6. Pack Light and Don’t Check a Bag

Provided you don’t book a flight with a discount carrier or pick a Basic Economy fare, you should be able to board the plane with a carry-on bag and a personal item regardless of your chosen airline.

Nevertheless, you should read your airline’s terms and conditions regarding carry-on luggage, just to be sure that yours is small enough to qualify. Generally speaking, all carriers have basic requirements that determine the maximum size of a piece of hand baggage. Some airlines, especially the budget ones, have much smaller limits than others.

For example, on Air France, you can bring one piece of carry-on baggage and one personal item along with you on the plane. According to their website, your carry-on bag must have a maximum dimension of 21.6 x 13.7 x 9.8 inches, including handles and wheels.

Its weight also cannot exceed 26.4 pounds, or 12 kilograms. If your carry-on baggage doesn’t meet these requirements, it’s likely you’ll be stuck with a checked baggage fee.

You may also want to read Spend Less On Vacation With These 6 Clever Budget Planning Hacks.