Build your list around the bag you booked
Carry-on only travel starts with your ticket: confirm whether it includes an under-seat bag, an overhead bag, or both. Measure the fully packed bag, check weight and security rules for every flight, then choose clothes around your laundry access. No single bag size works for every airline and fare.
1. Separate under-seat and overhead allowances
Write down the operating airline, bag count, dimensions and weight limit for each leg, including the return. Use the allowance shown in your booking. A bag sold as “cabin size” or “40 litres” does not establish that it fits your fare. Include handles, wheels and filled outside pockets when measuring.
| Airline | Included small bag and larger-bag option |
|---|---|
| Ryanair | All fares include one 40×30×20 cm personal bag under the seat. Priority & 2 Cabin Bags adds an overhead bag up to 55×40×20 cm and 10 kg. The 10 kg limit here describes that additional bag. |
| easyJet | One small bag up to 45×36×20 cm and 15 kg is included. A large bag up to 56×45×25 cm and 15 kg requires a booking or eligible membership/fare benefit. Check reservation and space conditions; you must be able to lift and carry your bags. |
Example: a 45×36×20 cm bag may fit easyJet's small-bag limit but exceeds Ryanair's free-bag dimensions. An outbound overhead allowance does not create the same allowance on a separately booked return. Repack, change the bag or price the correct allowance before departure.
For other carriers, use our airline carry-on size guide and follow the carrier's official link. Compare the actual price of extra cabin baggage, checked baggage and any laundry you would need. Carry-on travel does not guarantee a fixed saving or prevent an airline from checking a bag at the gate.
2. Sort liquids before closing the bag
At a US TSA checkpoint: ordinary liquids, gels, creams, aerosols and pastes go in containers of 3.4 oz / 100 ml or less, together in one quart-sized resealable bag per traveler. A quart is about 946 ml; do not treat a bag labeled one litre as the exact same requirement. Container capacity matters: a partly empty 200 ml bottle is still oversized. See TSA's liquids rule.
Food is not automatically exempt: spreadable or liquid foods such as peanut butter and yogurt are subject to liquid restrictions. Solid toiletries can reduce the liquids you pack; check the specific product in TSA's item list. Destination customs rules are a separate check for food.
Medical exceptions: TSA permits medically necessary liquids in larger reasonable quantities and does not require them to fit in the quart bag. Tell the officer before screening and present them for inspection. Baby feeding supplies have separate exceptions. Follow TSA's special screening guidance rather than discarding needed supplies to fit a toiletries bag.
TSA rules apply to US checkpoints. Check the departure, transfer and return airports separately: UK government guidance directs travelers to their airport's current liquid limits. Our airport liquids guide helps separate airport and journey conditions.
Keep power banks accessible if your bag is gate-checked
Under FAA guidance, power banks and spare lithium batteries belong in the cabin. Remove them before handing over a bag for gate checking, protect their terminals from short circuits and check the airline's additional limits. Read the battery's Wh label: 100 Wh is the standard lithium-ion threshold; larger batteries require specific airline approval and limits. A mAh number alone is not a universal clearance.
Phones and laptops with installed batteries are a different category. FAA recommends carrying them in the cabin; if checked when permitted, they must be completely powered off and protected from damage and accidental activation. See FAA's device guidance. Do not travel with a swollen or hazardous damaged battery; get manufacturer and airline instructions. Tell the crew immediately if a device overheats or smokes.
3. Pack to the next reliable wash
The quantities below are an example to adjust, not a promise that every trip fits. Start with climate, planned activities, personal comfort, medical needs and the next confirmed washing opportunity. Bring enough clean underwear and socks until that wash, with a spare. Check drying arrangements; humid rooms and late arrivals can make overnight hand-washing impractical.
| Trip plan | Starting point and adjustment |
|---|---|
| One week, wash after day 3 | Try 3–4 tops, 2 bottoms, a weather-appropriate layer and enough underwear/socks for the first 4 days plus a spare. Add clean changes for sweaty activities. Confirm laundry before reducing quantities. |
| Two weeks, reliable regular laundry | Repeat a similar clothing cycle instead of doubling everything. Pack occasion-specific clothing only for activities you have planned. |
| No dependable laundry | Pack enough clean changes for the trip. If they exceed your allowance, choose a larger baggage option or arrange laundry; packing cubes cannot solve a weight limit. |
Try rolling, folding or cubes with your own garments. Cubes organize items and some compress fabric, but they add weight and have no guaranteed space-saving percentage. Weigh the packed bag; use our packing-cube weight comparison if you are close to a limit. Keep comfortable walking shoes and add a second pair only when the trip needs them.
4. Finish your carry-on departure checklist
Tick these while checking your actual booking and packed bag. This checklist stays in this tab and resets on reload; save your own booking details separately.
Common carry-on decisions
Does a backpack count as a personal item?
Its packed dimensions and your booking decide. A backpack can be an under-seat personal item or a larger overhead bag; its name and litre capacity do not establish the allowance.
Can two weeks fit in one carry-on?
It can work with suitable clothes and dependable laundry, but climate, equipment and personal needs may require more space. Test your own packed bag against every flight's allowance before committing.
Will the packing generator approve my bag for an airline?
No. TripPack's generator suggests items for a city, dates and trip preferences. It does not validate your ticket, airline allowance, bag dimensions or security clearance. Use your booking and official requirements for those checks.
What if my carry-on is checked at the gate?
Before handing it over, remove power banks and spare lithium batteries and keep them in the cabin with protected terminals. Keep medicines, travel documents and valuables with you, and follow the airline's instructions for other electronics.