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Carry-on and checked luggage

What you need to know before you start packing

  1. GoVola
  2. Guide
  3. Carry-on and checked luggage

Regardless of whether you're flying with low-cost airlines or with a traditional carrier you should consider the best way to pack your luggage. This guide is intended to provide advice on when it makes sense to take checked luggage (and to pay additionally in case of low-cost airlines), and when and how to pack carry-on luggage only.

When does it make sense to pay additionally for checked luggage?

When you book a flight with a low-cost airline, you need to consider whether it’s worth paying extra for checked luggage, or whether you can manage with carry-on only.

If you decide on checked luggage, it may be worthwhile checking the cost of flying with airlines that include this option in their flight prices. It is often the case that prices for flights with the cost of checked luggage are the same as flying with a traditional airline. And these frequently guarantee airport arrival closer to the city centre, provide on-board services included in the price and a general higher standard of travel.

Advantages and disadvantages of the checked and carry-on luggage

When considering whether you want to pay for checked luggage, you shouldn’t only consider the price. This is why we list the advantages of both solutions:

Carry-on luggage Checked luggage
  • ✔ everything is at hand!
  • ✔ saves money (low-cost airlines)
  • ✔ saves time when checking-in and retrieving luggage (a total of up to 1.5 hours!)
  • ✔ no risk of luggage being delayed or lost
  • ✔ usually more than twice the luggage may be taken
  • ✔ free hands at the airport (important particularly with transfers!)
  • ✔ toiletries may be transported without limits
  • ✔ sharp tools (knives, multi-tools) or equipment made of metal (e.g. tents) can be transported
  • ✔ when transporting liquid souvenirs or gifts, e.g. a bottle of wine
  • ✔ large size — the restriction of carry-on luggage dimensions is frequently a maximum of 40 cm, whereas for checked luggage the total dimensions (length, width, height) may reach up to 158 cm.

GoVola advice:

If you’re going away for fewer than 7 days and checked luggage costs extra, try to avoid these costs and pack a carry-on using our guide.

1. Toiletries and liquids

Toiletries are the reason why many people decide to pay for checked luggage. Before you do that, think whether you can manage with the amount allowed in the carry-on luggage limits.

Cosmetic products

Principles:

  • Carry the toiletries in a transparent bag (e.g. a plastic bag) with maximum dimensions of 20 x 20 cm
  • pour the toiletries into small, transparent containers, max. 100 ml each. You can have even up to 10 such bottles – a total of 1 litre of toiletries per person
  • If you’re flying in Europe, don’t take anything non-essential! If you really need something, you can buy it. Compare the price of an additional bottle of shampoo to the cost of checked luggage, for example…

GoVola advice:

If sufficient time is left before your departure, we recommend purchasing or ordering a toiletry bag prepared for the transport of toiletries according to the recommended carry-on luggage standards.

2. Clothing

Naturally everything depends on the time of the year and the destination, but there are a few simple rules. Wear the heaviest boots (if you need more than one pair) onto the aeroplane, and similarly your outerwear, even if you have two pieces of it. It will then not count in luggage limits.

If the problem is not the weight, but the volume of clothing, and you are going on an active holiday, using compression bags may prove worthwhile. They are usually water- and stain-resistant, so they will prove useful during your travels, and they are capable of significantly reducing the space occupied by your clothing.

Another idea is vacuum bags – re-sealable plastic bags, from which air is sucked out with a vacuum – able to compress clothes by even up to half their volume.

3. Electronics and reading materials

Nowadays it’s rare to find someone without a smartphone, laptop or tablet and a photo or video camera. Each of these items is not only rather heavy, but also needs its own charger and frequently a case. If we add books (if you prefer reading traditional, paper books) and magazines, this could use the entire carry-on space. The only solution is to really ask ourselves which of these things are really necessary, and which ones we may leave for a few days

Remember that most airlines do not allow you to transport electronics in checked luggage. If you do it and it gets damaged or lost, the airline will not be responsible and you will not be reimbursed.

GoVola advice:

Remember to pack electronics last. When going through check-in and security at the airport you will be asked to place laptops, tablets and other gadgets into separate containers. When they’re easily accessible this will be fast and easy.

Luggage — bag or suitcase?

Travellers frequently ask which is better: a bag or a suitcase? This dilemma occurs both in case of checked and carry-on luggage. Let's put aside for a moment the question of style and the various travel scenarios after arrival and try to focus on planning your flight with hand luggage.

Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of both solutions:

Travel bag Suitcase
Advantages:
  • ✔ it is light (usually up to 0.5 kg)
  • ✔ the bag shape allows you to pack more
  • ✔ easily compressed
 Advantages:
  • ✔ if it has wheels, it's very easy to roll, and does not require carrying
  • ✔ it is more solid and protects the contents
  • ✔ belts and compartments protect clothing against creasing
Disadvantages:
  • ✗ has to be carried
  • ✗ provides less protection
  • ✗ clothes crease more
 Disadvantages:
  • ✗ heavier – an empty carry-on sized suitcase usually weighs approx. 2 kg.
  • ✗ occupies more space
  • ✗ you can take fewer things within the same size and weight limit