I can vouch for this approach - a combination of (i) a smaller women has less material in aggregate, (ii) judicious selection of fabrics (poly-cotton shirts, very fine wool/silk pants, skirts & tops), (iii) packing technique. I can do a 2-3 week trip, including carrying papers, with carry-on ...

I can vouch for the need to be visually distinctive - my boring black bag was recently taken off a plane assumed to be the black bag of a 'fail to board' passenger. But fortunately it was located and put on the afternoon plane to the country town and the airport staff member dropped it off at my ...