Long mileage run packing list
Nov 1, 2003, 3:35 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: san jose, CA
Posts: 2,995
Long mileage run packing list
I'm preparing for my first ever MR next month to get NW platinum (SJO-IAH-LGW-IAH-SJC, coach on CO with elite seating, with only a two-hour layover at LGW). Here are the highlights of my packing list (which obviously overlap with stuff to take on any long trip). Although the list will vary depending on individual needs, I'm wondering if there is something obvious you would suggest I consider adding to it:
1. small carry-on which will fit under seat (in case there is no space in overhead compartment).
2. laptop with extra battery pack, dual-voltage charger
3. DVDs
4. iPOD loaded with 7000 songs
5. BOSE noise-cancelling headphones
6. passport, flight information, credit cards, $, elite card, Priority Pass, cell phone (for use in U.S.), home contact phone #s, NW/CO contact #s
7. a couple books or other gripping reading material
8. back-up edible, non-perishable food and beverage
9. toiletries including baby wipes (may be no shower at LGW), toothbrush/paste, comb, kleenex
10. change of clothes in case disaster/stuck at airport/flight back cancelled
11. pillow (better than the airline provides)
12. drugs: usual prescription stuff + motrin, ambien, dramamine, sudafed
Anything else ? . .. .
1. small carry-on which will fit under seat (in case there is no space in overhead compartment).
2. laptop with extra battery pack, dual-voltage charger
3. DVDs
4. iPOD loaded with 7000 songs
5. BOSE noise-cancelling headphones
6. passport, flight information, credit cards, $, elite card, Priority Pass, cell phone (for use in U.S.), home contact phone #s, NW/CO contact #s
7. a couple books or other gripping reading material
8. back-up edible, non-perishable food and beverage
9. toiletries including baby wipes (may be no shower at LGW), toothbrush/paste, comb, kleenex
10. change of clothes in case disaster/stuck at airport/flight back cancelled
11. pillow (better than the airline provides)
12. drugs: usual prescription stuff + motrin, ambien, dramamine, sudafed
Anything else ? . .. .
Nov 1, 2003, 3:45 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: UA Million Miler (lite). NY Metro area.
Posts: 15,079
I've found that a 'variety' of reading material is better than a book or 2.
I bring several local and national newspapers too.
I also bring some magazines that I haven't had a chance to read yet.
I bring several local and national newspapers too.
I also bring some magazines that I haven't had a chance to read yet.
Nov 1, 2003, 4:07 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2001
Location: New York
Posts: 272
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ermdjdsj:
I'm preparing for my first ever MR next month to get NW platinum (SJO-IAH-LGW-IAH-SJC</font>
I'm preparing for my first ever MR next month to get NW platinum (SJO-IAH-LGW-IAH-SJC</font>
Nov 1, 2003, 4:10 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: san francisco.
Programs: Marriott Ti, OW Ruby
Posts: 1,852
How on earth do you manage to fit all of that into a bag small enough to fit under the seat infront of you that dosn't also take up the space where your feet are supposed to be!!!
Happy flying ,tattikat2
Happy flying ,tattikat2
Nov 1, 2003, 4:37 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Cows in Berkeley?....Moooo!
Programs: Fly Amtrak, Go Greyhound! I'm often wrong but always sincere.
Posts: 7,102
-Ear plugs to suppliment the noise headphones
-A small towel to wash up with
-Breath mints
-Hand lotion & sanitizing lotion
-Chap stick (can you tell I have moisture issues
)
-Print outs of alternate schedules for each segment in case of possible bumps, misconnects etc.
-A small towel to wash up with
-Breath mints
-Hand lotion & sanitizing lotion
-Chap stick (can you tell I have moisture issues
)-Print outs of alternate schedules for each segment in case of possible bumps, misconnects etc.
Nov 1, 2003, 6:30 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: san jose, CA
Posts: 2,995
Great suggestions from OutofOffice, thanks.
