‘Always go unnoticed’ How to get more hand luggage on flight

Richard Tice hits out at demand for child-free air travel

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Since the pandemic, many airlines have reduced their free hand luggage allowance. But there a couple of hacks passengers can use to get more luggage on a hand luggage only flight.

Lee Thompson, co-founder of luxury travel company Flash Pack, shared his top tips to get on a flight with more hand luggage.

Lee said: “Try to avoid carrying carry-on luggage that has wheels. Very often on packed flights, airlines look for luggage to load on the hold of the aircraft and bags with wheels are the number one target.

“Even if your bag is heavy, shoulder bags always go unnoticed.”

Airlines are far more likely to put suitcases with wheels in the hold of the plane if the flight is overbooked.

Passengers who take a backpack or a holdall instead may have more chance of boarding the flight with their bag.

This could be the case even if the shoulder bag is heavier than a wheeled bag as flight attendants are less likely to notice it.

Lee added: “My number one item to travel with is my camera so I always carry that around my neck and fill my coat pockets full of lenses.

“I like to speed through security so my liquids are normally in one of the pockets too, to make sure that I can make the baggage process seamless.”

Using coat pockets to carry extra items could help passengers board a flight without needing to pay for extra luggage.

Once onboard, passengers will be able to remove their coat to enjoy a comfier flight to their destination.

Lee said: “Board the aircraft first and always sit at the front. If you’ve made the effort to take carry-on luggage then you should reap the rewards by guaranteeing an overhead locker and getting off the plane first, beating any passport queues and getting to your destination before anyone else.”

Sometimes passengers may struggle to find room in the overhead lockers for their bag on a very busy flight.

This means that it can benefit passengers to board the plane first and find a space for their bag.

However, nearly every airline will have allocated seats before boarding and if passengers don’t want to pay for a seat they might not be seated at the front.

Airlines will also often board passengers in groups to save time so this hack could be hard to achieve.

However, sitting at the front of the plane will normally mean passengers are able to get off before anyone else.

Lee added: “Always carry a plastic bag with you, then you can put all your extra items in it.

“No matter how full, a plastic bag never fails to work as a second bag, even if you are only allowed one.”

Duty free bags will always be allowed on the plane and never count as second bags for passengers.

If passengers are struggling for luggage space they could always purchase something at duty free and use the bag for overflow.

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