A flight attendant shares the 7 biggest mistakes she sees passengers make when packing carry-on suitcases

A flight attendant boards an aircraft.Creative Credit/Getty Images

• CiCi has worked as a flight attendant at a major airline for six years.
• She shared the biggest mistakes she sees passengers make when packing a carry-on suitcase.

After working as a flight attendant, CiCi has a newfound love for both the sky and packing suitcases.

Prior to being a flight attendant, CiCi told Business Insider that she owned companies and worked in real estate. Six years ago, she made a career switch, and today, she works for a major airline. CiCi asked BI to omit her full name and the airline she works for, for privacy reasons. BI was able to verify CiCi's employment.

"I have loved it," CiCi, who posts about her job under the username @cici_inthesky, said. "It's a completely different lifestyle than what I have lived for the past 20-some years."

One of the biggest lifestyle changes has been how she packs, and she said she's not the only one who makes mistakes when it comes to organizing a suitcase for a flight.

Every day, she witnesses passengers making mistakes with their carry-on bags. Some can force travelers to check their bags — which can be costly since most major airlines have raised their checked-bag fees in 2024, according to Condé Nast Traveler.

Here are the common — and avoidable — mistakes CiCi sees.