Carry-On Only: How I Save Hundreds on Baggage Fees

Baggage is one of the easiest ways to push up the cost of a trip, and one of the easiest to control. If you want to keep costs down, take the minimum.

I travel with one carry-on. Sometimes I’ll add a small extra bag, depending on what the airline allows. Before you book, check the exact size and weight limits for every flight on your route and stay inside them.

Why it adds up so fast

On budget airlines a hold bag is usually charged per flight, not once per trip. Booked with your ticket, it often runs from about £10 to £40 each way on routes like mine, but turn up at the airport and it can be £60 or more for the same bag. Over eight or nine flights, travelling carry-on only can easily save you a few hundred pounds.

On my Asia trip, I’ve no doubt I saved several hundred pounds just by travelling with a carry-on. And the convenience of not checking a bag in and collecting it at the other end is worth its weight in gold.

Budget airline traps

• Cabin bags: many budget fares include only a small under-seat bag (Ryanair’s is currently 40 x 30 x 20 cm). Measure your bag when it’s packed, and pack for the strictest airline on your trip.
• Buy bags when you book. Adding them at the airport costs more, and at the gate a lot more.
• Always check in online. Ryanair currently charges £55 per person, per flight to check in at the airport.
• Liquids: some UK airports now allow containers up to 2 litres, but many airports abroad still have the 100ml limit. Pack for the strictest airport, including the flight home.
• Untick the extras you didn’t choose on purpose: add-on insurance, “flex” upgrades, bundled hotels and car hire.

What actually goes in

You can’t fit everything in, and you don’t need to. In one country, three or four changes of T-shirt and a couple of pairs of shorts is plenty, with a little hand wash. Wash things as you go, or find a laundrette nearby, which is easy in most places. If you need something else, buy it when you get there. It’s usually cheaper than paying to carry it, and you can leave it behind when you go.

For the full list, see what I pack for two months on the road.

Tip: Pack light, wash often, and buy what you’re missing on the way.