During the past few years, most airlines have changed their baggage
policies. It’s now very common to pay a fee for every checked bag, even the
first. And, there are additional fees for overweight or oversized bags.
This can make packing for a holiday season vacation a particular
challenge. You want to minimize the number of bags you take, but winter’s cold
calls for thicker clothing, which takes more space to pack, which means more bags,
which means more fees. Because you’d surely rather spend your money on holiday
gifts and fun than on baggage fees, here are some strategic packing tips for
winter travel:
Don’t pack anything without asking yourself this important question:
“Do I really need this?” It may help to make a list of the days you’ll be away
and what you’ll do and wear each day. You may discover opportunities to wear
the same items more than once – especially if you’ll have access to a laundry.
Select clothes that you can layer. Packing a t-shirt that can be layered
with a button-down shirt and/or a light sweater may be better than packing one
heavier (and bulkier) sweater.
Shoes are notorious for taking up luggage space. Think about the shoes
you’ll really need on your trip and leave any others behind. It may be worth
investing in a pair of comfortable shoes that look good with both casual and
dressy attire. Another idea is to wear your heaviest pair of shoes on the
plane.
If you simply must pack some bigger items (perhaps you’re going on a
ski vacation and really do need that fleece jacket, down vest, wool socks and
other cold-weather gear), consider shipping some items – including your holiday
gifts – ahead to your destination. Ship early enough that the package will arrive
before you do.
As always, check the Transportation Safety Administration’s list of
prohibited items for carry-on and/or checked bags, available at www.tsa.gov. Remember that some sporting goods
(such as ski poles) are OK in checked bags, but can’t be in a carry-on bag.
Some festive items, such as the fireworks you’d like to set off at midnight on
New Year’s Eve, are never allowed in either carry on or checked bags.
For
more tips on what to bring on your holiday trip, talk with your travel
professional – then, start packing!
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