How to Choose Travel Goods | By Purpose, Portability and In-Flight Rules
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Buying Because It “Looks Handy” Just Adds Luggage ── How to Think About Travel Goods
Browsing a travel goods aisle, you want almost everything. But only a small handful of items are truly useful on a trip. The rest end up gathering dust in the suitcase and become the culprit behind that “it won't fit!” moment before departure. So the first question to ask is simple: “Is this a tool that reduces my luggage, or one that adds to it?” Go for the former (compression gear, thin spare bags, small travel bottles) and be cautious about the latter (multifunction gadgets, things you'd use once a year), and you won't go wrong.
Travel goods cover four broad situations. Organizing luggage (cutting bulk and keeping things from getting lost inside), comfort in transit (sleep and swelling on planes and overnight rides), use abroad (plug shapes, voltage and connectivity), and keeping power available (power banks and cables). Built around these four, this article sorts out, from an editor's point of view, what to look for in the standard items and the easily overlooked in-flight and overseas rules. Prices and the rules of airlines and countries get updated, so please check with your airline or official sources for the final word.
If you can't decide, start with three things: packing cubes (or compression bags), a power bank, and a neck pillow. That covers most of the comfort you need for domestic travel. If you're going abroad, add a plug adapter that suits your destination, a way to get online (eSIM or Wi-Fi), and a valuables pouch so you can split up what you carry.
“Shrink” Your Bags and “Never Lose Anything” ── Using Packing Tools for the Right Job
Luggage tools serve two different purposes: do you want to reduce bulk, or organize the contents so things are easy to take out? Mix the two up, and even a purchase you made carefully will disappoint.
| Tool | Good at | Weak points / cautions |
|---|---|---|
| Compression bag (hand-roll / vacuum type) | Greatly shrinks airy clothing such as down jackets and sweaters | Wrinkles easily. It re-expands once opened, so it may not fit back in on the way home |
| Packing cube | Sorts items by category and keeps the suitcase tidy. Repacking is easy | Doesn't reduce bulk much. The thickness of the bag itself takes up space |
| Cube with compression zipper | Organizing and compressing in one. Suited to everyday clothes | Doesn't compress as much as a strong compression bag |
| Thin foldable spare bag | Takes the extra load of souvenirs on the way home | If you choose by capacity alone, it may not stand up and can be awkward to use |
I recommend using them together. Put bulky outerwear in compression bags and the underwear and tops you change daily in cubes. That way you only open the cubes at the hotel each night, and avoid opening and closing compression bags over and over and adding wrinkles. Just be careful not to buy too many cubes for the amount you pack, since the cubes themselves take up space.
Tricks to Keep Small Items from Going Missing
- S-hooks and hanging pouches: In a business hotel with a tiny washstand, or a place with no storage, you can create “hanging storage.” A type that lets you hang all your toiletries together is handy.
- Small pouch for charging cables: Keep cables, adapters and spare batteries together. It prevents the classic little annoyance of everything tangling at the bottom of your bag.
- Small travel bottles (in-flight-compliant size): For decanting lotion and shampoo. This ties directly into the liquid rules described later, so choose ones with legible capacity markings.
Check Power Banks by “Wh (Watt-Hours)” ── The Key to In-Flight Rules
Of all travel gadgets, power banks and spare lithium batteries cause the most trouble. The reason is simple: as a rule, these “cannot go in checked baggage.” If you toss one into a suitcase and check it, it will get flagged at security and, at worst, be left behind on the spot. Always put them in your carry-on bag that goes into the cabin.
What to look at when choosing is not the capacity in “mAh” but “Wh (watt-hours).” Many airlines follow this approach: 100Wh or less is allowed in the cabin, over 100Wh up to 160Wh must be declared and is limited to a few units, and over 160Wh is not allowed. Most commercially sold high-capacity power banks fall below the 100Wh line, but ultra-high-capacity types can exceed it, so it's reassuring to check the Wh marking on the unit or box before departure (if only mAh is shown, you can convert roughly with “mAh × 3.7V ÷ 1000 = Wh”).
