A Flight Attendants Best Tips to Have a Great Trip: Advice on What to Pack, What to Keep By Your Side, and How to Interact with a New Country
By Wendy Sue Knecht
10 Packing Tips
up as little space as possible. Leave the bulky, thick clothing at home. Pack thin, wrinkle-resistant fabrics, and layer, layer, layer when necessary.
3. Wear the Fat. Wear your “fattest” clothes (e.g., heaviest jeans, shoes, sweater, or jacket) on board...space is at a premium.
4. Scheme It. One basic bottom color scheme is all you need.If you can’t wear a top with more than one bottom and vice-versa, don’t bring it along!
5. Accessories Rule. Punches of colorful scarves, a cool necklace, or a special belt changes a look instantly. Multitask your clothing!
6. Carry It On. Don’t chance losing precious time if the airline loses your luggage...and save check-in luggage charges, too.
7. Get Technique. Roll clothes to save space and avoid wrinkles, and use packing cubes to fill the crevices in your suitcase.
8 The Rule of Threes. Bring three tops for every bottom, bring no more than three pairs of shoes, and eliminate anything you can’t wear at least three times.
9. A Week’s Worth. A week’s worth of clothing is the most you’ll really ever need, even for a month of travel, so don’t go overboard. Think hand washables!
10. Expandables. Expandable bags! Who doesn’t come home with more than they left with?
10 Rules for World Travelers
1. Check for Holidays. You don’t want to end up in Dubai during Ramadan (as I did).
2. Only Carry On. Don’t check it in unless you’re on your way home, and then don’t check anything you could never live without.
3. Coffee. Don’t forget to drink coffee before your “withdrawal headache” sets in. Keep this in mind when you get to your destination—waking up with a throbbing headache is no fun.
4. Don’t Think About the Time Change. Set your watch to the local time and don’t think about it. It is whatever time it is!
5. Keep a Diary. You’ll be glad you did. You’ll never remember the name of that great restaurant.
6. Take Copies. Make a copy of your passport and driver’s license and carry it at all times.
7. Download Skype or Viber. Two of the best, cheapest, and easiest way to make a call.
8. Always Bring a Bathing Suit. If you don’t, at some point, you’ll wish you had.
9. Bring Food. Small packs of your favorite nuts, bars, coffee, etc., will be a lifesaver.
10. Bring a Clothespin. Indispensable item for closing curtains, hanging washables, etc.
10 Items to Keep Within Reach
These might sound obvious, but keeping these items in the bag under the seat in front of you will save you a lot of aggravation!
1. Devices. Laptops, iPads, cellphones, e-readers, Gameboys, etc.
2. Medicine. Ibuprofen, hydrocortisone cream, decongestants (for unexpected colds and stuffy sinuses), zinc lozenges, antacids, and, of course, whatever prescription medications you need to take.
3. Credit Card. This will save you a lot of rummaging through time when it’s happy hour and the airline is cashless.
4. Pen and an Extra. Duh. But I’ve had to borrow one before, too.
5. Paper. Seems like you might not need this, but you’ll thank me.
6. Socks. Cold feet are the worst, especially on a long flight with blanket shortages.
7. An Extra Layer. Again, you never know. A sweater, a pashmina, or a light jacket can go a long way to keep you in comfort.
8. Food. Delays, late flights, no service on board...Being hungry is the root of a lot of crankiness--your own, your kids, your travel mate.
9. Toiletries. Anything you need to feel fresh, especially moisturizer to combat dry cabin air. I highly recommend packaged face towelettes. They’re not counted as a liquid and double as hand wipes, spill wipes, stain remover, etc.
10. Hand Sanitizer. Use it often.
Reprinted from Life, Love, and a Hijacking: My Pan Am Memoir by Wendy Sue Knecht. Wendy’s memoir details her adventures, life lessons, and some harrowing events that took place while working for the world’s most iconic airline, Pan Am.
