Packing light: 10 tips to help avoid checked baggage fees

With airlines now charging for checked baggage, packing light can save big bucks when you travel. We’ve taken a look at the Web sites of some travel enthusiasts, Lani Teshima’s Travelite FAQ and Doug Dyment’s Compleat Carry-On Traveler, and talked to our own frequent travelers to offer 10 easy tips to keep your baggage to a minimum to save money on your next flight.

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1) Have a good packing list

And use it. “Don’t try to do it from memory,” Dyment advises, “or make it up as you go along.” Otherwise, you’ll end up hauling more than you need, or throwing in impulse items.

2) Get an efficient bag

You might be surprised to see what’s at the top of Dyment’s list of bags to avoid: wheeled bags. Dyment argues that they tend to be heavier, less roomy, unreliable and less able to fit in available storage spaces.

3) Embrace basic neutral colors

Learn to love neutrals—black, brown, navy or tan—and make sure each item coordinates into at least two wardrobes, using secondary colors for accent purposes. “Never pack clothing that serves only one purpose,” Teshima notes, “except for your main outerwear (such as an overcoat).”

4) Learn to layer

Choose your clothing wisely so that you can parlay a handful of separate garments into multiple outfits. Pick colors and style that will easily mix and match. Also, if you’re going from a cold climate to a warm one, leave your puffy jacket behind and just layer up before you leave the house instead.

5) Fold clothes so they don’t wrinkle

Dyment suggests the “bundle folding” method, which entails layering clothes around a soft core, like an organizer pouch filled with small items like socks and underwear. More specifically, clothing is smoothed out and layered in a specific order — jacket, skirts and dresses, long-sleeved shirts, short-sleeved shirts, slacks, sweaters and knits, and shorts — with the collar and waistband ends alternating, and the dresses and pants laid out lengthwise. These layers are then wrapped around the core. The resulting bundle is then tied up—though not tightly—and placed in the bag.

6) Be flexible

“Feel free to buy a local garment on your trip,” Dyment suggests, “but feel comfortable enough to mail it home if you don’t plan wear it outside of that one European country.”

7) Leave larger-sized toiletries at home

Besides running into issues with liquid limits at TSA, toiletries can take up a lot of space. Transfer items such as shampoo into travel-sized containers—or leave some behind altogether. “Unless you are visiting the Australian Outback, you should have no trouble finding replacements should you need them,” Teshima says.

8) Limit your shoes

Sure, you’ll want to be prepared for all occasions, from a hearty hike to an upscale dinner, but picking a single pair of comfy casual shoes that can go from day to night will save you a lot of space. And wear the bulkiest pair during the flights, so they don’t take up room in your bag.

9) Avoid lugging heavy travel books

Many travel books are available fir digital download but if you’re going somewhere where you do need a hardcopy, “Tear out the sections relevant to your destination, or photocopy them and toss them as you go,” Teshima suggests. “If you can’t bear to do this, mail them home while you’re on the road.”

10) Know the rules

Airlines have strict size and weight limits for carry-on luggage, so check with your carrier. Also, make sure you don’t pack anything on the TSA’s list of prohibited items.

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