Carry-on essentials?
 

Sorry, I'm sure this has been addressed before but perhaps I'm not looking for right search terms. I tried "packing list", "packing essentials", and others and I'm just not getting what I'm looking for. What I need is some help packing my and my 12-yr old son's carry-ons for a flight from LA to Sydney. Now, I can figure out the obvious (lens case, tissues, etc.) but any advice about useful things to include (to survive this looooong flight) would be GREATLY appreciated!

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

Bring:
Aspirin or Tylenol;
wet wipes;
moisturizers;
a noise reduction headphone or ear plugs (they work great to reduce the ear-popping symptoms);
digital camera;
extra batteries;
a good book or two (travel guides are great);
snacks in case the food isn't up to par;
your own neck pillow;
your own earphones if you don't have noise reduction headsets (the airline headsets in economy are awful);
spare travel shampoo or soap & bathroom kit if you get stranded somewhere;


That should do it. Less is more, often times!
Enjoy your flight.

Thanks....What about things to pass the time (besides books?)

Often times the entertainment in the air will help you pass the time.

If you are into music, often times there are a lot of different channels of music and talk shows as well.

I carry my laptop everywhere, so I record my journal / thoughts when I fly (it's a great time for personal reflection).

I also play electronic chess to keep the mind sharp.

Just think about what you like to do on the ground, and see if you can do the same on the air to pass the time.

Also, it doesn't hurt to being writing a Trip Report so you can let us know how your trip was (and your relatives who are dying to hear the scoop). http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

Only 2 things missing from UALOneKPlus's list:

Nytol (recommend 2+ x recommended dose)
Gin (in Y the FA's just don't get enough out quick enough).

And a good book for yourself! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by Wingnut (edited 10-28-2002).]

I'm not sure what Nytol is...

I wouldn't recommend alcohol on any flight, let alone a long flight. I have been guilty of taking a few sips of wine, however...

Alcohol thins your blood and reduced the oxygen in your blood, which is the last thing you need on a long flight.

Be sure to get up and walk regularly to get the blood flowing, so you don't get any blood clots.

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

Evian spray (not the water, but an aerosol can). This is the single best and most important item I take on any long flight: every hour or so, give your face a shpritz from the can, and you'll feel amazingly refreshed (and your skin will thank you, too). It's just6 water in a can, but it does a great job of keeping you hydrated in a very dry atmosphere.

Drink lots of water (take a 1.5 litre bottle on the plane with you), as well.

I bring my gameboy on board, works great if you don't feel like watching a movie or listening to music.

Forgot one more thing - eye covers...

I only travel domestically, but here's a few other things to consider:

DVD's & CD's

At least two liters of water - you've got to stay hydrated, and the severe dryness of the cabin goes against you. If you drink airline water, make sure it's bottled.

Sweatshirt in case it's cold

Change of clothes and toiletries - you never know when you'll be seeing your luggage for the last time.

Food. I prefer Trader Joe's various trail mixes.

Enough fast-reading trash novels to pass the time.

Ear plugs - makes sleeping easier when you can tune out the engines and the background conversations.

Sunglasses - also helps the sleep.

Prescription decongestant - sometimes one's ears have a hard time on rapid descents.

Laptop - mandatory - I can concentrate on an aircraft like nowhere else. I get more work done on a four hour flight than I can do all week.

Lip balm for cabin-dry lips (especially like Bag Balm in the small tins you can buy at animal feed stores). Also hand lotion and for dry cuticles a small tube of Neosporin does wonders.

Noise canceling headphones

Believe it or not..the time your flight departs LAX can make a lot of difference in what to take.This is a regular flight for me as I live in Sydney and my husband lives in USA. I find the later the flight goes the better.

If you do have a late departing flight keep your son awake as long as you can and he should sleep most of the flight...with any luck http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif I think the latest goes around midnight.

If he has a gameboy etc..take that, plus extra games and batteries as mentioned before. Activity style books are also handy for kids. Most airlines hand out kits to children with several things to do in them. A pack of playing cards is also handy.

I usually take a book, my PDA, a bottle of Nutrimetics green tea mist to spray my face etc. and a crossword book. I also take a couple of Benadryl tablets just before I get on the plane. I usually stay awake long enough for the first meal..then it's good night Phoebe. Next thing I know we are about an hour from landing in Sydney.

Good luck and have a great time in Sydney

Phoebe

Kids should consider bring some food and not depend on the airline's food. Consider bringing a xerox of passport, surgical mask (in case the next passenger is coughing a lot), even water.

tweezers, nail files, clippers, and corkscrew

Hand cream and your own soap. The soap on the plane is just terrible.

Tazi - How do you get a cockscew through security? I always had two with me (just in case one kind didn't dot he trick), but not since 9-11.

Proving once again that no effort at humor can be too unsubtle for a Web audience.

I was really just kidding http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif

Holy cow! 18 replies already! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif Wow guys, great suggestions, thanks so much!!

The trip report is a great idea, I think I'll do it! I actually made this trip last January, but I went by myself, packed very little in my carry-on, and had strep throat BAD, so have little memory of the flight, hence no report.

