‘Embarrassing’ packing mistake that had traveller pulled aside at baggage claim | Exclusive

Stepping into the baggage claim area after flying into Cambodia, one of the first things I saw was an airline staffer holding a sign bearing my name.

For a second, I dared to hope I was about to get some special treatment – until they told me that my luggage was prevented from being loaded onto the plane, and it was back at the Thai airport we’d just left.

All because I forgot to follow one simple rule – never pack a portable charger.

READ MORE: Why Orange is the ultimate winter escape you haven’t considered (but really should)

At this point, I’d been travelling around Thailand for three months with my partner. I was only travelling with a small backpack, so could take my luggage as carry-on for every flight.

But on this small aircraft, travelling from Koh Samui to Phnom Penh, checked baggage was free, and I decided to take advantage of it.

As I handed my bag over to the ground staff, I noticed a sign saying that all passengers should wait around and make sure their bags made it through to the plane loading area before heading through security to the gate.

For whatever reason, I ignored the sign and sauntered through security to order a beer and wait ’til boarding.

But it turns out, I should have waited.

The luggage scanner picked up on the fact that I had a portable power bank in my backpack, which I used to charge my phone and laptop on the go.

READ MORE: Best time to visit Bali: How to avoid crowds, high prices and the rainy season

These are banned from travelling in a plane’s hold, as they pose a risk of overheating and catching fire.

My bag was pulled aside, and my name was called out in the check-in area… but I’d already left.

Many hours later, standing at the baggage claim in Cambodia, I was told that my bag was held from being loaded onto the plane.

If I wanted it back, I had to sign a waiver allowing them to open my bag, remove the powerbank, and load my luggage onto the next flight.

It was an annoying inconvenience, but thankfully we’d already planned to stay in Phnom Penh for a few days, so I could easily head back to the airport the following day to grab my recovered bag.

As a frequent traveller, the whole experience was a pretty embarrassing reminder that no matter how well prepared you think you are, a silly mistake can really set you back.

Along with portable batteries, there are some other things you should never pack into your checked luggage.

For example: candles.

Though its a nice idea to pick up a locally-made candle while on holiday as a souvenir, the fluctuating temperatures in a plane’s cargo hold can ruin the wax.

Jessie Chambers, Travel Expert at Global Work & Travel, says that candles don’t need heat to melt. “Soft wax can deform even in fluctuating temperatures and leak into clothes or electronics.”

She says that aerosols and pressurised cans are also dangerous – some airlines have even banned them from checked luggage.

“It’s a myth that aircraft holds are always safe,” says Jessie. “While most are pressurised and lightly temperature-controlled, they can still get extremely cold at altitude, with low humidity and heavy turbulence – all of which can ruin certain items if you’ve packed them in the wrong place.”

Jesse also warns travellers to pack contact lenses in their carry-on bags. Contact solution can crystallise in low temperatures, while lenses can dry out or even freeze if left too long in hold conditions.

“If it’s fragile, flammable, perishable, or irreplaceable – it doesn’t belong in the hold,” Jesse says as a good rule of thumb.

“Think of the hold like a freezer with turbulence. Protect your trip by packing essentials smartly and checking airline rules before you fly.”

And if I’d done that, I’d have saved myself a lot of battery-related stress.