Top 10 things to bring on your overseas flight!

Moisturizer.

Deo.

lip balm

..actually, I think your list is good though most airline have pleanty of water so I don't bring any (...every last oz counts). I always have a change of undies in my bag in case my luggage is misplaced. I also carry a list of family meds (generics) as well as the meds in an easily reachable place..I love your comment re manners- a great reminder to all of us!

A good page turner. I like to find them at my library book sale, so I don't mind leaving them at the airport when I'm finished.
I don't care what genre as long as the story keeps moving.

A photocopy of the essential pages of your passport, emergency telephone numbers and a list of your prescriptions.

Plus, patience.

I always carry on my camera, camcorder (if I am bringing it), chargers, DVD player with extra batteries (for my kids to watch - with DVDs) and this tends to take up a lot of space and weight. I wear any jewelry I am taking.

For my small children I bring a change of clothes, tylenol/advil, benedryl, and a carry-on suitcase filled with wrapped presents to open and play with.

I envy anyone who can read a book on a flight - I bring enough energy to play with 2 kids for 10 hours while sitting down. . .

Also, earplugs the type that are made for taking off and landing.
I think these would be a good idea for children/babies too.

Not so much for use on the flight but because they would be vey difficult to replace, I bring all prescriptions (eye glasses, sunglasses, medications). Also a clean shirt, socks, and undies to change at my transfer airport or in case luggage is delayed.

1. pen 2. calculator 3. books 4. trashy magazines to be abandoned at hotels along the way.
Do not bring anything to stuff your face out of boredom - it's the biggest mistake that Americans make.

+ Lightweight pashmina, instead of a sweater. It keeps you warm and it doubles as a blanket for your top half (do you really want that airplane blanket anywhere near your face? ick)

+ Deodorant
+ Listerine breathstrips
+ Ear plugs

- Don't bring your own pillow - what a huge waste of space.

Noise-canceling earphones. They make it easier to hear the movie, your recorded music will sound better, and when you want to sleep they serve as a pretty good Cone Of Silence.

Copies of The New Yorker that you never got around to reading. Boroleum ointment to put under the nostrils for dryness prevention.

I wouldn't be without my down filled travel pillow. I love it. And it squishes down quite small.

Kate I love the pashmina idea. I'll add it to my list.

Great recommendations! A few additions to the list:

1. I like to use the Oral B Brush-Ups - little brushes with paste that you put over an index finger to brush my teeth with before departing the flight. Beats standing in line for WC to brush your teeth. I actually discovered these as part of a complimentary business class kit, and now always travel with them. About $1 for two.

2. Rant Alert: I used to never bring extra water on a flight, (ridiculous to haul water on your carry-on), but in the last year I've changed my tune on this one. I've noticed on four flights to Europe in the last year that the flight attendants have been severely rationing the water. For example, for a Diet Coke, I received a large glass/can. When I ask for water I receive a small plastic glass, and they won't leave a bottle, and will only give you one small glass at a time. The kicker is that I fly Business Class. The flight attendants told me that they were afraid that they might run-out.

My friends that fly Coach say that they will never fly without a liter of their own water again. I think it is part of the "cutbacks" occurring on the airlines.

3. Noise cancelling headphones are AWESOME! You don't realize the difference they make until you fly without wearing them.

2. Airplanes do carry potable water in tanks - but I wouldn't drink it unless it's been boiled to make tea or coffee.

3. That's funny - I didn't notice the difference until I flew with them.

Moleskin (for use after you land and your daughter has blisters for two weeks).

I'm going to begin bringing wine in small boxes so I don't have to pay so much.

Toothbrush and paste.

Sudoku

Trashy novel

Anyone have a suggestion for a good sleep aid? Benadryl, something?

Ipod
Pillow
Laptop
xannax or valiums

Travel for me is such a ritual, and my carry-on is pretty standard.

