We Asked 8 Pro Travelers What They Never Pack in Their Carry-On
As a food and travel writer, I have developed a certain packing and airport routine over the years. From keeping packing streamlined to maintaining a dedicated toiletries bag, I have preparing for a trip down to a science. However, for all the thought that goes into what to pack for these trips, it’s also necessary to sometimes take some time to consider what not to pack in that carry-on bag.
Travel pros know that a carry-on is always the quicker and more seamless way to go, but in going that route, they also know that some things just aren’t going to work. This may include messy or breakable items, but also anything that’s large and clunky or will be an unintentional security red flag. I spoke to a handful of top professional travelers, from journalists to flight crew, and they all learned the hard way that there are some items they’d never again pack in their own carry-on. Here’s what they said.
Over-the-Ear Headphones
Headphones are a must for listening to podcasts or streaming movies while in flight, but they can be rather clunky to stash back in that carry-on once the flight is over, creating a sort of conundrum. “I would never pack my over-the-ear headphones in my carry-on again unless the flight was overseas, and I was planning to do a movie marathon or really needed the noise cancellation feature to try and sleep,” said Jill Schildhouse, a Phoenix-based travel writer.
“They are excellent quality and so much more comfortable than earbuds for long-haul flights, but really take up a ton of space,” she adds. “And once I get to my destination, I never use them either, which means they are continuing to waste space the whole trip.” Now, she ditches them to clear up that real estate.
Crossrope Jump Rope
Some professional travelers like to maintain some sort of wellness routine while on the road, but sometimes that fitness gear can cause a bit of unintended travel chaos.
“My crossrope jump rope is my favorite piece of exercise equipment, and I’ve brought it many times in my carry-on luggage without any issues,” said Blane Bachelor, an Amsterdam-based journalist who covers aviation, hotels and Europe-based travel news. That is, until a recent trip, when it was flagged by security.
“I had to answer a few questions about where I was going and why — I guess they deemed it a potential weapon — and, thankfully, it wasn’t confiscated. On my return flight from Germany, where the rules are sacrosanct, I took no chances and mailed it back to my home in Amsterdam before going through security. Sadly, it won’t be my sweat-inducing sidekick anymore while traveling. I love it too much to risk losing it.”
Nutella
Nutella is a great snack with fruit or cookies, and it may sound like a good idea to pack for a flight, but there are some potential drawbacks to consider. It can create a pretty messy situation if it opens up in your bag — but that’s not the only reason.
“I would never pack a Nutella snack pack in my carry-on again!” says Natalie DiScala, executive editor of JohnnyJet.com. “I was flying through Heathrow and my carry-on bag was flagged at security because of my Nutella snack. Security took forever trying to decide whether it was a liquid or not and whether I could bring it on the aircraft. In the end, the supervisor ruled that I couldn’t take it on the plane and they confiscated it. As I walked away, annoyed at the delay and losing my snack, I told the security officers to tell their supervisor to enjoy my Nutella!”
Larger Liquids — Even the Delicious Ones!
Experiencing fun new ingredients and flavors to carry back home after a trip is one of the best parts of any destination, but it’s important to keep in mind that not everything we pack will be allowed onto the flight.
“Until they reverse the liquid rule, I’ve learned not to take anything over 3.4 ounces in my carry-on. I once purchased a pricey bottle of hot sauce in the Cancun Airport and when I went to transfer planes in Miami, it was confiscated by the TSA. I learned my lesson,” says Johnny Jet, founder of JohnnyJet.com.
A Travel Steamer
No matter how diligently those dresses and trousers are packed, they often come out of the luggage looking pretty wrinkled. This can be stressful if there are special dinner plans on the agenda, and in that case, traveling with an iron or steamer may feel like the way to go — but you might want to think twice before tossing it in.
“Both times I packed a lot of linen clothes and thought I would need a steamer, and in both cases, it never left my carry-on. It took up valuable space that could have been used for an extra pair of shoes or bringing home a souvenir,” says Melissa Boufounos, CHN, a sports nutritionist and travel writer. “I have a number of trips coming up, and I’ll definitely leave the travel steamer at home next time.”
Many hotels also have ironing boards and irons available to guests, so even if the need does arise, there may be one already waiting in the room for that very purpose.
Bulky Hair Tools
Travel journalist Meagan Drillinger is not going to be packing her fancy hair dryer and hair tools in her carry-on again anytime soon. “I travel to Mexico more than anywhere else, always intending to look cute. Mexico’s beaches are tropical (read, high humidity), and my hair just doesn’t get along,” Drillinger says. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve lugged my bulky hair dryer and curling iron to Mexico, always with the best intentions, only to end up never using them because what’s the point?”
Even when not in a hot and humid destination, many hotel rooms will have a hair dryer in their bathroom. It may not be the fanciest tool ever, but it’ll get the job done without taking up valuable luggage space.
Sewing Kit
Whether a dress ends up needing mending or jeans require a hem fixed, a travel sewing kit is a staple for many professional travelers. “I had a tiny pair of Italian scissors that I cherished in a sewing kit,” says Pamela Holt, travel expert and executive producer/host of Amazon Prime’s Me, Myself & The World: The Art of Solo Travel.
“They were so small I completely forgot that they were packed in my carry-on. When I was going through security, the TSA agents pulled me aside without really explaining why. Then, they pulled out my sewing kit. I was absolutely heartbroken — I loved these scissors so much that I nearly debated missing my flight to mail them back home vs. having to surrender them to the TSA!” Holt adds.
Always make sure to take any sort of sharp object (i.e. scissors, pocket knives, etc.) out of your carry-on before a flight. “Triple check so you can avoid being held up at security and potentially missing your flight,” Holt says.
Fruit
Packing some fruit in a bag to have a snack later sounds healthy and harmless, right? Not necessarily, especially if you’re flying internationally. “I was on a flight from Brazil to Argentina, and during the flight, they gave us lunch which included an apple. I pocketed the apple for a snack since we had a long layover in Argentina before our next flight to Chile,” says Abingdon Mullin, a pilot-turned-entrepreneur.
That’s when things got messy. “When we landed in Argentina, I forgot about the apple in my bag. As we went through customs, they asked if I had any fruits or vegetables. I didn’t think about it since I had just acquired it an hour ago. They found the apple in my bag, pulled me into a room for two hours. They inquired why I was bringing an apple into the country and if I was here to start a farm,” Mullin says. Moral of the story? Be careful about what you take with you from the airplane, especially food.
