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| Keep Calm & Carry On Flight Bag by Transport for London |
‘Tis the season of holiday travel. For all those Zesty Digest readers preparing to head home for the holidays, I thought I’d put together my list of carry-on baggage tips. Most airlines allow travelers one carry-on bag (must not exceed 14 inches x 9 inches x 22 inches), and one personal bag. But what do you haul aboard? What do you leave behind? What do you check instead? And why?
1) Keep it light! Be realistic about the weight of your bag. This thing will hang off your shoulder through security, boarding, one or more layovers, deplaning, passport control, etc. Only pack what you need.
2) Keep it small. Don’t assume you’ll stuff your carry-on-limit-sized roller bag in the overhead compartment. These days, lots of people are avoiding checked baggage fees by doing this, but you’re not guaranteed a spot for your carry-on in the overhead compartments. To avoid having your bag snagged and tagged for checking at the gate, pack a carry-on which will fit comfortably under the seat in front of you. This will also ensure that you can access everything in the bag throughout your flight.
3) Keep the important stuff accessible. To avoid unpacking everything you brought in front of curious TSA employees and impatient fellow passengers, use a carry-on with separate pockets for your travel documents, toiletries and electronics. TSA requires that you remove your laptop from the bag at security and send it through the scanner separately. Life is easier when your carry-on has a separate sleeve or compartment for your laptop.
4) Bring food. On domestic flights, many airlines have reduced the distribution of refreshments to a single bag of pretzels and one or two drink services. Overseas flights still serve meals, but there’s not much selection. Bring your own, but not more than you’ll actually eat (see Tip 1), and don’t forget… sugar makes you tired, salt makes you bloat. An apple, banana, or even a PB&J on whole wheat are better options.
5) Bring the right toiletries and use them on the plane. Even in an airplane lavatory, it’s possible to freshen up so that you disembark with an air of grace and cleanliness. My carry-on toiletry list includes:
a. Toothbrush & toothpaste
b. Hairbrush & hair ties
c. A single pill container for aspirin, ibuprofen, sleep aid, birth control pills
d. Chapstick or lip balm
e. Hand lotion & facial moisturizer
f. Eye drops
g. Nail clippers
h. Deodorant
i. Antacids
j. Anti-bacterial hand wipes
k. Eye mask
While in flight, apply lotion, chapstick, and moisturizer as frequently as needed to keep your skin and eyes from drying out in the recycled cabin air. Before landing, brush your teeth, apply deodorant, run a comb through your hair, and reapply makeup.
It takes time to perfect your carry-on strategy, and the rules change when you opt not to check any luggage at all, but hopefully these tips will get you on the right, travel-savvy track.
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