Seven Packing Tips For Checked-in Luggage

Checked-in luggage is not uncommon. If you love maximizing your luggage weight privileges on flight, you'll want to bring as much stuff with you without paying extra for freight or transport services. You will need to leave your baggage in the care of airport personnel who will facilitate the necessary transfer.

In exchange for this privilege is the very minor inconvenience of having to claim your luggage at designated counters upon your arrival. The waiting time may range from two minutes to at most half an hour. You also face the risk of losing your checked-in luggage in transit, but of course, this case is on very rare circumstances. If you're up to checking in your luggage, go over the following tips:

1. Do not pack beverages inside. Canned beverages can explode from pressure. Beverages stored in glass bottles can also break. If you want to carry wines as a gift, do not check them in. You may also have to ask your carrier for specifics on the quantity allowed for drinks.

2. Do not pack bladed objects or weapons inside. Knives, nail cutters, clothes rippers or even a cool-looking samurai sword meant to be given as a gift can raise suspicions of terroristic intent. Spare yourself from potential trouble by excluding them in your luggage.

3. Do not pack edibles inside. Export-quality canned goods may be allowed, but the security officer has the discretion to confiscate any food product, particularly beef, that may carry and pose risks of the food and mouth disease. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also a no-no, although securely packed and dried fruits may be tolerated.

4. Do not pack fragile items inside. Ditch those cutesy figurines and high-end chinaware you've just hoarded from a flea market and want to surprise your favorite aunt with. The best-packed fragile item is still prone to break and shatter under pressure.

5. Do not pack malodorous items inside. The items will not only cause you to re-wash and re-air the other items in your luggage, but these will also cause great inconvenience to the people around you. You don't want to earn the notoriety of casting a serious spell of air pollution about you, do you? If, for any reason, you feel the urgent need to pack malodorous items with you such as a strong-smelling fruit or a medicinal soap, make sure the items are tightly sealed in order to reduce the power of the odor.

6. Do not pack valuables inside. Your carrier will not be responsible for lost or damaged items such as jewelry, cash and electronic gadgets. Even the best-secured item can be pilfered by the most enterprising individuals. Play safe. Ideally, checked-in luggage must contain just your clothes and a few personal effects such as shoes.

7. Do not lock your luggage with just any type of lock. Get one that is approved or recommended by your carrier or the airport security administration. There may be times when airport personnel will open to check bags at random. Heed this tip if you don't want to pay for a lock that will eventually just get destroyed during the random checks.