I’m a Professional Packer, and This Is How to Make Everything Fit in Your Carry-on This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving week is one of the most hectic times to find yourself in an airport. In 2023, the TSA recorded the Sunday after the holiday as its busiest day in history — although that number was since topped this past summer. So if you’re one of those millions of travelers taking to the skies the last week of November, you can probably expect longer-than-average security lines, crowded gates, and busy pick-up areas. And while there’s no way to avoid the frenzy of holiday travel completely, there are a few tactics you can employ (and Amazon gear to buy) to lower your risk of encountering a less-than-ideal airport situation. 

First, try to book a morning flight; statistically, early departures are less likely to be delayed than those later in the day. You can also travel with just a carry-on suitcase and forego checking a bag as you won’t have to stand in line at the bag drop-off, wait at baggage claim, or stress about your luggage making a particularly tight connection. Yes, the latter strategy is often easier said than done — but as a travel journalist and writer of a packing newsletter, I’m here to help. 

Whenever I’m not in the air, I’m usually searching for products and testing new methods that make packing lightly easier. Below, I’m sharing 15 of my go-to travel hacks to help you pack more efficiently for Thanksgiving. 

Tip: Make a Packing List in Advance — Starting With a Spacious Suitcase

If you’re the type of traveler who doesn’t think about what they’re packing until the night before a trip, you’re making the process infinitely harder for yourself. I always recommend starting to plot out what you’re bringing at least a week out — or two weeks for extended trips and international travels. This gives you enough time to carefully consider each item and every use case. 

But before planning outfits, you need to determine the luggage you’re bringing. After trying models from nearly every luggage brand out there, I can attest to the fact that some carry-on suitcases hold significantly less than others. This one from Ukein is about the same size as the Away Bigger Carry-On (which I use on nearly all of my trips), plus it comes with a travel backpack and a toiletry bag. 

Tip: Pick a Decent-sized Personal Item Bag

If you already know which carry-on you’re bringing, the next step is finding the right personal item bag. I tend to have my personal item bag hold four important things: my laptop, my toiletry bag, an extra layer (either a sweater or a shawl) for the chilly airplane, and a pair of shoes. It’s a great solution for those bulkier items that take up too much room in your suitcase.

I’ll usually use a tote bag, but I’d recommend a backpack (like this one from Rinlist) for Thanksgiving travel. Why? Well, as someone who recently had to sprint through JFK International Airport to catch a connection, I can confidently say that a tote bag isn’t quite as easy to run with as a backpack — and my right shoulder and hip suffered the consequences. 

Tip: Narrow Down Your Technology 

Your first instinct might be to travel with your laptop, tablet, Kindle, and, of course, your phone, but you’ll end up with limited space in your backpack. Instead, think about which pieces can play double duty. An Apple iPad is the perfect multi-purpose travel tech solution if you need to answer emails, catch up on the latest Netflix show, or finish the book you plan on reading over the holiday. 

Tip: Use Compression Packing Cubes

Packing cubes appear on nearly every “packing hack” list — but, like carry-on suitcases, not all of them are created equal. Since space is a top priority when traveling lightly, I tend to use compression packing cubes as they’re designed to save 30 to 40 percent of the original volume. Another pro of packing cubes is their ability to keep the contents of your suitcase organized.

For shorter trips (like a long holiday weekend), I’ll pack my cubes according to outfits. That way, when Thanksgiving day arrives, I don’t have to rummage through all my clothes; I simply grab the cube with my pre-planned comfortable attire and I’m good to go. 

Tip: Prep Your Travel-sized Toiletries Ahead of Time

Planning is the key to success in nearly every aspect of packing, but it’s especially pertinent when it comes to toiletries. I refuse to travel anywhere, for any length of time without my skin and haircare, so this is typically one of my first steps.

After searching through my collection of Sephora samples and travel-sized products I keep in a special container in my bathroom, I transfer things like shampoo and conditioner into smaller, TSA-approved, leak-proof containers. I also like to keep my cabinets stocked with travel-sized bottles of contact solution and toothpaste tubes; it makes the process that much easier. 

Tip: Pack According to a Color Scheme 

Last month, I embarked on a two-week trip across Europe, stopping in multiple cities with several different weather conditions. I knew it was going to be a tougher journey to pack for — especially keeping RyanAir luggage limits in mind — so I leaned into my favorite packing hack: go with a color scheme. All the clothing I brought was either black, white, or brown, which allowed for maximal versatility (almost everything could be worn together) with minimal pieces.

