School holidays — June or year-end — are when the suitcases come down from the top of the cupboard, often for the first time in months. A little preparation a couple of weeks out saves a lot of stress, especially with children, several bags and a stack of passports to keep track of.
Here's a checklist to get your luggage and your family ready: from checking the cases themselves to baggage rules, packing and the things families most often forget.
Step 1: Check your luggage two weeks before
The airport is the worst place to find a broken wheel or a jammed zip. Get the cases out at least two weeks before you fly — that leaves time for a repair if one is needed.
- Wheels — roll each case across the floor. Do all the wheels spin freely, without wobble or grinding? A wheel that's starting to go will get worse under a fully packed load.
- Telescopic handle — extend and retract it a few times. It should lock firmly at each height and slide back smoothly.
- Zips — run every zip, including pockets and the expander. Look for snags, splitting teeth or fraying tape.
- Lock — test the combination. Forgotten it, or it jams? Sort it out now rather than at check-in.
- Shell and seams — look for cracks, dents or warping on hard cases, and loose stitching on soft ones. Small cracks can open up in the hold.
Found a problem? Don't hope it holds. Bring the case in early: some repairs, like cracks and frame alignment, take a week or more. Our 5 signs your luggage needs repair explains what each problem means, and current prices and turnaround are on our repair services page.
Step 2: Check your baggage allowance
Allowances depend on the airline, the route and the fare — and children's tickets can differ. A few things to know:
- Budget airlines such as AirAsia and Scoot usually don't include a checked bag in the base fare. Adding one when you book is almost always cheaper than paying at the airport.
- Cabin bags are typically limited to 7 kg on AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines economy, and 10 kg on Scoot — and the limit usually covers your personal item too. Our cabin luggage guide has the sizes.
- Full-service airlines include checked baggage, but how much depends on your fare type — it's on your e-ticket.
Check each family member's booking before you pack, and weigh the cases at home.
Step 3: Pack smart for a family
- Roll clothes — it saves space and makes everything easy to see.
- Use packing cubes — one per person, or per category. Repacking mid-trip becomes much quicker.
- Bring a foldable daypack for day trips. It takes almost no space.
- Pack a laundry bag to keep worn clothes away from clean ones.
- Give children their own small backpack with snacks, something to do and a change of clothes.
- Split each person's clothes across two cases if you're checking in more than one — if one bag is delayed, nobody's left with nothing.
Step 4: Extras for Southeast Asia
- Insect repellent — dengue is present across the region. Choose one suitable for children.
- Reef-safe sunscreen for beach and snorkelling trips.
- A universal plug adapter — socket types vary across the region.
- A light rain jacket or poncho — much of the region is wet for part of the year.
- Copies of documents — passports, bookings and insurance, kept separately from the originals.
- A refillable water bottle — many airports have refill points after security.
Step 5: The things families forget
| Category | Check |
|---|---|
| Documents | Passports (with enough validity left), boarding passes, hotel bookings, travel insurance, visas if needed |
| Electronics | Chargers, power bank (in cabin baggage), adapter, headphones, a tablet for the children |
| Health | Prescription medicines, a small first-aid kit, motion-sickness tablets, hand sanitiser |
| Comfort | Neck pillow, eye mask, earplugs, a change of clothes in your cabin bag |
| Children | Snacks, books or games, a comfort toy, a spare outfit in the cabin bag |
Passports: many countries require at least six months' validity from the date you arrive. Check everyone's expiry date now — renewals take time.
Step 6: Travel insurance
It feels unnecessary until you need it, and with a family the costs of something going wrong add up fast. Check that your policy covers:
- Medical expenses and evacuation for everyone travelling
- Trip cancellation and disruption
- Lost, delayed or damaged baggage
- Personal liability
Buy it when you book the flights — some policies only cover cancellations that happen after you've bought them.
Step 7: Protect the cases
Wrapping a case in stretch film protects the finish from scuffs and deters casual tampering. You can do it at home in about two minutes instead of queuing at the airport — see how in our luggage protection guide. Photograph each case at check-in too, in case you need to make a damage claim.
Step 8: Need a repair before you go?
If your check turned up a problem, bring the case to any of our workshops for a free quote — don't like the price? Walk out with the same bag, no charge. We repair wheels, handles, zips, locks and shells on every brand. Tell us your travel date and we'll tell you honestly whether we can have it back in time.
Find your nearest workshop and today's hours on the workshops page. Need a new case instead? Browse our shop.