How to pack efficiently and save on airfares

There has been a surge in holiday bookings from the UK to Europe and the US this summer, but prices are on the rise.

Flight prices in Europe “soared” at nearly “six times the rate of inflation”, said the Daily Mirror, while holiday operator TUI declared that the “era of ultra-cheap flights” is “over”, The Times reported.

There isn’t much holiday makers can do about the ticket fee, but they can save on the extras by booking well in advance to obtain the cheapest seats and minimising on luggage.

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Packing light is really the key, especially since some carriers are charging extra for overhead hand luggage. Here we pick out some of the best packing hacks that could make a huge difference to your airfare – and allow you to take just what you need while you are away.

Watch the weights

Different airlines can have very different policies when it comes to hand luggage, which is important to know if you are planning to move around, or if you’ve booked different carriers to and from your destination. For example, Vueling permits hand luggage to be 10kg while ITA Airways only allows passengers to carry 8kg onboard.

Bag sizes also vary. Ryanair’s baggage policy cites that a carry-on included in the ticket price must be no heavier than 10kg and no larger than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm, while easyJet’s “free” cabin bag can have a maximum size of 45cm x 36cm x 20cm (including any handles and wheels) with a maximum weight of 15kg.

Fold like a pro

Strange as it may sound, “pack hacks” are almost as popular as ASMR videos on social media, with many dedicated to maximising on suitcase space. Guildford-based Sophie Liard, aka @thefoldinglady, has an incredible 4.4 million followers and 50.1 million likes on TikTok. One of her latest “pack with me” videos, has more than 63,000 views. Lennia McCarter, aka @LenniaMC the “folding queen”, is fashion’s answer to an origami expert. Her puffer jacket folding tutorial has more than 200,000 likes on TikTok.

For those who know their capsule wardrobe there’s @makelifesimpler on Instagram whose most popular video demonstrates how to fold three jumpers, two pairs of jeans and various underwear pieces into a puffer jacket, to form a neat parcel.

Essential accessories

Packing cubes are the secret to a “shrinkable” wardrobe. Pack Hacker, which specialises in “one bag urban travel”, has dozens of reviews of meshy marvels that keep clothes neatly compressed and organised. Popular brands include Muji, Patagonia and Carl Friedrik, which has a set made from recycled materials (£75 for four). Packing cubes fit inside suitcases like “pieces of a puzzle”, said The Telegraph, and save space while travelling.

Compact style-setting

Fashion’s late “king of pleats”, Issey Miyake, pioneered chic, crease-free clothes with his enduringly range of accordion effect fabrics that bounce back into shape even when crumpled. His “Pleats Please” range for women and “Homme Plissé” range are available from matchesfashion.com, although similar fabrics can regularly be found on rails in high street stores. Most stretch wear also lends itself well to scrunching. French brand Marcia makes sexy stretch shirts, cut-out dresses and tops out of ECONYL, a recycled nylon fabric that is super lightweight and soft against the skin.

Nike’s Forward hoodie (£124.95) is made of an ultra lightweight material that’s needle-punched as opposed to spun, knitted, cut and sewn. This means it’s more sustainably made than the brand’s traditional knit fleeces with raw pockets and seams to boot, which also saves on manufacturing processes and valuable packing space.

For warmth, Uniqlo’s ultra light down zip-up gilets (£40) can be easily flattened and rolled. While Rains’ Liner W Vest (£105) has a cooler, boxier cut, and comes with a two-year warranty. Le Monde Beryl, a London-based label that makes dainty and lightweight Venetian style mules and slippers, is the go-to for peripatetic fashion editors. Elle Décor journalist Sean Santiago said they are an essential part of his moveable “micro closet”.

Lightweight luggage

With so many weight and size restrictions, carry-ons are big business. British brand Aerolite, for example, makes cabin bags for individual airlines. For a short stay, Longchamp’s foldable and chic Le Pliage Original S travel bag is the perfect size to match easyJet’s aforementioned carry-on dimensions.

Australian brand July has recently launched in the UK and is well known for its streamlined cases, all expertly designed to be as lightweight and spacious as possible. July’s Carry On Light is the lightest double-wheel suitcase in the world, at just 1.8kg with 32 litres of space. It also comes in an expandable version – at just 2.2kg, you can unzip it to expand the suitcase from 35 litres to 40 litres – the perfect carry-on for minimalistic travellers in need of extra space.

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