How to Travel with Carry-ons ONLY

Whether travelling for long periods, through several countries or just going for a week; we only travel with carry-ons. My husband Rick and I travel consecutively for many months annually, visiting a number of countries, hence numerous flights. Regardless of the length of these travel-stints (our last one entailed 25 countries in 9 months) – we take only a carry-on each. Here’s how we travel with carry-ons only.

Carry-on Low-down

Most airlines allow ONE carry-on piece of baggage, plus ONE personal bag (purse, computer case, camera bag, etc) per passenger. Each airline has it’s own weight and size restrictions for carry-on baggage. Here is a nifty little chart for carry-on size for 150+ airlines.  Yes, I know…some people still get away with hauling oversized pieces of luggage onto a plane, holding up the flow of passengers while they push and shove it into the overhead compartment – BUT, airlines are beginning to police their allowances for carry-on more stringently.

We stick to 17.5lbs (8kgs) each to comply with airlines with stricter weight restrictions and a size which is even less than the standard for most airlines. My pull-along non-expandable carry-on measures – 21.5in x 14.5in x 8in (55cm x 36cm x 20cm). Rick never has a problem with his duffle bag-type carry-on, which easily slips into the handy measuring slot at airport gates.

How does the weight/size of our carry-on fit in the realm of various airline allowances? Examples below (figures as of August 2015) are for carry-on weight/size, but most airlines also state specifics for the personal bag (not addressed in the examples, but which you will want to check as well). Particulars for each airline are easily accessible on their website.

– Air Canada – no problem for us with their carry-on maximum of 22lbs (10kgs), and dimensions of 21.5in x 15.5in x 9in (55cm x 40cm x 23cm). (With all airlines the dimensions can be of a different configuration in length/width/depth, as long as the total equals no more than the three dimensions for that airline, which with this example would be 46in (116cm).

– American Airlines – has no stated weight allowance, but the carry-on size is 22in x 14in x 9in (56cm x 36cm x 23cm) or a total maximum of 45in (115cm). Our carry-on fits the bill. United Airlines and Delta Airlines have similar size allowances, but depending on the destination Delta has a 7-10kg (15-22lb) limit.

Lufthansa – has a carry-on maximum weight of 17.5lbs (8kgs) – 22in x 16in x 9in (55cm x 40cm x 23cm) or total dimensions 47in (118cm). Yay, another good fit!

Qantas & Air New Zealand – their carry-on maximum weight is 15lbs (7kgs), with dimensions totaling 45in (115cm) and 46.5in (118cm) respectively. PROBLEM – 2lbs had to be removed from our carry-ons when we last flew with Air New Zealand. Time for a little ingenuity. We donned more shirts and our jackets before checking in.

There are “pros” and “cons” to most everything in this world and going with just carry-on is no exception.

Cons of Travelling with Carry-ons Only

Liquids/creams/gels – must be in containers of no more than 3.4fl-oz (100ml), and must be in a clear plastic bag – usually no more than 1 US quart (1 liter) in size. So, I can only take minimal amounts of my favorite face-creams, suntan lotion, etc….and forget about bringing along my preferred shampoo/conditioner (however, these or similar items, plus such things as vitamins, small sized toothpaste, shaving cream, hand-sanitizer can be purchased along the way).

Manicure scissors – airport security may confiscate them, even if they comply with TSA standards. To save any hassle, we fly sans-manicure scissors (but may buy a cheap pair while in a country, and leave them behind before the next flight).

Camera Equipment – photographer Rick’s biggest compromise was exchanging his SLR with multiple lenses for a more compact Cannon G1X with a teleconverter for those further away shots. Many high end digital compacts today have sensors rivaling those of DSLR’s with as many adjustments to capture sharp photos, and many models have small interchangeable lenses.

Oh lordy…the laundry: Going only carry-on means doing laundry every few days in the hotel shower/tub/sink (shampoo/liquid dish detergent works, quick-dry clothing reigns, yet almost anything dries overnight if after wringing-out, the clothing is pressed in a towel before hanging to dry). Occasionally we do use a laundry service or find a laundromat. But guaranteed – when we get back home I go straight to my laundry room and plant a kiss on my Maytags.

Why Travel with Carry-ons Only

Boarding passes can be pre-printed on-line for most airlines, and one can sail through security without stopping at the airline counter to check-in luggage, thus avoiding long line-ups and not having to be at the airport as early.

