what do you take on a 12+ hour plane trip and what do you take it in?

when flying intl on a 12+ hour flight, or group of flights, what do you carry-on? what do you pack it in?

I have had the same LV tote bag for about 30 years. Into that tote, I carry essentials such as a (now) ziplock bag of mini sizes of some creams and potions& essential makeup. Into that same bag I put a change of underwear, essential meds, reading material, extra pair of glasses, and if travelling with my husband, a couple of bags of M&M's. Also stuff in a cashmere shawl & a pair of leather gloves (just cause I normally travel in cold weather months). Always an airline amenity kit from a previous international journey.

I won't travel without a Cowon A2 (personal video player) -- it's got 30Gig and a 10+ hour battery and a really nice screen. I've also got to have my Etymonic ER-4 headphones. Now I'm all set for about 10 hours of watching movies or TV shows (I'm currently watching early seasons of "Cold Case" and "House M.D."

I have a large leather bag I bought from Levenger a couple of years ago. I take that, at the least, but as for any other bags I carry on, it depends on whether Geoboy is with me and what he's bringing.

For a long flight, I bring a bunch of books, iPod, Bose headphones, sugar-free mints, hand cream, lip balm, healthy snacks, two large bottles of water, standard girly purse things (tissues, oil blotting papers, lipstick, nail file, wallet, etc.), notepad and pen, sleep mask, various medicines and sundries like Excedrin, Tylenol, Xanax, melatonin and Airborne. I tend to prefer to carry on my makeup, because I'm always concerned that it will get dropped and eyeshadows don't handle being dropped very well. I pack my jewelry in my carry-on- even if it isn't very valuable, it's sentimental. I also bring my own blanket, unless I'm flying in Business or First. If I'm going somewhere cold, I'll have whatever coat/scarf/gloves I need when I get there, because chances are, whatever I packed in checked bags will be really chilly when I get it.

That's pretty much it.

GG

I take nothing different than I do for a one hour flight. On every flight I carry

- makeup, hairbrush
- freshening cloths/hand wipes
- two change of underwear
- change of tights
- sleeping pills
- any other meds required
- eye shade
- laptop
- magazine and book
- bottle of water (purchased airside)
- brushups tooth cleaner
- pashmina
- contacts (wear my glasses)
- granola bars and chocolate

I carry my superduper German laptop case which can double as a weekender if needed (but is very small if only my laptop is inside) and a handbag. Used to be a structured Wilsons leather handbag, but I recently switched to an unstructured leather bag from Galleries Lafayette

If I am going back to Germany and connecting in FRA I also bring a few items for showering - the shower rooms have basic supplies but I bring deodorant, etc as well.

I use a computer backpack on wheels and a large totebag (both private label from my company - totebag rotates according to what I like but I have one I've been using for months that we did for Disney Vacation Club - it has lots of pockets, is a zip top and is HUGE).

I pack WAY too much but I've had luggage lost too many times so I have to be a bit prepared:

Change of underwear
Change of clothes
Laptop
Extra Laptop battery
Empower kit
Portable DVD player
DVDs
Ipod
Noise reduction headphones
at least one book
3-4 magazines
2-3 snacks
breathmints & gum
Mouthwash
Olay cleansing cloths (the wet kind and dry kind)
Feminine products
Moisturizer
Eye Creme
Lip Balm
Foundation
Christian Dior travel cosmetic set (it has EVERYTHING!)
Cosmetic Brushes
Qtips
Medicines
Slipper socks
Clorox Wipes
Hand wipes
jewelry
mini Bible
Travel Photo frame
Travel Photo album
Travel cell phone in addition to regular phone and blackberry
Adaptor
And my purse w/ all the regular junk
Separate wallet that I keep foreign money in
Travel wallet with all travel info, foreign cards, etc.
Medical information (for my China trips I have a Chinese medical information card) with all allergy info

I'm sure I'm missing some stuff because my bags always seemed packed to the seams.

baglady, that is a lot of stuff. are you usually within weight limits?

thanks all. glad i am not alone in all the junk i take.

