I can think of at least five good reasons to fly with just a carry-on bag.
Ready?
- No baggage fees
- No lost baggage
- No waiting around at baggage claim
- No damage to my electronics or anything else I’ve packed
- It makes me pack more efficiently
- Bonus: if I miss a connection, I still have all my stuff
I used to be a chronic overpacker but since I’ve become a carry-on convert I’ve learned a few handy packing tips, like the 5-4-3-2-1 rule. This tip helped me pack for a two-week trip to Europe in a carry-on (plus a small backpack for my computer, book, and toiletries).
💵💰Don’t miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet’s free daily newsletter💰💵
If you’re not familiar, basically it’s the capsule concept, but in this case you pack 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 shoes, 2 layers, and 1 miscellaneous item.
I learned about it (where else?) on Instagram, and lots of travelers swear by it, including @alisonlumbatis, who just shared a handy tutorial right in time for summer.
View the original article to see embedded media.
The packing list changes by season but the overall concept is the same, and it’s amazingly efficient.
I’ve used the 5-4-3-2-1 method in duffles, backpacks, soft-sided carry-ons, and hard-sided carry-ons, but I’m committed to one particular bag these days.
The bag I use most is one from Away, and until recently, you could only find the carry-on on the company’s website or in one of their stores, which are limited to the East and West Coasts and Texas.
Traveling with a carry-on bag you don’t have to check saves money and time.
Image source: TheStreet
Away makes its Amazon debut
This week, Away, one of the original direct-to-consumer darlings to find huge success as an independent online retailer, began selling some of its suitcases and travel bags on Amazon’s U.S. website.
It will also make its bags available in 60 Nordstrom stores and on the retailer’s website.
Amazon currently carries nine Away products, including its signature carry-on bag and a selection of full-sized suitcases. Nordstrom will carry the brand’s pricier aluminum styles and its less expensive soft-sided bags.
Away was founded in 2016 by Jen Rubio and Stephanie Korey, who both came from Warby Parker, the DTC eyewear company. Their goal was to disrupt the luggage category by offering premium features at an accessible price point.
Related: Popular digital-first brand plans huge brick-and-mortar expansion
Millennial and Gen-Z travelers immediately loved the sleek and stylish but durable bags, designed with thoughtful features like internal compression straps and the little extras that came with the luggage, like a dirty-laundry bag and a built-in USB charger.
On Reddit, customers also praised the smooth-gliding spinner wheels and the customer service. As @junkpunch44 wrote, “That Away warranty is sweet, though. Like they say, it’s the last bag you’ll buy. I have no regrets spending the money.”
The company grew quickly and just four years after launching, it reached a valuation of $1.4 billion.
For almost a decade, co-founder Jen Rubio was reluctant to make the product available via third parties, citing a desire to maintain direct relationships with customers. But that has made it difficult for the company to grow.
Away cites changing market dynamics
Early on, Away opened brick-and-mortar stores in a handful of locations, and it now has 17 stand-alone stores primarily on the East and West Coasts and in Texas. It plans to open more, according to a company statement about the Amazon deal.
Now, the decision to open up to third-party sellers puts Away in the company of other notable brands that have made the same decision in recent years and jumped on the Amazon bandwagon. Away made its first foray into wholesale with Dick’s Sporting Goods last year.
In recent months, eyewear from direct-to-consumer company Blenders became available on Amazon, as did merchandise from hair-color company Madison Reed and makeup brand Glossier.
Since Amazon accounts for around 40% of all online sales, it is understandable that even the holdouts eventually give in.
Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast