Packing for a business trip
How to travel on business hand-luggage only...
When I spoke to women I know about the kind of content they would like to see in WithPockets, the answer was resounding: everyone wanted to know how I travel hand luggage only all the time. Eh bien, voila…
I travel hand luggage only for both business and pleasure, regardless of how long I’m going away. I also (despite the extensive amount of travelling I do) don’t have Platinum membership with any airline so I’m working with the basic hand luggage allowance. This is generally one overhead bag, anywhere from 7kg to 10kg, depending on the airline (56cm x 36cm x 23cm) and one under-seat bag/personal item.
There are three reasons why I fly hand luggage only, particularly when on business:
Time is of the essence. I’m often only travelling somewhere for a short while and my itinerary is packed to the hilt with meetings. The plane has almost certainly already been delayed and now I’m late for the first meeting – I don’t want to waste more time at a conveyor belt. I like to sit as close to the front of the plane / exit as I can and get off and into an Uber/Taxi quickly.
I have a congenital fear of my bags being lost. This has happened to almost everyone I know.
I don’t like having to cart heaps of stuff around from meeting to meeting.
I’ve included pictures below to show you what I would typically pack for a three-day business trip, and I’ll walk you through how I do it. At the end I come clean about one important compromise I make, and some caveats that would make travelling light much harder.
I’ve also noted where you can buy the items shown (if they’re still available). I hope this helps! But if it doesn’t, you can amuse yourself by zooming in on the pictures and marvelling at the state of my floorboards, which are 130 years old and were scratched to shit by the previous owner’s dog…
WithPockets x
A 3-day business trip
For this trip, I’m packing for two evenings away and three (very full) days of meetings, at least one formal dinner, and an opportunity to use the hotel gym. For fairness, I’m assuming it’s autumn and unseasonably cold.
Tip 1 – always wear the heaviest things you’re bringing
In addition to what is shown below, I’ll be wearing a trouser suit and shirt, a coat, flat shoes, and carrying a laptop bag / work satchel. This is a large part of the weight and bulk (i.e. coat, heavier shoes). Aircraft are almost always over air-conditioned and that way these items don’t count towards your weight limit…
The bag
I have a suitcase on wheels but with a soft top and it’s one of the lightest I’ve found. It can also be expanded when you need to. This bag has been all over the world with me for last two years and shows no sign of quitting yet.
If it’s really coming down to the knuckle weight-wise, or I’m likely to be using a lot of public transport (particularly overseas for non-business) I use a Patagonia duffle bag, which is 0.5kg lighter and can be worn as a backpack.
The clothes
Alongside the trouser suit I’m wearing, for this trip I’ve packed three tops (not counting the shirt I’m travelling in), two dresses, gym gear and pyjamas.
M.M. LaFleur – Lancia travel dress OrigamiTech (the forest green colour has sold out but the dress is still available here)
ME + EM - Travel tailoring sleeveless pencil dress (sold out)
David Jones – Wide collared short sleeve blouse (white)
Farage – Sleeveless top (lilac) (sold out)
Rag and Bone – The Slub Tee (heather grey)
Cos – Ribbed tank top (grey melange)
Lululemon - Groove Nulu super-high-rise flared pant
Hanro - Stripey silk pyjamas
LK Bennett – Suede kitten heel ankle boots
Tip 2: Always pack one more top than the number of days
I always pack at least one extra top in case of emergencies since one fatal trip to Melbourne years ago when I managed to pour coffee all over myself on the last day. All my clothes were dirty and the only clothing outlet open before my meetings started was one of those stores you find in railway station tunnels. I bought an ill-fitting top of such poor quality it didn’t survive the first wash. Never again.
Tip 3 - Pack outfits that go with the same pair of shoes.
You’ll only have space for one additional pair of shoes so make them count. I tend to pack statement shoes that everyone notices because people are so fixated on them they never notice if they match the outfit exactly.
Toiletries, skincare and cosmetics
Tip 4 – Go fun-size with skincare and cosmetics
As you’ll see from the picture above, I don’t skimp on the number of items I bring, I just reduce their size. I have amassed a collection of tiny toiletries, skincare samples and travel-sized cosmetics over the course of the last few years. Many brands do travel-sizes now. They’re also great if you want to try a product without committing to the full-size price.
Many of the items pictured come from the following suppliers:
Mecca – I’m a member of their ‘Beauty Loop’ rewards program and receive a box of travel size items and samples (skincare and makeup) to try at least 4 times a year. Products from Mecca include the Tatcha moisturiser, the Dr Jart skin barrier toner, the KIT electrolyte powder sachet, and the ByTerry mini pressed powder)
Aesop – whenever I buy any full-size item from Aesop they invariably give me a dozen free sample sachets of skincare products. These are great for short trips as they weigh nothing and take up no space.
Oz Hair and Beauty – for travel-sized hair products including the pictured Kevin Murphy shampoo and conditioner and the Colour WOW Dream Coat anti-frizz spray, which protects your hair from even the most overheated hotel hairdryer.
Tip 5 – Decant products into smaller containers
Not just shampoo. I’m oversharing here, but for women of a certain age, the clear plastic screw cap pot (see picture above) is good for estrogen gel, which for some reason only comes in enormous pump action bottles that are totally unsuitable for travel… because the patriarchy. I get these from Muji. You’re welcome.
If you’re enjoying this article, but you’re not ready for a paid subscription you can always just buy me a coffee!
Tip 6 – Invest in a good wash bag
My wash bag is from Antler and it has a hanger incorporated in it, which is an absolute godsend as hotel bathrooms are becoming increasingly stingy with the amount of space they provide on the vanity unit. All the cosmetics / toiletries for the whole trip need to fit in this bag (I sometimes buy additional items if I’m away for a longer trip - part of the fun of travelling is you get to try new products!)
If I’m travelling overseas, I’ll put everything in a ziplock bag, instead of my wash bag, which takes up a lot less space but feels rather sad.
Not shown
Underwear and pharmaceuticals. I’m not about to post what I wear ‘backstage’ on the internet. A girl’s got to retain some mystery.
Caveats and Compromises
There are a number of things that can make travelling hand luggage only for business much harder:
You need hair appliances. This is my compromise. My hair is straight and short because it suits me better. If the hairdryer in the hotel isn’t great, it isn’t the end of the world and I rarely use hair straighteners/curlers. If you can’t live without them, that’s almost half your hand luggage allowance straight away. For me, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.
You are travelling somewhere very cold. If I had to do a conference in Helsinki in winter, you’d best believe I’m breaking that hand-luggage-only streak by packing some seriously heavy clothing. I only just managed to pull off a winter board meeting in Tasmania…
You’re carrying heavy-duty gifts. When you travel to Asia on business, the expectation is you’ll bring presents and samples with you. Depending on what your company does, this can get very heavy indeed. And chances are you will not leave empty-handed from an Asian business trip either.
Do you travel light for work? How do you do it? Tell us more…