Carry-On or Checked Bag? Simple, Smart Packing Tips for Long-Haul Flights

If you’re traveling for a longer period of time, traveling internationally, moving abroad, or just have a lot of things to bring, I’m sure this question comes up: Do I need to take a carry-on bag AND a checked bag? What should I keep with me, and what can I put away under the plane?

Of course there are TSA rules for when you’re flying (which we will cover a little bit later on), but in this blog, I want to focus on efficiency and convenience, and my personal tactic on how to pack for long haul flights – carry-on or checked bag.

If you don’t know me yet, I’m Ami, and I’ve lived in the U.S., Japan, and the U.K., and traveled to 12 countries (so far), with more flights than I can even count. Along the way, I’ve picked up a lot of practical travel and lifestyle knowledge – especially when it comes to staying organized, comfortable, and healthy. 

This is just my personal opinion and a system that works for me. Hopefully, it’ll help make your packing a little bit easier!

Pros and Cons of Each Option

Let’s start off with a breakdown of the pros and cons of a carry-on bag versus a checked bag, to lay out what might be the best option for you (based on the trip or which item goes where).

Carry-On

Pros	Cons
Convenient – You don’t need to spend time checking in your bag or waiting at baggage claim Less Risk – The bag will be with you at all times so if you have valuables in there, you know it’s safe Compact – It might encourage you to be more minimal in your packing and make sure you don’t bring something you don’t need	Limited Space – A carry-on bag is maximum 22x14x9 inches, which means if you want to bring multiple shoes or large items, it probably won’t fit.  Liquid Restrictions – You can only take liquids in containers that are 100ml or less, so this option is not going to be the best for a longer trip or if you use a lot of products. More baggage to carry throughout the airport, obvi

Checked Bag

Pros

Cons

More Space – You can fit so much more stuff including bigger items Full-size Products – There are no restrictions on the size of each product, so you can pack skincare, toiletries, and even wine bottles if you’re planning on shopping at your destination Travel Light – There’s no need to compete for overhead bin space or lugging around your suitcase around the airport. This is especially ideal if you have layovers or transfers.

Risk of Delays/Loss – Because you’re handing over your bag to someone else where you won’t be able to keep an eye on it, there is a possibility of it getting lost, or thrown around and broken Extra Fees – Depending on the flight and your status, there may be extra fees of a couple hundred dollars to check in a bag. Waiting at Baggage Claim – Along the same lines as risk, there is going to be extra waiting time to check in the bag, and waiting at baggage claim to retrieve it.

How I Decide

With this information in mind, I think of a few things to decide whether I should bring a carry-on or checked bag. 

1. Duration of the trip

As a rule of thumb, if a trip is less than 10 days, I will most likely have a carry-on only plus a personal item (usually my backpack). If my trip is longer than 10 days, I’ll move on to step 2 of my thought process.

2. Purpose/Activities

Say I’m going back to my hometown for a month or going to Tokyo to rehearse for 3 months. Then I’d definitely bring a checked bag. 

A trip specifically for an event? I’ll know what I NEED to bring. So if that stuff doesn’t fit in my carry-on, I’ll automatically decide that I need to bring a bigger, checked bag.

This can apply to things like if you’re going on a ski trip (more gear) or a beach vacation (less gear). That can help determine if you can stick to a smaller bag, or if there is a necessity for more space. 

3. Flyer Status

If you’re still on the fence about whether you need a checked bag or not, check your flyer status.

This includes what class you’re flying (economy, business, first) and if you have a status with a certain company (for example, I have a Star Alliance Super Flyer status which allows me a free checked bag).

You should also check if your credit cards give you credit back for certain airlines (yes, if you check the benefits of certain credit cards, they sometimes give you a few hundred to spend).

Hopefully, by considering these three, you’ll be able to make a decision on what luggage to bring. If you have any other considerations, I’d love to hear it! 

What Goes Where

If you look at the pros and cons, you can check the limitations for each type of luggage. Follow that and pack bulkier clothes and liquids over 100ml in your checked bag, and pack valuables in your carry-on. 

💡 Pro Tip (from experience): Portable chargers, cordless curling irons and hair straighteners should always be in your carry-on! It’s a TSA rule that prohibits power banks and anything with lithium-ion batteries in checked bags.

My Carry-On Essentials

So now you know what you can and can’t pack, but what exactly should you have with you?

Whatever else I pack depends on the trip, but this list has worked for me on my countless flights, so I hope you try it on your next trip as well! 

A few tips to leave you with:

1. Keep a packing list (like this one) so you don’t forget anything
2. Weigh your bag, especially the checked bag (typically 50 pound max), before you head out
3. Use pouches and packing cubes to stay organized – this will be helpful especially for trips with multiple cities where you have to unpack and pack every few days.

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Packing smart really does mean traveling with less stress, fewer surprises, and a lot more ease. This is the tried and true method that has worked for me, but the best system is one that fits your needs and personal style.

Try using this as a guide to pack for your next trip, whether it’s in a carry-on or checked bag or both!.

Happy traveling!

Got any favorite hacks? Drop them in the comments below!