Secret Packing Hacks Airlines Don't Want You To Know (SAVE BIG!)

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Carry-on packing mistakes and how to avoid them to save money on your next flight. Airlines DON'T want you to know these packing hacks to avoid baggage fees.

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// ABOUT

Welcome to Portable Professional: your go-to resource for stress-free travel. I’m Megan, and I’m here to share my tips and tricks from 300+ flights to help you feel confident about your travels while making the most of every trip.

Join over 5,000 travelers diving into smart travel secrets, receiving personalized advice, and uncovering savvy hacks.

00:00 Introduction
00:17 I stopped packing this
00:38 Airplane seat HACK
00:53 Stop buying travel toiletries
01:42 Do this BEFORE you pack anything!
02:35 Clothing hack for long trip
02:59 Build a travel outfit
03:47 Carry-on allowance (airline hack!)
04:01 My carry-on suitcase
05:00 Personal item allowance (airline hack #2)
05:34 Most common packing mistake (avoid!)
06:22 The most useless thing I've ever packed
06:53 THIS does NOT belong in a suitcase!
07:23 How to pack a suitcase to SAVE SPACE

[PortableProfessional]

Use code: Megan15 for discount + free shipping

[johnmcgaw]

I go one step further with my clothing selections: monochrome. Black trousers, grey trousers, black tees, grey tees, black merino jumpers, black shoes, black cap, grey bucket hat, black stuffable down jacket, grey rain jacket, black neck gaiter, black gloves, even black/grey underwear. Everything matches and clashing is totally impossible. The only real exception is that my hiking boots are brown since I haven't found any black ones that fit so well and dark mottled grey hiking socks for the same reason. I'm not looking to be noticed, am not looking to impress anyone. Anyway, at my age I don't need flashy to be noticed -- people are semi-amazed that I'm still getting around under my own power. 😉

[tonyadevonish]

I invested in a vest that had pockets for everything I needed. The hood has an attached eye mask.The additions were inflatable neck pillow, foot rest and blanket..Its truly been a great investment and I've used it on ALL my airplane trips...It was VERY handy while traveling on Frontier.

[catwomanva]

Years ago, we went to San Antonio for my brother's Air Force Boot Camp graduation in October or November. While it's typically pretty warm, we planned ahead and brought at least one sweater and a jacket with us. It was well worth it as the day of the graduation it was COLD! There were so many other families there in sun dresses and short sleeves freezing their butts off, some ladies were wearing Air Force sweatshirts they just purchased over their thin dresses. Thankfully, it warmed up the next day and the rest of the trip was much warmer. We were so glad we planned ahead.

[coloraturaElise]

When I go overseas for longer trips, I pick 4 colors that work well together, so everything is mix and match. Last time it was black, white, hot pink, and sapphire blue. I had tops, a jacket, pants, capris, shorts, skirts, a hat, purse, pashmina, and 2 pairs of shoes and was able to have over 2 weeks of outfits without repeating. That was in addition to my concert gown (fuscia) and shoes (it was an opera-singing trip). On the first 2 pages of my travel journal, I made a list of what I was going to wear each day while I was sitting in the airport, and even had some combinations left over that I never used.

[dkwillrn]

If you haven’t tried Turkish towels(the kind with loops) . They are light and dry almost as fast as the travel towel and you could find one large enough for a blanket. Warning- they don’t all have loops(like terry cloth). Many are smooth and don’t absorb enough for a shower. So this may be an option if you wish to take one. One other thing that I sometimes do, is lay the towel opened up fully, and patch your suitcase and fold the ends over the clothing this does not make it bulky. Happy travels!

[SD-ETAC]

A positive attitude will take you far. The worst weather experienced on vacation was Hurricane Sandy, but wherever I go with my wife is wonderful as I love spending time with my wife, yes even during a hurricane. Vacations that are miserable include breaking your femur, needing emergency surgery or having a heart attack.

[Stormbrise]

We went to Paris in August, and it is normally good weather. However, this week that year was wet. However being from the Pacific Northwest and my husband from Scandinavia, we did make the most of it despite the rain. Long walks in the rain, a couple of cheap rain ponchos, and we still have fond memories of the trip.

