Packing Tips for the Plane

    With economy seating getting tighter and tighter, there's even more reason to have all your necessities -- especially on long flights -- in a small shoulder or tote bag that easily fits under your seat. I recently blogged that I've managed to go even lighter than ever before in terms of my never-check-luggage packing, carrying a backpack that itself fits under my seat, beside my wee shoulder bag. No climbing over your seatmates during the flight to access your overhead luggage. (On my recent flight from Amsterdam, the person in front of me got up no less than 15 times during the 7 hour flight to get into his overhead luggage, in the process causing pieces of luggage to barely miss hitting a fellow passenger in the head!)

    What bag did I choose as a tiny tote? My new favorite bag is manufactured by Timbuk2. It's durable and water resistant. In fact, I comfortably carried it across my body on my recent Brittany walk. It has a number of internal pockets to help organize things.

What kinds of items make it into my Timbuk2? The list below takes care of most all needs that come up during a flight, from stomach upset (that's where the peppermint and chewable antacids come into play); headache (Aleve); motion sickness (Bonine works more efficiently than Dramamine); dry lips (Limoncello lip butter); bathroom issues (Charmin wet wipes); dry or sore throat (Ricola natural herb lozenges); noise and light issues (Ear Peace ear plugs and an eye mask); unclean hands or surfaces (hand sanitizer); chocoholic cravings (Godiva dark  chocolate pearls that come in a little tin); and dental needs (floss, mini toothpaste and foldable toothbrush, and Stim-U Dents, a special toothpick that softens so as not to injure your gums, or a disposable brush that combines paste and toothpick all in one.)

My In-Flight Necessities:

Altoids - peppermint

Antacid - chewable tablets like Rolaids or Tums

Aleve

Bonine - meclizine hydrochloride - chewable

Godiva - dark chocolate pearls

Limoncello lip butter

Charmin wipes

Ricola natural herb throat lozenges

Eye mask

Ear Peace - ear plugs

Hand sanitizer

toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, Stim-U Dents

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What Not To Wear On The Plane

When you're trapped in a plane for anywhere from a few hours to having to cross multiple time zones, you're a captive, in a sense. And the clothes you chose for the flight had better keep you warm and comfortable and, sometimes more importantly, not attract unwanted attention.

That means no beach wear: no low-cut revealing tops, no shorts (it's often cold in the cabin and don't assume the flight attendants will provide a blanket). No shirts with offensive words or phrases that could stimulate an air rage incident. No sky-high heels that are uncomfortable and impractical in the cabin. (And no shoes that require untying/unbuckling anything.) No tight pants. Not only is this uncomfortable as you try to curl up in your seat over the next many hours, but even young people wearing tight pants could be at an increased risk of blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis).

This is an example of what I'll be wearing on my next flight -- I'm heading to Paris: 

 Notice, my slip-on shoes are cute but flat. These are Chaco Mary Janes.

My socks are made of Merino wool by SmartWool. (No chance of getting blisters once I land and hit the road. And, on the plane, the socks are breathable, wickable and comfortable.)

The loose-fitting pants are made of a synthetic that's light, breathable and doesn't wrinkle. When I'm not wearing this sort of pants, I opt for black leggings and a comfortable, simple black dress, made, of course, of Merino wool by SmartWool.

The long-sleeve shirt is Merino wool by SmartWool, so it adapts to different temperatures, wicks away sweat, and is ultra comfortable.

Under my shirt I wear a stretchy tank top that's also breathable.

I'm wearing a part synthetic/part light cotton infinity scarf that can do double or triple duty also as a head or shoulder covering. (It works in lieu of a hoody, so I can pull it over my head when I go to sleep on the plane.)

The long cardigan is by ExOfficio and is made of a comfy polar fleece-type synthetic that, like with the shirt, keeps me warm in frigid cabin. As a worst case scenario, I can take it off and roll it up as a neck or back rest. (It doesn't wrinkle either.)

Since, as you probably already know, I never check luggage, these items of clothing allow me to dress up or down once I've reached my destination. I can wear the tank top at the beach or under a sundress that needs some extra coverage. The black long-sleeve Merino wool shirt pairs well with a skirt or a sleeveless dress (if it's chilly). The scarf is especially useful if I'll be visiting religious sites but also if it's breezy.

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