1) laptop (if I am bringing it). I like to use it to get work done and I take the flight time to run maintenence on my computer and correct typos on my iTunes.
2) Melatonin. Once I take that, I have 30 minutes until I am out cold for the rest of the flight.
3) A book. I like to have one I am about to finish and leave it for a fellow traveler or give it to the stewards.
4) My diary and a pen. I am never without it.
5) Morning refresher kit: toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, face wash, make-up, and hair fixer-uppers. The goal is to look awesome coming off the flight. DO NOT BE THE ANNOYING PERSON WHO SPRAYS THEIR PERFUME ON THE FLIGHT! Some people are allergic and just because you think it smells great doesn't mean it does to everyone else. Save it for the airport.
6) Pjs and a hanger. I hang up my outfit the minute I get on the flight and put on my Pjs, which are warm and very comfortable. I change before landing.

Usually I end up taking the Melatonin while in line for boarding and fall asleep before using anything in my bag.

1. iPod
2. a trashy magazine (US weekly or something)
3. small notebook and pen (i like to make lists when i'm bored--anything, like favorite songs, etc..)
4. baby wipes
5. deodarant
6. change of shirt and panties for the morning (i feel skeevy, and i tend to arrive early in the AM before my hotels check-in time, so i'm often several hours away from a shower..)
7. tooth brust and toothpaste
8. my purse has all the other essentials--cosmetics (i rarely fly wearing much more than mascara, but prior to landing i put some cosmetics on to look somewhat alert), chapstick and lotion.
9. a big bottle of water--if I didn't have it I'd bother the flight attendant every five minutes
10. GUM. lots of gum, i have bad ears.
11. xanax or something along those lines

Somebody mentioned earplugs made specifically for take off and landing--can anyone tell me where to purchase these? are they any good?

The last year for some reason my ears have been KILLING me on descent--I never even had this problem when I was a flight attendant! I end up chewing a bunch of gum and doing the valsalva maneuver every five seconds (which is the only thing that works--you hold your nostrils shut and basically blow out like you're going to blow your nose, and your ears pop--or rather, de-pop lol)

Miss Z you might have the ear problem now BECAUSE you were a FA, sort of like the women who wear pointy shoes in their 30s/40s have ugly painful bunions later on. Not to say that you're in any way ugly. I have used Ear Planes is one brand from the drugstore, and they filter the pressure or something. Regular wax earplugs work for me too with added benny of muffling cackling seatmates.

I'm curious, how can you possibly change in the plane bathroom? Is there a trick or something. I'm facing a "what to wear" on the plane dilemma -- I want to be comfy (10:30pm flight), but not look like I rolled out of bed when I check into the hotel? Suggestions, tips...please.

BTW, these tips are great and I am taking copious notes!

seetheworld

You can learn to change in a plane bathroom, but it is not easy, and you must learn to wear gloves and stand on your hands while using your toes to "assemble" and "don" your change of clothes.

LOL Degas! Perhaps I should start practicing this technique in my linen closet before I try it on board the plane.

Eye drops and a lens case if you wear contact...on my last flight I just kept using the drops but I have had times I need to just take them out!!!

Thanks Fidel, you're probably right about that--flying with an ear infection is not good for your ears, and unfortunately I (along with many new hires!) did that. The airlines love to stress how dangerous it is to fly when your ears hurt, yet at the same time they want to crucify you if you call in sick.. :igh::

I will look for some ear plugs--thanks!

MissZiegfeld
Dont laugh, but I have heard that if you go in the bathroom You can do it in your seat however... and suck your thumb for a bit that I can help your ears.

i meant to say
MissZiegfeld
Dont laugh, but I have heard that if you go in the bathroom (you can do it in your seat however)... and suck your thumb for a bit, it can help your ears.

I'd never thought of that, but thumb-sucking might reduce the pressure in one's middle ear, which would tend to equalize it upon ascent...

But when the cabin is being re-pressurized to ambient pressure upon descent, one would want to blow, not suck.

Welcome aboard. Care for a Binky®?

MissZ,
As someone mentioned you can buy the earplugs at almost any drugstore and yes they do work really well. It will be written on the package for airtravel etc.
I hate doing the valsalva maneuver, that really hurts.

washcloth in a ziploc bag

I remember seeing someone sucking their thumb curled in the foetal position on an egypt air flight 20 years ago...... it was the pilot !

Welcome aboard. Care for a Binky®?

It was the pilot !!..

you people are funny.....

I am told by my dear wife that the single most important thing to take on an overseas flight is her own sweet self.

Dire consequenses are forcast should I ever forget.

A word to the wise, Gentlemen!

