A good carry-on plan starts with the bag itself. United and Delta both publish a common carry-on size limit of 22 x 14 x 9 inches, so check the bag before you fill it. Then make the liquids pouch non-negotiable. TSA’s 3-1-1 rule means liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes have to fit in one quart-size bag and containers have to be 3.4 ounces or smaller.
Once the rules are handled, packing becomes math, not magic. Wear the bulkiest shoes and layers on the plane, pack one base color for tops and bottoms, and assume you can rewear one or two items. A week fits best when the clothes all mix with each other instead of each outfit needing its own dedicated pieces.
Packing cubes help because they keep the bag from turning into a loose pile. The goal is not to cram in more stuff. It is to make the bag easy to live out of when you are not at home.
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