How to pack to save money on flights!

As a family of 5 we are always hunting for ways to save on flights and travel more. The dirt cheap tickets available through no frills airlines such as Spirit, Frontier, and JetBlue are definitely attractive, but once you start paying for a checked bag and carry on luggage, those fees really start to add up! Learning how to pack your personal item like a pro is key, and you start that off by finding the right small but mighty travel backpack for women, men, and kids! So let's get right to it - I'm going to show you how to pick the best travel backpack and how to pack your personal item to save money on flights!!

Disclaimer - this post was sponsored by Responsival and contains some affiliate links noted with ** after them. As an Amazon associate, I receive commission from qualified purchases made after clicking affiliate these links.

PERSONAL ITEM DIMENSIONS:

​Every airline has its own maximum dimensions for the complimentary personal item every ticket holder in entitled to. If you're hoping to save on flights by not paying for a carry on or checked bag (or as few as possible), you'll want to know the dimensions of what bags and amenities are included in that  ticket, and calculate the total cost including any bags you would need to purchase. For example, a no frills airline may have a cheaper ticket but if you MUST bring a full size carry on, check a bag, select your seat, and purchase a meal, a regular ticket with a bigger airline may be a similar or even better deal. 

Most airlines have set their max dimensions of the complimentary "personal item" at or above 17" x 13" x 8" (at least at the time of writing this post, which I confirmed for Allegiant Airlines, American Airlines, Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airlines, Play Airlines, Spirit Airlines) which is a small backpack, purse, or laptop bag. The reasoning is that it needs to go under the seat in front of you, and not take up their valuable money-making overhead space. Some budget airlines are notorious for making you gently plop your bag in the measurement device at the gate, without allowing you to push or adjust the bag, if even a handle is sticking out, they'll force you to pay a last minute carry on or checked bag fee, which can be a whopping $60 or so. Suddenly, your Frontier Airlines deals are no longer deals... So let's avoid that by making sure your bag is well within the limits - get one that is small enough and do not over pack it.

​THE BEST PERSONAL ITEM FOR FLYING:

Have no fear, I have found THE BEST weekender bag, laptop backpack for women and men, whatever you want to call it. I was sent this set and paid for my review but these are honestly amazing!!  At just 17" x 12" x 5" the Day Owl Backpack has a minimalist look AND size (i.e. within the dimensions for every regular and budget airline I mentioned above), yet holds a whopping 21 liters and has a ton of pockets and compartments, including a padded compartment that will hold a 16" laptop, as well as a water resistant insulated side pocket that will hold that 750mL bottle of wine you splurge on at duty free (or huge water bottle, of course). Plus, each backpack is made from 26 recycled plastic water bottles!!! The Pouch is a great add-on, a cord organizer (or little clutch to hold your wallet / phone / passport etc). Watch my  Day Owl Backpack & Cord Pouch review video below for a closer look!

​PACKING HACKS:
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• Roll clothing - It takes up less space and items will be less wrinkled.
• Vacuum pack clothing - This will cause more wrinkles but you'd be shocked how much less space properly vacuum packed clothing takes up! This is a great hack for packing a sweater, blanket, pillow, jacket, or change of clothes into your personal item. Or just getting more clothes into your checked bag or carry on.
• Wear bulky shoes and clothing + bring a pillowcase - We're flying to Iceland from NY on Play Airlines for a whopping $280 roundtrip per person soon and to save money are only paying for ONE checked bag for our family of 5. That means, we are all planning to wear our hiking boots, a sweater, heavy winter coats, and potentially snow pants ON THE PLANE. Boots will come off, snow pants will be stuffed inside our empty pillow cases to serve as pillows and coats will be our blankets for the red eye flight. Is it ideal? Nah. But it will save us about $250+ in checked bag fees and pillow / blanket purchases!!
• Compact reusable bag - Most airlines will not count a small amount of food or duty free items bought at the airport after going through security toward your personal item / carry on limit. That said, I just checked with Play and they responded that everything must fit WITHIN your personal item... so check with your airline! I usually bring a teeny tiny reusable bag (the nylon kind that squishes up into it's own little pouch smaller than your fist) and throw it in my backpack or attach it to the outside of my bag with a carabiner. Then I can use this to hold food or duty free or entertainment bought at the airport to bring onto the plane. It can also help hold a coat or something we were wearing onto the plane to avoid it taking up valuable personal item space once seated.
• Liquids - don't forget, the 3-1-1 liquid rule is still in effect. As per the TSA, each passenger may bring ONE quart sized clear zip top bag filled with maximum size 3.4oz (100mL) containers of liquids, gels, creams, pastes, or aerosols through security. I love this Beveetio 15 pack of TSA approved refillable bottles**. If you have medicine or baby-related items, some exceptions apply, please check with TSA and your airline.

WHAT TO PACK IN YOUR PERSONAL ITEM:

​This list will differ if you're traveling with a carry on or checked bag (this is my FAVORITE 3 piece nesting luggage set** in case you're in need of gorgeous new suitcases!), or if you're only flying with your personal item.

• Travel documents:  passport / ID / flight & destination hotel info, and a pen for filling out customs forms when flying internationally.
• Money: Credit card, debit card, local cash.
• Food & Drink: Empty your water bottle before going through security. Bring gum and solid snacks and foods from home or purchase at the airport. Remember fruits, vegetables, meats, and raw nuts / seeds cannot cross borders.
• Must haves:  Glasses, sunglasses, medicine (with prescription / doctors note), keys, chapstick, hand sanitizer, lotion, hair tie, a couple of face masks (you don't have to wear them but they're nice to have in case someone near you is coughing or you want to humidify the air better while sleeping).
• For a red eye or long travel day:  Tooth paste, toothbrush, floss, eye mask, pillow, blanket, ear plugs (you can't do better than this earplug set from Curvd**!!), retainer (never risk putting this in a checked bag).
• Technology: Cell phone, portable power bank if there is no in-seat power (this magnetic wireless 10000maH power bank from Torras is my fave**), headphones (best to bring a pair that can connect to your phone AND via 3.5mm audio jack, such as these Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones from OneOdio**) to use with in seat entertainment system if available - bring both cords if applicable), USB charging cord and dongle to convert USBC to USBA so you can connect or charge via standard USB port and wall adapter for all electronic devices.
• Non-electronic entertainment: I usually bring a book and a pack of cards, just in case. These and magazines are easy to grab in the airport as well.
• Backup outfit in case checked bag is lost: Most especially is an extra piece of underwear and a shirt. Consider a bathing suit if going somewhere tropical. The ONE time I didn't pack a spare shirt for myself was a 24hr travel day to Japan - when one of my 20 month old twins got the tummy bug and puked and pooped all over me for 4 hours of the transpacific segment. Not only couldn't I change, but they lost our luggage for 3 days!! 
• If not packing a carry on or checked bag, of course you'll have to pack everything you need into the personal item. Pack sparingly!! Remember the hack of rolling or vacuuming packing clothes.