How to divide items between your suitcase and carry-on

• Keep travel documents, essential medication and things you’ll need on your first day within easy reach.
• Baggage rules vary by airline and fare, as well as by train, long-distance bus and ferry.
• Protect valuables and fragile items during transport.
• A change of clothes can make arriving after a long journey more comfortable.
• If luggage is damaged or lost, keep the baggage receipt, report and case number.

Pack clothes, shoes and items you won’t need until you reach your destination in your main luggage. Distribute heavy items so the suitcase can still be moved safely. Pack frequently used items near the top. If your trip involves several stops, organize your belongings by leg of the journey. Put contact details somewhere reachable inside and outside your luggage, without displaying sensitive information openly.

Keep your passport or ID, medication, glasses or contact lenses, phone, charger, keys and contact details in your carry-on. This arrangement is useful when travelling by train or bus, where a suitcase may be stored in the luggage compartment. During travel preparations, keep your passport, medication, phone and keys accessible first. Use your travel checklist to note what to pack before departure and what can wait until the day before.

Size, weight, number of bags and fees depend on the route and fare. Trains, buses and ferries each have their own carriage conditions. Strollers, bicycles, sports equipment and special aids may need to be registered separately.

Fare baggage rules and air passenger rights apply to different aspects of a trip.

Keeping cash, cards and documents separate helps ensure that losing one item doesn’t mean losing all your payment methods or proof of identity at once. Planning money and payments depends on your destination, how you’ll pay and how much cash you’ll need as a reserve. Keep copies of booking and contact details separate from the originals; important travel documents can be backed up digitally and saved for offline access.

A change of clothes, toiletries and essential medication in your carry-on can make the first evening easier if your suitcase is delayed. Keep important personal items within reach when travelling with children. Protect fragile devices from pressure and moisture.

At your destination, check that all your luggage has arrived and look for visible damage. If an item is missing or damaged, report it as soon as possible at the place where you discover the problem. Keep the baggage receipt, booking details and case number from your report to document what happened. For international travel, keep your passport, visa and entry documents handy for entry and travel documents, but separate from cash and checked luggage.

For a city break with frequent changes of location, easy-to-carry luggage makes it simpler to navigate stairs and transfers. When planning travel and transport, include the routes between the station, stop and accommodation. Choosing accommodation near a station or stop means shorter walks with your luggage.

When travelling with others, distribute medication, chargers and documents so everyone can find their essentials; keep contact details and valuables stored separately. This helps keep valuables and contacts safe while travelling. Keep practical travel information about transport, documents and your cash reserve within easy reach.

What should always be within easy reach?

Keep travel documents, essential medication, keys, money, your phone, charger and contact details in a bag you can access during the journey.

How much luggage can I take?

Requirements depend on the mode of transport, carrier and fare. The rules for your specific journey determine the permitted size, weight and number of bags.

What information is useful when reporting damaged luggage?

The baggage receipt, booking documents and case number from your report help document the journey and the damage report.

Which flights are covered by EU air passenger rights?

They apply to departures from the EU, regardless of the airline. For arrivals in the EU from non-EU countries, they apply when the flight is operated by an EU airline. Any compensation and assistance already provided under the law of a non-EU country is taken into account.