This sweater set would fit perfectly with that color scheme, and both the top and bottoms could work as individual separates with jeans or a T-shirt. 

Tip: Invest in a Versatile, Functional Pair of Shoes

Shoes are one of the biggest culprits of taking up too much room in your suitcase. When I’m packing carry-on-only, I only bring two pairs: one I wear in transit, the other I tuck into my personal item bag. For Thanksgiving, I recommend a suede boot that works in both casual and more dressed-up scenarios; it’s also comfortable enough for a trek through the airport. Comfy sneakers, like these on-sale Brook Adrenaline GTS 23 Running Shoes, are another good option, especially if you’re part of a family that participates in an annual turkey trot. 

Tip: Bring Packable Outerwear

Depending on where you’re traveling for Thanksgiving, you may need a layer or two. If the temperatures won’t fall below 50 or 60 degrees Fahrenheit, you probably only need something light and layer-able — like this oversized puffer jacket. The wind-resistant and waterproof jacket is extremely foldable, so you can easily pack it in your suitcase or backpack if you want to travel with a different, perhaps heavier coat. 

Tip: Go With Soft, Rollable Fabrics

Denim is one of the most travel-friendly materials — it doesn’t require a ton of washing and doesn’t wrinkle easily — but it’s also one of the tougher fabrics to pack. One or two pairs of jeans tend to take up a good chunk of your suitcase. To save room, bring bottoms made with more rollable, less voluminous fabrics, like these lounge pants. You won’t want to be in “hard pants” after Thanksgiving dinner, anyway. 

Tip: Choose Your Knits Accordingly

That bulky cable-knit sweater you love might need to sit this one out. It’ll end up taking up a quarter of your suitcase’s valuable real estate — leaving you tempted to check a bag. Instead, go with a sweater that gives the same cozy vibes, but doesn’t need as much room. Something like this cashmere style or this $48 Merino wool number should do the trick. 

Tip: Limit the Accessories You Bring

When packing clothes for Thanksgiving, repeatedly ask yourself: “Will I really wear this?” If the answer is “no” or “maybe,” it shouldn’t make the cut. The same rule applies to jewelry and accessories. Odds are, you’re only going to be living out of your suitcase for a few days, so you’ll only need the bare minimum. I like to use a small, travel-sized jewelry case to cut down on the number of earrings I allow myself to bring. Plus, it keeps everything organized — and I don’t risk losing one of my favorite studs or hoops. 

Tip: Opt for Smaller Headphones

One of my pre-travel rituals is charging my Bose headphones. I refuse to go to the airport without having them fully ready to go. They do, however, take up more room in my bag than I’d like them to. If I find myself struggling to find space, I’ll end up taking my Apple AirPods Pro instead. While earbuds aren’t my favorite way to listen to music, they undeniably give me the room to pack at least one more thing in my personal item bag. 

Tip: Buy a Travel-friendly Water Bottle

Like everyone else you know, I love my Stanley tumbler for staying hydrated. I just don’t recommend it for travel. It’s incredibly heavy and not exactly an easy fit in my personal item bag. This collapsible water bottle, however, is a smarter, more space-conscious option. It’s also BPA-free, leakproof, dishwater-safe, and easy to fill. 

Tip: Leave the Travel Pillow Behind

I recently came across this travel pillow alternative that keeps your head upright while flying. Immediately, I was blown away by its ingenuity and purchased it for an overnight flight to Rome. As a traveler who tends to suffer from the dreaded head bob and ensuing sore neck that comes with sleeping on airplanes — but also refuses to travel with a bulky neck pillow — I’m officially a fan. I was actually able to get a few decent hours of sleep, and the strap hardly takes up any space in my bag. 

Tip: Be Prepared to Do Laundry

The biggest not-so-secret secret to packing lightly is just doing laundry at your destination, allowing you to pack fewer pieces since you have more options to re-wear. If you’re going to your childhood house for Thanksgiving, that’s a no-brainer. But if you’re headed somewhere like an Airbnb or hotel for the holiday, it’s decidedly less straightforward. If you envision a scenario where you might have to do laundry in a sink — something I experienced on the aforementioned Europe trip — pack a few of these portable detergent packets in your suitcase.

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