1. Choose a piece of luggage that is comfortable and complies with the airline’s regulations
Hand luggage is intended to accompany you on board the aircraft. The suitcase you use must therefore meet the airline’s standards so that it fits easily into the designated overhead compartments. This explains why the requirements regarding luggage dimensions are very strict.
It is essential that you check the limits set for your flight, either with your travel agent or directly with the airline. The shape and style are of little importance; it is mainly the height, width and depth that matter. You can therefore choose either a soft-sided travel bag or a hard-shell suitcase, with or without wheels, with a handle or a shoulder strap…
A hard-shell suitcase protects the contents from knocks and is waterproof. However, a soft-sided travel bag is lighter when empty and allows you to pack more. It is therefore a matter of personal choice, weighing up the pros and cons of each type of cabin baggage.
2. Be mindful of what you pack in your cabin bag
Air travel is subject to a number of restrictions designed to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members. As such, certain items may be strictly prohibited or heavily regulated in the cabin, whilst they may be permitted in the hold under different conditions.
Good to know: a folding-blade razor will be refused in the cabin, as will a pair of scissors or other sharp instruments and blunt objects.
Similarly, hygiene products and toiletries must comply with specific packaging rules to be accepted in hand luggage. You must use bottles with a maximum capacity of 100 ml each for your shower gel, shampoo, make-up remover and other cosmetics, up to a limit of 10 containers. These small containers must then be placed in a transparent storage pouch (such as a freezer bag).
To make security checks easier, keep your toiletries bag easily accessible on top so that you can quickly present the liquid items.
3. Check the weight of your cabin bag before heading to the airport
Just like dimensions, the weight of cabin luggage is also regulated. If you exceed the limits set by the airline, you may be charged an excess fee. To avoid additional charges, it is therefore best to check the weight of your luggage before heading to the airport.
Good to know: there are small devices called ‘luggage scales’ that clip onto your suitcase and allow you to weigh your luggage. However, you can also use a bathroom scales if you don’t have one of these small electronic devices.
4. Optimise the organisation of your hand luggage
You’ve carefully packed everything on your travel checklist: matching tops and bottoms, shoes, the perfect number of pairs of socks… However, the real challenge lies ahead: managing to fit it all into your hand luggage.
To start with, place the heaviest items at the bottom, near the wheels. Next, folding your clothes the Marie Kondo way saves space and makes it easy to access different outfits without creasing your clothes.
Don’t hesitate to use several toiletries bags and small pouches to organise your suitcase and make the most of the space: underwear, hair accessories, cables and chargers…
5. Final details not to be forgotten for the security of your cabin bag
To secure the contents of your cabin bag, you should use a padlock. However, it must be TSA (Transport Security Administration)-approved. This is because these are the only models for which customs officials have universal keys. Without such a lock, your luggage may be damaged during routine security checks.
Finally, labelling is the last point you mustn’t overlook when packing your suitcase for a flight. Make sure you remove any old labels and ensure that the details, as well as the barcode, are clearly visible.