(CNN) --It is every business traveler's dream to be able to pack properly.
But after years of traveling, many road warriors have still not got it right and continue to take too much clobber with them.
Many executives use the philosophy, "if I cannot carry it on, I do not take it," but even then you may not have the travel bag formula quite right.
"You do not want to have your bags sent back to the same airport you just came from," Anne McAlpin author of Pack It Up told CNN.
"Never put your home address on your identity tag, always put your business address, the destination, or the hotel where you are going," she explains.
And with all the current restrictions plaguing travel to and from the U.S., rooting around for those buried pair of metal scissors has become an all-too-familiar experience.
"You really need to know how to travel efficiently so you can navigate through security with ease," says McAlpin.
"Write "sharps" on the outside of a bag so you remember to pack what is not permitted in your carry-on bag in your check-in luggage."
McAlpin is also a firm believer in re-sealable plastic bags from the kitchen. Leak proof and airtight, they guarantee that a leaking shampoo bottle does not spill any further.
It also makes the job of security personnel easier, since they can see and feel what is packed inside each bag without directly touching it, especially personal items.
McAlpin also warns the business traveler to leave the pinstriped suit at home and stick to neutral colors. "The idea is to pack around two basic colors," she says.
An observer can get the impression that you have quite a variety of clothes when you mix and match, she points out.
Packing to avoid wrinkled clothing is one of the hardest tricks. Again dry cleaner bags can stop clothes rubbing and help them stay wrinkle free.
"If you run out of plastic bags, the free shower cap in the hotel room makes a great shoe cover," says McAlpin.
The Internet is packed with tips on loading suitcases, although no list of packing tips will suit everyone and every trip.
The art and science of light packing is the focus of sites spots including: www.onebag.com, www.travelite.com, www.upl.codeq.info, www.travelsense.org. and www.freetraveltips.com.
One thing you cannot predict on the road is the weather and since this can influence whether you pack a down jacket or sun block, it is wise to check the Internet.
Weather Underground is one site that gives reliable weather forecasting for thousands of locations worldwide.
-- CNN's Meara Erdozain contributed to this report
