What not to forget before closing your checked suitcase

Weight and prohibited items in the hold

Weighing the suitcase with a domestic scale before leaving home avoids a fee paid at the check-in counter. The most important check, however, concerns power banks and spare batteries: they are prohibited in checked baggage due to fire risk and must always be transferred to carry-on baggage (here are the complete rules).

Fragile and valuable items

Fragile items should be wrapped individually and placed in the center of the suitcase, away from the edges most exposed to impact. Valuable items, on the other hand, should always be removed from checked baggage and transferred to carry-on before final closure.

Suitcase protection and identification

Taking a photo of the suitcase contents before closing it provides useful evidence in case of loss or dispute with the airline. A lock designed for air travel, which security personnel can open without breaking it, protects the contents without risking damage to the suitcase during inspection.

The check most often overlooked, but the only one truly prohibited by airlines for safety reasons: make sure power banks and spare batteries are not left in checked baggage before closing it.