Tips on air-travel. Baggage tactics, over-head compartment placement, etc. - Posted Anonymously
Hi Travelers,
I'm a magazine intern and am researching insider travel tips. Are there specific ways to ensure your bag comes off the plane first? Specific over-head bin placement techniques? Packing strategies? How to avoid being searched? etc.
Any tips, anecdotes, etc. would be greatly appreciated!
Reply to this If you can get your baggage down to just hand luggage that's ideal. Quickest way through the airport - but to be honest I've only managed this twice.
Tip: meeting weight limits.
On some of the budget airlines in Europe the weight limit for checked in luggage is 15kg. It's really easy to go over this and incur extra charges. So; put all your heavy items in your hand luggage - books, technical stuff. But remeber anything sharp must go in your checked in luggage. So you can weigh in your main pack at 14kg and smile while lugging around a 10kg day pack 😉
Tip: Avoiding being searched
Make sure everything is nice and neat, and that under no circumstances beep on the metal detectors - make sure that your pockets are totally emptied before walking through. I've found that on the few occasions that I've beeped - my hand luggage has then been searched as well - the hassle of this is repacking everything.
Tip: Bag comes off the plane first.
Not a sure fire thing, but the later you check in the earlier it seems to come on to the baggage belt. Also - make sure that all your backpack straps are tied up and tightened as much as possible, will avoid it getting caught and delayed.
Reply to this As previous person noted, carryon when ever possible. Even if you have to gate check your bag you will get it quicker. If you have to check the bag it helps if you are an elite member of the airline you are flying. They should tag your bags as Priority (this helps your bags come off sooner, most of the time).
My best advise is to just be relaxed when you travel, things always change and are delayed, if you are ready for these problems they won't bother you as much.
Reply to this Don't put a travel umbrella in your hand luggage... they find it suspicious.
(In fact don't take one - they break easily... I only took one to be a good englishman...)
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