Packing tips

How to get organised and make the most of your free baggage allowance.

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Key information

Know your free hand baggage allowance and checked baggage allowance, i.e. how many bags you can take, their size and weight limits.
If you think you’ll need more space, you can pay to take extra checked bags.
Ensure you have all your travel documents including visas and other entry requirements.
Read our guidelines for taking musical instruments and sporting equipment.
Read more tips on packing essentials.

Place money, valuables and important travel documents in your hand baggage.
Avoid the hassle of losing your boarding pass by using the British Airways app. You can download boarding passes for up to eight people in your booking onto your mobile phone.
If you need to take medication, including liquid medication or syringes, pack it in your hand baggage too (if possible, in its original packaging). To avoid delays at airport security, also take a prescription or supporting letter from your doctor that confirms it is prescribed to you.
Follow our guidelines on carrying liquids, gels, aerosols, foods or other restricted items.
Charge any electrical or battery-powered devices such as phones, tablets, e-books and laptops. Airport security might ask you to switch them on.

How to pack your wedding outfit

You can take your wedding dress, morning suit or bridesmaid dress as part of your hand baggage as long as it does not exceed your hand baggage allowance (i.e. number, size and weight of bags).
Your bridal shop should be able to give you expert tips for how to best pack and 'refresh' your wedding outfit at your destination.
On long haul flights - ask your cabin crew if there's any space to hang your wedding dress or suit and they will do their best to help, though there is limited available hanging space on board, especially on busy flights.
On short haul flights – you won’t be able to hang your wedding outfit as there is no available wardrobe space onboard. Make sure your outfit is packed appropriately into your hand baggage.
If you can't fit your wedding outfit into a bag/box that is within our hand baggage allowance, you can pack it into your hold baggage and check it in as part of your checked baggage allowance.
Alternatively, call us at least 24 hours before your flight to check if you can buy an extra seat next to yours to ensure your wedding outfit travels with you in the cabin.

Check the weather forecast for your destination and make sure you pack the right clothes and shoes.
Place heavy items like shoes where they’ll be at the bottom of your bag when it’s standing upright.
Fill all the space in your bag by folding or rolling smaller items such as socks or underwear to reduce creasing.
Place your toiletries in a washbag and seal any open bottles or tubes to avoid spilling, e.g. by taping the lids or putting them individually in plastic bags.
Don’t forget to leave some room for shopping. Include a lightweight folding bag if you think you might need more space on your return journey but make sure you don't go over your free checked baggage allowance.

Preparing your bags

Invest in a digital baggage scale to check the weight of your bags and avoid charges at the airport.
Remove all baggage tags or barcode stickers from previous flights.
Label your bags inside and out with your name, destination address, email address and mobile number.
Add colourful straps or tags to help your bags stand out on the carousel.
Secure protruding handles and loose straps on your bags to prevent snagging.
If you plan on securing your bag with a padlock, we recommend a TSA-approved lock to avoid potential damage to your bag if it has to be opened by baggage handlers or security inspectors.