Sept 2009 Feature of the Month- What to Pack in a Carry On Bag

What to pack in a carry on:

I have never been known as the queen of packing light. Quite the opposite is true. I tend to over pack to the extreme. Since in my travels, my luggage has visited cities that I have never been to (Minneapolis and Brussels) or cities that were not on my itinerary, I also have learned the art of packing (and over packing) a carry on piece of luggage.

Know the Rules:

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is the final word on what’s allowed in your carry-ons, so be sure you know the rules before planning what to bring. This includes following the 3-1-1 rule, which stipulates you can only carry liquids, aerosols and gels (such as toothpaste and shampoo) in nothing larger than three-ounce containers, which should be safely kept inside a one-quart, plastic zip-top bag. Each passenger can bring one, one-quart bag. Check www.tsa.gov for the full list of rules.

The size (usually 45 cubic inches) and number of carry-ons allowed varies by airline, so visit your airline’s Web site. If you plan to pack everything into your carry-on bags, you may consider buying the maximum-sized bag to take advantage of each allowable inch.

What Goes in First? Everything You Can’t Live Without
Just in case you checked bag is lost, it’s imperative to pack all essential items into your carry-on, including a color copy of your passport, travel insurance, clearly-labeled medications, list of emergency contacts, address and phone number of your hotel, your travel agent’s contact information, emergency phone #’s for your bank and credit card companies (in case you lose your wallet), an extra change of clothes, small bag of toiletries, glasses or spare contact lenses, cell phone and chargers.

Carry-On Only? Be Ready to Sacrifice
If your goal is to take carry-ons only, then you will need to change the way you think about packing. Forget those extra pieces of clothing or that second pair of black shoes that were included just in case you go dancing. You should take as few, maximum-use items as possible, focusing on those pieces of clothes that mix-and-match well and can possibly transform from day to evening wear. Pick one basic, neutral palate, such as brown or black, and base your entire wardrobe around it. Toss aside any item you planned to bring that can only be worn one way. Yes, you may end up wearing the same outfits twice, but you’re on vacation, not on a fashion show runway. Just bring your most comfortable favorites, relax and have a great time.

Knowing that I am the queen of overpacking, here is my list of the top 10 items you will find in my carry on:

1. A complete change of clothes- just in case my luggage is lost or delayed and that will include 2 pair of underwear and socks, 2 shirts and something to wear to bed. You also never know when the plane might bounce and the coffee or orange juice ends up on your shirt instead of in your mouth.
2. All of my medication and vitamins for the entire trip. If my luggage is lost, I would prefer not having to contact my travel insurance company to try to replace my prescriptions.
3. Extra pair of eye glasses and contact lenses. I actually broke my glasses on a cruise and had to walk around with a band aid on my glasses until I found a optician in Bermuda who could repair them.
4. Travel size toiletries, including a tooth brush and tooth paste. Should be self explanatory-especially on those overnight flights
5. Make up bag- again, for a woman, this is something that goes without saying.
6. Gum, mints or hard candy to keep your ears from popping during take off or landing.
7. Disinfecting wipes or purell. Never know how well the plane was cleaned and I don’t want to get sick on my vacation due to someone else’s germs that were left behind.
8. My camera, cell phone and lap top and their chargers. I will not pack any of those since the TSA can now open any piece of luggage in their possession. Same goes for any jewelry that you are not wearing.
9. A light jacket or sweater.
10. Snacks or something to eat since most flights don’t feed you anymore.