Forget About The Weight Limit

          Yes, there is a weight limit, and you will have to jettison stuff if you go over it. However, unless you have a large commercial scale to weigh your luggage on, you will not be able to measure your luggage as accurately as the check baggage at the airport. And no, your bathroom scale is not just as good (believe me, I know).
          The best way to pack is to check how many free bags you are allowed, and what the maximum dimensions are. Then stuff them to the point that you can no longer pick them up. For international flights, this should be a carry-on and two checked bags (if this does not seem to be the case, call the airline and make sure!). Airlines usually like to measure baggage in a very strange way, linear inches/centimeters. This is done in the hopes that you, the “economy class” air traveler, will be confused and use a smaller sized suit case than you could have, leaving more room for their “business class” air travelers. All you have to do is add together all of the dimensions of your luggage (error on the side of generosity). This number should be less than or equal to the Airline’s linear dimension.
          Once you have the right size and number of suitcases, stuff as much as you possible can into each. In an organized way, of course. Your carry-on should contain everything you need to keep you entertained on your flight (including food for non-international trips), as well as a couple changes of clothes, your toiletry and other essentials. This is so that if, heaven forbid, your checked baggage goes to Barcelona when you go to Pairs, you’ll be able to survive for a few days. Don’t worry about weight, your checked baggage should never, ever, be weighed (please see Legal Terms and Polices).
          For you checked baggage, pack each suitcase in this order: important stuff first, I-just-have-to-bring-this-box-of-crayons and other junk on top. Try to distribute both categories evenly throughout all your bags.  And remeber, clothes make great packing peanuts.
          Lastly, of course, you will need exactly one empty suitcase for your friend who is driving you to the airport. Why? Well, for one thing, I find that, even when I’m not going on the fight, having my own suitcase to lug around helps get me more excited about the prospect of driving for an hour each way at four in the morning. For another, you will need this extra suitcase to stuff all the things you can’t take because you’re over the weight limit.
          To calculate how large of an extra suitcase to take, go here. Just be sure to impress upon your friend that the bulk and weight of the extra bag is a direct expression of how much you love and appreciate them. And that, while you would like to help them carry it back to the car, you’ve got a plane to catch.  After that, I suggest you hurry through the security check-point as quickly as possible.


          Oh yeah, and enjoy your flight.


E’ya! - Tate