‘I’m a packing expert and I’d only use one kind of bag as cabin luggage’
A packing expert told Express.co.uk that there's one type of suitcase that's the best choice for cabin hand luggage.
Ever struggled to pack your cabin luggage for a holiday? A packing expert, in collaboration with Asda Money, has shared her top tips to avoid a packing nightmare.
Stephanie Parker, a packing guru and frequent traveller, said she’d always opt for a hard suitcase.
She told Express.co.uk: “I love a hard case, a wheely case. I love hard cases because they offer more protection for your stuff and they stop your clothes getting creased or things getting damaged as well.”
Even if you opted for a hand luggage only flight, bags could end up getting put in the hold if the flight is very busy.
Research by Sita found that baggage mishandling rates rose to their highest in a decade in 2023 . But IF you’ve got a hard case, your items are much less likely to get damaged if your suitcase ends up in the hold.
Stephanie added: “I love the ones with the spinny wheels. So you can kind of do a 360 as they’re much easier to manoeuvre and that’s one of my tips.
“Then get one with a pull up handle. Often I’ll slide my backpack or my luggage over the top of that so I don’t have to carry it as well.”
The packing expert also recommends choosing a suitcase with an extendable section so you can fit even more in your luggage.
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However, Stephanie said tourists do need to be careful when they’re choosing a new hard suitcase.
She warned: “Do check the dimensions of the different aircraft because they obviously have different policies. So make sure that fits and that’s including the wheels.”
Budget airlines often have very strict rules about luggage and tourists will need to make sure their case fits inside the dimensions.
If you’re taking a wheeled case, the wheels will need to also fit inside the airline’s luggage dimensions.
Stephanie also advised tourists to put their more valuable items, such as perfume, inside bulky items like jumpers.
This tip should help to protect breakable items during the flight and avoid any unpleasant surprises when you open your luggage.
