If you’ve never flown before, or do so very infrequently, you may be wondering what to pack. Airline rules seem to be getting more and more complicated, and sometimes there are extra fees to pay. If you’re confused, you’re not alone! Whether you’re going on a long or short trip, for work or vacation, well-prepared luggage will help you travel with complete peace of mind.

Choose the essentials. Put items you can’t live without in your carry-on. Take things like underwear, shoes, a few simple outfits, entertainment, medication and basic toiletries. Some people act as if they’ll never see their checked luggage again, and sometimes they don’t! Your cabin bag should contain the items you need to survive if your hold bag is ever lost.

Read and reread your airline’s regulations to find out what you’re allowed to carry in your cabin baggage. It would be a shame to take something and have to throw it away.

Remember to take all your medication and anything else you need to be comfortable. Both prescription and non-prescription treatments are allowed. If you have extra fluids you need for medical reasons, such as saline solution, they will pass the security check more easily.

Choose clothes that you can all wear with each other to reduce the amount you need to take. Take a few individual items that all go together rather than taking completely separate outfits. Use accessories to liven up your outfits. For example, scarves are small and easy to store, and can be used as scarves, headbands or even belts.

This video can explain it more:

Take your valuables with you. All valuables should be packed in your carry-on bag. If your checked bag is ever lost or damaged, at least your carry-on bag will always be with you. If you have an item that would break your heart to lose, keep it in the cabin .

For safety reasons, any electronic items containing lithium batteries, including most laptops, cell phones and tablets, should be packed in your cabin baggage, not in the hold whenever possible. External batteries and spare lithium batteries should always be packed in your cabin baggage, not in the hold. Put large electronic items last, so you can find them easily and avoid wasting time searching through your bag at security checkpoints.

Limit toiletries. You probably don’t need to take many, if any at all. For example, if you’re going to your aunt’s house, she’ll probably have shampoo and you can buy toothpaste in Peru. You may have to make a trip to a store when you arrive at your destination, but if you avoid taking lots of bottles, tubes and toiletries, you’ll save space for other, more important items.

If you still want to take toiletries with you, there are a few rules to observe. Many airlines allow you to carry a maximum of 1 l of liquids in containers of 100 ml or less. They must all be packed in the same 20 x 20 cm clear plastic zip-lock bag, which you’ll have to take out of your suitcase for the security. Consult your airline’s website for precise rules.