of shoes, and wear the bulkiest pair on the plane.

Planning to do laundry halfway through? Then pack for about a week, no matter how long the trip is.

At US airports, the TSA's 3-1-1 rule applies to carry-on liquids, gels and aerosols: containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less, all in one quart-size bag, one bag per passenger. Many airports elsewhere use a similar 100 ml limit, though some have newer scanners and different rules, so check the airports on your route before you fly.

• Go solid where you can: bar soap, shampoo and conditioner bars, and solid deodorant do not count as liquids.
• Decant into small refillable bottles instead of buying travel sizes every time.
• Buy at your destination anything bulky that is easy to find there, like sunscreen.
• Pack the liquids bag last, on top, so it comes out quickly at security.

• Roll soft clothes, fold structured ones. Rolling T-shirts and knits saves space and limits creases; shirts and blazers do better folded.
• Use packing cubes to keep things organized. Compression cubes can squeeze out a little extra room.
• Fill the gaps: socks and chargers fit inside shoes.
• Wear your heaviest layers on the plane: the jacket, the boots, the sweater.
• Use your personal item well. A backpack or tote under the seat holds everything you need during the flight, so you do not have to dig into the overhead bin.

Spare lithium batteries and power banks belong in your carry-on, not in checked bags. That is a safety rule from aviation authorities, and it matters even more if an airline asks to check your carry-on at the gate, so take power banks out first. Some airlines also limit using power banks during the flight, so check your airline's policy.

Cut down on cables with one charger that has several ports, and bring a universal adapter if you are traveling abroad. Download maps, entertainment and tickets before you leave.

A packing list stops you from overpacking "just in case" and from forgetting the one thing you always forget. Start from a base list and adjust it for each trip.

Keep your packing list in Pack N' Zoom

Your packing list can live in the trip itself, next to the itinerary:

1. 1

   Add the list to your trip's notes

   Start a trip, then in Comments / Notes / Task or To Do List choose Task List and add your base list.
2. 2

   Group it

   Write a heading line such as "Toiletries" or "Tech", and use Increase Indent to nest the items under it.
3. 3

   Tick items off as you pack

   Check each item as it goes in the bag. The trip page shows how many tasks are done out of the total.
4. 4

   Reuse it next time

   On a past trip's page, choose Clone, then Clone with comments so the notes and your packing list come along. Review the copy, change the dates and stops, and untick the items before you start packing again.

Here is how it looks. The preview below uses the same notes editor as the real trip form, including a short packing list.

See the full trip planning checklist for everything else to do before you go.