How to Pack for Carry-On Luggage: A Practical Guide for a Short Trip

Traveling with carry-on baggage only allows you to limit the number of items, avoid waiting for your suitcase after arrival, and move around more conveniently once you are there. The biggest challenge, however, is planning the contents so that clothes, cosmetics, and essential accessories fit into a small suitcase, backpack, or bag.

Today, it is particularly important to distinguish between free carry-on baggage, which must fit under the seat on many low-cost airlines, and a larger cabin suitcase carried in the overhead compartment. The type of fare you purchase therefore determines not only how you pack, but also what luggage you can take on board.

Article at a glance

• before packing, check the size and weight limits assigned to your fare,
• the free carry-on bag on Ryanair and Wizz Air currently has maximum dimensions of 40 × 30 × 20 cm,
• for a short trip, instead of preparing a large number of clothes, choose a few items that can be combined with one another,
• it is worth wearing your largest shoes and bulkiest clothes during the journey,
• cosmetics are best transferred into small containers, and you should check the rules for liquids at the departure airport,
• an airplane backpack, travel bag, and cabin suitcase each have different advantages - the choice depends on the limit and the nature of the trip.

Carry-on baggage - what does it actually mean?

Carry-on baggage is luggage that you take with you into the aircraft cabin. It can be an airplane backpack, travel bag, or cabin suitcase, provided it fits within the limits of the airline and the purchased fare.

Low-cost airlines increasingly offer two levels of cabin baggage. The first is a small free carry-on bag that must fit under the seat. The second is a larger suitcase or bag carried in the overhead compartment, usually available after purchasing an additional service.

For example, both Ryanair and Wizz Air currently allow you to take a small bag with maximum dimensions of 40 × 30 × 20 cm at no extra charge. With Priority, Ryanair additionally allows you to take a 55 × 40 × 20 cm bag weighing up to 10 kg, while WIZZ Priority allows a 55 × 40 × 23 cm bag weighing up to 10 kg.

Free carry-on bag or a larger cabin suitcase?

This is the first decision worth making before you start packing.

If you choose the free 40 × 30 × 20 cm carry-on bag, a soft backpack or compact bag will usually work best. With such a small format, it is important to make good use of the interior and adjust the shape of the luggage to the space under the seat.

A larger cabin suitcase provides more space and better separates individual items of clothing, but on low-cost airlines it usually requires purchasing the appropriate fare or service.

For a 2-3 day trip, you can try fitting everything into a small backpack. For 4-7 days, a larger cabin suitcase gives you much more freedom, especially outside the summer season.

Backpack for air travel, travel bag, or cabin suitcase?

Each of these types of luggage works a little differently.

A backpack for air travel is a good choice if you walk a lot, use public transport, or fly with only free baggage. Its soft construction allows you to make good use of the available space, especially if the backpack is not overpacked.

A travel bag provides wide access to the main compartment and is convenient for weekend trips. However, it may be less comfortable to carry for longer periods when it is heavier.

A cabin suitcase is a good choice if you want an organized interior and do not want to carry all the weight on your back. It is especially convenient at the airport, train station, and during city trips with smooth surfaces.

The most important thing, however, is to match the specific model to the carrier's limits.

How do you start packing your carry-on?

Before putting anything in your backpack or suitcase, lay everything out next to one another.

Divide them into two groups: things you really need and those you take just in case. With a small carry-on, the second group should be very short.

Adjust the contents to the length of your stay, planned activities, and the weather forecast. If you will be sightseeing in a city for four days, you probably do not need three pairs of shoes, several sweaters, or a separate outfit for every morning and evening.

Clothes that can be combined with one another work well. One pair of trousers that goes with several tops lets you create several outfits without increasing the number of items.

What to pack in your carry-on for a few days?

You do not need to take your entire wardrobe for a short trip.

For 3-4 days, good starting options are:

• 3-4 T-shirts or blouses,
• 1-2 bottoms,
• underwear and socks for each day,
• pajamas,
• one sweatshirt or sweater,
• a lightweight jacket suited to the weather,
• one comfortable pair of shoes to change into, if it is actually needed.

Do not treat this list as a strict rule. In summer, your luggage can be much lighter, while in autumn or winter, layered clothing will take up more of the space.

