Pack it up and fly right: luggage tips for traveling by plane

Once upon a time you really could take it all with you. Airlines didn’t weigh your luggage; if you could carry it, it was a carry-on.

Nowadays, airlines count, weigh and measure bags. Security officials randomly ransack luggage. And baggage assistance at the airport? Endangered, if not extinct.

In 20 years as a traveling journalist, I’ve learned from trial, error and loads of letters from readers about how to travel as light, compact, break-proof, wrinkle-free and security-conscious as possible.

The right bag: In the beginning there’s the luggage -- and it had better be light and it had better roll.

To avoid $25 to $50 surcharges, your checked bags -- max of two, please -- should measure less than 62 linear inches (add length, width and depth) and weigh less than 50 pounds each. You’ll pay up to $80 extra for a third checked bag.

The best bet? A wheeled 25- to 29-inch soft-sided case, often called a Pullman or trolley. Hard-sided bags, although more durable and water resistant, simply weigh too much. Wheeled duffels are lighter but hard to organize efficiently and don’t protect the contents as well.

Look for the new lighter-weight polyester or nylon bags made with graphite frames. An open design accommodates more and weighs less than multiple internal compartments. Many of the better bags are expandable, providing an extra 2 1/2 inches of packing space in a crunch. Choose a bag with a dual-pole telescoping handle, which provides more stability.

A reasonably priced choice is Delsey’s (www.delseyusa.com) Helium Lite 100 line. The 25-inch expandable trolley weighs just 10.7 pounds and is widely available for about $90.

The inside story: For internal compartmentalization, I vote for big Ziploc freezer bags in quart, 1- and 2-gallon sizes. (Can’t find big ones? Try www.scjbrands.com/mailorder.) These have the added advantage of being see-through and thus less likely to be opened by inspectors. Double-bag spillable items.

Plastic compression bags -- basically giant Ziplocs with a one-way air valve -- can reduce the volume (but not the weight) of bulky items like sweaters. But I’ve run into serious wrinkle problems with these.

Everyone has a favorite packing method. Rolling. Flat-folding. Here’s mine: First fill the recesses between the wheels and handle with shoes or other items that make the most of that often wasted space. Next, lay all garments out flat, biggest first, letting the excess drape over the sides of the bag. Then fold the spill-over carefully back into the bag in reverse order. This is the most compact packing method, and also cuts back on wrinkling.

Stash socks and underwear in the corners. Wedge other shoes (in 2-gallon Ziplocs) along the sides.

Put heavy durable items at the wheel end of the bag to keep the center of gravity low.

Toiletries tend to be weighty, so pack sample-size ones. If you run out, you’ll probably be able to restock.

Carrying on: A 21-to-22-inch bag with an undivided interior maximizes airlines’ carry-on allowance, typically 45 linear inches. Thinner is better; choose a bag no more than 9 inches deep. Delsey’s expandable Helium Lite Carry-on Suiter Trolley ($70) fits the bill and weighs 8.8 pounds.

Load it with the heaviest items, as well as essential guidebooks, medications that aren’t critical but that you don’t want to have to replace, and fragile items wrapped in socks or a T-shirt -- which can come in handy if your checked luggage is delayed.

There’s always the chance that an airline will ask you to check this kind of wheel-aboard bag at the gate, in which case be sure to move essential items to a purse or backpack that you’ll carry aboard.

Also, be sure that your bag has an ID tag and that you get a claim ticket for all luggage checked at the gate.

A smaller purse or knapsack, which will remain in your possession, should hold all valuables, such as money, jewelry, travel documents, crucial prescriptions and keys. Ideally, this bag fits under the seat in front of you, so it should also contain your reading material, music player, gum or food, and neck rest.

Security matters: I’m a big fan of neck pouches with a see-through compartment for a photo ID and slots for your boarding pass or passport. They’ll spare you from digging through your bag at checkpoints. I also keep rental car and hotel confirmation slips in the pouch, as well as some cash for cab fare, tips or buying a newspaper at the airport. To prevent theft, keep the pouch hidden inside your shirt when not needed.

Your bags might get even more scrutiny than you do these days. The only recommended locks are the special Transportation Security Administration-approved padlocks (about $10 each, available at several online and travel retailers). Most U.S. baggage inspectors have keys for these, but the locks aren’t universal.

I secure my checked bags with PrivaSeals (disposable snap-on plastic padlocks that are $8 for 20 at www.magellans.com) and an adjustable luggage strap ($10). These won’t stop a determined thief but may deter opportunistic filchers.

Baggage ID tags are essential for reuniting you with your luggage, but security experts advise against putting your home address on these. (Why advertise that your home may be unoccupied?) Better to list an office address, e-mail and perhaps a cell phone number.

It may also be helpful to include the hotel or ship for which you are bound so lost luggage has at least a chance of reaching you during your trip.

Getting it home: If you’ve acquired a substantial amount during your trip -- guidebooks, gifts or souvenirs -- consider shipping it rather than schlepping it.

Shipping can be less burdensome and often less expensive than paying luggage surcharges. Insure your package, though, and whenever possible, pay for items you’ll ship by credit card -- which may provide additional insurance.

Or take precious purchases on the plane and ship home the clothes you won’t need for a while.