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I crammed 10 days of outfits for work & play into just a carry-on suitcase – but my hack helped me sneak four bags on
PACKING for a trip to another country isn't always a walk in the park - especially when you need 10 days of outfits and only have a carry-on to work with.
On a recent trip from New York to London, I had to find a way to get everything I needed across the pond - and came up with a clever hack.
My luggage for the trip consisted of a standard carry-on suitcase, an accompanying tote bag, and a garment bag.
But I was packing for a variety of adventures, including work and a wedding, which complicated matters.
I hadn't paid to check a bag, so I was relying only on the airline's standard carry-on and personal item allowance.
So how was I going to fit a floor-length gown into my tiny carry-on and still manage to fit my work outfits and other necessities?
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Somehow I managed to get everything on my list - including three pairs of shoes, the gown, and a laptop - over to London, thanks to a clever hack.
THE PACKING HAUL
For starters, I made a packing list weeks in advance, adding to it when I came across a must-bring item or dress in my closet.
From there, I was able to strategically plan outfits for each day, making notes of what to wear when depending on my schedule and planned events.
This also helped me avoid overpacking as I scheduled my itinerary and largely knew what activities to expect during my stay.
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I mostly stuck to dresses, as they were much easier to roll up and sort into packing cubes than pants and shirts.
Clothing-wise, I packed into my suitcase:
- Seven dresses
- One jumpsuit
- A two-piece skirt set
- Denim jacket
- Three-piece athleisure set
- Two tank tops
- Two pairs of shorts
- Pair of leggings
- One pair of jeans
- One pair of heels
- One pair of sneakers
- One pair of sandals
- All other necessary garments
The other side of my suitcase held accessories, including a curling iron, a tote bag for work, a fascinator, a notebook, and some toiletries.
Then, my garment bag had:
- One floor-length gown
- A two-piece pink suit
- Raincoat
And my personal item - a medium-sized tote - was stuffed to the brim with toiletries, make-up, snacks, my laptop, and a small purse.
The bag-within-a-bag trend was strong this trip, as it usually is whenever I travel - and which is how I managed to avoid checking a suitcase.
How big can my carry-on suitcase be?
While the TSA doesn't have set rules pertaining to carry-on luggage, the FAA has said most airlines abide by a maximum size carry-on bag of 45 linear inches (the total of the height, width, and depth of the bag combined). But airlines can also set their own restrictions on both carry-on and personal items.
THE HACK
I knew I needed to travel with my gown in my garment bag, as it was going to take up too much room in my suitcase and I wouldn't have been able to fit everything else in.
But naturally, I was panicked at the thought of having that in addition to my suitcase and tote bag, knowing I was only allowed two items.
That's when I realized my garment bag zipped all the way around into a duffle-style bag.
So by zipping it up to create a bag of its own, I was able to tuck my tote inside to have it appear as though I only had a suitcase and a personal item.
And it totally worked.
I arrived at the airport and went straight to security, as I didn't need to check a bag.
Once I got through and arrived at my gate, I knew I'd made it without issue.
The same plan worked for my return flight - even when I was summoned to the airline's check-in desk before security for a passport check, I made it through with my oversized personal item unscathed.
TAKEAWAYS
My plan was clever, though I had to be sneaky in approaching the counters when summoned to show my passport.
I did wind up having to gate-check my carry-on for the flight to London - but the fact that I didn't have to pay to do so was a huge win.
Overall, I managed to wear everything once except for one dress and the two-piece skirt set.
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Some items, like my jeans and sneakers, saw way more use than I was anticipating.
I was thrilled with everything I packed, the strategy I used to cram it all into my bags, and the hack that made it possible to avoid bag fees.