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Gerri Willis Commentary:
Top Tips by Gerri Willis Column archive
Cut your luggage frustration
The latest carry-on restrictions may be a giant headache for air travelers, but here's how you can protect your belongings and minimize your aggravation.
By Gerri Willis, CNN

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Carry-on restrictions and security checkpoints are making air travel more of a hassle than ever. But we'll tell you how you can take the frustration out of traveling with baggage.

Get the list

First off, air travelers should get the latest info on what the Transportation Security Administration is allowing on flights.

Passengers can now bring small doses of liquid medicine, which means you can take glucose gel on board if you have diabetes, solid lipstick and baby food. You'll also be able to take about 4 ounces of non-prescription medicine like eye-drops.

But mascara is on the list of banned items. To get the entire list of what you can and cannot bring, click here. And finally, if you're in doubt, it's best to put it in your checked luggage.

Bring baggies

Now that most of your liquids and toiletries are going to be a part of your checked baggage, you'll want to take some precautions. Makeup can melt easily if exposed to heat. You'll want to put these items in plastic baggies. If you're packing shampoos and other easily spilled liquids, you'll want to leave at least an inch of room at the top of the container to account for changes in air pressure during your flight. If you keep these items filled to the brim, pressurization could cause your liquids to leak out of the container.

Protect your electronics

Passengers traveling with a laptop should make sure it is protected when packing. Besides turning your device off, you'll want to wrap your laptop in bubble wrap or in your laundry, cautions Roger Kay of Endpoint Technologies Associates. Put your laptop in the middle of your suitcase and surround it with other soft items. This way, even if your bag is thrown, the laptop will be protected.

If you have two electronic devices, you may want to think about taping them together with duct tape and wrapping them in clothes. If your laptop gets wet from something you packed, don't turn the machine on since it will immediately short circuit.

Also make sure you password-protect your computer and avoid taking very expensive equipment with you if possible to avoid theft, warns Kay.

Check-in offsite

One way to simplify your trip is to get rid of your bags even before you get to the airport. Bags Inc. is a remote check-in service available in about 16 cities that lets you check your bags up to three hours before your plane leaves.

The company, which offers its services at convention centers, cruises and hotels, charges about $10 to check in two standard luggage pieces. The company, which works directly with most major airlines, will make sure your baggage arrives at your destination airport and can even issue you a boarding pass.

Bag Inc. says it has seen a 30 percent to 40 percent increase in business since last Thursday, when new security restrictions were announced.

David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, says that these check-in services can be well worth the money, especially if you have to park off site and lug your bags from the parking lot to the airport. To find out if there is a service close to you, ask your airline.

Ship as a last resort

There are also companies that will pick up your luggage from your home and ship it directly to your destination. Keep in mind that these services are expensive.

Two bags shipped from Florida to California with next-day delivery will cost you almost $500 roundtrip. The bottom line is that you're better off using the luggage services the airline provides for free.

A more reasonable way to send your things if you must ship your luggage may be through UPS or FedEx, says Stempler. Passengers shipping a piece of luggage from New York to Nevada should expect to pay about $170 each way.

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Gerri's Mailbox: Got questions about your money? We want to hear them! Send questions to toptips@cnn.com or click here - each week, we'll give answers on CNN, Headline News and CNNMoney.com. Top of page

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