Pack light, fly right: The art of travelling with only the essentials
Frequent travellers who swear by “never checking a bag” are not chuffed to be travelling lighter. Gautam Sinha, founder and creative director of artisanal leather brand Nappa Dori that also makes travel luggage, flies frequently within India and to Dubai, London, and Sri Lanka to manage his many stores. He is concerned that it will be a major disadvantage to travellers, and says, “It has been proven by the experience of similar structures in European and American budget airlines that the consumer ends up paying a lot more for a basic flight.” One thing he is sure of: “It will definitely make people think more before they pack now.”
Choose the Right Luggage
Soft or hard? Fashion or function? Wheelie or weekender? A travel bag is definitely not a one-size-fits-all. Image consultant and corporate trainer Yatan Ahluwalia leans in favour of hard top cases as they are more secure and easier to move around. He says, “Brands or labels don’t really matter. Your bags should be lightweight, functional, and durable. Keep your height, build, and capacity to carry weight in mind.”
While picking a suitcase, check the overall weight. Usually, soft-shell nylon is lighter than hard-shell polycarbonate, but it also depends on your preference, says Naina Parekh, founder of luggage brand EUME that designs only hard luggage. Parekh says soft-shell luggage loses shape. She says, “You carry the cabin bag on you at all times, so it’s your personal style statement. Aesthetics play a big role in the decision, but that does not mean you