Capacity limits, the number of units, and whether you must declare them differ by airline and route. If you're thinking of bringing a large-capacity battery or several, be sure to check the latest rules of the airline you'll use. In recent years, practices such as “keep it with you rather than in the overhead bin, except while in use” have also become more common.
Guide to Capacity and Number of Units
- Short trips centered on a smartphone: One in the 5,000–10,000mAh class is enough to get through a day without running out. Choose this if you value light weight.
- Want to charge a camera or tablet too: The 20,000mAh class. It makes it easy to keep several devices going all day, but check the weight and Wh marking.
- Standardize your chargers and cables: Consolidating on one USB-C PD charger lets one unit cover your phone and earphones, so you carry less. A single good PD cable ends up less bulky than several old ones.
The No. 1 Cause of Broken Appliances Abroad ── Plug “Shape” and “Voltage” Are Different Things
The biggest misunderstanding in overseas travel is the difference between a plug adapter and a voltage transformer. A plug adapter only “matches the shape of the socket opening,” and most do not change the voltage. Japan's electricity is 100V, while in many regions overseas, the 200V range is the norm. Get this wrong, and the moment you plug a Japan-only hair dryer or flat iron into a foreign outlet, it can lead to breakdown, smoke or fire.
There are two layers of protection. First, check the label on the appliance you want to use: if it says “100-240V,” it supports voltage worldwide, so a plug adapter that fits the shape is all you need. If it's “100V” only, that appliance can't be used as-is abroad, so you'll need to switch to a compatible model or use a transformer. Chargers for phones, computers and digital cameras are often worldwide-voltage types, but “heat-producing appliances” such as hair dryers, irons and electric kettles are often 100V-only, so be careful.
| Main plug types | Examples of where they're typically used | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Type A | Japan, North America, etc. | The Japanese shape. Note that North America uses a different voltage (around 120V) |
| Type C | Much of Europe | Two round pins. Compatible with many countries, so it's a “handy to have” type |
| Type BF | UK, Hong Kong, etc. | Three rectangular pins; sturdy and large |
| Type O/I | Oceania, etc. | Flat pins arranged in a V shape |
Plug shapes at your destination differ by country, and even within one country a hotel may have several kinds of outlets. If you're unsure about the shape, choose a multi-adapter that covers the main shapes in one unit, so one is enough even on a multi-country trip. A type with USB ports lets the adapter double as a simple charger, which reduces what you carry. Before departure, check specifically by searching for “destination plug type.”
Decide Overseas Connectivity by “Number of People” ── eSIM, Wi-Fi Router, Local SIM
Maps, translation and messaging: connectivity is a lifeline on the road these days. There are four main ways to get your phone online abroad: eSIM, renting an overseas Wi-Fi router, a local SIM card, and international roaming. The deciding factor is not so much “speed” as “how many people will use it.”
| Option | Good for | Where people stumble |
|---|---|---|
| eSIM | Solo travelers who want to travel light. Setup is completed online before departure | Your phone must support eSIM and be SIM-unlocked. Check the setup in advance |
| Wi-Fi router | Families and groups. Several devices can connect at once | You must carry the device and charge it every day. Pickup and return take effort too |
| Local SIM | Long stays with heavy data use | Buying it locally and swapping it in takes work. Watch out for your phone's SIM lock |
| International roaming | People who only need brief, minimal contact | Can be expensive depending on how you use it. Check the plan and the pay-per-use charges |
Roughly speaking, an easy eSIM for one person and a Wi-Fi router for a group are the standard choices. The strength of an eSIM is that you don't have to swap SIM cards and you're connected the moment you land at the airport. On the other hand, if two or more people want to share one, a Wi-Fi router tends to be cheaper per person, though it helps to remember its weakness: “if you forget to charge the device, everyone loses internet.” In either case, compare fees, data amounts, supported countries and speeds, and be sure to check before departure whether your own phone supports eSIM (plan and rebate conditions change, so check each official source for the latest information).
