What to Pack for a Short-Haul Flight

When about to leave for a trip, I am always a bit over the top with the packing preparation, so hopefully this general guide will help get you organised and offer some ideas to make packing for your trip as smooth as possible. A free printable PDF packing checklist for men and women is available to download below, so you can tick everything off before you leave.

Bag

Firstly, your bag. I found that my old carry-on luggage was slightly larger than Ryanair’s current Priority ticket carry-on size of 55 x 40 x 20cm (with a 10kg weight limit), so to be sure I did not get an expensive gate fee, I recently bought a Samsonite case at that size. I found that most bags at the store were now sized to match airline requirements, so as long as you check before purchasing, it should be fine.

Ryanair also allows a personal bag, which can be a handbag, laptop bag or small backpack, but this must be no larger than 40 x 30 x 20cm (smaller than your carry-on) and be able to fit comfortably under the seat in front of you. Aer Lingus has the same personal bag dimensions but allows a slightly deeper carry-on bag at 55 x 40 x 24cm (also with a 10kg weight limit). However, whether you can bring this larger bag into the cabin depends on your fare or any additional baggage allowance purchased.

A handy item is a cheap portable suitcase weighing scale (one where you hang the bag from it), so you always know your bag's weight before going to the airport.

Essentials

I always ensure I have the following items with me for a short-haul trip:

• House keys/car keys
• Passport (I find it handy to have a passport case as it is easier to hold and makes you less likely to lose it at the airport)
• Passport card/driver's licence (handy as additional identification if you mislay your passport, although these cannot always replace a passport for international travel)
• Visa or travel waiver (if required for your destination country)
• Driving permit (if you are using a car overseas)
• Travel itinerary (I usually save this to Notes or send it to a group on WhatsApp for safekeeping)
• Luggage tag (handy if you ever lose your bag)
• Padlock for your bag (I generally do not use this, but it is handy if you are security-conscious)
• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) (handy if you need medically necessary public healthcare when travelling in participating European countries, although it does not replace travel insurance)
• Phone (including checked-in boarding passes and all your reservation emails and PDFs. I used to bring printed versions, but it is much easier now to just keep them on your phone)
• Power bank (if you feel you need one – note: these need to stay in cabin baggage)
• Watch (if you wear one)
• An empty water bottle (if you prefer filling up on the go and do not want to keep buying bottled water)
• Headphones (useful if you are travelling solo and want to pass the time)
• Travel guide/plastic map (handy for information on your destination, and plastic maps really come in handy if you lose power on your phone when out walking/sightseeing)
• Camera and charger/lead (if you prefer a digital camera over your phone)
• Phone charger (bring an adapter/USB charging plug if you are going to another country with different plugs)
• Laptop or iPad/tablet and its charger/charging cable (if bringing one)
• eSIM or roaming plan (if you are not able to use your usual roaming data or Wi-Fi in the area you are going to)
• Wallet (most countries now widely accept card/phone payments, but having some foreign currency can be useful – especially for leaving a tip when out for a meal)
• Book (something that is easy to store in your bag and helps pass the time)
• Medicines (if you require them)
• Earplugs and eye mask (if you like to avoid noise when travelling/sleeping, or you can just use noise-cancelling headphones)

Toilet bag

• Shaver
• Toothbrush
• Contact lenses (if required)
• You can either bring a liquids bag for other items, or it can be just as easy to buy small versions of toothpaste, deodorant, moisturiser, lip balm and sunscreen. Make sure to check the liquid restrictions at your departure and return airports.

Clothing

I always find it really useful to picture your clothes on you from your shoes to your hat when packing (e.g. bottom to top), so I usually pack my clothes in this order, and I always get the clothes I am wearing the next day ready beside the bag. It is also good to put any softer clothing (e.g. shirts) into a zip up section in your bag if you have one, and to generally put the clothing in in layers.

Warm Weather

• Shoes/runners in a plastic bag (decide on bringing two pairs only if you have a formal event to go to – saves space)
• Socks/underwear/pyjamas
• Trousers/tracksuit bottoms
• Shorts
• Belt
• T-shirts/shirts
• Jumper/cardigan
• Jacket (bring a light rain jacket if in a warm but wet climate)
• Togs
• Sunglasses
• Hat

Cold Weather (in addition to warm weather clothing)

• Boots
• Thick socks
• Waterproof layers
• Thermal layers
• Snood
• Gloves
• Jacket
• Scarf
• Hat

I have included a PDF packing document for men and women which you can download for free, and will hopefully assist making your packing process for you and your family much easier. Safe travels!!

Image credits: Suitcase photograph by Anete Lusina (Unsplash); travel documents by CardMapr.nl (Unsplash); folded clothing by Dorothy Ere (Unsplash). These photographs are third-party images; the article text is © John-Henry Roche / wordsfortravel.