When packing for a trip your luggage will likely be full of clothes, underwear, and toiletries — all the essentials.
But if you’re a British holidaymaker, then there’s a few other items you might be trying to cram into your bag for good measure. Like tea bags or Pot Noodles.
Us Brits are so scared of being caught short of our home comforts that we can’t help but take them with us.
However, for some these extra items could end up pushing them over the standard luggage allowance and see them hit with additional (and unwanted) costs.
Thankfully, one airline has decided to take pity on customers and offer bigger luggage allowances. Hurrah!
TUI has said it will be increasing its standard allowance to 20kg, with an extra 5k allowance for those staying at TUI affiliated hotels including UI BLUE, Holiday Village and A La Carte hotels.
The travel brand also commissioned research into the most common items Brits were packing for their holidays and the results might surprise you.
Almost half of UK holidaymakers said they packed tea bags with them (lest you be stranded without PG tips on holiday).
Of the people surveyed, 16% said they take ketchup or sliced bread with them while 12% take their favourite cereal and squash (you do realise shops exist abroad?).
Some people are taking items that might come in handy abroad like slippers (34%), a spare toothbrush (27%) and toothpaste (25%).
Top items Brits take on holiday
1. Tea bags, 49%
2. Coffee, 38%
3. Slippers, 34%
4. Cotton buds, 28%
5. An extra toothbrush, 27%
6. Extra tubes of toothpaste, 25%
7. Their own pillow, 22%
8. Umbrella, 20%
9. Travel iron, 20%
10. Emergency sewing kit, 20%
11. Ketchup, 16%
12. Sliced bread, 15%
13. A collection of their favourite books, 13%
14. Their favourite cereal, 12%
15. Their favourite squash, 11%
16. Pot Noodles, 10%
17. Their childhood teddy bear, 10%
18. A hot water bottle, 10%
19. Their journal, 10%
20. Cheese and onion crisps, 10%
21. Kettle, 10%
Others, however, might be after creature comforts as they prefer to take their own coffee (38%), cheese and onion crisps (10%), and their own pillow (22%).
The overpacking has led TUI to change their baggage policy, upping their allowance to 20kg.
‘This research shows just how much Brits love to take home comforts on holiday with them,’ says Phillip Iveson, commercial director of TUI.
‘That’s why we’ve decided to increase our luggage allowance for TUI Airways to 20kg as standard, and add an extra 5kg for guests staying at TUI BLUE, Holiday Village and A La Carte hotels.
‘With all that extra weight to play around with, guests will have plenty of room to take along photos of their pets, a hearty number of teabags, and even a loaf or two of sliced bread.’
Over on its website, TUI explains that if you’ve booked on or after 21st December 2023 and are travelling from 1st May 2024 onwards, all packages now include at least 20kg of checked-in luggage when you fly with TUI Airways.
Couples who’ve booked one of TUI’s wedding packages will get 25kg checked-in luggage allowance each when flying with TUI Airways. This is valid if you’ve booked on or after 21st December 2023 and are travelling from 1st May 2024 onwards.
Just so you know, TUI Airways flights have a flight number that starts with TOM or BY.
Happy holidays.
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