Few things sour a trip faster than a surprise fee at the check-in counter. The fix is simple: know your bag's weight before you leave home.
1. Check your airline's allowance
Baggage allowances vary by airline, route and fare type. Look up your exact ticket's cabin and check-in allowance on the airline's website a few days before you fly.
2. Weigh the empty bag first
Hard-shell and heavily structured bags can use up a big part of your allowance by themselves. Knowing the empty weight tells you how much you can actually pack.
3. Use a luggage scale
A handheld digital luggage scale lets you hang your bag from the hook and read the weight in seconds. Weigh each bag once packed, and again after you shop on the trip home.
4. Move heavy items into your cabin bag carefully
If you are close to the limit, move dense items such as chargers, books or shoes to your cabin bag, but remember that cabin bags have limits too.
5. Compress, do not cram
Packing cubes and compression bags reduce bulk, but they do not reduce weight. They help you use space, so keep an eye on the scale as well.
6. Leave a margin
Scales at airports can differ slightly from yours, so aim for a little under the limit.
Pre-flight checklist
- Confirm the allowance on your ticket
- Weigh every bag after packing
- Keep valuables, medicines and documents in your cabin bag
- Leave room for the return trip
See our travel accessories to make packing easier.