When you’re jetting off on your holidays, the last thing you need is for your suitcase or its contents to arrive damaged. This can really put a downer on your trip before it has even started, but sadly, it’s an all too frequent issue.
It’s easy to pack the wrong things in your suitcase, especially if you’ve done it in a hurry before dashing off to the airport. However, taking a bit more care and time to perfect your packing can help you avoid any unfortunate mishaps with your luggage.
One baggage handler has revealed that a very common item can cause chaos inside your bag. A ramp agent for American Airlines took to Reddit to offer some crucial advice for holidaymakers eager to keep their belongings as safe as possible when travelling.
They warned that aerosol cans can cause many problems, so it might be worth swapping these out for toiletries in tubes or jars instead. In the post, they advised: “Pressure does weird things. Decreased atmospheric pressure at altitude can cause pressurised bottles and cans to leak. I have had to clean the better part of an entire can of shaving cream out of my toiletry kit before.”
However, if you do want to bring any aerosols with you, then there’s an extra step you can take to ensure they stay safe, reports the Express.
According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, any release valves on aerosols must be protected by a cap or other suitable means, to prevent the accidental release of the contents.
Also featured in the Reddit post, a ramp agent stressed the necessity of choosing the correct type of luggage for travel – underscoring the potential issues that come with neglecting this advice. They commented: “Use an appropriately sized suitcase. If you only have 10Lbs of stuff, do not use an oversized suitcase. The suitcase will collapse if insufficiently full, leading to a baggage avalanche when bags are stacked on top of it.”
Furthermore, the type of material from which a suitcase is made significantly affects its sturdiness and safety during transport.
The ramp agent elaborated: “Avoid plastic hard shell suitcases. These are incredibly slick and prone to sliding off the bag cart while turning- taking everything on top of it with it. Cloth suitcases have far more friction and are far more likely to stay where we put them.”