How to travel with just a carry-on suitcase?
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Recently, my partner and I booked a cheap flight to France with a budget airline, with notoriously strict baggage allowances. So when we went to add a checked bag, it cost more than the flight itself.
So we decided to do something I’d never done before: share a single carry-on between the two of us for a week away. Simply out of principle.
When we decided to do this, it felt like an impossible task. Fitting all our clothes and toiletries into one carry-on bag, and everything else in our rucksacks (classed as personal items by the airline).
But we managed! And, in the process, I learnt a lot about how to travel with just a carry-on, and I’m going to share it all here.
Why travel with just a carry-on?
There are a handful of reasons why you might want to travel with just a carry-on bag. Not only is it crazy expensive to check in your suitcase, often costing way more than the flight itself, but it will also save you a fair amount of time and energy at the airport.
You will have nothing to drop off at the check-in desks, meaning you can head straight through to security (and even arrive a little later at the airport). And you will have nothing to collect at the other end of the journey.
Moreover, there is zero chance your luggage will get lost by the airline, because it will always be at your side!
And packing light is freeing in itself. You take less, you carry less, and you spend far less time wondering what to wear. Which suits me a lot!
My favourite carry-on suitcases
The cabin bags I actually pack. Light, tough and built for the overhead locker.
Airline carry-on limits
When travelling with just carry-on luggage, you need to consider the limits given by the airline you are flying with. Keep in mind that airlines are rarely consistent, each with its own rules and allowances.
Most let you bring a small underseat bag for free, then charge for anything larger that goes in the overhead locker. The dimensions matter, a lot. For example, a case that’s a centimetre too big can land you with a hugely disproportionate fee at the boarding gate.
The budget airlines are the strictest, so check before you fly and measure your packed case rather than trusting the label on it. Here’s how three major airlines compare for cabin baggage:
| Ryanair | easyJet | British Airways | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on | |||
| Underseat bag | 40 x 30 x 20 cm Free | 45 x 36 x 20 cm, 15 kg Free | 40 x 30 x 15 cm Free |
| Overhead bag | 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg Paid | 56 x 45 x 25 cm Paid | 56 x 45 x 25 cm Free |
If you’re choosing a case to fit these limits, my guide to suitcase sizes goes into the numbers in more detail.
How to travel with just a carry-on?
Here are my top tips on travelling with just a carry-on suitcase – based on my own travel experiences, including my latest trip to France.
Choose the right carry-on suitcase
Get the case right, and everything else is much easier to organise! A good carry-on suitcase should be lightweight, leaving most of your weight allowance for the things you actually want to bring.
It should fit within the airline’s limits to avoid any arguments at the gate. I also recommend getting one with a hard shell that keeps your stuff safe whilst knocking it about in the overhead compartments, with wheels that roll easily throughout the airport.
I travel a lot with Level8 suitcase, putting both their carry-on and check-in bags to the test. The aluminium Gibraltar is the tough case, built to take a battering, though that strength does add a little weight. The Luminous Textured is lighter with a softer look, trading a touch of ruggedness for the lower weight. Here’s how three of Level8’s carry-ons compare.
If you want the full breakdown, I’ve reviewed the whole Level8 range separately.
Create a capsule wardrobe
One of the easiest ways to save space in your carry-on is by limiting the clothes you take. You do this by creating a capsule wardrobe – taking a few items of clothing that can form many different outfits.
Pick a tight colour palette where everything goes with everything, so every top works with every bottom. Choose pieces you can layer, so the same clothes cover warm days and cool evenings. And keep shoes to a minimum, ideally one pair on your feet and one in the bag, because they’re heavy and eat the most space.
Use clever packing techniques
Even with the best carry-on suitcases and the most thought-out capsule wardrobes, you may still need to practice some nifty packing techniques to get everything to fit in easily.
This is where I love using packing cubes. They keep everything compressed and sorted, so your case stays tidy. Roll soft items like t-shirts and underwear to save space, and fold structured things like shirts to keep the creases out.
Then wear your bulkiest pieces on the plane, so your coat and heaviest shoes are on you rather than taking up the case.
Handily, some of Level8’s cases (like the Gibraltar Aluminium Carry-On) come with packing cubes included, so you may not need to buy them separately!
Downsize your toiletries
Thanks to new scanners at airports, a lot of airports (particularly in the UK) now let you carry more than the old 100ml limit, in some cases up to two litres, and keep your liquids in your bag.
Which can make it tempting to pack all your full-size toiletries from home. But this can take up a huge amount of your weight allowance. So, the best move is to carry as few liquids as you can.
Decant what you do need into small travel bottles, the little shampoo and conditioner sizes, so they weigh almost nothing and take up little room in your case. And before you pack any of it, check with your hotel or Airbnb. Plenty provide the basics, so you may not need to bring them at all.
Make the most of your personal item
Most airlines give you a second, smaller bag for free, which is often not restricted by weight, as long as it fits underneath the seat in front of you.
The trick is to fill it with the heavy, dense things rather than putting them in your case. Laptop, charger, book, water bottle, and anything you’ll want during the flight. I also like to put in a few of my heavier clothing items, like a jumper or jacket, should I need them.
My favourite carry-on suitcases
The cabin bags I actually pack. Light, tough and built for the overhead locker.
Final thoughts
When I took on this task, I thought it would be impossible. But I managed to get not only my belongings into my carry-on suitcase, but also my partner’s. And we survived!
With my lightweight and roomy Level8 Luminous Textured carry-on, a capsule wardrobe, just the right amount of toiletries, and clever packing techniques, our holiday was a breeze.
The one thing I’d be concerned about is doing this when travelling somewhere super cold. But if you are happy to wear the same clothes a few times, then it shouldn’t be much of an issue!
Carry-on suitcase FAQs
Can I take liquids in a carry-on?
Yes. A lot of UK airports now let you carry more than 100ml and keep liquids in your bag thanks to new scanners, though some still apply the old 100ml limit, and many airports abroad do too, so check before you fly. Whatever the rule, packing as few liquids as you can keeps things simple.
What’s the difference between a personal item and a carry-on?
Your personal item is the small bag that fits under the seat in front, usually free. The carry-on is the larger case for the overhead locker, which some airlines charge for. Most carry-on only trips use both.
Hard shell or soft shell?
A hard shell protects your things better and holds its shape in the locker. A soft shell has more give for squeezing into a sizer and often has outside pockets. I prefer hard shell for cabin travel, but both work.
How heavy can my carry-on be?
It depends entirely on the airline, anywhere from around 7kg to 23kg, and a few don’t set a cabin weight limit at all. Always check before you fly.
Can I really pack for two weeks in a carry-on?
Yes. A capsule wardrobe and a quick mid-trip wash mean two weeks fits as easily as a long weekend. The only issue is if you are travelling somewhere super cold, requiring many warm and thick layers.
My go-to travel health insurance:
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