Fighting Fatigue on Long Trips ── Think Separately About Sleep, Swelling and Dryness
On overnight buses and long flights, comfort goods for the journey really count. Instead of lumping them together as “fatigue measures,” divide them into three: sleep, swelling and dryness, and what you need becomes clear.
- Sleep: Neck pillow, eye mask, earplugs. Choose by the shape that supports your neck (U-shaped or wrap-around) and by how small it gets when stored. Inflatable types take up no luggage space and are popular.
- Swelling and circulation: Compression socks. Staying in one position for a long time makes swelling more likely, and the tightness varies a lot between products, so checking reviews for “is it too tight?” helps you avoid a miss.
- Dryness: The cabin is surprisingly dry. A mask, lip balm and a small moisturizer ease the throat and lips. Contact lens wearers should bring eye drops too.
Sitting in the same position for a long time slows the blood flow in your legs, and a risk of so-called economy class syndrome (venous thrombosis) has been pointed out. In addition to compression socks, basic actions matter: drinking water often, moving your ankles up and down, and standing up and walking now and then. If you have a medical condition or any concern about your health, please consult a doctor before departure. This is only a general caution; leave any judgment involving diagnosis or treatment to a professional.
Preventing Theft and Skimming ── “Spreading Out” Is the Basis of Protecting Valuables
Security makes a surprising difference on overseas trips. Pickpocketing, bag snatching and skimming (having card information stolen contactlessly) are more likely at tourist spots. Rather than armoring yourself with expensive gear, the idea of “not keeping valuables in one place” works better.
- Carry them separately: Keep your passport, cash and cards in different places (a pouch you wear, inside your bag, the hotel safe, etc.). Even if one is lost, the damage is kept to a minimum.
- Anti-skimming cases: Cases and sleeves that block the reading of card or passport data are easy to get at a reasonable price.
- Habits to carry yourself by: In crowds, hold your bag in front of you, keep zippers closed, and don't put your wallet in a back pocket. Habits often work better than gear.
- Preparing for the worst: Keep a copy of your passport and the emergency contacts of your card company and embassy, so you can act quickly if something is lost or stolen.
Looking over the safety information for your destination before departure gives you a feel for where to stay alert. Physically protecting your suitcase or bag with a small lock also works as a deterrent.
For a Once-a-Year Family Trip and Twice-a-Month Business Trips, the “Right Answer” Is Opposite
So far we have looked at tools by purpose, but even among “travel goods,” the direction you should choose in changes a lot with how often you travel and who goes with you. The tricky thing about travel goods is that the time they sit unused is overwhelmingly longer than the time they're in use. Unlike appliances that wear out from running every day, they quietly deteriorate in a closet. With that peculiarity in mind, let's sort out four typical situations.
Only 1–2 Times a Year: Choose for “Resistance to Neglect,” Not Performance
The less often you use something, the fewer regrets you'll have if you look at material aging rather than the feature differences in the catalog. The urethane-based material used in suitcase casters can crumble apart from hydrolysis if kept for years in a humid place. It isn't rare to hear that the wheels turned to powder when someone rolled the case on departure day. If you use it only a few times a year, check first whether the casters alone can be replaced and whether the manufacturer offers replacement parts, and you can keep using it for a long time as long as the body is sound.
The same goes for power banks: lithium-ion batteries degrade whether left fully charged or left empty. Rather than rushing to charge before each trip, charging to about half every six months keeps them in better condition. Don't take any unit that has swollen so the casing is lifting, or whose sides have warped so it no longer fits its case, on a trip, as it carries a risk of overheating and fire regardless of performance. It may also be flagged at airport security.
