A travel expert has shared how tourists can maximise the amount of space in their hand luggage, stating it could help people store everything they need for a short break in one bag.
Aly Smalls is a YouTuber who regularly posts videos showcasing her trips to a wide variety of destinations around the world and offering tips to help viewers make the most of their next getaway.
In a popular video, Aly noted that tourists looking to avoid taking any full-size suitcases can still take both hand luggage and a carry-on bag.
She explained: “Now, when you’re packing your carry-on only, it’s going to seem like it’s really small at first, but don’t worry. In addition to a carry-on item, you do get one additional personal item that fits underneath the seat, so make sure you take full advantage of this, it’s my secret weapon.
“I use this bag that fits under the seat on the aeroplane and it basically gives me 50 percent more luggage space. In this bag I usually add the bigger or bulkier items, like sweaters, scarves, stuff like that, which can be dual purpose as you can use them as blankets or extra layers on the plane if you get chilly.”
In the video, Aly noted that, when she is going on short trips, she prefers to just take hand luggage with her in order to avoid having to wait at the baggage carousell and the risk that the airline has lost her bag.
Whilst it can be more difficult to bring everything she needs for her holidays, Aly reminded tourists thinking of following this tip that they can bring an additional bag with her to put underneath the seat on the flight.
Many holidaymakers use this bag to make sure valuables are safe and that items they want to use during the journey are easily accessible, with the YouTuber noting that keeping scarves in this bag lets her keep a makeshift blanket nearby.
Whilst Aly admitted that only taking hand luggage limits travellers in the amount of liquid they can bring, they can avoid issues by putting them in a typical zip-lock bag that many have around the home.
She advised: “Your liquids have to be in a clear bag that’s one quart (0.95 litres) or less in size. There are tonnes of bags advertised on Amazon that show that they are TSA [Transport Security Administration] friendly, but not all of them are and I don’t want you to show up at the airport security and find out that they’re not going to let you through.
“What I do is use these medium-sized zip-lock bags. The total size is 0.97 quarts (0.92 litres). Not only are they perfectly water-tight, they seal really well, they’re also dirt cheap and you probably already have them in your home.”
Finally, Aly suggested that tourists choose their carry-on bag carefully, with both hard-sided and soft-sided cases having their advantages.
She continued: “They [hard-sided carry-on cases] fit perfectly down the aisle of the aeroplane, you don’t have to worry about bumping into anyone, it fits flawlessly in the overhead bin compartments, the wheels are ultra-smooth and they seem pretty heavy duty.
“I do still like my soft-sided carry-on and there’s a few reasons why. If you’re someone who tends to overpack, the soft-sided bag gives you a little more wiggle-room. However, if you do tend to overpack, sometimes that’s not a good thing.”