6 Secret Travel Hacks Airlines DON'T Want You to Know!

Today's video uncovers the secret travel gear and must-have essentials that airlines don't want you to know about! Discover how to dodge carry-on fees, and pack smarter to maximize space while staying within the airlines carry-on and personal item allowance. We'll reveal hidden airline secrets and show you clever tricks to outsmart the airlines on your next flight. Whether you're looking to save money or just stress less navigating the airport in 2025, these tips will give you the insider edge.

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Welcome to Portable Professional, where I, Megan, use my experience from over 300 flights to offer you simple, practical and game-changing travel tips and hacks. Our mission is to help you reduce stress and make the most of every trip.

🐶 Chapters
00:00 Flying hacks for 2025
00:14 Tray table HACK
01:29 Packing HACK
03:04 Baggage Fee HACK
05:28 Checked Luggage HACK
06:46 BONUS packing tip (I always do this)
07:00 Plane HACK
08:14 Toiletry Packing HACK
08:54 Flying MUST-HAVE
09:25 Airport HACKS

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[Max-ntho]

If like me, u wiped down the tray with disinfectant wipes, pls don’t forget to also wipe the back of the seat where the tray touches when tray’s not in use. Also, wipe the entertainment (touch) screen, seat belt & buckles, armrests, any buttons u & other passengers might touch.

[klattin]

Years ago we traveled to Argentina. In buenos Aires they charged an arm and leg to for our overweight carry on to fly down to the southern tip. So on the way home, we WORE everything, our carry on was just an empty case. No extra fee!

[Reed-big]

On Southwest my single checked bag was 11 lbs overweight. They wanted $50 to check it. I was packed in packing cubes so we moved a few things, made one of the carry ons a checked bag and I got 11 lbs out of the bag in record time! The agent said she’d never seen anyone be able to move that much weight! I had a few canvas bags which allowed us to check a carryon while removing in flight and meds. I’m not sure what possessed me to pack those canvas bags but it certainly helped if only to have a transfer place to hold the shuffled items. Our other checked bag was underweight so that helped too. Because of Southwest’s 2 bags free adding another bag was a no brainer.

[patcarter]

one thing i don't understand about weight restrictions and requirements is this...say one person who weighs 150 lbs has 50 lbs of luggage, and another person who weighs 250 lbs has 30 lbs of luggage. so the person with 50 lbs of luggage has to pay a luggage fee, but the person with 30 lbs doesn't. yet the combined weight of the person and their luggage who didn't have to pay luggage fees weighs much more than the person who paid luggage fees. am i missing something?

[letterbox]

Very useful tech for any flight, Megan. The thing about the tray cover is that the germs should be wiped down with antiseptics before you cover them. The bluetooth converter is cool and you can add one item: portable power pack for phones that are running out of juice. Thanks for these fantastic items!

[itsnotme]

Love that tray sleeve idea Megan!! Think I'll pick up some packing cubes and a luggage scale. I've never been overweight on my personal bags...ever...which is interesting, since I've flown a lot in my life. Back in the 90's, I did travel with some work baggage that was over a couple times. Back then the fee was $25...so I paid it and claimed it on my expense report.

[chrismarcus]

I love your weekly travel tips and positive vibes Frenchy!

[DanaCeee]

Love the tray cover with the pocket! How clever

[pamhiar]

I have the tray cover. Used it once. It hangs down when filled with items like my iPad hitting my legs. Didn’t care for it and was added weight and item to get out of bag. Btw you still have to touch the tray table to put it in so still need to clean that off first.

[carolyncoulter]

The airline I was flying home on to have major surgery, my luggage was 5 lbs over weight. They wanted $200. I had to remove my pillow s and carry them on. I was very sick. In Atlanta, flights were delayed but I was diverted to Memphis. I begged to be let off first and could they call to hold the plane. It was the last plane to my home that night.
When they landed, they had closed the gate. And would not wait. I was so sick, I started crying. Several flight attendants stopped to help me. The Delta rep spoke with my husband, 2 hrs earlier, he had gotten home from Texas. He had to drive back to Atlanta and get me. I was to see my surgeon first thing in the next morning
It was a nightmare.

[markcunningham]

The airlines do not care if people know about any of these "hacks."

[HawaiiDave]

Glad to see you've changed your opinion on the usefulness of portable luggage scales. It's one of our most useful travel items when we have to fly in economy or premium economy. It's easy for us to go over the 50 pound limit on a single bag so the scale makes it easy to spread the load. It's hard for us to go over the 70 pound limit in Business and the most we've ever had was 65.

[TypoKnig]

I pack an extra duffel (cheap collapsable from Walmart). Used once to move stuff from an overweight bag. The additional checked bag was either free, or less than the overweight bag fee. Usually I use the duffel fir laundry on the return trip

[robinps]

I’m so excited—I have all of these products & can vouch for them 100%! I never thought of using the toiletry bag in flight so I’ll give it a try on the next one. And after losing my passport shortly before I was scheduled to fly to Greece, I now have a passport folder that accommodates yet another Apple Air Tag (& a new passport).
Thanks Megan, these are all great products & tips!

[mattlawrence]

I agree that a luggage scale is very useful. I have one and I doublecheck the weight of my to be checked suitcase as I am packing it. Then I put it in my carry on bag since it does have a lithium battery. I also just purchased a "personal item" bag that is the maximum size permitted by United Airlines and I have a Scott-e-Vest on order. I'm planning to move overseas next year so I wall be carrying a lot of stuff.

[blureader]

I have the light blue Tripped compression cube set and I love it and the toiletries bad is my absolute favorite! I use the airtag but we have to remember to check if it is activated. On my last trip, I discovered that my airtag showed that it was at home, and I was overseas. Because I named them generically by number, I had to check all of them to figure out which airtag it was. I bought cases for them, then named them after the case color or animal. If traveling with multiple airtags and like me, do not have a photographic memory, consider a strategy to tell them apart.

[georgemohr]

I had thought about purchasing a tray table cover, Recently, i was on an aircraft (I cannot recall the route I was on. The plane was a new plane) where one of these products would not work because of the way the closure clasp on the tray table would not allow the tray table to close if a product of this sort was being used. I carry cleansing towels for cleaning the tray table and I put nothing in that pocket except for items that are going to be disposed of during the flight.

[magietagie]

I have one of the Airplane Pockets and love it! Just be aware that while it fits great on most trays, it doesn’t fit that well on first class trays (which are bigger) I was still able to use mine, I just had to slide it on sideways and it only covered half of the tray, but better that than nothing…

[BHKCh]

Last year's Europe trip, checked bag was far overweight. I'd bought a rolling duffel just in case, so was able to shift enough weight to the duffel. The ticket included one each, checked bag, carryon, and personal item.

[karenstasik]

Great tips! Putting a bunch of things in my cart in amazon