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Travel

Carry-on bags for long flights

(57 Posts)
winterwhite Wed 07-Mar-18 13:22:05

Lots of people seem to be packing at the moment - happy holidays to all. What do you have in your carry-on bags for a flight of 6-7 hours? DH and I have had ‘conversations’, to echo a recent thread grin, about what I put in mine - and then I have a shoulder bag for purse etc As Well. Need to cut back. Apart from spare pair of pants, and book, what else do people have in their in-flight bags?

pollyperkins Thu 08-Mar-18 13:08:41

Wow I'm amazed at the things some people take. I always have medication and jewelry with me plus money passport and travel docs. Also spare pants, toothbrush, lipstick, tissues, phone, book. Don't wear much make up so no need for remover. Dont see the need for wipes. If the worst comes to the worst can probably buy the rest.

Hm999 Thu 08-Mar-18 12:33:33

Over-ear headphones as I find the ones that go in my ears make my ears ache after a little while.

Stella14 Thu 08-Mar-18 12:27:24

Ipad, iPhone and crucially, noise cancelling headphones. There are other bits and pieces, but my technology is my priority.

Northernlass Thu 08-Mar-18 12:15:31

I echo janeainsworth and wildswan16. Now I always assume my hold luggage won't arrive with me! Consequently, here's my comprehensive list (which I keep on computer):

Carry-on case list:

In a clear plastic bag (in a zip pocket on the front of the case):

Spare contact lenses & 100ml bottle of solution
Liquid makeup, decanted into a small bottle
Moisturiser, decanted into small jar
Toothpaste (small tube)
Shampoo
Sun lotion
Sanitiser
Lip salve
Lipstick
Mascara
-----
Toothbrush
Deodorant
Pants
Socks
Bra
T shirt
Lightweight trousers
Long sleeved blouse
Sandals
Swimming costume
Sun hat (fold up one from Decathlon)
Pashmina
Specs
Book
Puzzle book
Travel adaptor
Sketch book, pencils & watercolour travel paints

I make sure there's enough room to put in my shoulder bag too (I use a Kipling squashy material bag). Some airlines don't allow a carry-on case and a hand bag. In here I have:

Purse
Travel documents inc passport
Hair brush
Sunglasses
Emery board
Tissues
Make up bag
Phone & charger
Pen
Sugar-free mints
Face wipes (make up remover)

Believe it or not, it all goes in!

Witzend Thu 08-Mar-18 11:50:09

Apart from purse, passport, hairbrush, tissues, etc (handbag always goes in small-ish carry on - I hate a lot of hand luggage)

Warm jumper if I'm not actually wearing it - (I'm always cold on planes)
Socks for same reason if I wasn't wearing any to start with
Kindle with at least 2 unread books
Plus very likely a paperback picked up at the terminal
Plus very likely a packet of Murraymints also picked up at the terminal
All the under-100 ml bits of make-up and toiletries inc, moisturiser and hand cream - still in their plastic bag from security
A small book of codewords and 2 pens, to make a change from reading.
One spare pair of knickers, just in case suitcase goes astray. Has never happened, but I did once arrive in Prague for a family wedding and realise that I'd completely forgotten to pack any knickers!
Thank God for an M&S in the centre somewhere.
On any flight over about 8 hours I'd take toothbrush and paste, too.

Myym Thu 08-Mar-18 11:08:17

I'm just this minute having a quick coffee break whilst in the process of packing suitcases and our hand luggage...

My lap top, camera and big lens go in my husband's rucksack (he can carry the heavy bag ) and I have a shoulder bag containing all the vital paperwork, passports, money, sunglasses and a magazine (I can't settle into a book with people around me). A clear plastic make-up bag with my eyeliner, lipstick, travel tooth brush/paste and asthma inhaler.
Last time we flew I forgot to include my inhaler in the clear bag and got hauled out at security whilst the simple blue inhaler and all my hand luggage possessions were subjected to thorough drugs testing! The ironic thing was they never bothered with my husband's bag that had gone through the same scanner yet he had my spare inhaler in his bag... Duh?
I will add a bottle of water once we are airside as (I cannot go anywhere without having a bottle of water to hand since having a kidney removed) I daresay a bag of sweets will find their way into the bag as well.
Even though we never play cards at home I always include a pack of cards as they are easy to carry and once kept us sane during the most dire 13 hour flight.
If it's long haul to a hot country I include a tee shirt/shorts to change into before landing.
I never think to include spare pants...I'd just go knicker-less and hope I don't trip over until I find a shop to purchase some.
Right...coffee break over now back to my packing :-)

schnackie Thu 08-Mar-18 11:05:52

There is a Facebook group devoted to this topic called Travel Fashion Girls. I am amazed/amused/and gobsmacked in equal measure at what some people take in their carry-on! grin

Pinkshoes26 Thu 08-Mar-18 10:51:09

I have a mini roll on case for hand luggage. I have HM a shoe bag to put inside and pull out once on the plane. I have seen people hang this useful bag from the tray hook. This year on a long hall flight I will be taking in my hand luggage -passport and documents. plastic cup with straw, I pad & lead, few magazines, pen, small torch, t.shirt shorts and swim wear. pashmina. boiled sweets mints/fruits. cereal bar. clear bag with wet wipes, lip savel, toothbrush and toothpaste. moisturiser.

