How to pack light and avoid lost or delayed baggage this summer – curate your wardrobe and fit everything in a carry-on bag

Post-pandemic staff shortages are causing chaos at airports around the world. Avoid holiday stress by following these tips, designed to help you pack light

No matter which airline you fly with, rolling your clothes, thinking about space, and mixing outfits will reduce the amount of baggage – and stress – you have

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Rolling rather than folding clothes saves space if you are trying to pack all your holiday needs in carry-on bag to avoid checked baggage being lost or delayed at understaffed airports this summer. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 5:15pm, 23 Jul 2022

I always wanted to be part of the hand-baggage-only crowd – the people who smugly stepped off the plane and into a taxi and were sipping a cocktail while I was still struggling with my oversized suitcase. But having to decant my moisturiser and only bring one book never made it feel worthwhile.

Until now, that is.

Wherever you are in Europe or the United States, airport chaos reigns. In Amsterdam, people are waiting six hours for their baggage; in Nice in the South of France, bags are being lost every day and in London – where I live – frazzled baggage handlers are breaking down in tears when they’re interviewed by the media.

Why is this happening? A mix of post-pandemic staff shortages and a busier-than-expected summer season, but the result is that anyone flying away for the summer should think light.

Build your outfits one by one and arrange them in piles – you can even add specific underwear so it’s complete

Sophie Liard, organisational expert

Not that this is easy in 2022. Many short-haul airlines insist paid-for cabin bags weigh under 15kg (33lb); considering the suitcases themselves usually come in at about 4kg, these companies seem to be suggesting we approach our holiday packing with an outlook even Marie Kondo might find draconian.