The travel experts at Cheapflights are offering a peek into their cabin bags, sharing with you what their must-have travel items are, in hope to make your future travels a little easier.
The basics
Along with the items you need for travelling, and most commonly carry with you daily (i.e., ID, tickets, cell phone and wallet), here are a few more basic items our experts like to keep in their cabin bags when travelling.
Pen and Paper: You might need to fill out paperwork for customs, do the puzzles in the in-flight magazine or take down the phone number of a fellow passenger.
Book or magazine: A form of entertainment that doesn’t require batteries, so you won’t have to worry about charging up.
Tablet, laptop or MP3 player: These are great for keeping yourself entertained while travelling. Load up your device with pre-downloaded movies, shows or music to make the ride fly by (no pun intended).
Chargers: In the dreadful situation that your luggage is lost, you won’t have to worry about your devices dying.
A warm layer: Planes can get chilly, so even if you are going some place tropical, pack a light jumper. Another option is to wear a scarf or pashmina on the plane.
Cash: It’s always a good idea to carry a little bit of cash on you and it’s a nice way to avoid high ATM fees.
Mini first-aid kit: Plan for unexpected bumps and bruises. Include your personal medication you might need on your trip, some pain-relievers and band-aids.
The extra’s
Bathing suit (if you’re going somewhere tropical): If you lose your luggage, at least you can hang out at the pool or beach.
Change of clothes: Although unlikely, it is important to plan for the situation of your luggage not arriving with you.
Playing cards: Cards can provide entertainment on a long flight with friends/seatmates and it doesn’t require batteries. Win-win!
Snacks: Airport snacks can sometimes be expensive, so save some cash by bringing your own.
Skin care items: Planes can leave your skin dry. Combat this with moisturizer, face wipes and lip balm.
Sleeping materials: If you are hoping to get a little shut eye on your flight, make it easier for yourself by bringing an eye mask and neck pillow.
For families
Change of clothes for kids and parents: Accidents happen and if you happen to be holding your child when said accident occurs, you’ll be happy you brought along a change of clothes for the child and yourself.
Nappies and wipes: If you have a young child still in nappies, it’s recommended that you pack one nappy for every hour you are travelling.
Plastic bags: Continuing on the theme of accidents and nappies, it is a good idea to carry some plastic bags in case the flight attendant isn’t coming around with a rubbish bag anytime soon.
Blankets: As mentioned above, planes can get chilly, so pack a small blanket for each child to ensure they are warm and cozy.
Presents: Packing a few small, wrapped presents can create excitement for children. Plus the novelty of a new toy will, hopefully, keep them entertained for a while.
Patience, humour and lots of fun: This one is self-explanatory.
Tips for parents:
- As a parent, wear a backpack so you have both hands free to use.
- If you are using a stroller, bring it right to the gate and check it there.
- Many airlines offer families to board the plane first, which is great if you know you will need extra time to get settled in. However, if you don’t need the extra time, wait to board so that way the children aren’t on the plane any longer than they need to be.
- If your child is old enough, have them carry on their own small bag. This way each child has their own snacks, toys and electronics, and everyone isn’t searching through mom and dad’s bag looking for things.
- If you are nursing, book a window seat if you want a little extra privacy. If you are travelling with another person, book an aisle and window seat in hope that the middle seat stays empty so you have extra space.
- For long-haul flights, fly in the evening so everyone has a better chance of sleeping.
More tips from the experts
“Keep valuables in a handy outside pocket in case your bag has to be checked and you need to grab things quickly”.
“Don’t take a chance on it being too large for cabin bag, check the specs and conform to the airline guidelines. Avoid the ‘…sorry you have to check that…’ nightmare”.
“Pack things expecting that the cabin baggage will get jammed in a tight place. This means no breakables or anything you wouldn’t want squished”.
“I love my ‘urban murse’. It’s high quality with plenty of compartments and also can be used as a backpack, cross-body bag or carried with its handles”.
“I am a fan of a cabin bag that has a good mix of pockets so you can keep thing organized and secure. An inside zipper pocket is a must. If it’s a vacation, I like a bag that can double as tote for a day out exploring or heading to the beach”.
“Bring a bag you’ll use while you’re in your destination. For example, if I’m on a business trip, my cabin bag will be the bag I’ll use to go to and from meetings or the office. If I’m heading out on an adventure, I’ll bring a backpack as my cabin baggage. Then, I can use it when I go hiking or take trains here and there in my destination”.
“Try to keep your cabin bag to a small size that fits under the seat in front of you. That way you won’t have to battle for overhead bin space or have a wrestling match with your baggage upon arrival as you try to remove it from the bin while everyone behind you gives you the stink eye because you’re blocking them from getting off the plane”.
“Keep your keys zipped in a pocket. I’ve had enough scares over the years from carelessly tucking keys into coat pockets or some random corner of a purse where they float around my entire trip, ready to be lost, stolen or checked with luggage that may or may not arrive when I do”.
Featured image: andy-li
