The night before a trip, you stare into an open suitcase wondering “will this all fit?”, forget something anyway, and then lose your toiletries at security. Packing is less about clever folding than about order and rules.
This guide uses standards that work almost anywhere, since most countries follow the same international aviation security framework.
1. What to get right. Two things — liquids in containers of 100ml or less inside one 1L clear zip bag, and power banks in your carry-on, never checked. Those two prevent most airport mishaps.
2. What packing lists miss. They list objects. Of the 26 items the CDC tells travellers to carry, five are not objects at all — documents and contact details. Those are what you actually need when something goes missing.
3. How to approach it. Order and rules before folding tricks. The rules follow the international aviation security framework most countries adopt, so learning them once travels with you.
One item in five is a piece of paper
Packing lists almost always list things. The list an agency publishes is weighted differently.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention names 26 items in total (9 medicines, 12 first-aid supplies, 5 documents and contacts — our count), and five of them are not objects at all.
| The five documents | As written in the source |
|---|---|
| Identity | Copies of your passport and travel documents |
| Prescriptions | Copies of all prescriptions — medications, glasses, or medical supplies |
| Insurance | Health insurance card and documents |
| Vaccination | Proof of yellow fever vaccination, if required |
| Emergency contacts | Family · healthcare providers · lodging · hospitals and clinics · the embassy or consulate |
The detail that earns this table its place is “glasses.”
The source says “copies of all prescriptions (medications, glasses, or medical supplies).” Losing glasses on a trip is common — and without the prescription you cannot have a new pair made where you are.
Note too that three of the five contact types are about being ill: your doctor, local hospitals, and the embassy.
Photographs will do. What the source asks for is a copy, not the original. It does not say what form of copy is accepted.
1. Carry-on or checked?
| Item | Carry-on / checked |
| Passport, wallet, cash | Always carry-on |
| Power banks, e-cigarettes | Carry-on only (banned in checked bags) |
| Laptop, camera | Carry-on (damage and loss risk) |
| Prescription medication | Carry-on, with a photo of the prescription |
| Liquids over 100ml | Checked |
| Nail clippers, scissors, razor blades | Checked |
| Lighters | One on your person; not in checked bags |
Why must power banks fly with you? Lithium batteries can catch fire, and a fire in the hold can't be reached. In the cabin, crew can respond. Units up to 100Wh are generally fine; above that needs airline approval.
2. The liquid rule — where most people get caught
| Container size | 100ml (100g) or less each |
| Total | One clear zip bag of 1L or less |
| Bag size | About 20cm × 20cm, fully sealable |
| Per passenger | One bag only |
| What counts | Liquids, gels, creams, sprays — toothpaste and sunscreen included |
The classic mistake — the limit applies to the container's stated size, not how much is left. A nearly empty 200ml bottle is still refused. Decant into travel bottles.
Recognized exceptions
- Prescription medicine — allowed beyond the limit. Declare it at screening with labels or a prescription.
- Baby formula, milk and food — reasonable quantities are permitted when travelling with an infant. Declare it too.
- Duty-free purchases — allowed inside a sealed security bag with the receipt visible. Never open it early, and expect re-screening on transfers.
- Solid products — bar soap, shampoo bars and solid toothpaste aren't liquids, so no limit. A great way to cut bulk.
Some airports now trial relaxed limits with advanced CT scanners, but this isn't universal and transfer airports may differ — pack to the 100ml rule to be safe.
3. Doubling your space
| Method | Best for · effect |
| Rolling | T-shirts, trousers, underwear → saves space, fewer creases |
| Folding | Shirts, jackets → garments that need structure |
| Compression bags | Winter coats → half the bulk, but the same weight |
| Packing cubes | Sorting → nothing collapses when you take one item out |
| Stuffing shoes | Socks, chargers → uses dead space |
Weight distribution matters
- Heaviest near the wheels — shoes, toiletries, books
- Clothes in the middle
- Light and frequently used items on top
Top-heavy cases tip over constantly and strain your wrist. Weight low means it rolls properly.
4. How many clothes by trip length
| Length | Tops / bottoms / underwear sets |
| 2–3 days | 3 / 2 / 3 |
| 4–7 days | 4–5 / 2–3 / 7 |
| 8–14 days | 5–6 / 3 / 7 + one laundry stop |
| 15+ days | One week's worth + laundry on location |
The key trick — choose colours that all work together. Four tops and two bottoms that mix freely give eight outfits. And you can always buy something there.
5. Final checklist
| When | Check |
| 1 week out | Passport validity (6+ months), visa, name spelling on tickets |
| 3 days out | Destination weather, plug adapter, prescriptions |
| 1 day out | Liquid bag, power bank into carry-on, weigh the case |
| Departure day | Passport, cards, cash, roaming or SIM, gas and power at home |
The six-month passport rule catches people constantly — many countries require six months of validity from entry.
6. Planning for loss
- Store photos of your passport on your phone and in email
- Put a name tag outside and contact details inside the case
- Never check valuables — compensation limits are low
- Photograph your suitcase so you can describe it if lost
- Split essentials between carry-on and checked, including a change of clothes
Questions that remain
What's the carry-on weight limit?
It varies, commonly 7–10kg. Budget airlines are stricter — check your airline.
Can I bring several power banks?
Usually yes under 100Wh, though some airlines cap the count. Pack them so terminals can't touch.
Can I bring food?
Solid food is generally fine onboard, but quarantine rules differ by country — meat, fruit and dairy are often banned on arrival.
What if my bag is overweight?
Excess fees are steep. Wear the heavy clothes and move books and electronics into your carry-on at the counter.
Packing isn't about fitting more in — it's about clearing security and arriving with everything. Handle liquids and batteries and you're halfway there.
Sources
- US CDC Travelers' Health — “Pack Smart” (checked July 2026). Source for the five documents and contacts, “copies of all prescriptions (medications, glasses, or medical supplies),” the five contact types, and the nine medicines and twelve supplies.
- US CDC Travelers' Health — “Jet Lag” (checked July 2026). Source for “arrive at your destination at least 2 days before any important events.”
- Our own calculation. The total of 26 and the 21-versus-5 split are our tally of that list.
Where to check further
- The liquid rules at the airports you are using. The 100ml and 1L bag figures here are the widely published ones and were not matched to an agency original — they vary by country and airport. Check your departure airport's security page before you go.
- Checked baggage weight and size. Not covered, because it differs by airline — and going over means paying at the desk. Your airline's baggage page lists it by route.
- What form of copy counts. The CDC source says only “a copy” — not whether paper, photo or cloud qualifies. A paper copy and a photo on your phone is the safe pairing.
As of July 2026. The document list comes from CDC source text; the counts are ours. Liquid rules and baggage limits vary by country and airline — check before you fly. Medicines are covered in the first-aid kit and drugstore part one, time zones in jet lag recovery, and falling ill abroad in emergencies overseas.
