✈ Have You Been Packing Your Carry-On Wrong? Fancy New Lounge Coming to London Heathrow & More Daily News From TPG ✈

Also: American unveils premium Airbus A321XLR with Flagship Suites

December 12, 2025 View in browser         TOGETHER WITH     TOGETHER WITH

Step up your carry-on game by Tarah Chieffi, Senior writer I've got nothing against checking a bag when I am traveling with my kids or going on a longer trip, but I much prefer to carry on. But stuffing everything into a carry-on bag can be hard. If you struggle to get everything into your carry-on bag, you may be packing it wrong. Here are a few tips to help: Get a bigger bag: Carry-on bags come in several shapes and sizes. You can maximize your packing space by using the largest size allowed by the airline (which can vary, so make sure you know the carry-on size limit before you fly). I'm a big fan of The Bigger Carry-On from Away because it can hold between four and seven days’ worth of clothing. If it smells good, it's not dirty: I'm officially giving you permission to play fast and loose with your definition of "dirty laundry" while on vacation. If it isn't stained or smelly, you can definitely wear it again. With that in mind, you can pack fewer clothes by building multiple outfits around one dress or pair of jeans. You don't necessarily need packing cubes: Some travelers swear by packing cubes, but if you feel like you are losing a game of Tetris when you try to fit them in your suitcase, you may want to roll your clothing instead. There is one final step to perfecting your carry-on game — not being forced to gate-check your bag. The higher your boarding group, the more likely you are to need to gate-check your bag if the plane runs out of overhead bin space. The easiest way to avoid this fate is to hold elite status with the airline. If you don't fly often enough to earn elite status outright, there are several credit cards that offer early boarding and can put you on the fast track to status … and priority boarding. These stories will help you level up your carry-on packing game and get through security like a pro: 10 ways to get through airport security faster Keep calm and carry on: The best carry-on luggage for every kind of trip I've been packing my carry-on wrong — here’s my new strategy to avoid checking a bag 7 travel packing tips to save space in your luggage What to pack in a carry-on bag every time you travel Posts in this newsletter contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products, and this may impact how or where they appear. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. Photo Credit: SOLSTOCK/GETTY IMAGES.

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Today's top stories Air France is opening a fancy new London Heathrow lounge with a spa Air France will open a new flagship lounge in Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4 in spring 2026, which could tempt disgruntled British Airways elite members. Read more American unveils premium Airbus A321XLR with Flagship Suites, promises 'sexy' new routes American Airlines next week will become the first U.S. airline to offer service on Airbus' new long-range aircraft: the Airbus A321XLR, featuring the carrier's Flagship Suites. Read more US government wants 5 years of foreign visitors' social media history and other personal info International travelers headed to the U.S. may soon have to provide five years of social media history to enter the country. Read more Something for everyone: 6 things to know before you visit a Gaylord resort Ever wondered what it's like to visit a Gaylord resort? Here are the top things to know before you book your stay. Read more Why I'm happily holding on to my Capital One Venture X Rewards card for a third year Despite the annual fee, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card effectively pays me to keep it open. Here's why this go-to card is in my wallet for a third year. Read more

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