Changing in the bathroom is not particularly difficult as long as you are flexible. I usually wear a skirt onto the flight with a nice top, and I just let the skirt drop and then work the top over my head (if you go straight up there is room). Then I put on my pj top and sit down to put on the bottoms, pick up my stuff, and am out of there, nice clothes hung up and comfy pjs on my body.

Where do you hang your clothes up at? Are you sitting in business class with a coat closet nearby?

1* Pen
2* Xwords/Sudokus
3* Novels
4* Sennheiser Folding Headphones
5* Adapter to connect headphones to plane system
6* Ipod
7* Toiletry bag
I never take food or drink because, on the run from Australia to Europe, Singapore Airlines provides more than enough of each.

bookmark

dutyfree- I sit coach, but usually the flight attendants will hang it up, and if not I put it above me draped over larger carry-ons.

You really wear PJ's on a plane? I've never seen anyone do that before. What kind of Pj's? Just wondering.

Freeze the water bottle; take it out when you leave for the airport. result: ice water during the entire flight.

A game of hangman for husband and I to play on the flight over. Found a cute paper one in Cracker Barrel.

Carrybean- I just wear PJ pants and a long sleeved shirt. Nothing special, except that my pj pants are quite colorful.

Now we'll be able to tell if we are flying with laclaire Just be on the lookout for very colorful PJ pants!

MissZ, my DH had the painful, ear popping problem. His ear/nose/throat doctor recommended one spray of original formula Afrin in each nostril before takeoff (and again before landing on an overseas flight). This has worked for our last three trips. If you're not precluded from using nasel sprays, you might try this.

I took a Logic Puzzles magazine with me on last trip a few weeks ago. Hadn't done those in years and the determination to finish kept me occupied and made the time...ahem...fly.

I never, ever, ever fly without EarPlanes or Dramamine.

seetheworld,

How about a yoga type outfit for wearing on the plane? Super comfy and they look good. Also, they lend well to layering. You can wear a tank under a jacket to take care of that whole hot/cold problem.

MissZiegfeld, I have that agonizing pain in my ears on landing too. My doctor recommended Sudafed. Take it about an hour before you land (or just cover your bases like I do and take the 12-hour version just before the flight). It relieves any congestion in the ears and completely prevents the pain for me.

Keep in mind the fact that antihistamines (both topical and oral) manifest a "bounceback" effect such that after you stop using them, the symptom(s) you're treating come back stronger than before.

This might be especially disadvantageous if you're going to be flying again very soon after using some, because you'll then have blockage that nothing can help.

If I had an ear pressure equalization problem, I think I'd rather just gut it out than risk creating an intractable situation.

Robespierre, are you referring to the Afrin post or the Sudafed post?

Neither are antihistimines, but the Afrin can cause a rebound effect if used consistantly, every few hours. (3 days is the outer limit) Just using it for landing shouldn't be an issue.

lucygirl, yoga outfits only look good when people actually do yoga or some other exercise. I hate to say it and know I will hear about it but people that wear exercise wear in public usually look like they haven't exercised much.

Great thread dutyfree!

What about those people travelling with kids? What top ten things are a must?

Travelling with kids:

1) Gameboy, new game, batteries

2) Book (or 2)

3) Snacks: some healthy, some fun like gum and Water

4) playing cards

5) Benadryl for those long overnight flights (carried in mom's bag!)

6) crayons or markers and activity book "Alex" brand makes some good ones.

7) ipod

8) Mom and Dad's names and phone numbers and airline name and flight numbers

9) sweater

10) toothbrush and kids toothpaste

>>> 7) <<< ipod

Dittoes on the i pod. Once the aircraft is high in the sky, I cut mine on and listen to it for most of the journey.

Just for fun, I have built playlists with a travel theme.

Across the universe....Beatles

Flying....Beatles

Thinking is the bestway to travel...Moody Blues

Traveling man-Beautiful Loser.....Bob Seger

Travelin' in the dark....Mountain

Travelin' man....Lynyrd Skynyrd

Anyway, ipods are easy to pack, easy to keep charged and really help on a long train ride, or late in the evening trying to recover from jet-lag.

iPods are great. I recently flew to Italy for a two-week visit to see it for my first time. I loaded my iPod with tenor Andrea Boccelli singing beautiful Italian songs. It really got me in the mood for Italy, Not to mention it also cancelled out the noise in the plane. I also listened to it as we took train rides from city to city in Italy. Now, that music will always remind me of seeing Italy for the first time. Priceless.

