packing

A travel enthusiast shared the simple hack she uses to avoid paying for extra luggage on flights

Nobody wants to pay for extra luggage on a flight, and yet passengers often find themselves forking out when they overpack their bags. For many holidaymakers, it’s all too easy to overload a suitcase, especially if you’re travelling in winter, when you need to pack many layers.

From knitted jumpers to padded coats, winter packing involves lots of bulky items. Fortunately, a frequent flyer has shared a ‘simple’ suitcase hack that ‘will change the way you travel’ in winter. Posting on TikTok under the username @ourhappypassports, travel lovers Aishani and Bhavya often post about their holidays, and the couple recently revealed a packing hack ideal for winter.

In a video shared this week, the couple demonstrated how they pack multiple ‘fluffy winter jackets’ in their luggage without paying extra. The caption said: “This simple packing hack will change the way you travel this winter.

“No more sitting on your suitcase, no more paying for extra luggage — just a smart trick that lets you carry multiple jackets without the bulk. Perfect for those chilly Europe or mountain trips where you want options — without dragging another bag.”

In the clip, @ourhappypassports revealed they use a ‘simple’ packing method to compress their coats and save space in their luggage. To use the method, simply roll the bottom of your coat inside out, then tuck the sleeves and hood inside the pouch and fold the rest of the jacket inside as well.

As seen in the video, the folded jacket only takes up half the space you’d otherwise use inside your suitcase. The tip proved popular with social media users. The video racked up over 50k views.

Reacting to the video, one commenter said: “I fold them into the hood or the pocket.” @ourhappypassports replied: “I do that too, but some are too fluffy for that!!” Someone else asked: “Have you tried the compression bags and if so what are your thoughts on it?”

The reply read: “Yup, they crease the jackets too much!!” Nonetheless, compression bags are popular with many travellers. Using packing cubes, storage bags, and similar items can help passengers reduce the size of their luggage, whether they are used for storing jackets or other clothing items.

For travel enthusiasts seeking options, most budget retailers offer a selection of travel accessories. For instance, Home Bargains stocks a £4.99 TravelShop Travel Cubes Pack Of 3.

The product description states: “These travel cubes are rectangular-shaped fabric containers that help keep clothes and other travel essentials neatly packed and easily accessible during trips.

“The pack of 3 contains three individual travel cubes. Each cube comes in a different size, allowing you to separate and organise different types of items within your suitcase or travel bag.”

When it comes to packing for a winter getaway, it can be tough to fit all of your bulky clothes into a small suitcase – but there’s a simple hack that will help you maximise space.

There’s nothing quite like the excitement of a winter city break. Cities such as Berlin, Copenhagen and Vienna truly come to life during the festive season, and many of these destinations offer affordable flights too.

If you’re only jetting off for a long weekend, you likely won’t need a large suitcase. However, packing bulky winter clothes into a small bag can be a challenge.

To help travellers, experts have shared a simple technique that allows you to fit much more into your luggage – and it’s not the rolling packing method.

Essentials like coats, knitted jumpers and chunky boots are all must-haves for a winter getaway, but with limited packing space, it’s not always feasible to bring everything you desire.

However, travel PR gurus at Pure Digital PR have shared some of their top packing hacks that they swear by to maximise space and minimise stress – and topping the list is vacuum packing, reports the Express.

This straightforward trick removes the air from clothes, significantly reducing their size and creating extra room for those essential winter items.

The method can shrink the volume of bulky items like fleeces and padded jackets by up to 50 per cent, meaning you can pack twice the amount without forking out for additional charges for checked baggage.

Another game-changer is investing in packing cubes, which help organise your luggage into tidy, compressed sections.

The travel expert said: “We recommend colour-coding your cubes, one for tops, another for bottoms, and a separate one for accessories, making it easy to find what you need without unpacking your entire suitcase.”

This approach works particularly well for families travelling together, as each member can have their own colour-coded system.

The experts also highlighted the importance of selecting versatile items you pack, choosing clothes with multiple functions that can be mixed and matched.

The expert added: “A versatile black jumper can be dressed up for dinner or worn casually during the day, while a quality jacket that’s both waterproof and warm eliminates the need for multiple coats.

