LIGHT WORK

How minimal luggage is becoming a major travel trend

By PENDLE HARTE

Travellers rejoice! London City will soon be the world’s first airport to abandon the annoying liquids rules. The 100ml limit on fluids has been a source of annoyance and delays ever since it began. Having your toothpaste confiscated because the tube’s capacity is 125ml ('but it’s almost empty!') is almost as irritating as having to abandon that almost-full bottle of sunscreen on your way home, or having to buy a single-use plastic water bottle on the other side.

The liquids thing is all about luggage really. We all used to routinely check in our bags until airlines started charging us for that, when we all switched to small overhead locker wheelie cases, and put up with the extra queuing at security and liquid rulings. But a new trend is emerging, as passengers are fed up with paying more than the price of the fare for the privilege of bringing a small case. There remains an option to bring a small bag, one that fits underneath the seat in front, at no extra cost – and in fact, there’s more space under that seat than you might have thought. So more than ever, travelling light is the order of the day. Budget airlines aren’t making it easy for us, though, with each airline publishing its own – di erent –definitions of acceptable dimensions.

British Airways remains generous on the baggage front. Small wheelie cases are accepted as standard and everyone is allowed a space in the overhead locker. Easyjet charges for cabin bags, but is relatively generous with its small bag definition. We have travelled on a four day city break in chilly weather with a clever Antler backpack (the Bamberg expandable, £160) that has compression straps and conforms to Easyjet’s dimensions as long as it’s not too full. Measure it before you go – the maximum size is 45x36x20cm. Ryanair, meanwhile, is stingier, stipulating only 40x25x20cm. That’s quite a challenge – but quite satisfying when you make it work. Beating the airlines at their own game is very much a thing in 2023.