I have been traveling a lot and have had good luck with the following tips:

1. Carry on size pack like an Osprey Farpoint 40L and packing cubes. It's incredible how much clothing you can actually fit on. Hard to lose a carry-on. Obviously doesn't work for this story but should work for most travelers.

2. Less sure about this, but putting stuff in cardboard boxes. Seriously. You go through the oversized baggage route where it's hand-carried on and off the plane.