“Choosing a neutral colour palette also means fewer items overall, as everything coordinates seamlessly.”

Finally, wearing your bulkiest clothing during travel rather than packing them can free up considerable suitcase space. Make sure to wear your heaviest boots and thickest coat for the flight or journey, even if you feel slightly warm at the airport.

Several airlines have started cracking down on passengers packing their everyday, popular devices in checked luggage, in a blow for AirPod and other earbud users

Airlines have started cracking down on passengers packing everyday, popular devices in checked luggage, following widespread bans on power banks.

Over the last few years, several airlines have banned passengers from taking power banks on flights due to concerns that they could catch fire. Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and, now, Emirates have all banned the use of power banks on flights, while Cathay Pacific issued a similar ban effective from April 7, 2025.

Now, some airlines have started cracking down on another popular electronic item over similar concerns of flammability. Taiwanese airlines EVA Air, UNI Air and Tigerair no longer allow Bluetooth earbuds, including Apple AirPods, to be placed in checked luggage.

Such audio tech contains lithium batteries, as power banks do. As the earbuds are constantly being charged when they’re in their case, the risk of them suddenly bursting into flames is increased.

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The New Zealand Aviation Authority has also set out rules strictly prohibiting the packing of AirPods and other wireless earbuds in checked luggage on flights under its jurisdiction.

“Yes, you can take wireless earbuds and AirPods in your carry-on luggage. They must not go in check-in luggage under any circumstances,” the Kiwi aviation organisation explains.

“Each person is allowed a total of 20 spare batteries or power banks in their carry-on, unless an airline has approved the carriage of more batteries. The wireless earbuds/AirPods charger is considered one of the 20 spare batteries or power banks allowed in passengers’ carry-on.

“Some airlines, including Air New Zealand, specify in their conditions of carriage that you can only travel with your wireless ear buds / AirPods chargers in carry-on and not check-in luggage.”

It comes following a spate of incidents involving fires on planes thought to be caused by broken power banks. In turn, this has led some airlines to reevaluate how portable charges can be used on planes, as the lithium batteries contained inside can produce extreme heat if they short-circuit.

The first airline to introduce a ban on battery packs was Air Busan, after a power bank fire in January forced one of its aircraft out of service. Fortunately, no passengers were harmed, but the incident caused considerable damage.

The largest airline on the list of those banning the use of power banks is Emirates, the Middle East-based travel giant. Bosses announced that a ban on power banks will be enforced from October 1, 2025.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), alongside other aviation regulators, advises that lithium batteries and power banks should be carried in hand luggage and switched off completely to minimise fire risks.

Their guidelines specify that the heat-generating element of a lithium battery-powered gadget should be “separated” from the battery – meaning the battery or heat-generating part should be taken out. The guidelines state: “Any battery that has been removed must be protected against short circuit (by placing in its original retail packaging or by otherwise insulating terminals, e.g. by taping over exposed terminals or placing each battery in a separate bag or protective pouch).”

Currently, no UK airlines have outright bans on Bluetooth earbuds being packed in hand luggage.

A spokesperson for Tigerair said: “Due to flight safety considerations, portable electronic devices such as earphone charging cases and portable electric fans with built-in lithium-ion batteries can only be carried in hand-held or carry-on formats on board the aircraft.”

UNI Air said: “Bluetooth earphones (including the charging case) are classified as Portable Electronic Devices (PED). For safety reasons, the airline said Bluetooth earphones and their charging cases are not permitted in checked baggage and must be carried in hand luggage instead.”

Full list of all 14 airlines banning power bank use aboard a plane

Operating in the UK:

• Asiana Airlines: London Heathrow
• Cathay Pacific: Heathrow, Manchester
• China Airlines: Heathrow
• Emirates: Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh
• EVA Air: Heathrow
• Korean Air: Heathrow
• Singapore Airlines: Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester.
• Starlux Airlines: Gatwick
• Vietnam Airlines: Heathrow

Not serving UK airports:

• Air Busan
• Hong Kong Airlines
• Thai AirAsia
• Tigerair
• Vietjet Air

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