I have been making a start on my packing organization and have started with my carry on bag. Now for me I'm the type of person who doesn't travel light, no matter how hard I try I always end up over packing, but I would rather be safe than sorry and I'm going to go through some of my Carry On must haves along with a few little videos (who doesn't love a good video !)
Alright, lets start with the basics such as Passport, visa, ticket, fight info, medical insurance, confirmation of wear you are staying and any important addresses and phone numbers you may need. Will all these documents I take photocopies just in case you may need them for something, (its always good to be on the safe side than have to deal with the consequences later). I actually created a video regarding this topic if you would care to take a look, then by all means do, if not then I wont hold it against you :)
What documents you need before flying!
Ok, so now we have got the boring stuff out of the way we can move onto the more exiting carry on must haves! What I've done is condensed it down to my 10 must have items (now bear in mind I had about 35 items to begin with so this is the main things I could not fly comfortably without).
1) Laptop - I usually fly with my computer and don't feel safe putting it in my checked bag, I usually don't use it on flight but carrying it on my person throughout a trip just makes me feel less worried that it might get broken in transit.
2) Music Player - Weather it be the music player on your phone, a MP3 player or even a retro CD player, music always make the time go by quicker, just turn it on, close your eyes and sink into your own little world without any interruptions from screaming children or chatty passengers. Now a great tip here is to invest in some sound canceling headphones and they will block out any noises that may arise on board an aircraft. I would recommend the Sony MDR-NC200D, they come with a travel case which is very convenient.
3) Book - Especially for long haul flights, as getting lost in a good book has to be one of the best ways to speed up time. With todays technologies we are able to read books without having to lug around huge hardbacks, thanks to the Amazon Kindle and the Apple Ipad which both have downloadable books.
4) Hand Sanitizer - I don't go anywhere without a little bottle of hand sanitizer, especially for airplane journeys were you are served food, instead of getting up and standing in a huge toilet queue to clean your hands, all you have to do is pull out your little bottle and freshen up! (Remember to put your sanitizer in a clear ziplock bag when going through security a it is a liquid)
5) Fuzzy Socks - Everyone knows how cold flights can get, and if your like me and you like to take your shoes of then a pair of thick wooly socks are the way to go.
6) Lip Balm - With the high altitude of a airplane, your lips can get pretty dry which is why I carry a small tube of lip balm with me, because there is nothing worse than chapped lips. Some of my favorite lip balms are Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm and the Carmex lip Balm Tube.
7) Jacket/Fleece - As I mentioned earlier it can get pretty cold onboard so a warm jacket or fleece is a must have item. Trust me you will be forever glad you brought it, alternatively you could carry on a small blanket or scarf to wrap around yourself, when you start to feel a little cold.
8) Snacks - Defiantly for a long haul flight as the price of snacks on board are ridiculously expensive, you may get a free meal and is so then thats great but for those of you who don't then bringing food along with you is a must, but be careful what do bring on as some airlines don't allow meat or poultry, just check the website of the airline your are flying with to make sure, you don't want to have your food taken off you before you even get on board.
9) Camera - Even if you don't use it on board, you really don't want to pack it in your checked luggage as the baggage handlers may not be gentle with your bag and it could break, so having it with you is just a safety precaution. (This goes for all electronics or valuable items that have could get damaged quite easily).
10) Tissues/Wipes - Last but not least tissues, you never know when you might spill a drink or knock something over, it is easily done and the fold down tables on the back of airline seats are sometimes a little slanted and so drinks can easily slide off.
Heres a little video I made, explaining in a bit more detail, enjoy:
Thanks for reading / watching
Rachel