How to Pack for a Flight – 9 Space-Saving Tips to Make Traveling a Breeze

I love traveling but sometimes, buuuuuut not so much the packing. Whether I’m packing for a road trip or packing for a flight, it always seems to take me a while to get everything packed and in a way that’s organized but simple. I’ve found that if I just throw everything into a suitcase or bag without planning my outfits, or placing important items where I can easily get to them, I end up stressed and my trip isn’t as wonderful of a time as it could be 😉 Here are some of the best things to know to pack for a flight.

9 PACKING HACKS THAT WILL SAVE YOU SPACE

Before you head out on vacation this year, make sure you have everything you need so you can fully enjoy your vacation and not have to worry! Use these tips and hacks listed here for a stress-free and worry-free traveling experience.

• Make a list and save yourself some stress!
  • If you have to pack for more than a couple days, you most likely are going to need to make a list of all your essentials. This could include anything from clothes to shoes to gifts to books – whatever you think you might need, write it down. My dad always taught me to start at the top of my head and go to the bottom of my feet and think of everything I needed: “hair – brush, comb, products, accessories . . . eyes – contacts, glasses, glasses case . . .” all the way down to my feet 🙂 I like to make my list a few weeks in advance and keep it nearby; that way if I remember something, I can write it down right away.
  • Only take what you need! Don’t overpack! I am totally guilty of that – I used to always overpack and then I realized how much space I was wasting every time I packed something I REALLY didn’t need! So many times I’ve come home and unpacked and realized that I didn’t even wear a shirt or dress that I had packed.
  • Plan out your outfits. Lay out everything included in an outfit. Try to mix and match different pieces to make new outfits with pieces you are already taking. I typically will make a list on my phone of the outfits I am taking and what days I will be wearing them (provided I’ve looked at the weather at the destination where I am traveling).

• Roll your clothes
  • Honestly, I used to hear that and think ‘really?? what difference does it make?’ until I started doing it and realized I was saving tons of room by rolling! And a plus – clothes tend to be less wrinkled if you smooth them out and roll them neatly 🙂 When you get to your destination, unroll and hang and you won’t have to iron most of your clothes!
  • Roll your clothes and keep outfits rolled together as much as you can. You can stack and roll outfits together, or just pack them next to each other to make it easy to get your outfit out.

• Think travel-size
  • Unless you’re planning on traveling to Antarctica for an extended period of time, odds are you’ll be able to purchase most of your essentials wherever you’re going. You don’t need to pack your full-size shampoo, conditioner, hair serum, moisturizer, lotion, cream, etc. – you get the point 🙂 Save room and make a quick run to the store to get your toiletries when you arrive at your destination. Or shop the travel aisle at your local grocery store and buy travel sizes of your products to pack.
  • If you do want to take your own products but you only have the full-sized bottles, buy a few little bottles like these and squeeze the product in the travel-sized bottles. That way you can still take what you want but you won’t have to waste room by packing full-sized bottles!
  • OR you can save sample bottles from resorts or hotels and pack those to take. Their size follows TSA guidelines so you won’t have to worry about security throwing them away when you go through the checkpoint.

• Layer dryer sheets throughout your suitcase
  • I’m all about making sure my clothes smell good, so this is something I’ll always do. Just throw a few dryer sheets in between your layers of clothes or if you’re rolling your clothes, roll the dryer sheets up in your clothes. It makes a world of difference! If you’re sensitive to dryer sheets, you could spray your clothes with an essential oil spray or whatever you prefer.

• Pack similar products together
  • This seems like a no-brainer but sometimes it’s good to remind yourself of this when you’re packing. Use a plastic bag for all your travel-size hair products, another for all your travel-size skincare products, etc. This makes it easy to get your liquids out at security if you are flying.
  • Make sure you if you pack phone or laptop chargers in your carry-on bag, you keep them at the top of your bag ready to take out when going through security. Sometimes I put my laptop charger and phone charger in a small plastic bag so I can quickly grab them out. You’ll also need to have your laptop ready to put in a bin to go through the security scanner.

