From overstuffed baggage to belongings that go astray – a small investment now could save money, time and energy
Going on holiday can be an expensive business, but there are a few clever travel tricks that can help save money before you even start packing. From avoiding extra baggage fees to cutting down on last-minute airport spends, a bit of planning now can go a long way.
With airlines charging for just about everything these days, families can enjoy more ice cream on the beach with a little extra cash in their pockets. Simple packing hacks and useful purchases can help travellers dodge unnecessary costs, stay organised and make travelling far less stressful, without blowing the budget.
Once the holiday is paid for, the last thing flyers need to worry about is being stung with unexpected charges at the airport. Turning up with the wrong cabin bag, for example, can lead to hefty extra fees, quickly adding an avoidable expense to your trip.
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Cabin luggage rules can vary between airlines, which often catches travellers out before they even reach the gate. While limits differ, most now only include a small under-seat bag for free, with larger cabin cases coming at an extra cost.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic charge a flat £65 for bags weighing 23–32kg, with extra bags costing £30–£40 online or £60+ at the airport. Low-cost airlines like easyJet, Jet2, and Ryanair use per-kg fees (£12/kg) and dynamic pricing for extra bags, from about £6.99 online to £60+ at the airport. TUI Airways is similar, charging £12–£15 per excess kg and £58+ for extra bags at the gate.
Save on luggage fees with the Cabin Max Metz backpack
The compact but capable carry on perfectly meets the free allowance requirements on Ryanair and other budget airlines
One £30 travel bag has been hailed as a “game-changer” for flyers looking to maximise their packing power without spending more. For a relatively small initial outlay, flyers could save £30 with Ryanair by avoiding the extra charge for a bag that’s too big to fit in the sizer at the check-in desk.
The Cabin Max Metz backpack is specifically engineered to measure 40x30x20cm, ensuring it meets the strict under-seat requirements for Ryanair and Wizz Air, as well as other airlines including easyJet, TUI and Vueling.
Despite its compact exterior, the £30 backpack offers a 24-litre interior capacity, and the soft sides make it easy to squeeze in your things and stash away without any hassle. Inside, there’s a handy organiser to keep your iPad and travel bits safe, as well as a front pocket for easy access to passports and boarding passes.
Available in a choice of colours, it comes with a padded handle, trolley strap, compression straps and a bottle holder to keep everything secure and organised on the go. For shoppers who would prefer a shoulder bag design, the £35 Vela bag at Next has been called “stylish and useful” by travellers.
Amazon shoppers have given the Metz backpack an impressive 4.5 out of five-star rating across more than 31,000 reviews. One buyer said: “It fits in the overhead storage and under seats but also holds a lot, making it the perfect carry-on bag, while another added: “This is the best Ryanair bag I’ve ever owned, better than the cheaper ones.”
One disappointed buyer noted: “Far too much wasted space in unnecessary pouches, padding and straps that serve no purpose,” but another said the opposite adding; “Absolute Tardis of a bag, clever dimensions – main compartment fitted Timberland boots (adult size 12), 2 pairs of jeans, two polo shirts, two jumpers, two shirts, one blazer, a wash bag and pack-a-mac.”
Of course, it’s not just the size of the bag that could be the enemy of your wallet, as bags that are too heavy can cause problems too. Especially on budget airlines, a luggage scale helps you stay within strict weight limits.
The Etekcity Digital Portable Luggage Scale makes it easy to stay within airline limits, with a high-accuracy sensor and clear readings up to 50kg. Simply hook it onto your suitcase for an instant weight check and avoid those costly overweight fees before you even leave home.
Small enough to slip into a pocket, it features handy extras like a temperature display, auto-off function and easy-to-read locked results. With a durable rubber grip and smart alerts for low battery or overload, it’s a reliable little gadget that takes the stress out of packing.
A household staple that should be found in every kitchen junk drawer, Argos shoppers also highly rate the £12 Salter Luggage Scale, which shoppers call “a useful portable travel addition.” For buyers on a budget, the Nartel scale from Amazon is a bargain buy at £4.99 that can be tucked away when not in use.
Another space-saving trick to help avoid unwanted fees for bigger bags, smaller and lighter tech essentials can make a big difference. Bulky UK chargers and charging plugs can be a nightmare to pack, but Amazon shoppers have found just the thing in the shape of the Minix Neo P3.
Available to buy from Amazon for £44.90, the compact but capable charger replaces multiple bulky power bricks with a single, palm-sized unit. With the ability to up to four devices simultaneously, the “one-plug” strategy ensures all devices are flight ready flight while saving significant weight and space in your cabin bag.
With 288 five-star reviews on Amazon, one buyer called it “A brilliant, powerful and lightweight plug for travel,” while another added: “Great for travelling and a nice price too.”
One shoppers noted that it “stopped working after about six months” but despite that they still referred to it as “one of the best travel chargers for holidays.”
Shoppers looking for something to keep devices charged on the plane could enjoy the power of the INIU Ultra Mini Power Bank. Available from £31, the charger is the size of an Airpod case and comes with a built-in power cable for up to two full charges on the go.
Once your bag is packed and your devices are charged, the last thing you want is to lose track of them. While hold luggage is most at risk, busy airports can be a hotspot for theft or simple mix-ups, making it all too easy for bags to go missing.
During the frantic summer rush, the sheer volume of transfer flights means thousands of bags are delayed or left behind due to tight connection windows and terminal congestion.
To help combat this, Apple AirTags are becoming an increasingly popular, high-tech solution for holidaymakers, letting you track your bags across the globe with just an iPhone. These clever little gadgets help prevent meltdowns when luggage goes astray.
By emitting a secure Bluetooth signal that is anonymously picked up by any nearby iPhones or iPads in Apple’s “Find My” network, the encrypted location data is beamed to the cloud so you can see exactly where your bag is. Available on Amazon from £69.99 for a pack of four, they are a smart buy that could save you far more by helping avoid the cost of replacing lost items.
Shoppers seem delighted with their performance, with one buyer saying: “Brilliant, I use them to put into luggage when we go away so we can keep track of the cases.”
Another added: “Great product, very useful when travelling!” One buyer was a little concerned however, noting: “Good, but quite pricey for what you get.”
For those with Android devices, the Tile four pack for £49.99 or the Samsung Galaxy SmartTags from £13.48 each, offer similar luggage-tracking magic for non-Apple users. These alternatives work just as well for keeping an eye on your suitcases and cabin bags while on the go.