Flying to College, how to pack?

[momsearcheng]

Suggestion that I read somewhere. Go to some secondhand store and buy cheap old huge suitcase. Load it, use it, and you may recycle it after that.

[Izzy74]

That’s a great idea!

[evergreen5]

We’ve used these cheap duffel bags. (The ikea ones are a bit too big for me.) They aren’t exactly LLBean type quality, but they got the job done flying two kids home from college. Planning to use them again in September.

Shipping to the hotel is a nice option we’ve done in the past and washed stuff in the hotel laundry. This go round, I will try to get it all in the duffels, since we already own so many comforters. Then again, if it doesn’t fit, no big deal, I’ll just order another one from Amazon.

[momsearcheng]

And with vacuum bags you can load suitecases up to the weight limit.

[Mjkacmom]

Yes, they were fine. I think I doubled up because I had enough bags but nothing ripped. U did use duct tape on the top of the zipper.

[Izzy74]

This was my first thought when we flew but I looked it up and found this

Vacuum-sealed bags | Transportation Security Administration

[momsearcheng]

They can at it, but if it is bedding, tshirt or sweaters (no metal) nobody will open it and no alarm will be triggered.

[vwlizard]

We only bought blankets for bedding to save space (S23 doesn’t like puffy comforters anyway). It’s hot the first few weeks of school, so no one will be cold. Had Amazon ship the rest of the bedding after they got there.

[twoinanddone]

You might also consider if you will be going to visit in the fall semester and can take things then. My sister went to visit my niece 2 or 3 times in the fall, and niece came home for thanksgiving. Niece didn’t need everything on day one. Sister usually flew Southwest so could take 2 extra suitcases when she went.

For sophomore year, my BIL drove niece’s car out for her (yes, she’s a princess) so they could load it with anything they wanted.

Really, error on the side of less is more.

[Shelby_Balik]

This is a good point. My D had a fall break in October and brought a second suitcase back to school filled with winter stuff that she had not needed till then. If you anticipate any visits (either kid coming home or parents going to college town), you can plan to bring bulky winter clothes at a later date.