Intro

It's no secret that airlines are playing the nickel and dime game. American Airlines began charging $15 per checked bag for tickets purchased on or after June 15 -- and United and US Airways both plan to follow suit. Airlines are charging for "premium" seats on the aisle, window and emergency row and even that free bag of pretzels is likely to set you back.

But with all the new fees, we have one hyphenated word of advice: carry-on.

Get the most bang for your bag by packing efficiently. Our tips for stowing a vacation's worth of wardrobe and accessories into a single carry-on bag follow.

— Lauren Viera, Chicago Tribune