You mentioned all of that protective gear that NFL or College football players wear.

Quarterback Troy Aikman of the Dallas Cowboys was forced to retire early after Doctors told him one more concussion might kill him. Same with Steve Young and Roger Staubach.

I saw several promising college running backs go down with serious injuries after one blow to the knees. Chuck Web, running back with the Tennessee Vols went down after a hard hit in the knees. He never was quite the same.

I saw Jamal Lewis for the Baltimore Ravens go down in his college days after a terrible hit while playing college football for the Tennessee Vols in a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

He bounced back, but he was lucky. That gear is needed in American football since the game is so brutal.

Opps, I posted that about American football in the wrong thread.

Some Brit??? was trashing American football. LOL

In light of comments on the "what not to bring/do thread" I would like to add a number 11 of what to bring:
11. Clothes peg (for nose)

Never flown overseas before and had not even considered that my jeans might be uncomfortable after the 13 hour flight. Now I am thinking that sweatpants, a top, and a zip-up style jacket be a lot more comfy for such a long flight (without having to change). Thanks.

And a change of clothes...just in case crefloors' friend's baby is on board!

Meant to be read aloud (for the full effect). It's amazing, you will
understand what 'tendjewberrymud' means by the end of the conversation.

The following is a telephone
exchange between a hotel guest and Room Service, at a hotel in Asia,
which was recorded and published in the Far East Economic Review.

**********************************************
Room Service (RS): "Morny. Ruin sorbees"
Guest (G): "Sorry, I thought I dialed room-service"

RS: "Rye..Ruin sorbees..morny! Djewish to odor sunteen??"
G: "Uh..yes..I'd like some bacon and eggs"

RS: "Ow July den?"
G: "What??"

RS: "Ow July den?...pry, boy, pooch?"
G: "Oh, the eggs! How do I like them? Sorry. Scrambled please."

RS: "Ow July dee bayhcem...crease?"
G: "Crisp will be fine."

RS: "Hokay. An San tos?"
G: "What?"

RS:"San tos. July San tos?"
G: "I don't think so"

RS: "No? Judo one toes??"
G:"I feel really bad about this, but I don't know what 'judo one toes'
means."

RS: "Toes! Toes!...why djew Don Juan toes? Ow bow inglish mopping we
bother?
G: "English muffin! I've got it! You were saying 'Toast.' Okay, fine...

Yes, an English muffin will be fine."

RS: "We bother?"
G: "No, just put the bother on the side."

RS: "Wad?"
G: "I mean butter...just put it on the side."

RS: "Copy?"
G: "Sorry?"

RS: "Copy...tea...mill?"
G: "Oh,yes.. Coffee please, and that's all." >

RS: "One Minnie. Ass ruin torino fee, strangle ache, crease baychem,
tossy singlish mopping we bother honey sigh, and copy ... rye?"
G: "Whatever you say"

RS: "Tendjewberrymud"
G : "You're welcome"

Wad een copy? Meel o soocker?

LOLOL

marshybird - that could be a transript from my trip to Beijing last year!

oops -- I meant that last message of mine to go under the "travel humour" thread. sorry. I'm just getting used to this site.
I like taking a few crossword puzzles ripped out of the newspaper to pass the time on the flight, easy to carry and dispose of the used ones.
I think we may just invest in the noise-cancelling headphones. Thanks!

The bottom line is: carry on anything you can't afford to be without for a week - or forever. And that's true no matter what carrier you're flying.

I bring it ALL on board. To regulation of course.
I wont chance lost luggage.


Must Have on hand..
Neck pillow
Blanket
Ipod
Healthy snacks
Water
Book
Crosswords
Wipes
Toothbrush/Paste/Mouthwash
Assorted Makeup
Deodorant

I wear..
Wrinkle resistant/comfy clothing
Sweater
Cozy socks

The following was 'cut and pasted' from the above suggestions:

buy a spray bottle of saline water(salt) to squirt into your nose periodically during the flight to keep your nasal tissues moist so you don't catch a cold or other "cooties" from you fellow passengers

Is there a name for this salt spray? Never heard of it, but sounds like a good idea.
I like to wear light, workout pants. Very comfortable, and I can sleep in them too.
Carrie

re: the salin ose spray. You will find it with other nose sprays in the drug store. I think one brand is called Ocean. There are generic brands.

oops, typed too fast. I meant saline nose spray!!

