Like many business travelers frustrated by baggage check-in lines and fees, actor Sasha Rajamani has come up with a formula to ensure he only takes carry-on: enough clothes for just three or four days, versatile footwear, an all-purpose smartphone and a suitcase that always meets size restrictions.Mark Blinch/The Globe and Mail
The Efficient Traveller is a six-part series that highlights how small-business owners and entrepreneurs can get the most out of their business excursions.
Sasha Rajamani is playing an inventor in a science fiction film about time travel right now, but when it comes to packing for his next business trip, he will stick to reality.
"I have become a better packer over time," says Mr. Rajamani, 25.
A Toronto actor who is heading to Los Angeles for business meetings after filming wraps up in October, he says that, "When I was younger I used to bring a lot more clothing than I'd actually wear."
Mr. Rajamani is well prepared for the rigours of modern business travel, as he has been on the road and in the sky since he was a small child.
"We have family all over the world, and my mother worked for an airline, so we often got to fly when there were extra seats. I've been everywhere," Mr. Rajamani says.
He has learned that going everywhere doesn't mean you need to bring everything. It's a lesson that more and more business travellers are absorbing as air passengers confront security lines, airlines crack down on carry-on luggage sizes and new fees are introduced for checked baggage.
"It hasn't affected me personally, though it has affected people I know, particularly if they're moving," Mr. Rajamani says. "I only bring carry-on baggage no matter where I go or for how long."
He is careful to pack a bag that meets the dimensions that major airlines allow for carry-on, though even then sometimes his bag gets measured and check-in agents encourage him to check the suitcase.
"Every single time I meet the standard," he says, even though carry-on dimensions vary slightly for different airlines.
When packing, Mr. Rajamani tries to follow a three– or four-day rule – no matter how long the trip, pack for a short journey and wear what you have brought more than once.
"I have learned to bring multipurpose clothing. For example, something you can wear in the day but you can also wear if you're going to a nice restaurant at night," Mr. Rajamani says.
"If I'm going to Europe for a week and a half, I'll take one pair of khakis, one pair of jeans, a T-shirt for everyday use and maybe a polo and a nice collared shirt – that's four or five shirts and just two pairs of pants."
As an actor, he needs to look more business casual rather than dressy; travellers in more formal lines of work might need at least one jacket or blazer, a skirt or evening dress for women and a decent looking pair of shoes.
"I roll up my clothes before they go into my suitcase, then I unroll them immediately when I arrive. You can almost double-load a suitcase if you do it properly," Mr. Rajamani says "Bring shoes that are comfortable and the right shoes," he adds. He goes for shoes that can make the transition from day wear to evening.
One compromise he has made is to give up carrying his workout clothes.
"I've tried. To be honest, if I'm going to a city I won't even bother. You always think you're going to be super-efficient with your time, an hour to work out, then shower, then get ready. But it's usually not the case," he says.
"There are always unpredictable circumstances. To compensate, I try to eat a healthier diet when I'm away."
He tries to improvise when it comes to those liquids and gels that have to be in clear, tiny containers.
"I go to the dollar store before a trip and buy containers of less than 200 [millilitres], which I use to transfer creams and toothpaste and whatever else I think I'll use," he says.
Mr. Rajamani keeps his gadgets to a minimum, too. "I don't like to spend time on electronics. I bring my smartphone and my charger. I live on my iPhone and use it as a camera," he says.
Some experts advise smart travellers to use soft luggage rather than hard-shell cases.
"It's easier for carry-on," says Alex Schlosser, general manager of Evex Luggage Centres in Richmond Hill, Ont., and Mississauga.
Not for Mr. Rajamani, though. "I use a hard-shell case 95 per cent of the time, and I have one in a stand-out colour," he says.
"The odd time they put all the carry-ons somewhere else on the plane [usually smaller aircraft], you want to make sure you can identify your bag quickly."
Now that he's time travelling in a science fiction movie, perhaps Mr. Rajamani can travel even lighter, sending his luggage into the future before he goes.
Maybe, he laughs. "But bring your phone to the future. You'll want to take pictures to prove to everyone that you went there."
Five packing tips for the efficient traveller
Think first, "I probably don't need it"
It's usually not the end of the world if you don't bring something along, and if it is, you can always pick up what you need when you go.
Keep calm and carry on!
Business travellers are nearly unanimous in agreeing that, whenever possible, avoid checking luggage. Beware of airlines' changing carry-on size restrictions, though.
Roll 'em
Roll up your clothes in your bag and then unroll them when you get there. It saves space. And think about getting a rolling carry-on bag, too.
Consider Nexus
The cross-border Canada-U.S. trusted traveller's pass is not only cheap and efficient for getting through customs, it has its own dedicated line for any flights, including domestic, on both sides of the border.
Day to night clothes
Pack clothes that have a dual purpose; comfy shoes that can pass with a suit or skirt, a button down shirt that works for a business meeting or the symphony. Unless it's the tropics or midsummer, consider dark clothes because they're more forgiving if you spill.