Javascript is not enabled.

Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.

Skip to content

Use the RMD calculator to estimate your required withdrawals from tax-deferred retirement plans.

Content starts here
CLOSE ×
Search
Popular Searches

Games

Car rental

AARP daily Crossword Puzzle

Hotels with AARP discounts

Life Insurance

AARP Dental Insurance Plans

Travel

Suggested Links
Help Show me my account info Change my Address How do I contact AARP? Where is my membership card? How do I get a digital card?
Red Membership Card

AARP MEMBERSHIP 

AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal

Get instant access to members-only products, hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. 

 

120x30-AARP-logo-red
Join
Renew
Enroll
Rejoin

AARP en Español

Join
Renew
Enroll
Rejoin
Leaving AARP.org Website

You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

Continue Cancel

How to Pack for a Weekend Getaway With Just a Personal Item

Want to avoid baggage fees and still bring everything you need? Here’s how 

medication, a notebook, tooth brush, tooth paste, jeans and other things to packing for a weekend getaway
Travelers can pack a good amount of clothing plus essentials into a personal item. Here’s how.
AARP (SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES)
By

Blane Bachelor,

 
AARP
Published July 25, 2024

If you’ve traveled on a budget airline lately, you know the no-frills approach means that pretty much everything, including overhead bin space, has a price. Standard carry-on luggage, for example, can cost more than $60 one way depending on the airline and route. But there is a way around baggage fees if you’re willing to rethink your packing strategy.

All major airlines allow passengers to bring one personal item on board for free. Personal items are considerably smaller than traditional carry-on bags, but you can fit a good amount in the space if you get creative. It may be worth the effort if you’re one of the many older adults planning on taking a shorter trip. A recent AARP survey found that weekend getaways were popular among travelers 50-plus planning a trip this year.

Beyond the obvious cost savings, several other benefits come with packing a personal item only, says Sally French, a travel expert at the finance site NerdWallet. Among them: no struggling to lift a suitcase into the overhead bin, asking another passenger for help or stressing whether there will be room in the first place. “I can relax and let everyone board ahead of me because all I need is the space under my legs,” says French, who has taken dozens of flights with only a personal item.

If this packing strategy sounds tempting for your next trip, here’s what to know, including insider tips from travelers who have mastered it.

Pick the right bag

Choosing the right-sized bag is essential. Most airlines, including budget carriers, specify that a personal item cannot exceed 18 by 14 by 8 inches, including the handles, wheels and straps. Perhaps most importantly, it must fit under the seat in front of you, but since seat dimensions can vary slightly between airlines, it’s a good idea to check your carrier’s specific requirements online beforehand.

For many travelers, a backpack is ideal. They’re convenient to carry, with plenty of pockets to keep everything organized, and a soft structure that can be compressed to fit under the seat. To minimize weight, consider a day pack from an outdoor retailer, such as the North Face, Osprey or REI, that uses lightweight materials.

In addition, there’s a growing category of bags specifically designed as a personal item, some with wheels for even easier transport. An online search for the terms “under-seat luggage” and “personal item backpack” turns up many options in a range of prices.

Also consider what kind of functionality you need. Glenn Jordan, who relies on just a backpack for his frequent trips to play and referee pickleball games in a professional pickleball league for adults 50-plus, says his bag of choice is “made to hold two pickleball paddles and has a separate compartment for shoes.”

What to pack

The catchphrase “less is more” certainly applies here: Forget about just-in-case items and focus on versatility, choosing clothing that can easily mix and match, such as a sweater that pairs with pants or a dress. Depending on the length of your trip, pack no more than two or three outfits. And keep in mind that you’ll probably need to do laundry on longer trips, advises Kelsey Knoedler Perri, a frequent traveler and spokesperson for Road Scholar, a nonprofit that specializes in tours for 50-plus travelers. 