Goodness...so that's what's in those heavy carry-ons that y'awl keep whacking each other in the head with!
Whatever do you bring with you when you're going on a road trip where you have more space for more stuff you simply cannot do without?

What I bring always fits in a backpack that way my hands are free at the airport. I always bring water because they never give you enough and I also change for an overseas flight into something comfortable. I like to have something comfy to lay around in anyway for when I¡¦m exhausted at a hotel. I definitely agree with snacks. While we Americans always (don¡¦t you love stmts that start with that?) make that mistake in some minds, I don¡¦t see it as a mistake. Just because an airline gives you food doesn¡¦t mean it¡¦s going to be something you should be eating.

I¡¦ve been much happier since I stopped wearing makeup on flights. Now I wash my face when we get close and put makeup on then. Feels so much fresher and it¡¦s easier to put moisturizer on. I¡¦ve never had a problem changing in the bathroom ¡V make sure you put the seat down!!

I like to put everything I need for the flight in a plastic bag in my carry on. I pull that out before I put it away so I don¡¦t have to go back in there again. I hate when people are constantly pulling things out of the overheads.

My husband takes Dramamine so he goes right to sleep. I don¡¦t take anything just in case I have to land the plane. ƒº

topping

whoa! I never thought of the saline water bottle! I almost always get sick after a long flight!!

a sense of humor

L84SKY
some of the Yoga wear these days is very fashionable. I always wear my lululemon pants on plane rides,they look nice and they're super comfy. It's not like wearing sweat pants or track pants with a headband. About drinking water on the plane, I read somewhere (it might have been an article on fodors) that unless you see the flight attendant opening a water bottle, you shouldn't drink the water. Their potable water tank that they refill bottles from is not so great.

1)Prescription glasses to watch the movie
2)Blanket--the airlines never have enough in coach
3)Soft slippers so you can take off your shoes but not have to walk to the toilet in your socks!
4)Small packet of Kleenex (or other tissue)
5)Crossword puzzles and pencil

I will be adding saline nose spray to my bag.
thanks for the tip...

In addition to those things already mentioned by others, I bring a tiny, travel-sized tube of Aquaphor ointment (sold in the travel/sample-size aisle of my neighborhood drugstore). I use it as a lip moisturizer, face moisturizer, and under the nostrils to prevent nasal dryness.

I know a lot of people think "Airborne" is a scam, but on my last two transatlantic flights I used it and avoided colds for the first time ever.

Xanax and baby wipes are essential.

Cimbrone
(formerly Guy18)

I bring:
all my notes for the entire trip
money belt, hard candy for the flight
make-up
book and Sudoku
sweater
journal - might as well get started
my sense of humor (I hope)

Chapstick!!!

- a tiny flashlight+whistle combo (I actually have them in all my bags/purses because I take the subway)
- a can of evian spray to spray my face with (not sure if it does anything good but it feels good on a long flight)
- bose headphones, ipod
- pashmina
- my favorite sleep mask from japan airlines (best of all airlines' IMHO)
- my glasses, contact lense case and cleansing solution
- rich hand and body lotion, the kind too heavy to use everyday, and light gloves and socks for an inflight moisturizing "treatment"
- magazines, books, travel books and maps of my destination (assuming this is not a work trip!)
- toothbrush, lip balm, moisturizer, heavy eye cream, tissues and moist wipes
- lots of bobby pins/elastics to keep my hair off my face
- a pair of sandals to slip on to go to the bathroom/walk around the plane
- hotel, transportation info, trip plan, passport, tickets, addresses of nieces and nephews who I will send postcards to if going to a place they have never been
- blackberry

Noise cancelling or noise reducing headphones are essential. The noise cancelling tend to have a seperate power source (battery) to actually cancel out noise, and the noise reducing are just like an ear plug. I can't stand to get a plane anymore without my noise reducing headphones (Shure E4C's). Recently I was next to a lady with a newborn who's kid was both crying, and she was emotionally a wreck due to personal issues etc.. So lots of crying, etc. I put on my noise reducing headphones and ipod and didn't hear a thing. I could tell people in the seats around me were pretty annoyed, but my nice headphones made it a comfortable flight