What to avoid is buying a full set of multifunction models from the upper price range for a once-a-year trip. The more advanced the tool, the more moving parts and seals it has, and the more points where neglect causes deterioration. If you use it only a few times, it's more rational to keep a lineup you can treat as consumables, or to include the “rent it” option covered in the next section.
Flying Several Times a Month: Lean Toward Gear That Works With Carry-On Only
For frequent business travelers, the biggest time saver is not waiting for checked baggage. For that, your luggage has to fit carry-on size, and on domestic flights the limit changes with the number of seats: generally, on aircraft with 100 or more seats the total of the three sides is within 115cm, on aircraft with fewer than 100 seats it's roughly within 100cm, and the weight is up to 10kg including personal items. International flights vary even more by airline, so it's realistic to pick one bag that matches the standard of the routes you fly most.
To get through security quickly every time, you want the liquids pouch and the laptop to come out of an outer pocket without opening the main compartment. This matters more the more often you travel. In addition, consolidating charging into one PD charger, so your laptop, phone and earphones all run on the same cable standard, makes your gadget pouch much lighter.
What to avoid is gathering daily necessities from around the house for every trip. Make a set that “stays ready for business trips” with a toothbrush, razor, regular medicines, charger and conversion cable, and just top it up after each trip, and most forgotten items disappear. You end up buying things twice, but for frequent travelers this works best.
Traveling With Children: Plan Around Having Only Two Hands
Traveling with children means one or both hands are taken up by carrying a child or pushing a stroller. Pulling a two-wheel suitcase in that state is harder than you'd imagine, and a four-wheel type that you push alongside you is easier on the body. Conversely, on cobblestones or gravel paths at your destination, two wheels travel better, so decide by the road surfaces where you're going. There are also hooks and belts that connect a stroller and a suitcase, but they raise the center of gravity and make tipping over easier, so it's safer to separate them at steps.
In the cabin, having something to drink during takeoff and landing helps children whose ears hurt from pressure changes (buy a water bottle after security, or bring it empty and fill it up). Footrests that sit at the foot of the seat and turn it into a makeshift bed are handy, but some airlines don't allow them because they can get in the way of an emergency evacuation. Before buying, check the guidance of the airline you plan to fly.
One more thing: if you bring a tablet or game console for the child, neither devices with built-in batteries nor power banks can go in checked baggage. It's reassuring to keep everything in carry-on and agree as a family where to put them in the cabin (the seat-back pocket, not under the seat) and not to cover them with a blanket.
Sharing Gear With Family or a Partner: What Runs Short Is Outlets and Cables
On a trip with several people, the first thing to run short isn't plug adapters but the number of outlets. Hotels overseas have few outlets in the room, and often none by the bed. Rather than buy an adapter per person, bring one or two adapters, and connect to them a USB charger with many ports plus a short cable for each person, which cuts both luggage and waiting time for charging. If you take a Japanese power strip, check that the strip itself supports 100–240V. Strips with features such as surge protection may support only a limited voltage range.
Power banks, on the other hand, are not suited to sharing. In the cabin, the rule is that the owner carries their own, units of 100–160Wh need airline approval and are limited in number, and those over 160Wh cannot be brought on board. The idea of “buy one big one and pass it around the family” becomes awkward to handle at the airport and in the cabin. One smaller unit per person turns out easier to manage.
In a home with little storage space, the “empty volume” a suitcase takes up all year round is also a selection criterion. Models whose large and small sizes in the same series nest together, or soft types that fold flat when not in use, have the advantage. When storing it, open the zipper just a little to let air in and put in a desiccant, and you can prevent that distinctive smell when you open it for the next trip.
| Situation | Priority | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 trips a year | A structure that allows parts replacement / materials that resist aging | Buying a full set of multifunction higher-end models for one trip |
| Business trips several times a month | Carry-on size / liquids and laptop storage that can be taken out from outside | Gathering daily necessities from home each time |
| Traveling with children | Four wheels that can be pushed sideways / consolidating batteries in carry-on | Buying in-flight goods without checking whether they're allowed |
| Sharing among several people | Multi-port charger + a short cable per person | One large-capacity battery shared by everyone |
Buy or Rent, or Go for a Higher-End Model ── Five Easy-to-Agonize-Over Forks in the Road
Travel goods often come with choices that are “similar but built on different philosophies,” and rather than one being better, which suits you flips depending on conditions. Here is where to draw the line on the five forks that people commonly weigh up in practice.
