Do you remember the George Clooney 2009 movie ‘Up in the Air’, where he plays a consultant specialising in company layoffs by flying around the country firing people? Of all the themes this movie portrays – downturns in industry, commitment, younger colleagues – the one that sticks in my mind is minimalism. George’s character embodies this concept by having little baggage, be it in travel or relationships.

The scene in this movie that has stuck with me is one where Clooney’s well-travelled character navigates with precision and choreography, the airport check-in with only his carry-on bag. “Never get behind old people, their bodies are littered with hidden metal, and they never seem to appreciate how little time they have left,” he advises a new graduate colleague as they approach the security screening.

Minimalism in travel is not a new concept, and people travel all the time with just carry-on luggage which clever luggage companies have capitalised on with expandable mini suitcases with wheels and extendable handles taking over from the humble soft duffle bag. The rush to get on the plane nowadays is to make sure you can secure some real estate in the overhead lockers as you relax in your seat and watch others play Tetris with these rigid cases.

Why are we reluctant to board with a smaller bag that can slide under the seat in front, and leave our main luggage stowed underneath? I suspect the answer is obvious as with all the time-saving advancements in aviation such as electronic ticketing, self-check-in, personal notifications, and planes literally flying faster, there is still the time waiting around the baggage carousel in anticipation of the beep-beep-beep as the belt swings into action and you pray your suitcase will appear. How many stories have you heard of people arriving at their destination without their belongings – for days? Even worse, without their wedding dress, or the essential items needed to secure the deal of a lifetime.

Married to an Irishman, we have often travelled back to his homeland which includes one of the longest-haul flights in the world. With three kids in tow, we’d try to make the most of these expensive and lengthy visits to family by adding another destination to either break up the long flight or have a holiday. Travelling between hemispheres comes with different seasons and equatorial locations, and the array of clothing required would not fit in a carry-on bag. Sounds reasonable I know but there have been other trips to just one location, for shorter periods, and I’d sit on that same large suitcase whilst my husband tried to secure the zip.

I have entertained the idea of travelling with just carry-on luggage and admire those that do it, but just can’t see how I could manage it. This led me to come across a Japanese start-up offering to rent you clothing whilst you visit their country. With a strong eco-friendly ethos and encouraging minimalism, ‘Any Wear, Anywhere’ has recently started a trial with Japan Airlines to offer travellers the opportunity to pre-book their set of clothes and have them delivered to their hotel before arrival.

Could this be my answer? Could I manage all of my other travel essentials in my carry-on and hire my clothing online, trusting it will be at my hotel when I arrive? My visceral response is ‘hell no’, but I’m reminded of my commitment from a decade ago to be open-minded as I age when a cardiologist at a dinner party refused to believe that watches were being developed that would detect a heart attack from our wrist. Let’s face it, anyone who says ‘poppycock’ in their 40s is doomed to be a fuddy-duddy.

Still, whilst Clooney’s character is sitting in his Business Class seat sipping a Bloody Mary, I’m still at home with an open suitcase and my entire wardrobe spread out across the bed. The woman who cannot decide what to wear to the shops is going to find it hard to get on a plane with just a change of knickers and a toothbrush. Or is she? Maybe the opposite is true, and the freedom of outsourcing those choices might make travel less stressful for which I can monitor through the heart rate variability reading on my watch.

Whilst this minimalistic way of travelling appeals immensely, I feel the decision to do this would sit better if it was simply to de-clutter our minds and save the environment, not mitigate the issues of airlines losing our luggage. So, whilst I summon up the courage to wear hired clothing – or what could become known as the ‘Tourists’ Uniform’ in whatever country I visit – how about you airlines fix your luggage systems?

• Jo Pybus is a freelance writer and host of Alex the Seal podcast.