June 13, 2025

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The Best Way to Pack Your Carry-On Bag for Memorial Day Weekend Travel

5 min read
Published May 17, 2025 by CNET
The Best Way to Pack Your Carry-On Bag for Memorial Day Weekend Travel  CNET

Memorial Day weekend will be here before we know it. And if you’re one of the 45 million Americans planning to travel for the holiday  — a record-breaking number — then you’ll need to prepare ahead of time. Part of that preparation needs to include selecting and packing your carry-on luggage. 

A carry-on bag ensures you have your entertainment and snacks during the flight and all the essentials at your destination, even if your checked luggage gets lost. Items like passports, prescriptions, electronics, toiletries, cash and clothes are must-haves when it comes to carry-ons. (Believe me, packing extra clothes in mine saved me when my checked bag was lost on the way to London.)

Following Transportation Security Administration guidelines for each major US airline is also a must. Doing a little research on the latest rules and regulations can help you ace the experience without getting held up. You can’t control what TSA officials confiscate, but you can control what you pack and how you pack it. 

Here’s how to pack your carry-on bag efficiently for any flight, so you can breeze through TSA security lines. 

For more travel tips, explore these travel essentials you need for every vacation and then take a look at this travel checklist. You should also read about the new Real ID requirement to get through airport security.

The best carry-on travel bags

Before you start packing, you’ll have to find the right carry-on bag. Here are a few important things to keep in mind.

What size carry-on should you get?

The first and most important aspect to think about is size. Federal Aviation Administration regulations say carry-on items can’t exceed dimensions of 22 by 14 by 9 inches, though you might find an inch or two of difference depending on the airline. The general rule is that it must fit under your seat or in the overhead enclosed storage compartment on the plane. 

Here’s a quick reference for size limits for the most popular US airlines.

Carry-on items by airline

Carry-ons should have an easy access tech compartment

If you decide to bring electronics like a laptop, iPad, Kindle or other tablet on board, your carry-on should ideally have a separate, padded compartment for secure packing. Be sure these compartments are easily accessible, since at security checkpoints, the TSA will require you to remove your electronic devices and place them in the plastic X-ray tray.

Make sure your carry-on is comfortable on your back or shoulder

Remember, you’ll need to lug your carry-on bag or suitcase across the airport and down long corridors, and you might even need to run with it so you don’t miss your connection. Consider whether you need padded handles or cushioned straps or a backpack or a rolling suitcase for ease.

gettyimages-1428362186

Rolled clothing can save space in your tight bag or suitcase. 

Getty Images

Essential items for your carry-on bag

There’s some items that are just better in your carry-on luggage. If you do decide to check a bag, be sure to keep these items with you on the flight. Most of these carry-on essentials are items that would be hard to replace or purchase when you get to your destination. 

  • Prescriptions and medications
  • Contact lenses or glasses
  • Valuables like jewelry, wallets, passports, IDs and boarding passes
  • Cameras and smartphones
  • Entertainment like tablets, books and laptops
  • Headphones to watch TV or movies if a longer flight
  • Chargers for electronics
  • Printed itinerary, or hotel and flight confirmations

Explore this complete guide for essential travel items you may forget to pack. 

Place your larger electronics in secure yet easily accessible compartments, since you’ll need to pull them out at TSA security checkpoints. 

Getty Images

What you should never pack in your carry-on bag

The TSA has specific guidelines covering which items are banned from flights, and the agency takes those rules very seriously. In 2023 alone, the TSA screened more than 858 million passengers and crew members nationwide, and it confiscated a record number of firearms (6,737) and many other items. TSA policy says that individuals carrying weapons, especially loaded firearms, can face fines or criminal penalties. 

These are some of the most commonly confiscated items:

  • Firearms
  • Fireworks
  • Box cutters, utility knives and razors
  • Bats, clubs and blades
  • Swiss Army knives
  • Sharp 

If in doubt, always refer to the TSA’s guidelines on packing for flights, to ensure you have safe and easy travels. 

If you’re planning a vacation soon and are stressed about packing or preparing, CNET has plenty of resources to help. Get ready for your next trip with these hacks and tips:

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This article has been archived by Slow Travel News for your research. The original version from CNET can be found here.
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Airline Cabin Maximum size
Air Canada All 55 x 40 x 23 cm; 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in
Alaska Airlines All 55.88 x 35.56 x 22.86 cm; 22 x 14 x 9 in
American Airlines All 56 x 36 x 23 cm; 22 x 14 x 9 in
British Airways All 56 x 45 x 25 cm; 22 x 18 x 10 in
Delta Air Lines All 56 x 35 x 23 cm; 22 x 14 x 9 in
Frontier Airlines All 60.96 x 40.64 x 25.4 cm; 24 x 16 x 10 in
Hawaiian Airlines All 55.9 x 35.5 x 22.9 cm; 22 x 14 x 9 in
JetBlue Airways All 55.88 x 35.56 x 22.86 cm; 22 x 14 x 9 in
Southwest Airlines All 60.9 x 40.6 x 25.4 cm; 24 x 16 x 10 in
Spirit Airlines All 56 x 46 x 25 cm; 22 x 18 x 10 in
United Airlines All 56 x 35 x 22 cm; 22 x 14 x 9 in