For Suitcases, “Size” Rather Than “Frequency” Decides Whether to Rent
Whether to buy or rent tends to be judged by how many times a year you use it, but what really matters is size. Small to medium cases for 1–3 nights also get used for trips home and business trips, and take little storage space. Even if you use it once a year, having it on hand saves the trouble of booking at the last minute, and your body remembers how to pack it.
The problem is the large size meant for 7 nights or more. A large-capacity case takes up a lot of closet space, and may only get used once every few years. This is where renting comes in: borrow the big one only when you need it, and get by with a medium one the rest of the time, which is a realistic combination. However, with rental, before applying please check that the rental period is set including the delivery days both ways, that the size you want is often fully booked in peak season, and that how scratches and damage are handled differs by provider.
| Better to buy | Better to rent | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Carry-on to medium | Large, for 7 nights or more |
| Usage | Also used for trips home and business trips | Only for a long trip once every few years |
| Living space | Plenty of storage room | No place to keep it / can't nest it |
| Destination | Rough roads, and you want to learn the tool's quirks | Domestic, short trip with simple travel |
Frame Type or Zipper Type: Lightness and Sealing Are a Trade-Off
Among hard cases, the type that opens and closes with a metal frame and the type closed with a zipper have different characters. The frame type is highly rigid and wins on sealing when closed and on how reliably it locks, but it is correspondingly heavier and its price range tends to be higher. The zipper type is light, and many models can expand capacity with an expansion zipper, but it is known that the zipper portion can be opened with a sharp object. A TSA lock is a lock, not knife-proof protection, so the principle of not putting valuables in checked baggage doesn't change with either type.
A soft carry case has the advantages that documents and a PC can go in the outer pocket and that its shape gives a little even if you pack it quite full. It's easy to handle on trips with a lot of train travel, or on trips where you know souvenirs will pile up. On the other hand, hard cases have the advantage for checking in rain and for impact protection. If you mostly travel domestically on business, a light zipper type; if long-distance check-in continues, a frame type. Divide it that way and you won't hesitate.
Compression Bags and Packing Cubes Have Completely Different Purposes
These two are often compared side by side, but they solve different problems. A compression bag is a tool for reducing volume, and works dramatically on “things that hold a lot of air,” like down jackets, sweaters and laundry on the way home. However, it doesn't reduce weight by even one gram. If someone close to the checked-baggage weight limit adds compression bags, the situation not only fails to improve but they end up packing more into the freed-up space and going over.
A packing cube is less about reducing volume and more about fixing where everything is. You don't have to take everything out at the hotel, and several people's clothes don't get mixed up. The effect is greater on stay-in-one-place trips and on touring trips where you don't stay multiple nights. In recent years there are also cubes with compression zippers, which can be used as a middle ground between the two, but their compression rate isn't as high as a dedicated compression bag.
One more practical caution: compression bags you suck down with a vacuum cleaner can be used on the way out, but on the way back the hotel often has no vacuum and you can't use them. If you're taking one on a trip, choose a roll-up or valve type where you can press the air out by hand.
Power Bank: One Big Unit or Two Small Ones, and Whether to Choose an All-in-One AC Type
As mentioned in the main text, the basic judgment of capacity is by Wh conversion, and for units marked in mAh you can find it by multiplying by the cell voltage (usually 3.6–3.7V) and dividing by 1000. The 20000mAh class is roughly in the 70Wh range and fits within the 100Wh limit. With that settled, here is how to choose.