For toiletries, pare down as much as possible, and consider French’s $10-10 minute rule: “If I can acquire a new version in under 10 minutes and for less than $10, I’ll just buy it upon arrival,” she says.

For prescription and other necessary medications, downsize whatever you can into travel-sized containers. Jordan likes to use film canisters from his days working at a newspaper. “I usually fill two or three with Metamucil and any pills I need, rather than packing larger bottles,” he says.

Rolling clothes, packing cubes and compression bags

Fitting everything into your personal item can take some trial and error. Many travelers opt to roll clothing, while others swear by packing cubes, which are affordable and readily available online (be sure to choose small and medium sizes). Pick footwear that can pull double duty both day and night, and don’t forget about the space inside shoes.

It requires an extra step, but compression sacks make it easy to squeeze clothing into a tight bundle that can fit into your personal item. Similarly, compression bags and cubes remove air around clothing to make it much more compact (for space, choose bags that don’t require a vacuum). For a budget option, squeeze air out of sturdy zip-close bags, French says.

Tips for smooth day-of travel

On the day of your flight, wear your bulkiest clothing items, such as jeans and a sweater or jacket. The more pockets, the better: Travel vests can come in handy for storing glasses, phones and empty water bottles.

Perri uses a small cross-body bag that fits under her coat to store essentials. “You can usually get away with that [in addition to the personal item for under the seat], though you might end up with a stickler [gate agent], so be prepared to attempt to consolidate,” she says.

Finally, put your pared-down liquids and toiletries in a separate smaller bag to easily slip into and out of your larger bag before and after security.

Start small

This kind of packing takes practice, so get the feel for it on a low-stakes trip like a weekend getaway. Once you’ve figured out what works (and what doesn’t), you can build your way up to a longer trip.

“I still see so many fights for overhead bin space, coupled with weary travelers trying to stow their luggage with the bell desk [at the hotel],” French says. “Try it for a summer weekend trip. From there, see how far you can go with personal-item-only flying.”

Amsterdam-based journalist Blane Bachelor covers travel, aviation and hotel news for a variety of top media outlets.  

Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition

Join AARP to Continue

Already a Member?

AARP Travel Center

Or Call: 1-800-675-4318

Enter a valid departing date

Enter a valid returning date

Age of children:

Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats:

Enter a valid departing date

Age of children:

Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats:

Enter a valid departing date

Age of children:

Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats:

Flight 2

Enter a valid departing date

Flight 3

Enter a valid departing date

Flight 4

Enter a valid departing date

Flight 5

Enter a valid departing date

+ Add Another Flight

Enter a valid checking in date

Enter a valid checking out date

Occupants of Room 1:

Occupants of Room 2:

Occupants of Room 3:

Occupants of Room 4:

Occupants of Room 5:

Occupants of Room 6:

Occupants of Room 7:

Occupants of Room 8:

Enter a valid departing date

Enter a valid returning date

Age of children:

You didn't specify child's age

Occupants of Room 1:

There are children in room 1 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age for room 1

Age of children:

You didn't specify child's age

Occupants of Room 2:

There are children in room 2 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age in room 2

Age of children:

You didn't specify child's age

Occupants of Room 3:

There are children in room 3 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age in room 3

Age of children:

You didn't specify child's age

Occupants of Room 4:

There are children in room 4 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age in room 4

Age of children:

You didn't specify child's age

Occupants of Room 5:

There are children in room 5 without an adult

You didn't specify child's age in room 5

Age of children:

You didn't specify child's age

Age of children:

You didn't specify child's age

Child under 2 must either sit in laps or in seats:

You have more than 6 people total

Please select a trip duration less than 28 days

There must be at least 1 traveler (age 12+) for each infant in a lap

Enter a valid start date

Please select a Pick Up Time from the list

Enter a valid drop off date

Please select Drop Off Time from the list

Select a valid to location

Select a month

Enter a valid from date

Enter a valid to date

Benefits Recommended For You

See All