• Use wrinkle release spray
  • This stuff is a life-saver! I love getting to a hotel, pulling my clothes out, unrolling them, hanging them, and giving them a little spritz of some Downy wrinkle release spray. It smells amazing AND it takes out any wrinkles! I like that this product is offered in travel sizes making it easy to travel with a small bottle of it. If you don’t want to buy the wrinkle release spray, here is a recipe for DIY wrinkle release spray.

HERE is the Downy wrinkle release spray that I love! ^^^

It is honestly an *essential* for me when I’m traveling!

• Keep jewelry in socks
  •  If you don’t have a jewelry roll, put some of your jewelry inside your folded up socks, or your shoes and/or slippers. I like to put my necklaces and bracelets in a sock and then that pair of socks goes in my shoes/sandals to conserve space. I find if I put one piece of jewelry in each pair of socks, it’s less likely to tangle. Just don’t forget that the jewelry is in there when you go to put your socks and shoes on.

• Put shoes in gallon-sized bags
  • Pack your shoes inside a Ziploc gallon-sized bag {you could always throw in a dryer sheet as well} so they don’t get your clothes dirty . . . or smelly. If you like to make sure your shoes retain their shape when packed, you might want to invest in a set of these. You’ll want to keep the gallon-sized bag for repacking your shoes for your trip home as well, so you don’t get your clothes dirty.

• Wear your heaviest shoes and clothes (if possible)
  • This especially applies if you’re traveling in the winter and plan on taking boots. Your best option would be to wear the boots – trying to find room inside a suitcase for a pair of boots can be slightly difficult. If you do wear boots, be sure you wear a pair that is easy to take off at security if you’re flying.
  • Layering on your clothes helps you save room in your luggage. Just remember that you do have to take off jackets, sweaters, and hoodies when you go through security so don’t go too crazy with the layering 😉

*If you’re looking for a cute backpack for your kids, or even for you, here is a list of some cute backpacks from Amazon.

*When it comes to packing for a flight, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. You’ll have to go through security before you board your flight – meaning, you will need to have your liquids in a clear plastic bag and easy to get to, and you’ll also want to pack as lightly as you can so you don’t end up paying extra baggage fees or lugging pounds and pounds of luggage through the airport.

Here are some things you need to know when you pack for a flight:

• What are the rules?
  • Here is the TSA’s rule: Liquids, gels and aerosols packed in carry-on must follow the 3-1-1 liquids rule: 3.4 ounces or less per container. 1 quart size, clear, plastic, zip top bag (all liquids must fit in bag) 1 bag per passenger.
• What is not allowed in my carry-on bag?
  •  There are quite a few things you are not allowed to take in your carry-on. Here is a short list from TravelPro: Firearms, ammunition, and fireworks are prohibited, as are all knives and safety razors (including pocket knives and Swiss Army knives). Straight razors and replacement blades for straight razors are also not allowed. Most tools also cannot be packed in carry-on luggage, as they have the potential to cause harm.
• Can I bring water on the plane?
  • As stated in the question above, you can’t take liquids over 3.4 ounces. So, in short, no you can’t take a water bottle through security. However, you can take an empty reusable water bottle and fill it at a fountain once you get through security. Most stores and restaurants in the airport sell water bottles but they’re typically way overpriced; so it would be better to plan to take your own bottle. Here’s a great article on the specifics of taking water on a plane, including what to do if you have an infant or toddler that needs bottled water.
• How do I survive traveling with toddlers??
  • You need to read this!

I hope these tips and tricks help you when you pack for a flight or road trip!

Let me know in the comments below what else you would recommend. I would love to hear what you would suggest when traveling with an infant! My husband and I have taken a few road trips with our baby, but we haven’t flown yet. I’m new to all that so any and all tips would be greatly appreciated.