I was a zombie on the way over (thanks to the cough syrup!), and I had an empty seat next to me so it actually wasn't too bad, but the flight home was 100% full (full of returning American students, it appeared, along with Jerry Springer in First), and I was so cramped and when I WAS able to get to sleep I'd wake up every hour, and it was torture!

I've still got some of the stuff from the amenity kit from that trip like the eyeshade, footies, earplugs....(actually that's kind of icky, why do I still have those??) plus I snagged a discarded kit from Business class while de-planing (everything in it was still sealed...wow!) so I've got the lip balm, the face spritzer, etc...

I figured I should bring lots of snacks...I already mentioned I have a 12 year-old son...need I say more? So, what food travels well, and doesn't take up much space or weight? (Besides trail mix!) http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif Also, I plan on having one carry-on bag each, plus a smallish backpack for each of us, as the "personal item". Does a sack of snacks/food count as extra?

Re: Gameboy/batteries, I've already been "informed" by my son of the fact that he'll need extra batteries. He's more concerned about that than the fact that we're goin' to freakin' Australia...

Feebs: Actually, I won't be spending any time in Sydney (tho I had a great time there last time). I'm going straight on to Tasmania, to Hobart. I'm getting married http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Crossword puzzle book...excellent...

tweezers, nail files, clippers, and corkscrew. - Duly noted....What, no scissors?

Thanks again for all the suggestions!

The Gameboy is a good idea. My son had one for traveling when he was that age. I do still bring a little soft side cooler for snacks and such when we travel. I brought sliced cheese, salami and crackers this past summer and some dip.

These days he would be happiest with a laptop loaded with his favorite games for a long flight like that. Now that I mention it, so would I! With a DVD, you could even bring your own movies.

Don't forget headphones and pillow.

Edit: I was too tired to think about it last night when I posted http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by tazi (edited 10-29-2002).]

Thanks to all http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif The TSA information at our big bad PSC (they took over yesterday) clearly shows corkscrews are now A-OK http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/cool.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif I'll just never learn to read the paper (I mean I trust everything they say) before putting my 2 cents in here.

I can't believe everyone forgot the most important items... a supply of SWU's or VIPOW's depending on the airline... http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Isn't that an essential? http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

William

At least one liter of water and a couple plastic cups
slippers
blindfold
some kind of clock/watch with the ability to keep time in two time zones
chewing gum or sucking candy
(and if you like to primp before you land...)
shaver/aftershave/cologne
hairbrush
change of underwear/fresh shirt

Congratu;ations..I hope it all goes well.

As for food..I wouldn't worry about taking too much, they feed you pretty well on those flights. If you do take anything remember to dump it in the quarantine bins when you get off the plane.

Australia has some pretty strict quarantine rules and the hassle of having an officer check your food to see if it's allowed in is very time consuming..and frankly not worth it. They seem to have gotten really tough on checking things lately..worse than I have ever seen them.

Phoebe

for Sharon, or for Sharon's 12 year old son?! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

One thing to check, Sharon, re the whole gameboy thing: I don't think you mention who your carrier is but some airlines have playstations as part of the IFE...

I always pack a carry-on with enough clothes and essentials for both of us for a day or two in case our luggage gets lost as well.

A horror story about this:

Family friend's daughter's husband, has an iMBA, and forgot about taking a bannana out when flying into Sydney. Sniffing dog caught wind of it, the guy got busted and taken to court, and now can't really travel to Austrailia anymore.

Zut alors!

Yikes!! I'll be very careful what I bring, that's for sure!!!

Good news! I signed up for the Gold Challenge today with AA, as the one-way miles all the way to Hobart will qualify me. Bad news: if I stay in Australia, being Gold with AA won't do me a darn bit of good! Except for bragging rights, I suppose...I've never been elite before. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

To answer Wingnut's question of which carrier, it is Qantas, and they didn't have playstations in January. Has anything changed since then that you know of?

Wow, the courts won't cut the guy any slack at all, even for accidents?

My Brother was caught with a bag of Pork Scratchings ( Pork Rinds ) which he was taking to his friends last year. No hassle they just confiscated them, I just wonder if they fed them to the Dog that sniffed them out and it broke its teeth on them : )

Nigel

Food/Drink:

1. Water (at least 1.5L/person)
2. Gatorade in case of dehydration (one 20 oz sport bottle for the 3 of you to split should be fine)
3. Flying coach overseas, I like to freeze a 6" turkey sub so that it defrosts about 2 hours into the flight, so I can eat whenever I get hungry.
4. A Powerbar Harvest or other similar bar for every three hours of travel time

Entertainment:

1. Noise-cancelling headphones. I have Sony NC-20s and love them.
2. A CD player and a few CDs if you really like them. I only take it when I'm travelling alone.
3. A paperback book
4. Magazines that you haven't gotten around to reading yet and don't mind leaving on the plane or giving to other passengers.
5. Travel sightseeing materials for the first two days at your destination

Health/Comfort beyond the normal toiletries and medicines:

1. Baby Wipes
2. Antacid