6 Key Packing Tips From a Professional Baggage Handler

As a frequent traveler, you may feel like you’ve got things done right. But when it comes to checking luggage, there may be some things he doesn’t know.

Baggage handler Tammy Mendoza recently shared some of her top tips on the popular Facebook group, Girls LOVE Travel®. GLT defines itself as a “global community of more than 1 million active and aspiring women travelers who provide resources and mutual empowerment to explore the world without fear through safety, socialization and support.”

“Can I give you all a hint about the luggage while we have you here?” Mendoza’s post begins. Over 30,000 members reacted to her packing tips post, which generated over 1,800 comments. Several of the comments thanked the baggage handler for her hard work, but most of them thanked her for her “fantastic perspective and great advice from her,” as one commenter put it. Some chimed in with her own advice. Mendoza works for a major airline, and here are some tips for packing for the baggage handler.

1. Don’t pack too much

“I work on the ramp and touch more than 800 bags a day,” Mendoza said in his post. “Let me tell you that at least 30% of them are overpacked. Yes, it’s great that it fits a lot, but if you have to lean or sit down to close it, the zipper will explode. I can’t tell you how many pairs of dirty underwear and dildos, shoes and tampons I’ve had to pick up in the last six years for broken zippers.”

Some seasoned travelers may think that hard bags protect their belongings better, but Medoza points out that “hard bags tend to open faster than soft bags.” Here are some soft bags to consider if you are in the market right now:

“Also, remember that we are real people carrying these bags,” one commenter said, implying that they work in the airline industry. “If you can’t lift a suitcase to your shoulders, you shouldn’t be traveling with it.”

Wise words that can be hard for us chronic baggers to hear. My personal motto says: “Don’t pack more than you can carry.” Luckily, I’m part mule, or so it seems when I carry a bag in each hand with a backpack on my back. Hey, a girl needs outfit options!

2. Your bags will get dirty

Here, Mendoza offers some seemingly obvious advice that some of us might ignore: “Airplane floors are dirty, and that nice white cloth bag will turn brown in about three trips.” Hmm… I never thought about cleaning the cargo hold, but Mendoza is right. Dark cloth suitcases!

3. Plastic bags are your friend

Every good airline passenger is familiar with the 3-1-1 rule: Liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes must be in 3.4-ounce containers (or less) and stored in a quart-sized resealable bag. However, to avoid a big clutter in your checked luggage, it’s also a good idea to store your shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc. in a bag.

“Wrap all soaps and anything liquid in a Ziplock and then put it in a bag from Walmart (or Target if you feel like it),” Mendoza jokes. She warns, “When those bottles open and explode, it’ll keep your stuff from getting ruined.”

4. Protect your luggage from the rain

“When it rains, your stuff gets wet,” Mendoza says, “Unfortunately, it happens.” She recommends wrapping anything important that moisture could damage in plastic before putting it in her checked bag.

Mendoza also has a pro tip for those traveling with young children: “Put car seats in a plastic bag and then in a car seat bag, it helps!”

5. Never check off anything you’ll need the next morning

We reached out to Mendoza for further comment. He reminded us to pack “wedding clothes, funeral clothes, plans for a work meeting, and anything else that’s that important” in our carry-on bags.

“Many times, if your bag is lost or misplaced, those items will not arrive on time. And most stores aren’t open in time to replace those items, even when the airline covers it,” warns the professional baggage handler. “It is always better to carry them as carry-on luggage.”

6. Don’t just label your bag

“Last but not least,” says Mendoza, “labels fall off. Name tags, paper tags, luggage tags… write your name and number on a piece of paper and place it on top of your things inside your bag. That way, if the tags get lost, they can locate the owner faster.” Sparkly! One member of the group commented that they put his business card inside his suitcase.

As Mendoza says to conclude his post, “I hope you found some of this useful!”

Related reading:

7 Things to Pack in Your Carry-On, Plus How to Pack Them 11 Travel Packing Tricks from the Hardware Store 7 Tips for Packing for a Long Trip When You Only Carry a Carry-On

Source: www.travelawaits.com