Cost savings – many airlines now charge for checked baggage. 

All your belongings are with you, so no lost luggage and no burst liquids.

By the time people wait at the airport carousal for their luggage, we get first dibs on taxis and are nestled in our hotel room sooner.

No hauling large pieces of luggage in/out of accommodations, or when catching taxies, buses, trains within each country or to the next country. In fact, not being encumbered with heavy luggage, you may well find you can walk to the nearest bus/train station, instead of relying on taxies.

Some general packing tips

First and foremost – the less your carry-on weighs empty, the more the stuff packed inside can weigh. My pull-along weighs 3.9lbs (1.8kgs). Rick’s duffle bag weighs a mere 1.6lbs (¾ kg).

Our rule of thumb is to pack what we “know” is needed, rather than what we “might” need. We don’t pack sweaters if chances of needing them are remote. Rather, for an unexpected cold spell we buy sweaters/fleeces at a thrift store, and if our next stop will definitely be warmer – we give them to a homeless shelter or a street person.

If minimalist packing isn’t for you, take a look at these articles:

>Winter Packing List

>28 Things You Should Never Forget On Any Trip

Okay – Here’s the Skinny on What WE Pack

Rick’s personal bag: – one 7” tablet (for e-books and internet/with Google phone App we can place calls to almost anywhere in the world, as long as we have WiFi); two flash drives for extra storage of photos; his camera equipment; alarm clock; compass; flashlight; and his bag of liquid/gels.

My personal bag: – one 11” laptop (also for e-books; passports/flight info/credit cards; my point & click camera for quick pics/videos; flashlight; sunglasses; and my bag of liquids/gels.

Our Carry-ons:

We always wear our heaviest clothes and trail shoes on the plane. I always wear my jeans (which I refuse to give up, although weighty) and Rick wears his heavier cargo pants.

IN ADDITION to the clothing we wear on the plane – the following items are what we pack.

Rick’s carry-on: cargo pants that zip off to shorts; three shirts; three pair of socks; three underwear; light-weight rain jacket; peaked cap; first aid kit; and notions (safety razors/nail clippers/etc); luggage scale to note exact weight of our carry-on before an upcoming flight; book to track costs; a roll of duct tape – handy for all manner of quick repairs (luggage, hemlines, and especially shoes as breaking in a new pair while on-the-go can be painful); and my excesses, Rick is quick to point out.

My Carry-on: six tops (‘cause mine are smaller); one Capri pants; one cargo pants; a crush-resistant skirt; unmentionables; socks; make-up; fashion jewelry (leave expensive jewelry at home); flip-flops; light-weight rain jacket; and a mini-umbrella. I also include a journal; guidebook pages (if a guidebook has info for a dozen countries, I remove and bring only the countries and cities we plan to see, albeit we mostly rely on online info for sites/travel methods/accommodations); and a plastic bag with office supplies (small stapler/staples, scotch tape).

Being on the move, no one knows we’ve worn the same shirt so many times it’s like a second skin and what I like best is – if our clothing wears out, we shop for new items and discard the old….which requires a ONE-IN-ONE-OUT RULE in order to avoid running into space/weight problems at the next airport. Not that I ever have to worry about that with my husband’s policing, “Hey, nice new shirt! Which one are you leaving behind?” 

And much to Rick’s chagrin, I am always adjusting for the handcrafted jewelry I have been known to buy along our travel routes. Most end up being souvenirs for those back home. And if I would like to bring back even more souvenirs, I purchase them in the last country before heading home, and leave behind enough clothing to come in at the right weight for the airline.

In the packing department – That’s it! That’s all folks!

Although Rick would love to achieve travelling with only a passport/credit card/folding toothbrush, we have certainly come a long way since our days of packing shoes to match every outfit and enough changes for a fortnight. To us, the pros of going only carry-on far outweigh the compromises.

If you see a minimally-encumbered smiling couple at an airport, possibly with a slightly tattered look – stop and say “hi” – it may be us, or some of the many more that have caught onto going CARRY-ON ONLY.

For your Next Flight – Go Light

And don’t forget to check out some of the other Travel Gear and Resources that our Travel Experts recommend!

Written by Irene Butler and photos by Rick Butler for EuropeUpClose.com