When it comes to packing for a holiday, many of us will often avoid paying extra for luggage, especially after had forking out for the flight. But with EU lawmakers recently voting to ban airlines from charging passengers for carry-on bags, it might be time to upgrade from an under the seat bag to a more roomy overhead cabin case.
While a standard carry-on bag is certainly more spacious than squeezing everything into an underseat bag, it can still be a challenge getting everything in, especially if you’re going away for a longer trip. But they’re worth it if you don’t fancy queuing to drop off a suitcase and waiting for it to come through the baggage carousel. Helpfully, one savvy traveller has shared how you can fit two weeks worth of clothes in one carry-on.
In a video posted on TikTok, the lifestyle influencer Arabella Stokes showed how she packed her carry-on suitcase for a two week holiday in Japan. She even managed to get two jackets in her bag.
Arabella used a combination of “clever folding techniques with the use of packing cubes” to help her get the most out of her Beis Small Carry-On Roller, which retails for £223.
While different airlines have varying requirements when it comes to the size of cabin bags allowed onboard, Arabella’s carry-on measures 53cm x 33cm 29cm.
To compare, carry-on bags taken on British Airways and easyJet flights must be no larger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm, while the limit for bags on RyanAir is 55cm x 40cm x 20cm.
In the video, Arabella showed how she rolled her clothes into packing cubes, keeping the other side of her suitcase free for shoes, accessories and toiletries. She also included a list of everything she packed in the suitcase in the caption.
The main piece of advice when it comes to packing is to think about what you actually need to take with you, and making a list beforehand can stop you from overpacking.
Nowadays, many hotels or rented apartments provide a chance to wash clothes too, meaning you can be more selective about what you pack.
Here’s everything Arabella packed to fit in a carry-on suitcase for two weeks of travel
- Two jackets
- One dress
- Eight tops
- Five pairs of trousers
- Two pairs of trainers
- Socks and underwear
- Makeup and toiletries
- Curling iron
- Passport
- Headphones
- iPad
