We’ve all been there — waging war against the zip on your suitcase in the hopes of taking all 37 outfit options on holiday.
From packing cubes to vacuum-packed bags, there are plenty of elaborate ways to save a little space.
TikToker Aline Lowry prefers a more simple space-saving hack, which involves packing your suitcase upright on a bed.
But while some called it genius, others branded the trick ‘diabolical’ and despaired over the dirt and bacteria the wheels of a case could leave on your bed.
In her video, which has amassed 8.6 million views, fashion and travel influencer Aline stands an empty suitcase on her bed and packs it from bottom to top.
‘I’m very impressed with the amount of clothes I was able to put in this bag. When you arrive at the hotel and don’t want to unpack at all, this is like a drawer full of clothes,’ she said.
And when she opened the case, she said she could see everything she’d packed, like she was looking in a wardrobe.
The trick drew praise, with one person saying they’ve been doing it for a long time: ‘No way, I have been doing this for five years. Y’all get 50% more stuff in there than packing the normal way.’
‘I do this,’ added @LindaDe. ‘Start with heavier items. I put shoes closest to wheels then toiletry bag, underwear, socks because they won’t show wrinkles, pants, blouses on top.’
Others were much less impressed, writing that ‘wheels on the bed is diabolical’.
Some pointed out that Aline had put a towel on her bed to protect the duvet from the wheels, but @ludavevericaO wrote: ‘Even with a towel… Still diabolical.’
Whether you pack on the bed or on the floor, this ‘vertical space-saving hack’ seems pretty popular.
Packing hacks
Last month, Metro brought you another viral packing hack that raised eyebrows across the internet, after a Reddit user posed the question: ‘This might be stupid, but are you allowed to check a suitcase with a smaller suitcase inside?
‘I’m going to Europe soon and I plan to do a lot of shopping. [On] my flight there I only get one checked bag but on my flight back I get two free checked bags.
‘I was thinking of packing a small suitcase with my things and putting it into a slightly larger suitcase and checking the larger one, then checking both on the way back’.
It turns out that packing suitcases inside each other is indeed allowed on flights, provided you don’t exceed the weight allowance.
Reddit users confirmed they’ve used the trick successfully, though one woman warned that security once opened her suitcase to check what was going on.
It’s also advisable to wear your heaviest clothing on your flight, rather than letting bulky items take up space in your limited luggage space.
Some travellers have attempted to save space by filling their travel pillows with clothing, although be prepared to pay for extra luggage allowance if you get caught like this unlucky passenger.
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