Pilot's wife urges women to stop making airport mistake that causes delays

A frequent flyer has revealed the biggest mistake she witnesses female travellers making when jetting off.

Laurie has accumulated a lot of travel knowledge over the years. Not only is she married to a pilot, she has also taken countless flights in her time.

So in a bid to help others, the Houston-based woman has been sharing her top tips with her 306,000 followers on Instagram.

In her most recent post, the travel expert cautioned women regarding a particular style of hand luggage they bring aboard.

She explained: "Here's the one mistake women make when travelling. This travel mistake is packing their purses or bags with no zipper on the top because you can lose important travel essentials."

Fortunately, there's a straightforward method to avoid this occurring. Laurie continued: "The solution is, if you have to take that beautiful bag with no zipper on the top, do this.

"Pack most of your items in pouches. Then if they spill out during security or during turbulence on the flight, you will see that pouch versus the one item."

Laurie's post attracted over 1,100 likes and numerous people commented to express gratitude for the guidance.

One commented: "Love a zip top bag while travelling." Another concurred: "I prefer zippered bags even for everyday for the same reason."

A third enthused: "Great tip! Thanks, Laurie." Meanwhile, a fourth remarked: "I love your tips."

More ways to organise your hand luggage

1. Keep essentials within reach

Ensure your passport, boarding pass, mobile, headphones and other essentials are stowed in an easily accessible pocket or outer compartment for frequent retrieval.

This will help you avoid fumbling at airport checkpoints, a prime time for dropping items.

2. Sort any liquids

At most airports, liquid items must be separated when going through security. It's wise to do this prior to travelling to save time and prevent the annoyance of fellow passengers.

Packing toiletries or other liquids in your checked luggage to bypass this hassle entirely might also be a good idea.

3. Think about a tech organiser

A small pouch can be used for items such as chargers, cables, power banks and adapters.

This not only makes them easy to find in your carry-on bags, but it also stops cables from becoming entangled with your other possessions.

4. Prepare your snacks

You don't want crumbs invading your bag, so ensure all snacks and drinks are properly secured.

Placing any food in resealable bags or containers to prevent spills or mess during the journey could be a smart move.

5. Carry some spare clothes

Regrettably, delays or flight cancellations can happen and you might be separated from your luggage for a period of time.

Packing a few extra clothing items can be very useful for this reason. In the unlikely event that your checked luggage goes missing, this could be helpful too.