- Go for one large unitFor people who want to charge their phone many times or charge a laptop too. Check whether the PD output is 45W or more. It is heavy and won't fit in a pocket.
- Split into two small unitsThe advantage is flexibility in how you use them: two people can use them at once, the trip can go on even if one has trouble, and you can carry only the pocket-size one during the day.
- One AC all-in-one unitIt plugs into the outlet and charges itself, so you carry less at your lodging. But it is heavy, and depending on the plug shape it may block the neighboring outlet. If you use it abroad, be sure to check for the 100–240V marking.
A realistic way to divide it is two small units for a family trip, one large unit for a business trip with a laptop, and an AC all-in-one for a short domestic trip where you want to cut luggage to the limit.
Multi-Adapter, or Single-Country Plugs Plus a Charger
A multi-type that supports many countries with one unit makes sense for people whose destination changes every time. However, because the mechanism is complex it is thick and heavy, and when plugged into an outlet it can fall out under its own weight, or make poor contact and stop charging. If your destination is fixed at one country, carrying two small plugs made for that country is lighter and more reliable, and the trip doesn't stop even if you lose one.
Whether you need a transformer can be judged from the marking on the device alone. If the AC adapter or the body says “INPUT 100-240V,” a plug adapter is enough. Chargers for phones, PCs and cameras almost all fall into this group. The problem is heat-producing devices such as hair dryers and flat irons: because they consume a lot of power, the transformers that support them are large and heavy, not really suited to travel. It's more realistic to bring a product made for the local supply or use what the lodging provides.
Compression Socks: Travel Use and Medical Use Have Different Purposes
The compression socks you use against swelling on long flights show pressure ratings (hPa or mmHg) that differ by product. Stronger is not better, and wearing ones that are too tight for a long time can actually impede blood flow. On the other hand, the elastic stockings used by people who've been told they're at risk of venous thrombosis are medical products, and both the pressure design and the size selection are another matter. If you have a medical condition or have received guidance from a doctor, don't substitute commercially sold travel ones; consult first. In either case, the basic measures in the cabin are to drink water often, avoid alcohol and caffeine, and move your ankles now and then.
When you can't decide in a comparison, thinking about what happens to the trip if something is “broken, lost or unusable” makes the answer easier to reach. A tool consolidated into one is light and handy, but losing it means losing several functions at once. For power and connectivity alone, spreading them out gives peace of mind, even if it's a bit bulkier.
When to Stock Up, and Mini Shopping Lists by Scene
Travel goods tend to cost more if you “buy everything at the last minute before departure.” If you get consumables and standard items such as compression bags and compression socks with time to spare before the travel season (a little before a long holiday, for example), you're less at the mercy of stock-outs and prices. For everyday sundries, use the Muji Week (無印良品週間) or a big-box store sale; for gadgets, stack point rewards during Rakuten's Shopping Marathon (お買い物マラソン) or Amazon's big sale periods, and you can bring the cost down without strain (sale dates and reward conditions change, so check each official source).
Minimum Lists by Type of Trip
| Type of trip | What to pack first |
|---|---|
| Domestic travel / trips home | Packing cubes, power bank, foldable spare bag (for souvenirs), neck pillow for the Shinkansen |
| Overseas (power and connectivity are key) | Plug adapter for your destination, eSIM/Wi-Fi, valuables pouch for splitting up what you carry, small travel bottles (in-flight compliant) |
| Long-haul flights / overnight travel | Neck pillow, eye mask, earplugs, compression socks, mask/lip balm against dryness |
| Long stays | Portable laundry set (detergent sheets, clothesline), spare small pouches, consider a local SIM |
The “number of handy goods” and “comfort” are not proportional. Carrying too much, in fact, puts you in the absurd position of adding luggage. Choosing only the items on this list that you will really use on your trip is the smartest way to stock up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a power bank in my suitcase and check it?