For longer flights, especially to Europe, melatonin comes in very handy. I usually take some right after the dinner meal. It's not too strong like a sleeping pill so you can stay awake or wake up if necessary, but when you want to sleep it help knock you out. also it's all natural, so nothing to be concerned about for those who hate taking pills. i usually get the stuff that disolves under your tongue.

this is what i've usually got on me:

book, magazine, toothbrush, blistex lip medix (best for dry lips), deoderant, camera, noise reducing headphones, mp3 player, laptop, melatonin

oh and have a pen on you for forms!

One of my friends brought a cotton pillow case to put the airline pillow in so it would feel more "like bed" and thus encourage sleeping, as well as making the pillow more cootie-free!

I love the pillow case idea - so simple yet such a good idea.

In light of the most recent changes in carry-on restrictions, lots of patience comes to mind as the essential and I wish I could say I have a lot but I don't!

I second the Melatonin idea..it works for me better than Benadryl, Ambien, etc., even when I cannot recline very far.

A ray gun to zap the (Oh, I don't know
WHO those kids belong to") parents of the children kicking the back of your seat...barring that, plenty of barbiturate-filled bubble gum for the kids themselves ("Here, little girl..try this.")

To those who take Melatonin - how much do you take? And do you continue to take it after you arrive?
Deb

I bring a complete change of clothes, figuring the bags will get lost. Laptop for DVDs and cameras. Noise cancelling headphones. Maps and travel guides, so I have them if they lose the bags. Coat and a small umbrella. A few snacks and a bottle of water.

LOVE THE ORAL-B BRUSH-UP IDEA!!!Never thought of that one before.

I love the Oral B Brushups, too. However, I can't find them in my local Walgreens. Has anyone bought them lately? I hope they haven't quit making them.
Deb

Bottle of water is not allowed. Nor was lipstick yesterday at CDG.

You cannot even use restrooms once you pass security.

hmmmm, no bathrooms after passing security. That in itself could cause a few explosions.

I can only imagine the rush to the bathrooms after everyone boards their planes - not to mention the initial extra weight.

Nina

Tried Target, Walgreens and Osco for Oral B Brush-Ups-no luck. Oral B's web site mentioned Linen's and Things--they hadn't had them for "quite a while". Finally found that CVS had their own brand and bought the only pack on the shelf. Good Luck finding them!!

Go to Froogle & enter Oral B Brush-ups.

LOL Nina!!

love the ray gun idea Dukey............If there's a kicker on the flight he's usually behind my seat and they're not always kids! I could really smash them.
I have a little fold up foot rest that I like to take along. I get pains in my legs on long flights and this helps.

dotsy,
i ordered mine from http://www.minimus.biz. try there.
Good luck

Can you take Oral B brush ups on the plane for transatlantic flights? This ones on Air France and we (of course) change planes at CDG.

When I go on a flight, I pack my Ipod (Can't travel without my Ipod), my sunglasses, a good book, my US weekly magazine, my nintendo DS with a few game, a small bottle of hand cream with some Oral B Brush Ups, a water bottle with a lolly-pop to suck on so my ears don't get blocked with a balnket.

On the flight I usually wear someting confortable like jogging pants or stretch jeans with a normal top with a hoody. I wear confortable boots or running shoes with a clssical long coat that goes down to my nees.

I very classy look when I travel!

Yes, that sounds SUPREMELY classy, haha. You must never get hasseled at security in a get-up like that!

I don't know about the Oral-B Brush-Ups. Last year I was shopping at Boots, and they had them on clearance - TEN PENCE for a pack of 5 or 10!!!!
The girl looked at me strangely when I dumped the basketful onto the counter. But for 5 quid, I got either 250 or 500 (can't remember if each pack was 5 or ten) individually wrapped Brush-Ups! You can't ask for a better deal than that!

I've been using them religiously since they first came out - stash a few in the car console, your purse, wherever, and NEVER have that skeezy feeling again. It's great!

