A Cuban living abroad shared this month in a TikTok video a strategy that many travelers to the island already practice: using the cabin luggage to transport the heavier items to free up space in the checked baggage.
User @linetamaro posted a 26-second clip on July 3 showcasing the food items she packed in her carry-on bag before flying to Cuba.
Among the products he brought "on top" are large cheeses that he cut in half and vacuum-sealed, corn snacks, cookies, coffee, ham, salami, peas, and shredded cheese.
"Everything that weighed heavily on me came with me," he explained in the video, summarizing the reasoning behind the decision.
The strategy is not arbitrary: the baggage allowance in Cuba is two suitcases of 32 kg each, and excess baggage is charged at 10 dollars per kilogram, making every gram turn into money.
This is further compounded by the fact that Air Europa limited in July 2026 the additional baggage to just one extra suitcase per passenger on its flights to Havana, citing operational fuel needs to avoid layovers on the return journey, which has intensified the interest in maximizing the use of cabin luggage.
Regarding aviation regulations, solid products such as aged cheeses, cookies, coffee, popcorn, and canned goods are generally allowed in the cabin on international flights.
Vacuum-sealed ham and salami in their original packaging can also be carried in the cabin on flights from Spain or within the European Union, although they are prohibited on flights to the United States.
From the Cuban side, the customs regulations in effect since 2021 allow for the importation of food, medicine, and personal hygiene products as accompanied luggage without a value limit and without paying tariffs, provided that the items are in their original and sealed packaging.
This measure, which has been extended several times, turned travelers into the main channel for supplying basic products to their families on the island, a direct consequence of the chronic shortages that Cuba has been experiencing after decades of dictatorship.
The phenomenon of "suitcase hacks" has become a recurring topic on TikTok: in May 2025, another Cuban went viral for repackaging candies in airtight bags to maximize space, describing the process as "playing Tetris."
It is worth noting that the Cuban customs exemption for food applies only to accompanied luggage—that is, when the traveler is on the same flight—and is not valid in the tourist areas of Varadero and Cayo Coco.
For those planning an upcoming trip, knowing what items are allowed in carry-on luggage can make the difference between arriving with everything the family needs or facing an unexpected surcharge at the airport.
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