Travel experts have revealed the best way to pack to avoid being charged and save space. 

Packing a suitcase

According to the experts at Wild Packs, the key to packing is to work your way up, starting with the heavy items. 

The travel experts at Wild Packs have released their top tips for packing including the best type of suitcase to use and how to make the most of your luggage capacity: 

Pack your suitcase in layers

Bottom layer: shoes, toiletry bag, electronics, makeup

Place your shoes at the very bottom of the suitcase, near the wheels and stuff them with socks to maximise as much space in the suitcase as possible. This will also help to retain as much of your shoes’ shape as they will become squashed by other layers of clothing.

To avoid any leaks or spills, keep your toiletries in a waterproof pouch or bag. Makeup should also be placed at the bottom in a secure, zipped-up makeup bag. Liquids and gels need to be in a separate waterproof bag and placed near the top. 

Certain electronics like phone chargers can be near the bottom of the suitcase alongside your shoes and toiletries. Spreading the heavier items along the bottom of the suitcase will help centre the weight of the suitcase and prevent it from tipping over.

Middle layer: jeans, jumpers, t-shirts, shorts, accessories, underwear, socks

Roll your clothes instead of folding them as this will take up less space and reduce the chance of wrinkles. In addition, placing lighter fabrics first on top of the heavier bottom layer of items can act as a buffer against all of your clothes potentially creasing.

Fill empty spaces and crevices with underwear, socks and accessories to minimise overpacking. Packing your accessories in these spaces between your clothes also reduces the risk of them breaking during your travel.

Packing a suitcase

Roll t-shirts and smaller items to save space.

Top layer: suits, dresses, jackets, towels, liquids, gels

Carefully fold suits, dresses and jackets to avoid them creasing in your luggage and place them gently on top, making sure not to stuff them inside the suitcase to avoid wrinkles. They can also be placed or folded in any compartment in your suitcase.

Certain toiletries that are easily spillable like liquids and shower gels should be placed in a separate waterproof zip bag and stored at the top of the suitcase to protect them from squishing.

If you are packing away a suit jacket into your suitcase, lay them on top of your already-packed clothing, folding the arms if need be, to avoid creasing. This can also be done for beach towels.

8 quick tips for packing:

1. Opt for a 25-27 inch suitcase which is more likely to meet weight limits than a larger one.

2. Check your airline’s website for maximum weight limits.

3. Label your luggage with your name and contact info inside your suitcase in permanent pen.

4. Fold and roll clothes lengthwise to minimise creasing.

5. Lay smart jackets on top of packed suitcases (or carried separately).

6. Put toiletries, makeup, and spillable items in zip-up plastic bags.

7. Fill gaps between shoes with bagged or smaller items.

8. Check the weight of your packed suitcase on bathroom scales.

What is the best type of suitcase to use?

Medium-sized suitcases: especially useful for longer trips, a suitcase around 25-27 inches is the most suitable. The most important feature to consider is whether the suitcase has an expandable panel, which can be unzipped, providing you with at least 10% extra space when packing.

For easy manoeuvring even when packed with clothes, pick a lighter medium suitcase, weighing around 3.1kg or less when empty. Make sure the suitcase has handles on the sides as well as on the top.

This will help lift your suitcase on and off check-in scales and hoist it onto luggage racks and airport carousels. A four-wheeler suitcase is the most versatile for travelling as it can be wheeled alongside of you so you don’t have to tilt your suitcase.