Buy the book:http://tinyurl.com/kuxl5t5
By Wendy Sue Knecht
10 Packing Tips
- Start Out Light. The weight you carry should be only what you put in the bag, so a lightweight but sturdy bag is essential
up as little space as possible. Leave the bulky, thick clothing at home. Pack thin, wrinkle-resistant fabrics, and layer, layer, layer when necessary.
3. Wear the Fat. Wear your “fattest” clothes (e.g., heaviest jeans, shoes, sweater, or jacket) on board...space is at a premium.
4. Scheme It. One basic bottom color scheme is all you need.If you can’t wear a top with more than one bottom and vice-versa, don’t bring it along!
5. Accessories Rule. Punches of colorful scarves, a cool necklace, or a special belt changes a look instantly. Multitask your clothing!
6. Carry It On. Don’t chance losing precious time if the airline loses your luggage...and save check-in luggage charges, too.
7. Get Technique. Roll clothes to save space and avoid wrinkles, and use packing cubes to fill the crevices in your suitcase.
8 The Rule of Threes. Bring three tops for every bottom, bring no more than three pairs of shoes, and eliminate anything you can’t wear at least three times.
9. A Week’s Worth. A week’s worth of clothing is the most you’ll really ever need, even for a month of travel, so don’t go overboard. Think hand washables!
10. Expandables. Expandable bags! Who doesn’t come home with more than they left with?
10 Rules for World Travelers
1. Check for Holidays. You don’t want to end up in Dubai during Ramadan (as I did).
2. Only Carry On. Don’t check it in unless you’re on your way home, and then don’t check anything you could never live without.
3. Coffee. Don’t forget to drink coffee before your “withdrawal headache” sets in. Keep this in mind when you get to your destination—waking up with a throbbing headache is no fun.
4. Don’t Think About the Time Change. Set your watch to the local time and don’t think about it. It is whatever time it is!
5. Keep a Diary. You’ll be glad you did. You’ll never remember the name of that great restaurant.
6. Take Copies. Make a copy of your passport and driver’s license and carry it at all times.
7. Download Skype or Viber. Two of the best, cheapest, and easiest way to make a call.
8. Always Bring a Bathing Suit. If you don’t, at some point, you’ll wish you had.
9. Bring Food. Small packs of your favorite nuts, bars, coffee, etc., will be a lifesaver.
10. Bring a Clothespin. Indispensable item for closing curtains, hanging washables, etc.
10 Items to Keep Within Reach
These might sound obvious, but keeping these items in the bag under the seat in front of you will save you a lot of aggravation!
1. Devices. Laptops, iPads, cellphones, e-readers, Gameboys, etc.
2. Medicine. Ibuprofen, hydrocortisone cream, decongestants (for unexpected colds and stuffy sinuses), zinc lozenges, antacids, and, of course, whatever prescription medications you need to take.
3. Credit Card. This will save you a lot of rummaging through time when it’s happy hour and the airline is cashless.
4. Pen and an Extra. Duh. But I’ve had to borrow one before, too.
5. Paper. Seems like you might not need this, but you’ll thank me.
6. Socks. Cold feet are the worst, especially on a long flight with blanket shortages.
7. An Extra Layer. Again, you never know. A sweater, a pashmina, or a light jacket can go a long way to keep you in comfort.
8. Food. Delays, late flights, no service on board...Being hungry is the root of a lot of crankiness--your own, your kids, your travel mate.
9. Toiletries. Anything you need to feel fresh, especially moisturizer to combat dry cabin air. I highly recommend packaged face towelettes. They’re not counted as a liquid and double as hand wipes, spill wipes, stain remover, etc.
10. Hand Sanitizer. Use it often.
Reprinted from Life, Love, and a Hijacking: My Pan Am Memoir by Wendy Sue Knecht. Wendy’s memoir details her adventures, life lessons, and some harrowing events that took place while working for the world’s most iconic airline, Pan Am.
Buy the book:http://tinyurl.com/kuxl5t5
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