This viral plastic bag hack will change the way you fly.

Calling all serial over-packers! Have you ever had to bid a heartbreaking farewell to your hair straightener because it wouldn’t fit in your one allocated carry-on bag? The vanity covered in tears, the straightener’s cord reaching out, begging that you don’t leave it behind? The final look over your shoulder as you turn off the light and wheel your suitcase away? Okay, maybe that was just me before my trip to Vietnam, but over-packers can surely empathise with the struggle. 

It’s the choice we all face: pack lightly, or fork out extra money for extra luggage. And let's be real, that's money that we would rather spend on holiday treats. But fear not! If TikTok creator Will Dasovich is right, we don’t have to choose anymore.

Will this plastic bag hack change the way we fly? Image: TikTok/@wil_dasovich

"You don’t have to pay for an extra carry-on bag — you can get it free of charge if you use this trick," he tells viewers. 

According to Will, the "trick" is to use a plastic bag for all your extra goodies. He claims it's less likely that airport workers will notice an unassuming plastic bag — that is, if you execute the hack correctly. 

"It's best to show up to check-in early, when staff are relaxed and not stressed out," Will advises. "And make sure only one bag is visible."

As an "extra layer of defence" he says, buy a large duty-free plastic bag and put your original plastic bag inside of that — like a really sneaky babushka doll.

It worked for Will. Image: TikTok/@wil_dasovich

In the TikTok, he even puts his trick into practice while boarding a flight on a budget European airline. And it works! But rather than jumping up and down and stocking up on plastic bags, some commenters remained sceptical.

"Many duty free bags are now sealed at the point of purchase. No hack possible," one wrote, with another adding that these types of bags are often "transparent" and therefore useless.

"Now it won't work since they will see this," a third added.

Others, however, were optimistic about the trick, and even shared their own hacks.

"Personal pillow stuffed with your essentials also works," one seasoned traveller wrote. And another lucky voyager added: "When boarding a plane they never say anything in my experience."

Okay, time to get a reusable plastic bag and try it for ourselves. My hair straightener will be thrilled!