Travel Essentials for Your Carry-On Luggage

So, you’ve already booked that flight to some amazing destination. You’ve already sorted out what you’re bringing with and how you’re getting to the airport. But have you thought about what’s going to happen at the airport? Perhaps you’ve already made sure the luggage you’re checking in is the right weight.

But have you thought about your carry-on luggage? That’s one of the most important travel essentials that you should never forget. It’s one of those essentials you need to have to carry all your other must-have travel items. If you don’t know what you can carry onto the plane, check out this guide on hand luggage with Travelstart!

What is considered carry-on luggage?

First, let’s establish what the airports allow you to to carry onto the plane. You can carry a range of different items onto a plane, including travel essentials like books, toiletries, liquids, even some snacks, and your laptop (although this must be in a slimline laptop bag, once that easily be stowed underneath your seat or in the overhead compartment).

It’s a travel essential that may prove to be quite invaluable in some cases. Carry-on luggage comes in handy during those long layovers that you have to deal with when flying off to distant destinations.

What should you pack in your carry-on luggage?

Boarding the plane

Let’s break down exactly what travel essentials you need to keep with your hand luggage. You’re sure to have some expensive items or in-flight essentials that you would never consider putting with your check-in luggage or will need on the aircraft, such as :

  • Cameras,
  • iPods,
  • Jewellery,
  • Accessories
  • Toiletries
  • Change of clothes

If you have a long international flight, take a book along with your carry-on luggage, just in case you’re not interested in any of the entertainment on offer. During those long flights, you may wish to freshen up. Make sure you’ve brought a deodorant along, but make sure to use it in the bathrooms to avoid disturbing other passengers.

Be mindful of your fellow passengers, since some may have allergies. Rather leave any strong fragrances at home, because others might not be comfortable having to sit for hours with a powerful aroma!

What can you not pack in your carry-on bag?

You are not allowed to take any weapons with your hand luggage, or anything that can be used as a weapon. This includes sharp objects and sports equipment such as bats and golf clubs.

What are the rules for carry-on luggage on airplanes?

 

Take note, travel essentials such as liquids have to be in 100-millilitre bottles and all placed together in a transparent resealable bag. Before boarding the plane, security officers will need to check your liquids to confirm you are following the rules correctly. The bag containing all your liquids must be no heavier than 1 litre.

Also read: Everything you ever wanted to know about travelling with liquids

Heading into the airport with carry-on luggage

For any food you take, it must be consumed on the plane. Otherwise, security at your final destination airport will confiscate it. Avoid taking any food that has a strong smell, this is likely to disturb other passengers.

The weight of your hand luggage bag differs according to the various airlines. For the low-cost domestic carriers, such as FlySafair, Kulula and Mango, the maximum weight is 7 kilograms. For international airlines, such as South African Airways and British Airways, the maximum weight increases, with SAA’s at 8 kilograms and British Airways hand luggage at 23 kilograms! If your hand luggage is heavier than the maximum weight, you will have to pay a fee.

Also read: Hand Luggage Restrictions at South African Airports

What size luggage fits in an overhead bin?

Carry on luggage size is also an important requirement. All hand luggage carried onto the plane should be according to these dimensions: 45 x 25 x 56 centimetres. Make sure your hand luggage size is correct or you will not be allowed to take your bag onto the plane.

Does carry-on baggage get weighed?

Since there are weight requirements for carry-on luggage, yes, your bags will be weighed to make sure they don’t exceed the maximum weight.

Does a backpack count as a carry-on?

Your carry-on luggage is alternatively known as a personal item. If your backpack can fit under the seat in front of you, then the airports will consider it as a personal item. So, if your backpack fits that requirement, then yes, it counts as a carry-on.

Is carry-on luggage free?

As one of those important travel essentials, you’ll be happy to know that you are allowed to take one hand luggage suitcase and one slimline laptop bag for free. If you wish to take more bags onto the plane, you will have to pay a fee to do so. This fee depends on the airline you’re flying with.

Additional info for you to consider…

In the air

You may wish to add travel insurance to your booking. This should cover you in the event your carry-on luggage should go missing.

Since the requirement is that you bring your laptop in a slimline laptop bag, you can only imagine how many travellers there will be on the flight with slimline laptop bags! During the flight, baggage in the overhead compartment will move. Make sure you put a label and/or sticker so you don’t get your laptop mixed up with someone else’s.


Now you know all about carry-on luggage. So, think of those must-have travel items you’ll need during your flight. Next, sort out your travel arrangements to the airport.

And if you haven’t already, book your flights to your next holiday destination!

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Do you have any tips about hand luggage that you want to share? Let us know in the comments!

All information on this blog page was correct at the time of publishing and may change at any time without prior notice. Travelstart will not be held liable for loss or inconvenience resulting from the use of out-dated or incorrectly noted information.

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