Suitcase Tips: Using and Choosing the Right Travel Luggage

Luggage might not be the first thing on your mind when planning your next big trip. Like us, you’re probably more focused on all the amazing travel experiences you’re going to have.

The importance of what you’re going to bring on your trip, and what you’re going to do with it when you get there, should not be understated however. After all, nothing can ruin your holiday faster than forgetting key items, losing your bags, or not having somewhere to store all those wondrous (but heavy) souvenirs!

Whether you’re jetting off to Sydney or Shanghai, Cape Town or Christchurch, here we’ve got some amazing baggage tips from worldwide luggage storage expert, Bounce.

We’ve all been tempted to save money by borrowing an old suitcase that’s been sitting in your parents’ loft for the past three decades. You know the one: it’s been to the Greek Isles and back 10 times and still has sand (and a layer of dust) in the pockets. But it’s always essential to think about the kind of trip you’re planning, and then build your luggage choices around that.

For instance, will you be trekking or maybe even camping in the wilderness? If so, you probably want a robust backpack that you can carry for hours at a time and stand up to bad weather and rough treatment.

On the other hand, if you’re travelling for business and need to look your best, or you’re heading off on a swanky honeymoon where you expect to be dining out or going to the opera, a traditional suitcase that can safely store suits, dresses, and other fancy clothing is the better choice.

Think you’ve picked the right bag for you? Think again. Different features can often make one piece of luggage more practical than another. Be sure to look out for the following:

• Compression straps to keep your luggage from coming apart when roughly handled by baggage handlers.
• Compression bags to pack your clothes down so you can fit more in a single bag.
• Suitcases with TSA-compatible locks to protect you from theft.
• Telescopic handles to help you wheel a suitcase through the airport.
• Suitcases with two – or preferably four – wheels for maximum maneuverability. 
• Adjustable straps for a backpack to make it fit you perfectly.
• Built-in compartments for clean and dirty clothes, shoes, electronics, toiletries, and anything else you might need.

These days, technology touches every aspect of our lives – not even the humble suitcase has been spared! Some nifty, high-tech features now available in your luggage include:

• GPS tags to help you track your bags through the airport.
• Cellular connectivity so you can find your bags anywhere in the world.
• USB charging ports that allow you to charge devices without opening your bag.
• Remote locking features activated by your cell phone.
• Fingerprint ID.

Do you need any of these advanced features? Only you can answer that question. But are they cool to have? Unequivocally: yes.

Experienced travellers will tell you there’s an art to travelling with luggage.

Firstly, if you’re travelling by air, you need to understand the difference between carry-on baggage and checked baggage.

Carry-on baggage is the stuff you’re allowed to bring into the main cabin with you. Different airlines have different definitions of what qualifies as small enough to go on a plane, but 24 x 14 x 9” is fairly standard around the world. If you’re unsure about the sizes for your journey, check with your Flight Centre Travel Expert or contact your airline directly.

Remember that several items aren’t allowed inside your carry-on baggage. Most notably, that includes liquids in containers of more than 100ml.

Checked bags are allowed to be much bigger. There’s also more leeway about contents, so this is the place to put larger liquids. However, it’s important to remember that you will have to surrender these bags to airline staff, so be wary about anything valuable you put inside them, which may get lost or broken.

Also, make sure you stick to your airline’s rules on both the size and weight allowed in the hold of the plane. Break the rules, and you may have to pay extra for oversized baggage. These fees can be quite high, so it’s something you want to avoid. Again, check with your Flight Centre Travel Expert if you need clarification on allowances for your specific trip.

Special items such as musical instruments, skis, bicycles, and other sports equipment are allowed on planes. However, you’ll need to let the airline know in advance and pay any relevant charges.

Assuming your luggage makes it safely to your destination, you now have a new problem on your hands:  what to do with this heavy, cumbersome, frustratingly necessary bag?

Indeed, pulling a wheeled suitcase over the polished floor of an airport is one thing. Dragging it over the cobblestones of a medieval European city, or the potholed roads of India is something else entirely.

And that’s not all – walking around with said bag can also make you a targets for thieves. 

Enter: luggage storage. If you can’t check into your hotel or have to check out early, or if you intend to hop from one city to the next and don’t need to bring all your belongings with you, a luggage storage service like Bounce can be your best friend. 

Check out the website or app to find convenient and affordable luggage storage near you, and enjoy your trip without luggage worries.