Flying Naked: The Truly Minimalist Travel Trend

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“Flying naked,” a term coined by Thrillist, refers to the latest travel hack trending on social media. It involves traveling without any luggage. 

Because it is provocative, the term has captured attention across various media, including TV and print. It has sparked online discussions, including threads on Reddit.

However, the practice has its share of advantages and disadvantages.

What is Flying Naked?

Flying naked describes flying with only the clothes on one’s back—without taking carryons or checked baggage on your flight. Minimalists regard it as a way to save time and money.

The Freedom of Flying Naked

Many travelers love the idea of traveling less encumbered. 

• No baggage fees – If you don’t have bags, you don’t have to check them and worry about incurring baggage fees. Many airlines are now charging fees for even one checked bag, which can add to the cost of your flight. For example, American Airlines charges $35 for the first checked bag. Delta charges $35 and United charges $35-40. (TripAdvisor maintains an updated list of airline baggage fees). 

• No hassles of carrying stuff – You can avoid the hassle of schlepping “stuff” in and out of a taxi, on a subway, and at the airport. Also, distances from check-in to the gate at many airports can be lengthy (e.g., Dallas/Fort Worth, Dulles, and Denver), and you can move around more quickly without bags than with them (even rolling bags).

• Breeze through TSA security – Going hands-free makes TSA screening quicker and easier for you and everyone else.

• No worries about overhead bin space – Once on board the plane, you don’t have to worry about the race for space in an overhead bin. Rarely does an aircraft have enough space for everyone to use the overhead bin, and you may have to check a piece that doesn’t fit.

• No lost bags – When you arrive at your destination, you don’t have to deal with the anxiety of knowing whether your bag “made it.” It’s painful when your bag is the last to appear on the carousel. You don’t have to worry about lost bags if you have none.

When Less Isn’t More

Despite my best efforts to pack light and minimize the belongings I take on a trip, I still tend to overpack. The concept of flying naked, or even with minimal belongings, doesn’t appeal to me and seems neither feasible nor practical.

There’s certainly a case to be made for “taking it with you,” too. 

Many of us, myself included, feel more comfortable when we have all our essentials with us. Perhaps it’s a function of older age and personality. The one time I didn’t bring a bathing suit on a winter cruise on the Med, the weather was perfect for a swim onboard the ship. The time I didn’t bring boots, I hit a snowstorm in Minneapolis. The time I forgot a nightgown in Paris, I had trouble sleeping.

The Rationale for Taking It With You

• You’ll be prepared for changing weather – Because the weather can be unpredictable, you need to be able to stay warm, stay dry, or stay cool as conditions change. 

• You won’t need to shop on your trip – Spending your trip shopping for necessities you already have at home is a waste of time. Apparel or toiletries you leave home and then realize you need may not even be available at your destination. 

• It’s difficult to find replacements – Finding something you need can be challenging if you don’t speak the language or know the terrain. 

• Penny-wise, pound foolish – The cost of finding replacement items can be more costly than the price of checking a bag.

• Make room for memories – If you fly without a suitcase, you won’t have room to purchase mementos to take home.

Thrillist cited travel writer Jonathan Yevin as the pioneer of traveling naked. After touring the world without bags in 2006, Yevin concluded that minimalist travel offers a new type of adventure. 

I’ll wait for the adventure once I reach my destination. 

Do you tend to pack too little, too much, or just enough? Leave a comment below.

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