Travel tips: How much and what luggage can i take?

If you are travelling abroad soon, there are things you should know.

You are only allowed to take 1 carry-on item with you when you board a plane. This means a person who travels with a handbag plus a carry-on case will have to check in the carry-on bag as the handbag is regarded as the one carry-on item.

# If you have a laptop and cameras, put them in one small bag that will fit into the carry-on container. In that same bag, place your passport, money and travel documents as no other carry-on is allowed.

# Security queues at most overseas airports (especially in the States and the UK) are long. Everything is being delayed which means you must get to the airport at least an hour earlier than you would under normal circumstances.

International flights require you to be there three hours before you fly. Take a book to read and be philosophical. The heavy security checks are for your safety and there's no point getting uptight.

# Pack the absolute minimum and travel as lightly as you can. All airlines are being very strict on overweight luggage. At Heathrow, for instance, a man with a suitcase that was just two kilograms overweight had to discard those two kilograms.

#Wear slip-on shoes. In other words, shoes that do not have to be laced and unlaced. You have to remove your shoes at each security check.

# You cant take any liquids or gel in your carry-on luggage. If you are female and your lipstick is the gel kind with the brush, you must put it in your check-in luggage. The security bins are filled with items that have been discarded including many cosmetics in gel or liquid form.

You cannot, for instance, take liquid moisturiser. You will have to dump it. The compacted stuff is fine. You also cannot take on board any creams.

# If you buy any items in the duty free shop before boarding (and these days, there's not much time to shop as you are standing in queues for ever), they will place it in a sealed packet with your name and flight details and present it to you as you board the plane at the very last minute.

# If you have essential medications, make sure you have written your name legibly on them. A covering letter from your doctor would be a good idea. Nosedrops, for instance, are not being allowed onto planes as they count as liquids.

# Baby foods are being tested at the security gates. Again, it seems absurd, but it is for your own safety.

# Talking about the carry-on luggage allowed, only the smallest cases are suitable. Before, you could get away with a slightly bulkier bag, not so today. At Heathrow, they eye your carry-on luggage and if they think it is too large, you have to place it in a container.

Bulky, rounded items, such as backpacks, will not fit. A hint - if you have a small backpack, try placing it in the bin upside down then the contents might even themselves out.

Heathrow is by far the most difficult airport(JFK is a breeze in comparison - perhaps the Americans are more used to security), so give yourself that extra time, arrive early.

GET TRAVEL INSURANCE, luggage theft has doubled at Heathrow because thieves are aware that passengers are forced to place valuables like laptops and cameras in their main luggage.

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Have a happy holiday!