Worried about lost luggage? Bring less shit.

Air travel has been a nightmare this summer. As so many folks are trying to make up for lost vacations and trips, the airline industry has a problem of not having enough workers. Mind you, this is not the fault of the workers but the industry that laid them off en masse two years ago.

This is another part of our interconnected lives that takes a while to wind back up. The disruptions ground airline travel to a halt, and the system isn’t something that you can flip a switch and “oh it’s back on.” That holds true for a lot of the disruptions we are still seeing.

Besides the massive visuals, the amount of lost baggage this summer has been staggering.

Worried about it? How about this, bring less shit. You were carrying too much anyways.

Look at real seasoned travelers. Many travelers stick to just a carry-on. Easy on, easy off. Your stuff is always with you. Even in the lead-up to the rapid return of travelers, more people were ditching the checked bags and opting for a lighter carry-on-only travel style.

Airlines are nickel and diming you. Think about the fees. If you get a cheap ticket but have to pay for a checked bag, that’s lost money. Buy an upgraded ticket that might include a checked bag, and still, you are paying more. (what are the average checked luggage fees?)

Take that money you would have spent on the checked bag and buy what you need when you get there. After you’re done, shake out the bags and donate whatever you are not taking back.

Once you get down to the basics of what you need to travel, all the rest is window dressing.

Oh, but your a fashion Instagram model? Oh, boo-hoo, someone else, most likely some creep, is paying for your ticket. But don’t get triggered if your $500 beach sandals go missing. You might have just been a tourist anyways.

So bring less stuff. Your sanity and your back will thank you for it.