I'm not extra tall, so my feet don't need to go under the seat -- I actually like to prop them up a bit on the edge of a big sturdy under-seat carryon to take pressure off my sore back (especially on planes where there is no footrest to flip down)
P.S. I am both originating and returning to San Jose, California, not Costa Rica, sorry for the typo
I'm not extra tall, so my feet don't need to go under the seat -- I actually like to prop them up a bit on the edge of a big sturdy under-seat carryon to take pressure off my sore back (especially on planes where there is no footrest to flip down)
P.S. I am both originating and returning to San Jose, California, not Costa Rica, sorry for the typo
Nov 1, 2003, 7:54 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: CLE,OH
Programs: UA 1K 3MM, AA Plat, F9 Elite, the later two thanks to Jeff $, HHdia, Mgold, WynDia, Choicepl, IHGDia
Posts: 1,405
Gatwick has showers just look for the shower head symbol. Towels are available for 2L or so. Good Luck and Have fun. Gatwick has some great shopping also! I did the run in Feb with a 6 hour layover so I got a room at the Hilton.
http://www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/gatwick/index.html
http://www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/gatwick/index.html
Nov 1, 2003, 9:27 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: LAX ("QLA" as necessary!)
Programs: UA 1P (residual DL, US, AS), SPG
Posts: 1,357
here are a few of my suggestions:
*several small bottles of water
*eyedrops, especially if you wear contacts even if you feel like you never need them
*I find the best magazines are things like UTNE READER and THE WEEK, which have a variety of articles on a variety of topics from a variety of different primary sources.
*several small bottles of water
*eyedrops, especially if you wear contacts even if you feel like you never need them
*I find the best magazines are things like UTNE READER and THE WEEK, which have a variety of articles on a variety of topics from a variety of different primary sources.
Nov 1, 2003, 11:55 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PPSP. Yeah, I'm the bartender at that fancy 5-Star that forgot you said no salt on your freakin' frozen margarita. Listen up people! NO FROZEN DRINKS!
Posts: 2,022
Oooooooo.... I am so jealous! I love these quick turn arounds!
1) You have pre-boarding status as an elite so you will have plenty of overhead space. I brought 2 carry-ons and packed my thrift-store-$1-pillow (bought just for the MR!) into one along with my thrift-store-$1-blanket. I am a big guy and needed my own warm blanket in my e-exit row seat. My theory about the (clean thrift store items: I didn't care if they got lost or abused/dirty. When I got an upgrade on the way back and wanted the space for gift shop purchases I discarded the blanket in the concourse!
2) I wear versatile clothes and bring extra undies and shirt. Good for layovers/emergencies and good for feeling "fresh" on the return. (Wear a sweater onto plane, too.)
3) I bring a couple little gifts for flight crew, shower lady, etc. (Careful, they may be SFO based so cable car stuff is not always a good idea!). I try to befriend a couple FA's. Let them know I am doing a MR... but not wave low fares in their face.
Have fun!
------------------
Just trying to keep up with the gals in the trailer park next door.
1) You have pre-boarding status as an elite so you will have plenty of overhead space. I brought 2 carry-ons and packed my thrift-store-$1-pillow (bought just for the MR!) into one along with my thrift-store-$1-blanket. I am a big guy and needed my own warm blanket in my e-exit row seat. My theory about the (clean thrift store items: I didn't care if they got lost or abused/dirty. When I got an upgrade on the way back and wanted the space for gift shop purchases I discarded the blanket in the concourse!
2) I wear versatile clothes and bring extra undies and shirt. Good for layovers/emergencies and good for feeling "fresh" on the return. (Wear a sweater onto plane, too.)
3) I bring a couple little gifts for flight crew, shower lady, etc. (Careful, they may be SFO based so cable car stuff is not always a good idea!). I try to befriend a couple FA's. Let them know I am doing a MR... but not wave low fares in their face.
Have fun!
------------------
Just trying to keep up with the gals in the trailer park next door.
Nov 2, 2003, 1:59 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: CA
Posts: 82
-flyertalk luggage tag (even though mine has had a relatively low success rate)
-hotel elite cards (in case of overnight bump)
-never so much stuff that they could actually force you to check your bag. if it gets checked, you may never see it again.
