Flight Attendants Share Smart Packing Hacks for Vacations and Flights

By Didi Atkins - May 13, 2025

Packing for a trip, or for a flight, can be stressful, especially when you are trying to keep packing easy and efficient. Who better to share packing tips than flight attendants — pro's in making travel essentials organized and accessible? In this article, the flight attendants share their best packing hacks, stating how to pack better, organize everything, and make your travels comfortable.

Roll Clothes for Space

Rolling has a profoundly positive impact on packing efficiently. Unlike folding, which encourages more space and can lead to creased clothes, rolling compresses items as tightly as possible and helps to fit clothes as snugly inside of your suitcase. When you roll your clothes, you create nice, compact bundles that fit nicely and allows for you to utilize available space completely.

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It’s also much easier to see and retrieve items without digging through piles of clothing. Further, rolling actually limits the amount of wrinkles in the clothing and leaves them looking fresh for even long flights.

Use Packing Cubes

If you want to keep your luggage organized, you have to grab some packing cubes for your travel gear! Packing cubes are small, lightweight bags in various shapes and sizes you can use to sort things in your bag.

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You can organize your clothes by type, instead of rolling them, you can put all your shirts in one cube, pants in another cube, undergarments or accessories in the other. What’s great about packing cubes is their use of space and ability to keep everything neat!

Maximize Carry-On Space

Maximizing carry-on space is all about the right packing techniques. Flight attendants always say rolling your clothes takes up less space and keeps them wrinkle-free compared to folding. Packing cubes can help you keep your items packed efficiently.

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Compression bags can add space too. Make sure your toiletries are in travel size; and multi-use items, such as a scarf that works as a blanket, are important. Do not waste any space; stuff socks or accessories into shoes.

Pack Versatile Clothing

Versatility is vital when packing for a trip. If you can choose clothing you can combine in varied combinations, you will have many outfit options without extra weight in your suitcase. Selectively choose neutral color and classic style clothing so you can dress up or down depending on the circumstances.

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Likewise, choosing fabrics that travel well, with little wrinkling, is beneficial. Versatile clothing also allows you to pack for different weather patterns, thus allowing for warm sunny days and cooler evenings.