Nanny27 Thu 08-Mar-18 10:41:10

Travel quite often long haul. Only ever take a smallish rucksack with purse, glasses, book, spare pants, phone, travel docs. Can't help feeling a bit cross with people who board with mini suitcases and proceed to fill up the overhead lockers so others can't use them. These travellers never seem to use the cases during the flight so are presumably just using them as extra baggage outside of their weight allowance.

Tweedle24 Thu 08-Mar-18 10:34:29

Travelled to Egypt recently. Only one bag allowed - no handbag. Kindle, passport, wallet, medication, tissues, sanitiser, mobile and spare underwear.

SunnySusie Thu 08-Mar-18 10:30:57

I dont think I am the person to ask about minimal packing. I am just back from South East Asia (13 hour flight) and had a soft carry on bag with: Flight socks, neck pillow, blanket, spare pants and top, a snack, water bought after security, asprin, tissues, hand sanitiser, noise cancelling headphones, eye mask, book, toothbrush and toothpaste. I used everything. My first trip with noise cancelling headphones and they are amazing.

Shazmo24 Thu 08-Mar-18 10:29:25

Oh and a pashmina as aircraft can get chilly and if overnight eye mask and ear plugs

Shazmo24 Thu 08-Mar-18 10:27:56

Meditation, Kindle/book (for delays), hand lotion/deodrant (in a sealed bag for security), spare pair of knickers (You never know!)

Grampie Thu 08-Mar-18 10:27:52

Whatever would have made my checked baggage too heavy.

My heaviest hand baggage included four shock absorbers and a set of 16 hydraulic cam followers for my ancient V8 Range Rover that resided far from any dealer.

But I always make room for my toothbrush and toothpaste.

Tessa101 Thu 08-Mar-18 10:14:06

I go to Australia most years 2 flights one stop over for 2 hours.
Hand/ face wipes.
Tissues
Book
Sweets
Purse
Tea shirt to put on when I land
Roll on deodorant
Purse
Don’t need anything else if I do I buy it.

00mam00 Thu 08-Mar-18 10:09:28

No matter how long the flight or the holiday, we only ever take hand luggage. It needs very careful planning. We don’t do posh when we are away so a simple selection of clothes that will wash and dry easily are essential.

Apricity Thu 08-Mar-18 10:03:50

At one stage I tried travelling on long flights with the minimum of items in a large handbag as my only carry on luggage. That was until someone told me about her awful experience when a fellow passenger vomited all over her. She was offered a "onesie" sleep suit from first class by the cabin crew but said there was no way she was going through immigration and customs in a onesie suit with kangaroos all over it and fortuitously she had a change of clothes with her. Since then I always take mini size toiletries, facial mister, a change of underwear and light clothing as well as the usual essential documents and a book.

sue01 Thu 08-Mar-18 09:57:37

Moisturiser. Tiny little bottle that spray mists my face. Money to pay for Gin.

David1968 Thu 08-Mar-18 09:52:54

Definitely spare knickers - because you never know! (I've found these useful when faced with an unexpected delay - once this was a stay-over in a hotel.) And a wee bottle/pot of moisturiser. Maybe a tooth brush/paste, though these can usually be purchased. And a Kindle, a puzzle book, and a few "travel sweets".

wildswan16 Thu 08-Mar-18 09:51:20

Always assume your luggage is not going to arrive. Spare undies, all travel documents, medication, toothbrush/paste, wet wipes, tissues, biscuits or food of some kind, large scarf, glasses, charger, phone, ipad or book, pen.

shysal Thu 08-Mar-18 09:23:39

In case of luggage going missing I would always take a change of underwear. If going somewhere hot I had a swimsuit with large sarong which could double up as a dress if necessary.

Barmeyoldbat Thu 08-Mar-18 08:57:05

Put in a small case all my medication, change of clothing, camera, books because they are heavy and a warm top. In my handbag it’s the usual plus iPad, ear plugs, hand wipes etc. We go to south east Asia every for a few months and it’s three flights, two just an hour and one 12 hour one so need careful packing.

Willow500 Wed 07-Mar-18 16:07:36

Always spare underwear - had luggage lost for 3 days once and it was pretty difficult. Other than that my glasses, contact lens solution (for the above reason) toothbrush and toothpaste and iPad, phone and charger cable. Always take something warm to put on on the plane too - the temperature goes up and down that often!

Coolgran65 Wed 07-Mar-18 16:05:54

Kindle, phone, medication, money, snacks, wipes, tissues, lipstick, underwear, documents like passport and insurance. change of footwear. All in a medium sized easily managed backpack.

J52 Wed 07-Mar-18 15:57:40

Toothbrush, mouthwash and mascara. Especially if it’s an overnight flight.