Important update: Yesterday, we told you this highly underrated offer on one of our favorite travel cards is ending soon. Now, we know exactly when it will end.
Until April 13, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is letting new cardholders earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening. Plus, you’ll get a $250 Capital One Travel credit valid for your first cardholder year.
Meanwhile … I fly about 100,000 miles a year, and I never, ever check a bag (OK, unless it’s a ski trip).
Not for a two-week summer trip to Europe, not for my around-the-world trip … never. The extra time you spend waiting for checked bags and the risk of getting separated from your things just aren’t worth the trade-off, in my opinion.
Here’s how I avoid checking a bag on virtually every trip:
Size matters: First, get the biggest carry-on the airlines you fly will allow. When I fly domestically, that’s the Away Bigger Carry-On. I adore this bag, and it holds more than you’d think. Check your airline’s size limits for carry-on luggage before you fly to ensure your bag is compliant.
Compression, compression, compression: Next, use packing cubes. I’m not a fan of gadgets and gizmos, but packing cubes are great for packing efficiently, I promise. Also, when used strategically, they can be part of a bedbug avoidance strategy.
Pack light: You can’t travel with everything you own in a carry-on, but by using our best tips for packing in a carry-on, you can bring a lot. Bulky items like extra jackets and multiple pairs of shoes are the enemies of the carry-on, so go light on those. Also, I’m a fan of rolling clothes, not folding them.
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