Half of Brits Travel Hand Luggage Only, No Matter the Distance

Half of British holidaymakers (49%) are ditching checked luggage and embracing hand luggage only, no matter the distance, according to a new study from Booking.com. Even long-haul travellers are opting for just a cabin bag – with some willing to travel to the US (26%), Canada (18%), Japan (14%) and even Australia (13%) armed with nothing more than a carry-on. 

A primary motivator is cost – with 53% saying it allows them to save money to spend on the trip, rather than fees. Skipping the wait at baggage reclaim (56%) and avoiding the hassle of lost luggage (47%) also make the list, but it’s not just about saving time or money – over half (62%) of travellers also claim going hand-luggage-only gives them more freedom and flexibility during their trip. 

When it comes to fitting everything in, Brits* aren’t shy about getting creative. A third (31%) say they’ll go to extreme measures to keep it carry-on only, from piling on multiple layers before boarding (16%), to vacuum packing their outfits (14%). Over a third (35%) save space by wearing the same outfit on repeat, while 27% will only bring four or less pairs of pants for a week-long holiday. 

The top 10 space-saving hacks Brits* are using to beat baggage fees: 

1.      Only take mini toiletries (39%)

2.      Re-wear the same outfits (35%)

3.      Purchase a bag that sits perfectly beneath the plane seats (30%)

4.      Share toiletries with their friends (22%)

5.      Pack minimal underwear and wash it in the sink (16%)

6.      Wearing multiple layers on the plane (16%)

7.      Buy clothes abroad to save room (15%)

8.      Vacuum pack their clothes (14%)

9.      Follow influencers for tips and tricks (13%)

10.  Stuff pockets with clothes or shoes (9%)

Trying to squeeze it all in means airport anxiety is running high among British travellers, with 36% admitting they feel stressed and on edge at the departure gate, worried their hand luggage might be over the size limit. That stress is often well-founded, as 22% have been charged extra in the past for having oversized hand luggage, equating to more than 8.2 million people. Confusion over rules only adds to the tension. With 43% of Brits* unsure which airports have scrapped the 100ml liquid limit and 23% admitting to having toiletries confiscated, travellers often lose essentials – and money – before their holiday has even started. 

To help travellers pack smarter and avoid these common pitfalls, Ryan Pearson, Regional Manager, UK, at Booking.com shares their top tips for travelling light and tackling the stress of airports with confidence: 

1.      Pack to Disappear

Rather than lugging the same weight for the whole trip, take items you can use up and replace along the way – things like solid shampoo bars, toothpaste tablets, or a few sachets of instant coffee. Include older clothes you’re happy to part with and leave them behind as you travel, swapping them for locally bought pieces or simply making space for souvenirs.

2.      Laundry is Lighter than Luggage

Washing on the go is lighter than carrying extra clothes. Instead of relying on hotel laundry services or laundrettes, bring a sturdy plastic bag and a small bar of travel soap. This becomes an instant washing machine anywhere from an airport lounge bathroom to a hostel sink.

3.      Compress Like a Pro

Compression techniques go well beyond rolling T-shirts. Vacuum-seal bags that don’t require a pump are ideal, as they squeeze the air out and dramatically reduce bulk. Some travellers take it a step further by using reusable cling film to wrap awkwardly shaped items such as travel pillows and hats, keeping them compact without adding extra weight.

4.      Pack Items That Do More Than One Job

Everything in your bag needs to pull its weight by doing more than one job. A sarong for example, could be a skirt at breakfast, a towel on the beach, and later a blanket on a chilly overnight coach. Leggings can also work as pyjamas, a base layer, or gym kit. Even your shoes aren’t just shoes – they’re handy little storage spaces for socks, toiletries, or even delicate gadgets (just wrap them in something soft and pop a shower cap over the soles to keep things clean).

5.      Choose Travel-Friendly Fabrics

Choosing the right fabrics makes a huge difference when you’re packing light. Merino wool would be our top pick, as it keeps you warm or cool as needed, dries quickly, and somehow manages to not smell even after days of wear . Quick-dry synthetics are the next best thing, while pure cotton is best avoided for long trips as it takes ages to dry and has a habit of holding onto smells.

6.      Choose Soft Over Hard

Even the choice of luggage itself matters, so our advice would be to ditch hard cases altogether, as they eat space. A soft, unstructured backpack not only weighs less than a hard-shell case but also squeezes into tight cabin bins and under-seat spaces more easily. Hard cases enforce the airline’s size limits on you, however soft ones can flex to fit your needs.

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