1. Keep all checked bags unlocked; if your bag is selected for random screening, agents will have to break the locks to get inside. Skip the locks to avoid any damage to your luggage and instead use plastic cable ties.
2. Do not over-pack your bag. Screeners will have a difficult time closing your luggage if selected for inspection, which will only lead to wrinkles and the potential for lost articles.
3. Carry all film with you onboard, as some new screening equipment can damage underdeveloped film.
4. Place any packed belongings you don't feel comfortable with strangers handling in clear plastic bags.
5. Do not stack books and other documents on top of each other within your baggage, spread out such items.

When packing your clothes, you don't want to neatly fold them individually as you would in a dresser. If you do, they will crease when compressed. There are several different approaches to packing a few of which I've summarized below

Clothes
Pack only what you know you will use and if you are traveling for more than three weeks, plan to wash on the road. When you are packing, put several fabric-softener sheets in between all your layers of clothes. These will make your clothes have that "freshly-washed" smell for weeks, and the sheets can serve as dividers (dividing shirts from pants, etc.) so you can choose your clothes easily.


Rolling Your Clothes
Backpackers swear by this method. Rolling works well with pants, skirts and sports shirts. Lay the item face down, fold back the sleeves and then roll from the bottom up.

Fold Clothes Together
Take two or more garments, for example trousers, and lay half of one pair on top of the other. Fold the one on the bottom over the pair on the top. Then take the other and fold it on the top. This give s each pair some cushion where you've folded it so it's less likely to crease or wrinkle in the folds.

The Bundle Approach
Start with the longest, most wrinkle prone item you have or your sports jacket. With the collar or waistband flat, place it against the bottom edge of the bag, flatten your piece of clothing against the bottom of the bag and drape the rest of the garment over the opposite side of the bag. Take another garment and place it in the opposite direction, flattening and smoothing out both garments in the bag and draping the remainder over the side. If you have trousers or other narrow items, do the same with them in the narrow direction of the bag. Keep alternating your items, ending up with the most wrinkle-resistant clothes you have.

When you finish, place your "core" in the middle. Now you're going to start folding the garments over the core and each other in the reverse order you put them in. If you fold something over and there's excess draping over the sides of the bag, tuck it underneath the bundle you are creating.

What you will end up with is a bundle of all of your clothes that looks like a pillow. You can pick it up in one piece. It's compactly packed and doesn't waste an available space in your luggage. Plus, because of the way things are folded, your clothes will wrinkle less.

To find something in the bundle, lay it flat and unwrap until you reach the layer you want. Take the item out and refold the remainder. If done properly each layer should result in a self contained bundle at each layer.

Tissue Paper
For delicate items, try tissue paper. Lay the item face down and place tissue paper on top. Fold it up with the tissue paper inside. Use additional layers of paper as you fold the garment so it is completely wrapped in and around paper. This is easy enough the first time you pack, but becomes a pain if you have to keep repacking. Use this approach for evening clothes that you don't want to crush.

Split up your Valuables
Split up your bank cards, cash, travellers' cheques and credit cards as much as possible in different pockets, your bags and wallet when packing. In case you do get robbed, at least you won't be strapped for cash (unless you have all your bags AND your wallet stolen of course!)

Backpack Tips
When you are packing things into a backpack, place the lighter items at the bottom and the heavier ones on top. Your bag will feel lighter this way as the pack rests on your lower back. It is also smart to place the things you use the most on top. Dirty clothes are perfect to pack at the bottom of a backpack.

Plastic Bags
It is always handy to have a few plastic bags around certain items, especially toiletries. Not only does it counter any leaking, the bags can also come in useful to keep dirty clothes in, as garbage bags or even as a makeshift umbrella. Ziplock or other airtight plastic bags are the best.

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Ready to start packing? Or is there still more trip planning to be done? Check out our Packing List and Trip Planning tips to help you get the most out of your trip by planning well and packing everything.