# What is your luggage packing style? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 15, 2024, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-luggage-packing-style/1000303 "2024-04-15T03:45:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-luggage-packing-style/1000303/21 "2024-04-15T21:21:50Z")
I’m not sure which one it was (may have been Spirit), but I’ve heard of at least one low-cost carrier that installed bars under the seats to block most underseat luggage. Maybe a small purse would have gotten through, but not a backpack. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2024, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-luggage-packing-style/1000303/22 "2024-04-15T22:20:04Z")
I’m not doubting you, but wow, that’s a low bar. (heh). ---
**Author:** ![Apodder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apodder/32/17727_2.png) [@Apodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apodder)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-luggage-packing-style/1000303/23 "2024-04-16T13:10:24Z")
Idk…seems wasteful if the items get thrown out instead of donated. Plus, if they’re unwanted and I’m not wearing them at home, I sure don’t want to wear them on vacay… ---
**Author:** ![Apodder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apodder/32/17727_2.png) [@Apodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apodder)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-luggage-packing-style/1000303/24 "2024-04-16T13:11:42Z")
If I remember correctly, carry on luggage costs more than checked on the budget carriers. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-luggage-packing-style/1000303/25 "2024-04-16T13:56:07Z")
My gf recently took her mom to Florida to visit relatives. Because Latrobe Airport is closer to us than Pittsburgh, she flew Spirit. She was actually shocked how cheap the tickets were. _ **But** _, her mom needed an aisle seat due to knee issues. And baggage fees. And carryon fees. By the time all the extra fees were paid, she said it cost as much as flying a real airline. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-luggage-packing-style/1000303/26 "2024-04-16T14:02:09Z")
I guess I’m a minimalist. Not quite a single change of clothes and a toothbrush, but not that far off, either. I’m confident I can acquire anything else I need wherever it is I’m going. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-luggage-packing-style/1000303/27 "2024-04-16T15:45:18Z")
Carry on luggage that has to go in the overhead bin costs more. A small item that fits under the seat, like a backpack, is free. Literally the only thing you can bring with you for free (Unless those bars under the seats that @Dr.Strangelove mentioned are true). ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2024, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-luggage-packing-style/1000303/28 "2024-04-16T15:47:23Z")
Burrito backpack I guess? Everything rolled and squeezed into a backpack, making it big enough that they can’t try to make me jam it under the set in front of me on the plane. I did a week in Europe that way. I don’t find it wrinkles the clothes, however. There’s no space for wrinkles! ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-luggage-packing-style/1000303/29 "2024-06-07T16:03:39Z")
More advice. > **[How to Pack for a Two-Week Trip With One Small Suitcase](https://www.nytimes.com/article/packing-guide-two-week-trip-one-suitcase.html?u2g=c&unlocked_article_code=1.x00.6_cw.sFI5Rhge5u87&smid=url-share)** > > Expert advice from professional travelers on what to bring and where to put it. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-luggage-packing-style/1000303/30 "2024-06-07T17:42:26Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I pack according to a Reader’s Digest article I once read: Bring as much **unwanted** clothing as possible. Then discard it as the trip goes on, such that your luggage gets lighter and lighter and you have more and more space for other things. > [@Apodder](#): > > Idk…seems wasteful if the items get thrown out instead of donated. Plus, if they’re unwanted and I’m not wearing them at home, I sure don’t want to wear them on vacay… A), you can generally find a place at many urban destinations to donate clothing. B), lots of us have clothing that we don’t hate but are ready to be done with, for one reason or another. For instance, I generally pack my raggediest old underpants when travelling (sorry Mom!). They make it through one final wearing on the trip, and then get thrown in the trash, which is probably less resource-intensive than washing and re-transporting them anyway. Bonus, if the loss of those raggedy garments has depleted my usable underwear supply too much, I can get some nice foreign undies as a souvenir of my trip! (No I do not show them off to guests, very funny.) The One Super Useful Weird Tip for long-stay travel packing, though, is: Thrift stores at your destination. I left for a six-months overseas trip last year with one modest half-filled suitcase containing a few key garments and the abovementioned ratty underwear. And for less than US$100, I obtained a lavish temporary wardrobe (including shoes) that I then cleaned and re-donated before returning home. Think of it as just a rental fee for having all the clothes you need without either the hassle of massive packing, or the environmental costs of transporting massive amounts of luggage. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2024, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-luggage-packing-style/1000303/31 "2024-06-07T18:29:41Z")
Gangnum ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2024, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-luggage-packing-style/1000303/32 "2024-06-07T19:17:35Z")
Is that where you pack Korean horsey dancing clothes? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2024, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-luggage-packing-style/1000303/33 "2024-06-07T19:37:35Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I’m confident I can acquire anything else I need wherever it is I’m going. This is key for me. I only make sure that I have enough meds to last me for a week past my expected return date. Otherwise, I can buy anything I may need or find a laundromat. The one time I didn’t pack extra meds, I got caught short and had to go through a crabby pharmacist to fill four doses of each for me. The cost was very high, as he was filling it out of the normal refill schedule and insurance wouldn’t pay for that. Basically, if it won’t fit into a carry-on, I either don’t need it or I shouldn’t be going on the trip. The wife is the same way. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2024, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-luggage-packing-style/1000303/34 "2024-06-17T02:24:04Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Bring as much **unwanted** clothing as possible. Then discard it as the trip goes on, such that your luggage gets lighter and lighter and you have more and more space for other things. The ultimate manifestation of this philosophy occurs in the Jack Reacher novels. When the clothes you’re wearing get dirty/stinky, buy new ones and discard the old. No need to carry luggage or sit around in laundromats. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-luggage-packing-style/1000303.md?page=1)