While TikTok is flooded with winter travel tips and suggestions, not all of them are the solutions they claim to be. Nevertheless, the internet can’t seem to get enough. The #TravelHacks hashtag on TikTok has accumulated 399.5K posts, with travelers predominantly using viral packing shortcuts to make holiday travel easier.
“Viral travel hacks like wearing all your heavy items appeal because they seem free and easy, but in reality, they often cost time, stress, and in the worst case, they can wreck your holiday before you even board. Just because something is trending doesn’t mean it’s advisable,” said Paul Stewart, travel expert and founder of My Baggage.
“Many viral hacks create more problems at the airport than they solve.”
Stewart breaks down how the most popular travel hacks on the internet can sometimes actually cause more damage than benefit, even getting you detained at the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint.
“Airport baggage handlers have confirmed that adding bright ribbons to your luggage can jam airport machines and slow down baggage handling. Security might think your bag looks suspicious and search it, potentially causing you to miss your flight,” Stewart said.
Some folks advocate for donning their heaviest clothes on the flight instead of packing them.
However, Stewart warns that this might not always be the best strategy. He explains that unusually bulky attire can attract extra scrutiny from airport security and potentially flag you for additional screening.
“Many airports require passengers to remove outer layers during security checks, which can slow down your journey and create unnecessary stress,” he added.
“Wrapping your luggage in plastic can often make it look suspicious, and security personnel might have to unwrap everything,” he clarified.
Not only does this create waste, but it also makes accessing your belongings more difficult.
Stashing socks or underwear inside your shoes may seem like a clever space-saving trick, but it can be unsanitary and complicate your security process.
While this might be a popular packing hack, overstuffing your shoes could get them flagged during screening.
“This viral trend of using pillowcases as extra bags violates IATA regulations of ‘one carry-on bag and one personal item’ and they’ll often take them away. Improvised containers, such as pillowcases, don’t qualify as legitimate luggage under these rules,” Stewart cautioned.
Travelers sometimes purchase larger wheeled duffel bags, assuming the soft sides can be compressed to meet the size limit for carry-ons.
However, Stewart warns that airlines frequently measure these bags when they’re fully packed. Oversized duffels often get flagged at gates, resulting in costly last-minute check-in fees or even worse, missed flights.
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