Well, the summer travel season is here, but flying gets more problematic all the time.   With fuel prices in–well, the stratosphere, the airlines are struggling to stay aloft.  They are trying to shave off weight in every way they can, including charging passengers for every checked bag.

     While this move by the airlines can make flying more expensive for travelers, it may also be an opportunity for the flying public to reduce the amount of carbon that planes spew into the air.  Fewer bags = less weight.  

     But can you actually fit everything you’ll need–well, maybe want–on your vacation, into just one carryon bag?  At  www.onebag.com, you’ll find sound advice for how to travel with just one carryon bag, whether it’s for just a weekend or for an entire month.  

     Here are five tips from www.onebag.com.  I encourage you to visit the site to learn much more.

**Use a good packing list.  A list of things you MIGHT want is different from a list of items you can’t live without.  From this site, I learned the value of making a generic list that I refine over time, rather than making a new list for every trip I plan.  Before adding an item to your list, ask yourself whether you really need it or whether you will be okay if you leave it at home. 

**Cut back on the amount of clothes you bring by choosing a compatible color scheme of one or two colors.

**Choose clothing that is light-weight and easily washable by hand.  Then you won’t need to do so much ‘just in case’ packing.

**Bundle-wrap your clothing to save space and reduce wrinkling.  The site offers detailed instructions as to how to do this.  For instance, the less easily wrinkled clothing should be closer to the core of the bundle, while larger, more tailored garments should be on the outside.

**The bag matters.  To qualify as a carryon, the length, height, and width should add up to no more than 45 inches.  Rectangular is better than a rounded shape that sacrifices internal volume.  A soft bag is better than a hard-shelled one, because it can more readily be stuffed into an overhead bin.  Light synthetic fabrics are better than leather.  Leather might look nice, but it’s heavier and more susceptible to mildew if you’re traveling in humid places.

  

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 at 10:54 am and is filed under Act now to save our beloved Earth!. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.