Also, FlatFeet:

- a can of evian spray to spray my face with (not sure if it does anything good but it feels good on a long flight)

I've been looking into a hydrating face spray, but have been notified by the online stores that sell the Evian spray bottles that they can only ship them via ground shipping, because they're not even allowed in a plane's cargo (explosion risk), much less the cabin.

This notification by them annoyed me, because their description also stated, GREAT FOR AIR TRAVEL!

Please advise.

Sleeping pill for an overnight flight, earplugs, neck pillow and sweater (that can also be used as a blanket.

Please please remember a pen for your forms-still cannot figure out how people can travel through Europe for weeks without something to write with?

Along with the iPod (which, with some relaxing music is fabulous for drowning out the neighbors)...I also go to the library ahead of time and check out some books on CD. Copy those to my computer, then load them to the iPod. I love being read to when I'm in la-la land but not yet ready to sleep. And I figure if I delete the book from computer and iPod after I listen, I'm still within the spirit of library borrowing.

I stop and ask for a bottle of water immediately before proceeding to my seat... I explain that I'm ill, or dehydrated etc. if there is any resistance to my request.

I always travel with provisions (food, no liquids now dang it) a bit of tooth paste and brush, breath freshners, visine. A light coat, or blanket (I get one when i get that bottle of water, again histories told to the attendant that physically, I can't handle even a bit of chill...oh, dear me....and I do not hold up the line while making my requests...)

Pack healthy food stuff... cause if it is really yummy, it is gone in the first hour of the seven hour flight, i.e. trailmix, chicken salad sandwiches etc..... but an apple is delicious 5 hours in, and it is hydrating...

One small notebook and pen.

One small book for reading....

one neck pillow

and a good seat mate.

all travel papers (reservation emails and vouchers, maps, etc....)

don't take alot of stuff.
sleep.

happy trails....

In case anyone wants to know, feelingpampered.com has some great 100% silk travel pillows, and they're made of 19 momme silk, which is some of the most luxurious out there (and the prices aren't insane either - I like luxury, but I can't afford to be very frivolous, haha - AND they come in cute little travel bags).

You can also get two kinds of travel sets: travel pillowcase and eye mask, or travel pillow with pillowcase and you can add the eye mask on.

Using a silk case supposedly doesn't cause wrinkles like normal pillowcases can over time (I'm not just talking normal, "I slept weird" creases, haha), and I can say from experience, as someone with long, thick, wavy hair - I don't get the frizzy bird's nest look in the morning. Plus, with a pillowcase, you don't get the diseases on those pillows, haha.

And to put an end, once and for all, to the question about whether or not the Evian spray is allowed:

http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/bag_poster.pdf

They feature it as an item to put in your 1 quart baggie ON the TSA site (in the 1.7 oz size)! I know I've got mine - just 8 days left til I set flight!

I received a set of Plane Quiet earphones for Mother's Day and am looking forward to trying them. Next trip is to STT so that should be a good test, especially since my young granchildren (with their parents) will be seated right in front of us!

FUN TOPIC!

+A travel pillowcase for the yucky Airplane pillow. 100% Egyptian Cotton. Genius.

Feel free to ask where I got mine since I'm not sure of Fodor-etiquette on naming brands.

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MARSHT BIRD
that made me laugh
thank you

it is cute though hey

what must our accents be like when we torture other languages!

i also adore the print t shirts u see round town
the translations and randomness crack me up

saw this on a little kid

'you be my friend? is you my friend?' ...printed all over her little flouncy dress

I've never been overseas so all of this is great! My family and I are taking a trip to Italy in a couple months which we are all really excited about but I have a big problem with flying. Is there anything that you all would recommend taking to calm nerves and help with sleep?

Ambien.

Please only take Ambien if you have taken it before and know your limits. I cannot tell you how many times I have had a problem getting someone awake on the flight when they have taken an Ambien-flight has a mechanical and we had to change planes;landed in the foreign city and couldn't get them to deplane,etc.
Funny-I was thinking of bringing this up for this season's travelers. Thanks!

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Read with caution..

The first post suggest Airborne which is really noting but vitmins and will NOT "keep you healty" (as thier lawsuit settlement demonstrated LOL!)

I was also reading from the start and remembering fondly the days of bringing on your own water. Someone recommended freezing a bottle to bring it cold. Times have changed.