It is best to wear the bulkiest items of clothing while traveling.

How to fit clothes in a small carry-on bag?

There is no single technique suitable for every type of clothing.

T-shirts, pajamas, underwear, leggings, and lightweight sportswear can be rolled. The resulting rolls are easy to arrange side by side and use to fill small spaces.

Shirts and items that are more prone to wrinkling are best folded flat.

With a small cabin suitcase or backpack, compression organizers can also be a good solution. They reduce the volume of soft clothing, but it is worth remembering that compression does not reduce its weight.

There is therefore no point in using the space you have freed up just to add more items that you probably will not use.

Cosmetics in carry-on baggage - how to save space?

Full-size containers are among the items that take up space very quickly.

For a short trip, travel bottles and containers are much more convenient, as you can transfer the required amount of shampoo, shower gel, balm, or other cosmetics into them.

Before your flight, you should also check the current rules for carrying liquids at the specific departure airport. At many airports, the standard rule of containers up to 100 ml placed in a transparent, resealable bag with a capacity of up to 1 litre still applies, but local differences may occur as new screening systems are introduced.

It is worth keeping all liquid cosmetics together in a toiletry bag or separate case. This makes them easier to take out and prevents them from spilling directly onto clothes if a container is not properly sealed.

What should be easily accessible during the flight?

Do not use every pocket solely to fit in as much as possible.

Documents, your phone, wallet, headphones, and essential medication should be kept somewhere you can reach quickly.

If a backpack for the plane is placed under the seat, it is a good idea to keep the items used during the journey in its front or upper section. This way, you do not have to take out the entire contents after taking your seat.

When using a larger suitcase placed in the overhead compartment, it is a good idea to move the most essential items beforehand to a small pocket or, if the fare allows, to personal baggage under the seat.

Electronics in carry-on baggage

A phone, camera, laptop, or tablet is among the items best kept with you during travel. Particular attention should be paid to power banks and spare lithium batteries. They should be carried in the cabin, not in checked baggage.

If you are taking a laptop, it is worth choosing a backpack for the plane or a bag with a separate compartment. This will make it easier to access the device during security screening and limit its movement among the clothes.

However, consider whether you will actually need the electronics during your trip. A laptop, tablet, and camera together can significantly increase the weight even of a small backpack.

How can you use the empty spaces in a backpack, bag, or suitcase?

With small luggage, it is not only the main compartment that matters.

Socks can be placed inside extra shoes, a belt can be run along the side, and small items of underwear can be used to fill the space between organizers.

In a cabin suitcase, it is also worth paying attention to the recesses created by the telescopic frame. Small, soft items can fill this space before larger clothes are placed on top.

However, you should not toss small items into random places. It is better to keep chargers, cables, and jewelry together in a small case.

Is it worth using organizers in carry-on luggage?

Yes, but it is worth matching their type to the purpose.

Classic travel organizers primarily help divide the contents, e.g. clothing, underwear, and accessories separately. They are particularly useful in a bag or suitcase that opens like a book.

Compression organizers can further reduce the volume of soft clothing. Vacuum solutions, on the other hand, are best reserved for bulkier items.

With very small free carry-on luggage, you need to make sure that the organizers themselves do not take up more space than they help save. Sometimes two well-chosen items are more practical than a full set.

Free 40 × 30 × 20 cm carry-on luggage - how to pack?

The 40 × 30 × 20 cm format currently used by Ryanair and Wizz Air requires a more economical approach to packing.

It may be enough for a 2-3-day city break if you pack lightweight clothing, limit extra footwear, and use small containers for toiletries.

A soft backpack for the plane is a good solution, as its construction allows you to use almost the entire interior. However, it is not worth stuffing it to the limit. Once packed, all the external pockets and sides also affect its actual size.

If the backpack is slightly larger on paper but has a soft construction and is not completely full, it can be reshaped to fit the sizer more easily. However, the safest option is still to choose a model that matches the carrier's limit as closely as possible.

Cabin suitcase - when is it worth paying extra for more luggage?

Traveling with only a small backpack is not always the best solution.

A larger cabin suitcase is especially useful when the trip lasts several days, you are traveling in a cooler season, need additional footwear, or are carrying more work-related items.