As a rule, no. On most airlines, power banks and spare lithium batteries cannot go in checked baggage, and the rule is to put them in your carry-on bag. If you check one in a suitcase, it will get flagged at security and may be confiscated or cause trouble. Always bring it in the bag you keep with you.
What is the “Wh” on a power bank? Where do I look?
Wh (watt-hours) is a unit of electrical energy, and whether you can bring it into the cabin is judged by this Wh. Generally, 100Wh or less is allowed, 100–160Wh must be declared and limited to a few units, and over 160Wh is not allowed. Check the Wh marking on the unit or box. If only mAh is shown, you can estimate with “mAh × 3.7 ÷ 1000 ≈ Wh.” Limits and numbers differ by airline, so check the latest rules.
With a plug adapter, can I use Japanese appliances overseas?
A plug adapter only matches the shape of the socket opening, and most do not change the voltage. Many regions overseas are in the 200V range, and Japanese appliances for “100V” only (such as hair dryers) risk breaking down or catching fire if plugged in as-is. Check whether the label on the appliance says “100-240V,” worldwide voltage: if so, a plug adapter is enough, and if it's 100V-only you need a compatible model or a transformer.
Which should I buy, a compression bag or a packing cube?
Their purposes differ, so using each for its own job is the right answer. A compression bag can greatly shrink airy clothing such as down and sweaters, but it wrinkles easily and expands when opened. A packing cube doesn't reduce bulk, but lets you organize by category and take things out easily. Using them together, with compression bags for bulky outerwear and cubes for everyday clothes, is the comfortable way.
For connectivity overseas, which is better, eSIM or a Wi-Fi router?
Choosing by number of people is the easiest way to see it. For a solo trip, an eSIM that needs no SIM swapping and can be set up before departure is handy. For several people or several devices, a Wi-Fi router tends to be cheaper per person and suits groups. However, a router requires carrying the device and charging it every day. Also check in advance whether your own phone supports eSIM and is SIM-unlocked.
What are the limits on liquids I can bring into the cabin?
On international flights, liquids are restricted: each container must be 100ml or less, and they must all go in a clear bag of 1L or less, among other rules. Lotion, gel, toothpaste and the like may also be covered. Anything over the limit goes in checked baggage. Using small travel bottles makes bringing them easier. Check the latest rules with the guidance of the airline or airport you use.
How can I prevent swelling and tiredness on long trips?
Easing swelling with compression socks, while drinking water often, moving your ankles up and down and standing up to walk now and then, is effective. A risk of economy class syndrome (venous thrombosis) has been pointed out for staying in the same position for a long time. For sleep use a neck pillow, eye mask and earplugs; for dryness, a mask or lip balm. If you have a medical condition or any concern about your health, please consult a doctor before departure.
If I use a compression bag, can I avoid going over the checked baggage weight limit?
No. A compression bag reduces only volume; the weight stays the same. In fact, you may pack extra into the freed-up space and end up over the limit. If weight is a concern, it is more reliable to reduce the items themselves rather than compress them, or to wear heavy shoes and a jacket on the plane. Compression bags work best on things that hold a lot of air, such as down and laundry.
My checked suitcase came out broken. What should I do on the spot?
Report it at the baggage counter in the arrivals lobby before leaving the airport. Many airlines become less willing to accept claims once you've left the airport. Have photos of the damage, your baggage claim tag and your boarding pass on hand, and you will be told whether it will be repaired or replaced. Wear-prone parts such as casters and handles are sometimes excluded from compensation, so it's reassuring to confirm the conditions on the spot.
How should I store a suitcase after coming home from a trip?
The basics are to take everything out, let it dry, and stand it up with the zipper slightly open. If it stays sealed, moisture builds up and causes odors and mold in the lining. Putting in one desiccant is reassuring. Remove sand and hair from the casters and handle, and keep it in a place away from direct sunlight and from high heat and humidity. Also note that urethane-based casters are weak against long-term storage in humid places.
* This article is for reference only. Sale dates, point rates and campaign terms can change, so check each store's official page for the latest details.