Avoiding Baggage Fees: Organized Packing Tips
jennifer on August 4th, 2008

“With the new restrictions implemented by the airlines, the last thing you want to worry about is cramming your gear into one suitcase, having your bag exceed the weight limit and being charged a high fine,” said Wanda Gierhart, president, TravelSmith Outfitters, Inc.

Advance planning will save money, according to packing expert Anne McAlpin, author of Pack it Up. “Always confirm in advance with your airline what their specific regulations/restrictions are. And especially now, make sure you know exactly what, if anything, it will cost you to check your bags (or if they are overweight),” McAlpin explains.

To help ease packing anxiety, Laura McHolm, a storage and organizational expert for California-based NorthStar Moving Corporation, says “the key to packing the perfect suitcase is doing your homework before you go on your trip.”

McHolm has offered some suitcase organizing tips to deal with “the space crunch” put upon travelers by the airline industry:

• Determine what amenities are available at your hotel to eliminate taking items that take up space.
• Identify what you will be doing on your trip and what the weather is likely to be before you begin packing.
• Does the hotel have dry cleaning, laundry facilities and what is its turn around?
• HelenRae Luggage, the makers of the new stylish travel line, advises you lay-out clothes prior to your trip and bring only what you need based on the trip’s agenda. Don’t pack extra outfits ‘just in case.’

Once you determine what you need to pack, McHolm suggests:

• Pick a palette and stick with it! Choose 2-3 basic colors so you don’t have to bring more than one purse or more than one pair of shoes, which takes up the most room in your suitcase.
• When you start to pack, pack from heaviest to lightest, leaving the most fragile items on top.
• Try folding clothes so that there is not a crease down the center and lay shoes toe to heel to maximize space. Don’t forget about the space inside of your shoes too!
• HelenRae Luggage suggests that accessories can change up a look without taking up much suitcase space.
• If you’re headed to a chilly destination where a sweater, coat and boots are in order, wear the bulkiest garments on the plane instead of using valuable suitcase space for them, according to HelenRae Luggage.
• Decide what to wear on the plane. Sometimes the biggest shoes can be a good thing as long as they are easily removed for security. Also, use your largest purse. This helps eliminate the space in your suitcase but gives you a pseudo-carry on for the plane. Don’t forget to figure this outfit into the mixing and matching for your entire trip.