Carry-On Confident

Flying with only a carry-on saves time, bag fees and the wait at baggage claim. But the rules that decide what goes in that one bag are spread across TSA, the FAA, every airline you fly and, abroad, international aviation rules. And they change: REAL ID is now enforced, there’s a new $45 fee for travelers without it, and international flights now limit power banks to two per passenger.

Carry-On Confident is a 31-page guide that fits a trip of 2 to 14 days into one carry-on and a personal item. It gives you a repeatable packing system, packing lists sized to your trip and weather, and five printable worksheets, all checked against the rules that can stop you at the checkpoint or the gate.

What makes it different: every limit was checked in October 2026 against TSA, FAA, U.S. DOT, CDC and State Department pages and the airlines’ own sites, and the guide shows exactly what was checked and when. It also teaches you how to check your own airline’s bag limits, so you’re never relying on an out-of-date list.

Who it’s for

U.S. travelers who want to fly carry-on only, on domestic or international trips, whether you’re new to one-bag travel or tired of surprises at security.

What’s inside

• Choose the right bag: how to look up your airline’s limits, measure like the gate agent, and pick a bag and personal item that work together.
• The packing system: the capsule formula, rolling vs folding, packing cubes, a bag layout you can repeat, and laundry on the road.
• Lists that scale: how many of each item for 2 to 14 days, plus add-ons for warm, cold and wet weather and trips abroad.
• The rules, checked: the 3-1-1 liquids rule and its exceptions, medications, lithium batteries and power banks, prohibited items, REAL ID and what to take out if your bag is gate-checked.
• Five worksheets and a Quick-Reference Card: Trip Planner, Master Packing List, Liquids Checklist, Electronics & Battery Check and Day-Before Checklist.

Good to know

• Format: 31-page PDF, US Letter, US edition.
• Delivery: digital download after purchase. Nothing is shipped.
• Printing: print the worksheets as often as your own household needs.
• General information only. Not legal, medical or immigration advice. Airline rules vary and change, so confirm with your airline before you fly.