The short answer
Pack in two layers: a hand-luggage bag with everything you cannot afford to lose, and checked luggage with everything else. Check your airline's baggage rules, each country's customs rules on food and medicines, and the plug type in your destination well before the day you fly.
Hand luggage: keep these with you
- To do: Passport and visa documents
- To do: University letters and accommodation details
- To do: Printed and digital copies of important documents
- To do: Phone, charger and a power bank (check your airline's rules for power banks)
- To do: A small amount of local currency or a card you can use
- To do: Prescription medicines, with the prescription or a doctor's letter
- To do: A change of clothes and a jacket
- To do: A pen, as you may need to fill in forms
Checked luggage: think about weight and rules
- Check your ticket's baggage allowance. Allowances differ between airlines and fares.
- Weigh your bags at home. Overweight charges can be costly.
- Do not pack valuables or documents in checked bags.
- Label your bags inside and outside.
Rules about what you can bring
- Food: many countries restrict meat, dairy, fruit, seeds and plants. Australia is known for strict biosecurity rules, and failing to declare food can lead to fines. Check the official customs and border pages before you pack snacks from home.
- Medicines: carry them in original packaging, with a prescription. Some medicines that are normal in India are controlled elsewhere. Check the destination's rules.
- Cash: many countries require you to declare cash above a set amount. Check the official customs page.
- Liquids and sharp items: hand-luggage rules apply on both the Indian and destination sides. See the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and your airline.
Plugs and power
- UK: type G plugs
- Australia: type I plugs
- Canada: types A and B plugs, at a lower voltage than India
- Germany: types C and F plugs
Most laptop and phone chargers accept a range of voltages, but check the label on yours before you plug into a different supply.
Airport day tips
- Arrive early. Check your airline's recommended check-in time.
- Keep your boarding pass, passport and visa documents together.
- Know your destination's arrival process, and fill in any forms the airline gives you.
- Keep your accommodation address and phone number on you.
Common mistakes
- Packing documents in checked luggage
- Forgetting a plug adapter
- Bringing restricted food without declaring it
- Not checking baggage rules for each flight on a multi-leg journey
Verify before you act
Airline, customs and security rules change. Check your airline, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and the destination's official customs and border pages.