Flight attendant shares packing tips for hassle-free travel

Traveling solo has its advantages, but you also have to be ready for anything.

MANILA, Philippines – A longtime flight attendant shared some packing hacks he’s learned from more than a decade of working in the air.

Retailer House of Fraser tapped Emilie, a 16-year-old flight attendant, to give packing tips for travelers (even those who consider themselves frequent flyers).

Here are some of Emilie’s travel tips:

Prioritize essential items

For those who travel often or enjoy their holidays, Emilie suggested having bags already packed with essential travel items such as toiletries, medicine, sunblock, adapters and power banks, which will make it easier to pack for the next journey

Do not bring hard suitcases

“Passengers tend to think that rigid suitcases are more durable than canvas ones, but in reality it’s the opposite,” explained Emilie. “Hard covers can easily be broken by the pressure of other bags once they are all packed together in the [cargo] keep”.

Emilie, on the other hand, recommended the use of canvas suitcases, which are more durable, preferably a bright color to be able to see faster during recovery. She cautioned against using a white canvas suitcase because it will stain faster.

Emilie also revealed a surprising observation – four-wheeled suitcases are not as durable or reliable as two-wheeled ones. So, he said, she avoids using it.

Do not carry many items

This might be a hard pill to swallow for those who love to do a lot of OOTD on trips.

For short trips, Emilie advised that it is more practical to travel with only a carry-on bag or a backpack, eliminating the time spent waiting at the baggage carousels.

A smaller bag, however, means fewer items. She said pre-planning outfits ahead of time makes a big difference.

A few T-shirts and underwear, a pair of sneakers, jeans, a jacket, a coat and a dress are enough, he added.

Bring towels

It is common knowledge among travelers that only liquids under 100ml are allowed on flights, however, due to changes in cabin pressure, liquids can still leak.

So, Emilie suggested bringing wipes or a tampon to prevent or clean up spills.

Also, Emilie recommended keeping important documents, such as the passport, in a clear ziplock bag.

Avoid bringing fresh food

“Food and drinks are fine to pack in your suitcase as long as they are well packed and leak proof,” shared Emilie. “Be sure to avoid anything with a strong odor that might attract the attention of sniffer dogs at customs.”

Some examples of munchies prohibited on international travel are cured meats, cheese and fresh food.

Make sure you can lift your bag

As simple as it may sound, Emilie’s last suggestion is not to overpack, exceed the weight limit and use a bag that is too heavy.

“If you can’t lift it and put it in the compartment above yourself, it’s too heavy for us attendants, too, and we don’t want to insult our backs to lift your luggage,” Emilie finished.