With Ryanair, the Priority option currently allows you to bring, in addition to a small 40 × 30 × 20 cm bag, a suitcase measuring up to 55 × 40 × 20 cm and weighing 10 kg. With Wizz Air, WIZZ Priority allows a larger bag measuring 55 × 40 × 23 cm and weighing 10 kg.

If you often use both airlines, a suitcase measuring up to 55 × 40 × 20 cm is a more versatile solution.

Travel bag as carry-on luggage - when is it a good choice?

A travel bag can be a good alternative to both a suitcase and a backpack.

Its advantages are its flexible construction and large compartment, which is easy to fill with clothes. It works well for a weekend trip, a road trip, or a short flight.

When choosing a bag for air travel, however, you should consider how it is carried. A heavy bag worn over one shoulder may be less comfortable than a backpack during a longer walk through the terminal or while traveling by public transport.

If you are traveling with a suitcase, a bag with a strap that allows you to attach it to the telescopic handle may be useful.

What is not worth taking in your carry-on luggage?

Spare items usually take up the most space, rather than essentials.

A second pair of heavy shoes, several sweaters, full-size toiletries, or clothes for situations you are not actually planning for can fill your carry-on luggage very quickly.

Before closing your backpack or suitcase, go through the contents once more. If you cannot identify a specific time when you will use an item, you can probably leave it at home.

Also, do not try to bring an additional handbag, belt bag, or backpack over the limit just because it is small. The number of pieces of luggage you can bring on board depends on the carrier's rules and the specific fare.

How to weigh and measure your luggage before your flight?

It is best to check your luggage after packing it completely.

When measuring it, take its actual size into account - overstuffed pockets can increase the depth of a backpack or bag. For a suitcase, it is best to use the full external dimensions, in accordance with the specific carrier's rules.

If the airline specifies a weight limit, weigh all your luggage, not just its contents. The weight of the suitcase or backpack also counts toward the limit.

It is best to weigh your luggage after packing it completely, leaving a small margin. This way, a minor change to the contents before departure will not result in exceeding the limit.

Frequently asked questions about carry-on luggage

What can you pack in hand luggage for 3-4 days?

Most often, 3-4 lightweight tops, 1-2 bottoms, underwear, pajamas, one warmer layer, small toiletries, and basic electronics are enough. It is best to wear the bulkiest clothes during the journey.

Does free hand luggage always mean a cabin suitcase?

No. On many low-cost airlines, free hand luggage is currently a small backpack or bag placed under the seat. A larger cabin suitcase for the overhead compartment may require an additional fee.

Which backpack for the plane is suitable as free luggage?

It is best to choose a lightweight model with dimensions suited to the specific airline. For Ryanair and Wizz Air, the current common limit for small luggage is 40 × 30 × 20 cm.

Can a travel bag be hand luggage?

Yes. A travel bag can be hand luggage if, after packing, it fits within the airline’s size and weight limits and corresponds to the number of pieces of luggage included in the fare.

Is a cabin suitcase included in the ticket price?

It depends on the airline and fare. On low-cost airlines, a larger cabin suitcase often requires an additional service, while the basic ticket price includes only a small bag under the seat.

Is a 40 × 30 × 20 cm backpack enough for a weekend?

Yes. With careful packing, such a backpack for the plane may be enough for 2-3 days. The most space can be saved by limiting extra footwear, large toiletries, and clothes taken “just in case”.

Which is better to choose: a cabin suitcase or a backpack?

A backpack gives you greater freedom of movement and works well as small free luggage. A cabin suitcase is more convenient if you need more space, want an organized interior, and have a fare that allows you to take it into the overhead compartment.

How can you fit everything into hand luggage without forcing it?

The easiest way to start is by reducing the number of items, and only then looking for ways to use the space more efficiently. Even the best organizers and rolling techniques will not help if half your luggage is taken up by clothes and accessories you will not use.

Match the type of luggage to the fare and the nature of your trip. For a weekend, free hand luggage and a lightweight backpack for the plane may be sufficient. For a few days, a cabin suitcase will provide more freedom, while a travel bag is a good choice for trips where you want a flexible interior.

The most important thing is that, after packing, your luggage still fits within the required dimensions, is convenient to transport, and contains items you will actually use during your trip.