Baggage
BAGGAGE AROUND THE WORLD:
If in doubt, leave it out!
Keep your luggage within the standard international airline baggage limit: generally 20kg per person. Don't feel dependent on any of your things. They might get lost, stolen, or broken. Be prepared to improvise.
What airlines allow in 2026
There is no single standard any more, so 20kg is a target rather than a rule. Full-service airlines usually include a checked bag in economy. Qantas, for example, includes one bag of up to 23kg on its Australian domestic flights.
Low-cost airlines charge for almost anything bigger than a small bag. easyJet lets everyone bring one bag of up to 45 x 36 x 20 cm free, as long as it fits under the seat in front. A larger cabin bag or a bag in the hold costs extra.
On a round-the-world trip you'll often mix the two: long-haul flights with a decent allowance, and short hops on budget airlines where you pay per bag. AirTreks' own advice is that one-way tickets on Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet, AirAsia, Scoot or VietJet are fine to buy separately for short regional hops. Check the bag rules of every airline on the route before you pack, including the short hops.
Separate tickets cost you time too. Your bag doesn't check through: you collect it, clear customs, check it in again and go back through security. AirTreks says that can eat two to three hours at airports like Jakarta and Manila. On a single ticket, bags go through to your next stopover.
Sending things home
During a trip around the world, you're sure to accumulate souvenirs. Sending them home is a good solution, and the post office in any major city will do it. How long it takes depends on what you pay: by air, sea or land, anything from 3 days to 3 months.
Items for your money belt
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Passport
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Driving licence, and an international driving permit if you plan to drive (see On the Road)
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Other licences, such as a diving card
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Student card or others
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Extra passport photos
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Essential and emergency phone numbers, on paper as well as in your phone
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Personal medical pills (see Travelers Health)
Remember to make photocopies of your documents and spread them in your other luggage. A scan in your email is worth having too, for the day the paper copies go missing with the bag.
The Universal Packing List
It's a helpful online application to create a customized packing list. You just have to insert some info like your itinerary, gender, type of accommodation and transport.
If you are a geek, maybe it will seem a little rough but believe me guys, it works pretty well! Start building your Universal Packing List.
If a bag goes missing for good, it's your travel insurance that pays, so read what it says about baggage before you leave.
Tags: baggage, Baggage Around the World, luggage, RTW luggage
Planning a round-the-world trip? AirTreks has built multi-stop itineraries since 1987. See sample routes or ask a specialist.