Most airlines enforce specific hand luggage size and weight restrictions. While various viral TikTok hacks promise extra packing space, travel experts caution that using such tricks could get passengers into legal hot water.
Here are a few helpful hand-luggage hacks to avoid getting caught out: 1. Reserve an airport hotel the night before your flight; this will prevent any surprises when checking in for your flight. Gatwick packing checklist.
Book an airport hotel the night before
Travellers frequently book an airport hotel the night before a flight in order to reduce traffic and stress, and ensure a sound night’s rest before their journey begins. This strategy can especially come in handy for early flights or people prone to anxiety when it comes to flying.
When travelling with someone, be sure to book window and aisle seats separately, leaving one free for sitting together in the middle seat. This can help alleviate air sickness symptoms by making the journey much less stressful.
Make your luggage easily identifiable on busy airport carousels by adding a colourful strap or ribbon tie – this will allow you to spot it more quickly on carousels, and help prevent other passengers mistaking it as their own suitcase.
Book an airport lounge
Airport lounges provide an oasis of peace from the chaos and confusion of busy airport terminals, offering a tranquil space where passengers can unwind before their flight. Not only are free food and beverages offered here; most lounges also provide charging stations, workstations, and shower facilities as amenities.
For optimal airport lounge experience, it is ideal to arrive several hours ahead of your flight’s boarding time. This allows you to fully take advantage of complimentary food and beverages without being pressured into making your flight on time. Some lounges also provide real-time flight information screens which allow users to stay informed on boarding announcements or gate changes easily.
Though accessing most lounges requires payment, many airlines and credit card companies provide premium passengers with complimentary lounge access as a benefit of membership or status levels – for instance American Express’ Platinum Card provides access at over 1,000 airports around the world! To find out what options may exist in terms of lounge access for you, research airlines and cards you frequently fly on.
Check in online as early as possible
Travelling light is on the rise for good reason: it reduces risk of lost baggage, stress and impact on the environment, while minimising environmental footprint. Packing for a flight using only hand luggage may prove challenging with airlines limiting cabin bag allowances.
Online check-in opens 24 hours prior to departure and closes an hour prior. If possible, try and check in early so as to bypass any queues and head directly through security.
One tip to help make life simpler is investing in a tracking tag for your suitcase. Although this may seem like an extravagant purchase, having such an option will ensure your bag can be found should it ever go missing at an airport.
An essential luggage hack is packing cubes – these space-maximizing essentials help maximize space in your carry-on and there is a wide selection available on Amazon or premium brands such as Monos’ or Groundtruth.
Weight your luggage at an empty check-in desk
Most airlines enforce specific hand luggage size and weight restrictions for passengers traveling with hand luggage; many UK airports also mandate liquid items (like sunscreen or hand sanitiser) must fit within bottles under 100ml – this may prove challenging when travelling with children or having large bottles of essential toiletries such as shampoo and conditioner in your bag.
To make sure your luggage does not go beyond the limit, there are several simple strategies you can employ to estimate its weight. One such tactic involves finding an empty check-in desk and using a mechanical scale to weigh your bag or suitcase – for an accurate reading, hold up the bag for several seconds while doing this!
If you don’t own a mechanical scale, a household scale can also help provide an indication of your luggage’s weight. A pair of dumbbells or sack of potatoes are quick and reliable ways to determine this number. Furthermore, certain retailers like Boots offer click-and-collect services at airports where customers can order liquids online before collecting them after security has processed your orders.
Invest in a tracking tag
Tracking tags can be invaluable tools in helping to locate lost luggage at airports, enabling other people to locate it should something go amiss. But security of such devices remains a serious concern since they could potentially be misused maliciously to track individuals or be compromised by non-service provider individuals trying to gain access to location data for misuse by hackers.
Travel can be stressful enough without having to worry about losing your hand luggage in transit. Luckily, there are various hacks you can employ in order to make the process as stress-free and seamless as possible. By following these tips and following them strictly you can avoid any potential mishaps during flight preparation and enjoy your holiday fully. To save both time and money why not use Boots’ click-and-collect service found in most departure lounges at airports as it offers quick collection service of essential toiletries for when you arrive at airport terminals so all essential toiletries and holiday essentials will be waiting when you get there – perfect!
