You may have been very proud of yourself for being able to get everything that you would need for your vacation into your luggage allowance. Maybe you really were creative in packing lightly; you might have taken only a few pairs of pants in dark, basic colors, knowing that you could wear them more than once between washings and in various ways. You also might have chosen to take only a few clothing items, intending to spruce up your outfits with a variety of accessories. Maybe you got by with only two pairs of shoes, or made the sacrifice to do laundry during your stay instead of packing enough clothing to last you a week or two.
Then you went shopping.
Once you’re at your vacation destination, it can be tempting to buy up things that you find on sale or that you simply can’t get in your local area. Whether you are only a few hours away by plane or halfway around the world, there’s always the chance that you won’t be able to get your bounty home in the same luggage that you arrived with! What can you do? Here are some tips on packing for the return trip home:
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Check into the fees that your airline
Check into the fees that your airline assesses for overweight and extra bags. If you really can’t fit your items into the luggage you brought, it will probably be cheaper to spring for an extra bag than it would be to overstuff the piece of luggage that you are allowed. For example, to check a second bag on a domestic American Airlines flight, you would pay $35. To simply stuff your first bag so that it weighed over 50 pounds, though, you would pay $60. On the other hand, if you already have two bags and are contemplating checking a third, you’ll pay $100 for the privilege with this carrier. In that case, it might be worth it to make one bag heavier and pay the oversized luggage fee.
Look into the rates for mailing your items home
Some stores will actually offer free or low-cost shipping, so if you are thinking about buying an item that will make your luggage situation difficult, be sure to ask! If you’re in the USA, you can ship books and CDs to your home using inexpensive media mail. You could also use domestic flat rate postage boxes for relatively small yet heavy items. Overseas, postage rates may be too high to make this feasible. It’s worth looking into, however.
Make the most of your carry-on luggage allowance
Each airline has a different rule about how heavy carry-on luggage can be, so make sure that you know what yours allows. These weight allowances can range between 22 and 50 pounds, so you might be able to fit quite a bit in your carry-on. If your checked luggage weight is inching up toward the limit, putting some of your items in your carry-on is a possibility. Remember, however, that you will need to be able to lift your carry-on luggage into the overhead compartment.
Don’t forget about your personal items
In addition to your carry-on, you are able to carry a purse or briefcase. You can stuff some of your luggage items in these handy bags! A small bag of food, a jacket or coat, and a book can also be carried in your hands, even if your purse or briefcase is filled to the brim.
Dress warmly
Even if it’s not wintertime, put on your heaviest clothing if space or weight is an issue with your luggage. Wear your heaviest shoes, too. You can always take off anything uncomfortable once you get on the airplane.
With any luck, you will find a way to fit everything in your luggage without going through Herculean efforts! Next time, you might need to pack even more lightly in order to be able to fit all of the goodies that you found to take home with you.
