Flying with Presents (Besides Gift Cards) - Tips & Tricks

Over the holidays, we typically fly back to Colorado to spend time with the family and to enjoy the festive weather.  There is just one problem with flying back to Colorado over the holidays: presents.    Call me crazy, but I like to give presents that aren't in the form of gift cards or money.  These gifts can be bulky, liquids, or fragile and therefore, can be difficult to bring on an airplane.  Also, even if I plan on bringing gift cards for my loved ones, I definitely will relieve something besides gift cards in return.  I've taken a few years to get it right, but I think I've determined how to fly and give everybody the gift that I really want them to have, no matter the size.  Here are the few tips that I've learned through experience.

1.  Get your shopping done BEFORE flying - Nothing is more stressful than arriving in another state just before the holidays and still having holiday shopping to complete.  Futhermore, it's a little depressing for your hosts when you arrive and then head right back out the door to go to the store.  So, get it done early!  Your hosts will appreciate spending the extra time with you. 

2.  Buy presents online and have them shipped.  Odds are that you will want to give someone in your family a gift that is physically large or is fragile.  I recommend buying as many presents as possible online ahead of time and having them gift wrapped and shipped.  That way, you don't have to worry about wrapping or traveling with anything difficult  The best days for online shopping are definitely Black Friday and Cyber Monday because everything is obviously on sale and most sites offer free shipping. 

3.  Think small, soft presents - If you can't ship your presents, try to buy presents that will travel easily with you.  Small and unbreakable presents are your best bet.

4.  Do NOT wrap your presents -  Whether you check or carry-on your bag, airlines do not allow wrapped presents because they can't easily see what is inside.  If you happen to have one of the lucky bags randomly selected for a search, they will UNWRAP ALL OF YOUR PRESENTS.  Unfortunately, I know this from experience.  I was quite depressed a couple years ago when I opened my bag and I saw a neat little "You're bag has been searched" flyer on top of all my unwrapped presents (Thanks, TSA).  You don't want to wrap all your presents twice, trust me.  It stinks.  I bet they had fun unwrapping all of them, though.

5.  Bring gift bags and tissue paper - Your relatives may have some wrapping paper on hand, but they probably need it to wrap their own presents.  I usually just add a few gift bags and some pieces of tissue paper to my suitcase.  When I arrive, I quickly throw the presents in the gift bags.  Easy-peasy.  My mom was pretty astonished the first year when I announced that I was going to my room to wrap presents, and I returned with several bags in my hand five minutes later.

6.  Check your bags - Did you know that you can put all sorts of stuff in your checked bag that normally is not allowed in a carry-on bag?  That 10 oz bottle of peppermint shower gel that would definitely be thrown out in the airport security line is totally allowed in your checked bag!  You can research exactly what is allowed on your airline's website.

7.  Fly on an airline that will allow you to check bag(s) for no/little additional cost - I like flying on Southwest because they allow each person to check two bags for free.  My husband and I each bring one bag for clothes and one bag for presents.  If we don't need all four bags on the trip there, we will just stuff a duffle bag in one of our suitcases.  We always fill all four bags on the return trip!

Hopefully these tips help you prepare to travel with those wonderful presents and reduce some of your stress! Happy gift giving season!