-hotel elite cards (in case of overnight bump)
-never so much stuff that they could actually force you to check your bag. if it gets checked, you may never see it again.
Nov 2, 2003, 10:09 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: HH Silver, SPG Gold, PC Plat, IC Royal Ambassador, UA 1K, Founder www.SeatExpert.com , CO Platinum
Posts: 1,924
I usually cross them off my checklist so I could consciously decide not to bring certain things along, rather than just forgetting to even consider:
Documentation
- Phone numbers for ISPs along the stopover cities, as well as possible re-route points
- Terminal map of above airport, epecially location of lounges and operating hours
- Print out of rules of FF and alliance lounge access rules
- Copies of passport and driver's license
- Graphic print-out of seatmaps of planes, or download to your PocketPC or laptop
- Restaurant recommendations, iDine possibilities
- A 1/2 inch 3-ring binder to keep all paperwork in one place, with the packing checklist as the first page
Electronics
- Cell phone charger
- Adaptor for converting 110v-to-12v, so that the rest of car adaptors can work
- Digital camera
- Phone cord for modem access
- A CD for trial membership for AOL or other free internet service
Misc
- Antibiotics and some bandages
- A small stash of foreign coins and bills, save extras for your next MR
- Extra zip-lock gallon size bags
- A pen
- Playing cards
- Several extra pairs of socks
- An extra pair of prescription eyeglasses (if you are blind as a bat like me)
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International airlines seat desirability map
Documentation
- Phone numbers for ISPs along the stopover cities, as well as possible re-route points
- Terminal map of above airport, epecially location of lounges and operating hours
- Print out of rules of FF and alliance lounge access rules
- Copies of passport and driver's license
- Graphic print-out of seatmaps of planes, or download to your PocketPC or laptop
- Restaurant recommendations, iDine possibilities
- A 1/2 inch 3-ring binder to keep all paperwork in one place, with the packing checklist as the first page
Electronics
- Cell phone charger
- Adaptor for converting 110v-to-12v, so that the rest of car adaptors can work
- Digital camera
- Phone cord for modem access
- A CD for trial membership for AOL or other free internet service
Misc
- Antibiotics and some bandages
- A small stash of foreign coins and bills, save extras for your next MR
- Extra zip-lock gallon size bags
- A pen
- Playing cards
- Several extra pairs of socks
- An extra pair of prescription eyeglasses (if you are blind as a bat like me)
------------------
International airlines seat desirability map
Nov 2, 2003, 12:54 pm
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: GSP (Greenville, SC)
Programs: DL Gold Medallion; UA Premier Executive; WN sub-CP; AA sub-Gold
Posts: 13,393
I also strongly recommend eye drops as mentioned earlier.
If I were you, I would cut out:
2. laptop with extra battery pack, dual-voltage charger
3. DVDs
4. iPOD loaded with 7000 songs
5. BOSE noise-cancelling headphones
That is unnecessary weight that you can replace with water or food, or a lighter bag.
You only have three layovers (IAH, LGW and IAH), but on the second IAH visit, believe me, you don't want to be dragging around a laptop.
A couple of newspapers will take you a long time to read (or until you fall asleep). I find magazines have only one or two articles I like.
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"Yippie-kay-yay, Mr. Falcon!" -- John McClane, Die Hard II As Seen on TV
If I were you, I would cut out:
2. laptop with extra battery pack, dual-voltage charger
3. DVDs
4. iPOD loaded with 7000 songs
5. BOSE noise-cancelling headphones
That is unnecessary weight that you can replace with water or food, or a lighter bag.
You only have three layovers (IAH, LGW and IAH), but on the second IAH visit, believe me, you don't want to be dragging around a laptop.
A couple of newspapers will take you a long time to read (or until you fall asleep). I find magazines have only one or two articles I like.
------------------
"Yippie-kay-yay, Mr. Falcon!" -- John McClane, Die Hard II As Seen on TV