[magietagie]

I am a chronic over packer… your tips are great but I think I need a support group! 😉

[alanbirkner]

Hi! We've gone on 2 week cruises with just an overnight bag each. If you bring a pair of gloves and a hat, you can come back to O'Hare in February. We're in our 70's. We each carry a small tote bag for meds. We've seen people with 2 huge suitcases who have to take cabs and have help. My husband uses a cane and he can still manage his own stuff. Tina, Al's wife

[lyndamartin]

My tip is...if you fly often to visit friends or family, leave a few outfits and pairs of shoes, purses and toiletries etc at their home then you need only a personal bag for the flight. I live in Australia but visit family in the USA twice a year and do this. It's so much easier, no heavy luggage to check in and collect at the carousel, this makes customs so much easier to get through.

[kswanson]

I travel with a backpack only. Now I also bring a cinch stop trash bag. Before sliding my pack under the seat, it goes in the bag. Why? A man puked on me and my pack mid-flight. I was left with nothing to change into. Even if it hadn't gotten on my stuff, it made me think twice about putting anything directly on the plane floor. Put that underseat item in a bag.

[roxanneonthemove]

You mentioned that you can always buy something you missed packing. That is not always the case. My husband is a big and tall size 2XLT it is hard to buy clothes even going to shopping malls in the USA, and I am short but a plus size, most place do not have clothes in our size. I spent months searching for rain/ waterproof pants to go to Norway in January, knowing I would have layers underneath. You would think with so many clothes coming from China that finding a shirt for my husband would not be a problem finding one there. It is best to do some research before you go as to what to expect weather wise or even for your activities. Sometimes investing in good quality pieces of clothing such merino wool can get you through your trip with minimal washings. I always plan to take everything I think I need, rather than wasting my vacation time searching for something. We do a lot of cruises, I would rather spend time in ports seeing something worthwhile rather than shopping for something I may not find.

[letterbox]

I like packing 1 week mix/match clothes for two weeks of vacation time. Anything else you can get locally. As for the weather, i always pick sunny destinations and have not had bad luck, just a day or two of heavy rains.

[virginias.poston]

I ALWAYS wear a good-size pashmina scarf on flights. It can work as a light blanket, eye mask, neck pillow.... But the reason I always take one is because years ago I was traveling to San Francisco. Kept checking the weather reports before leaving--they kept saying upper-60s/low 70s for the highs, 50s for lows, so I packed accordingly, but with layers, so I did have some tank tops. When we got there, they were having a weird heat wave, up to 90°! After 2 days of sweltering in the clothes I brought (and not finding any affordable light-weight clothes for sale), I couldn't take it any more. I took my half-slip and some safety pins, and turned the pashmina into a perfectly serviceable, light-weight skirt. Then, when it turned super chilly on Fisherman's Wharf, it kept my ears from freezing. Most versatile item I own.

[MegaLokopo]

If you don't need it while traveling, buy it when you get there, if you can't buy it when you get there, ship it there before hand. Traveling with a backpack that is less than 5 pounds when fully "packed" is an amazing experience.

[kariforgie]

Delta has been cracking down on international flights to South America. That belt bag or cross body counts towards a personal item. Make sure it can be shoved into your backpack before you get in the boarding line!

[Brody]

I also pack my favourite pillowcase and buy a decent pillow before I start my trip. I hate some of the pillows at AirBNBs and hotels. I have also recently purchased a large neutral scarf that will also work as a travel blanket for the plane.

[leighnisbett]

Toiletry items might not be suitable if you have sensitive skin or are allergic to certain chemicals within the hotels bathroom supplies and you need to consider taking your own bathroom supplies .

[thedavidguy]

I have a complete list of things to pack that I have honed over the years so there’s no need to think, plan or worry about what I will take. Obviously there are some items for cold weather and some for warm weather but, overall, packing from the list is simple and quick. As you suggested, I pack for 1 week no matter how long the trip. Interestingly, the list has gotten much shorter over the years, but I think I have pared it down as much as I can. Both my wife and I have traveled carry on only since 1999.