I have a large Herve Chapelier nylon tote, in which I carry:

This blanket: http://www.bluefly.com/pages/product...=Product+ID121

This pillow: http://www.unitedpillow.com/detail.aspx?ID=440

Plus:

ipod and charger
noise-cancelling headphones
cell phone and charger
PDA and charger
Prada tinted lip balm
L'Occitane hand cream
Burts Bees lemon nail balm
antibacterial wipes
2-3 magazines
bottled water
mints
granola bars
medications
jewelry
pashmina wrap
earplugs
eyeshade
underwear
guidebook/language phrasebook (if applicable)
Small purse with my wallet, passport, lipstick

Sometimes my laptop, depending on where I'm going and for how long.

Looks like a lof of stuff when you write it down, but it easily fits.

I've never been questioned on weight limits with the exception of an Air Europa flight and I was over by about 15KGs! I checked one and carried on the other. It was a short flight at the end of my trip. Ooops!

what a nice-sounding blanket--and i am looking for one. but i don't do well with wool. btw, it is on sale for 150$--just in case you need another.

I love just about anything from White and Warren. These cashmere wraps
http://www.whiteandwarren.com/shop/detail.php?id=147 should be on sale soon. I love their deep-v sweater, as well for travel with a tank underneath. This is a great product line.^

I used to use a Lands End fleece, but it was too bulky. This is thinner and very soft (when I bought mine, it was on sale for $119 ).
I'm also a big White+Warren fan. Have a couple of their sweaters, but will have to watch for the sale and maybe pick up a wrap.

[QUOTE=haniboo;6994025] i don't do well with wool

I went to the fabric store and bought a length of washable silk, then hemmed the non-selvage edges.

Tumi has a new fold-up tote I just bought and haven't tried, $50, I don't find a link. Like Le Pliage. I'm planning to put in it my coat, blanket, neck and seat pillow - those very bulky things that don't count towards weight/size and sit it atop my cabin tote that I like to bring.

In addition to what others have listed, I take some Vitamin C powder and Cold Eeze lozenges on long flights, in case my throat begins to feel scratchy.

And an 'office' - a zippered bag with pen, post-its, high-liter, paper clips, note paper, ...

And I always take lots of food - apples, celery, cucumber, ...

in my "packing carryon" checklist:

• Emergency Kit of underwear and toiletries (if I check luggage)
• OTC analgesics (tylenol, naproxen)
• Laptop, second battery, DVDs
• Books. Rule of thumb: one book per flight of 6 hours or less, plus one book per night away from home
• Camera (if needed)
• Earplugs
• Economist Magazine
• Eyeshade
• handbag (purse in AmeriSpeak) or "bum bag" for my tickets and my ID
• Snacks and/or meals
• Water
• Medication
• iPod and headphones
• Teddy Bear
• "Money Bag" (a separate bag I have for carrying non-US currency)
• Newspaper(s)
• Kleenex in a Ziplock bag
• Palm Pilot and charger
• Passports (if needed)
• Pencils
• Puzzle magazines
• Slippers (yes, I carry them on!)
• Sweatshirt (unless it's high summer, then I don't need it)
• Voltage/Plug adapters (if travelling outside of the US/Canada)
• Neck pillow (if travelling in coach)
• anti-bacterial alcohol gel

The lists on here astound me - but don't surprise me. Carry on limits in the US don't ever seem to be enforced and I've seen people carry on bags I could easily fit in!

Personally I bring a tote with
Water
Magazines
Snacks
Brushaways
Mints
ipod
1 book (with magazines and in flight entertainment I find one is plenty)
Asprin
Makeup removal wipes (travel size)
Handcream (purse size)
Deodorant (purse size)
Powder compact
Digital camera
One change of underwear
Travel cosmetics compact

I can safely say my tote is about 2' square and never weighs more than 5kg, the weight limit on many flights here.