What’s the most frustrating part of getting ready for a trip

Hux said:
@Vega
You are taking a scale with you?

My missus makes me take ours even though we KNOW the cases will always be under what they were on the way out.

Natalie said:

Hux said:
@Vega
You are taking a scale with you?

My missus makes me take ours even though we KNOW the cases will always be under what they were on the way out.

Maybe try to encourage her to uselessly worry and fret over something else.

@Hux
I’d actually be more understanding if she was fretting about it. As it is, it’s just pointless.

Van said:

Vega said:
Ensuring the suitcase is the correct weight, maybe just under the given limit.

Buy a baggage scale so you know before you go.

This.

And/or calibrate your arm. I never place a bag on the airline scale without first trying to estimate it myself. Practice makes perfect and I can gauge a 49-pound bag to within a pound or two. (Prior to 9/11, my arm was calibrated to 69 pounds).

Carefully recanting/packing the liquids in a Ziplock for TSA to later ignore. :-/

In the weeks before, every time you think of something, add it to a note on your phone.

Flew for work to Ireland (from US) for the first time in 8 years last month. Was incredibly stressed by the weight of my luggage. I thought I packed conservatively, but was right at the limit. I wouldn’t say I dealt with it particularly well, but next time I need to fly, I hope I learn my lesson and pack more in advance than the night before.
Edit: typo and added what I learned.

@Morgan
Buy a baggage scale so you know before you go.

Van said:
@Morgan
Buy a baggage scale so you know before you go.

Travel Hack: I went to the local fitness center down the street. Got on the scale that every fitness center and gym has, and weighed myself. Then got on the scale with my suitcase. Subtracted my weight from that reading and I know how much my suitcase weighs without purchasing anything. (Normally I do the same thing with my bathroom scale, but it needed a battery).

@Hux
A $12 scale that comes with so I can use it in the airport if necessary is worth it to me.

Kelly said:
@Hux
A $12 scale that comes with so I can use it in the airport if necessary is worth it to me.

The ticket counter has scales. Free of charge.

Hux said:

Kelly said:
@Hux
A $12 scale that comes with so I can use it in the airport if necessary is worth it to me.

The ticket counter has scales. Free of charge.

Enjoy your travel.

@Kelly
I’m doing OTP->AMS->DTW->ORD->MCI next week, no scale needed; I’m just taking a small backpack carry-on.

Weighing my bag with my scale in the middle of an airport would be on the very very bottom of my list of things to do.

@Hux
You are really invested in if others do something differently.

You also trust airline scales.

@Morgan

I thought I packed conservatively, but was right at the limit.

Pro Tip: Being right at the limit is just as good as being 10 pounds under the limit.

@Morgan
How much does your suitcase weigh? A heavy case really cuts into the weight allowance.

Farley said:
@Morgan
How much does your suitcase weigh? A heavy case really cuts into the weight allowance.

I’m thinking about replacing a suitcase I love for this reason.

I planned and prepped for a week before going on a hike with my then girlfriend to propose. I forgot my phone, my wallet, and the ring.

When we went on our honeymoon, I fell asleep in the middle of packing the night before the 7am flight. Woke up at 4am, spent 20 min packing and I forgot nothing. Wtf.

Writing down everything in my suitcases in case my luggage is lost. I include the prices of each item and take photos for documentation. Anything that is brand new I keep the price tags and receipts. This is a major hassle but it came in handy one time when I had a lost suitcase. I was reimbursed for every penny including the price of my suitcase.

I always wind up doing last-minute laundry because I realize I’ve just worn something I really wanted to pack. I never forget anything important, but I ALWAYS forgot one hygiene/toiletry item that necessitates an annoying shopping trip – pretty sure I’ve purchased four hairbrushes at airports or near hotels.