Transportation and Medical Tourism

Posted on: 19 November 2014

You've booked an exciting adventure charter flight for your holidays, but how will you pack all you need for an unforgettable journey with firm charter flight baggage restrictions? Charter flights have very strict baggage limits not only because there is less storage space on a smaller aircraft, but for the safety of the passengers. 

Never fear -- check out this list of top tips for packing light for your charter flight, and you'll even be able to save a little room for a few precious souvenirs!

Choose One Small Bag

Simply put, you can't over-pack if your bag is small. Contact your charter flight company prior to purchasing your bag, to ensure that you will meet not only the weight but dimension restrictions.

Purchase a single bag, no bigger than carry-on luggage size. If the thought of this firm restriction gives you a panic attack, then start by packing a bag that is 10-20% smaller than you think you need. With some clever packing techniques and a hard line approach to selecting essential items, you will be pleasantly surprised by how much you can fit in a day pack.

Make sure the bag you purchase is not heavy itself. Look for a good quality, durable bag with a lightweight, water resistant shell and sturdy fastenings. As an added bonus, you'll have greater mobility when you reach your destination.

Pick And Pack Your Clothing Carefully

Think about your destination and the time of year you will be visiting. When visiting a warmer climate, it's easy to keep your bag light -- throw in some thongs, a swimsuit, a floppy hat and a kaftan, and you're ready to go.

If you're visiting a cold climate and require bulky jackets, thermals and sturdy boots, keeping your bag under charter flight baggage restrictions can be a little trickier. If you're not departing on a 40 degree day, consider wearing the bulkier clothing items. Alternatively, purchase specialty clothing engineered to provide maximum warmth and protection while minimising bulk. These technologically-advanced fabrics are not cheap, but they are often also wrinkle resistant and dry quickly after laundering.

Pack enough laundry powder for a few loads in a bag, so you can wash your minimalist wardrobe when you reach your destination. Try to pack clothes that work as a holistic colour scheme. This way, no matter what top and bottom you throw on, you won't need to worry about clashing pattern or colour combinations.

Avoid packing a pair of shoes for every season, sticking to one pair of all-purpose, good quality casual shoes, and maybe a pair of thongs. If you need anything, you can always pick it up on location.

Buy Toiletries At Your Destination

Don't pack a bulk-sized bottle of shampoo, large tube of toothpaste or bottle of perfume. Keep your toiletries bag to a bare minimum, with enough to survive a few days with the plan to purchase supplies when you reach your destination. This way, you can happily discard any leftovers before you board your flight home.

Use Apps And Ebooks

Notebooks, novels and maps are traditional travel staples, but you'll need to discard the bulky reading material in favour of ebooks and travel apps. Alternatively, store all your files on a cloud computing app, allowing you to access notes on any device, anywhere, anytime. If your smart phone has a good camera, consider leaving your cumbersome SLR digital camera at home. Think outside of the box with your technology needs, as there's probably an app that will do the job without increasing your baggage weight.

Stick To A Short List

Most of all, it is imperative to work from a comprehensive and well-edited list while packing for a charter flight. List all of your essentials and revise it to minimise excess in every way. Rethink what 'essential' means to you -- do you really need 14 pairs of socks, or will 7 do? Lay out all the items you plan on packing, and ask yourself for each item: "Will I use this enough to justify the space in my bag?"

Consider including multipurpose items in your pack -- a sarong, for instance, can offer you a little bit of privacy in shared accommodation, protect you from the sun, bundle up to form a pillow and laid down as a picnic blanket or tablecloth. This will help you keep your list short without neglecting your needs.

If you just can't bear the idea of leaving your favourite shoe collection at home and you're not on a strict budget, consider purchasing a second seat on your charter flight. While costly, this will double your baggage allowance, and give you a little extra room to spread out during the flight. For more information, contact a company like Broome Air Services.