Start with your ticket, not the cabin-size label
Before choosing a bag, note the size and weight limits for your booking, both outbound and inbound. A small under-seat item and a larger overhead bag are not necessarily included together. A commercial cabin-size label is therefore not enough. Keep the official rules handy and compare them with the bag’s external dimensions rather than only its advertised capacity.
Make a packing list before choosing capacity
Set out what you genuinely need for the weekend: weather-appropriate clothes, underwear, toiletries and chargers. Add a laptop only when necessary. First try a bag you already own. Extra capacity is useful only when your belongings require it and the bag still fits your journey’s restrictions; it is not a substitute for making sensible decisions about what to pack.
Match organisation to your journey
A wide opening lets you see clothes without unpacking everything. An accessible document pocket saves searching at checks, while a separate compartment keeps a laptop away from hard objects. For a walking trip with several connections, consider access to water and small items too. More pockets are not always better: check that they remain usable when the main compartment is full.
Try carrying a realistic load
Empty weight does not tell the whole story. Where possible, try the bag with a load similar to your trip and check the straps, stability and pressure points. For a suitcase, inspect the wheels and handles. A journey mostly through stations differs from several hours on foot, so base the choice on what you will actually carry rather than the appearance of an empty bag.
Measure the packed bag and compare the total cost
Close the bag with your belongings inside and measure its external dimensions using the carrier’s rules. A bulging pocket can change the depth; do not rely on an assumed tolerance. Before buying, compare the product price, delivery, return conditions and any baggage add-ons. A slightly less convenient bag you already own may be preferable to a rushed purchase for a single weekend.
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We verify information, cite sources where relevant and date our updates. Prices, availability and rules that may change should always be checked again with the relevant source or service.
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