Four of the year's six planned airplane trips are history. I realize there are plenty of people who travel every week, but four trips in eight months is a lot for a homebody like me. If you're an expert traveler, you'll probably want to skip all the blathering below. If you're more of a homebody than me, or if you're an insomniac searching for a cure, read on.
It took me several post-9/11 trips to realize I could take an empty water bottle through security and fill it at the water fountain, instead of paying highway robbery prices for a new bottle on the secure side. I still can't believe I didn't figure that one out sooner.
On the latest trip, I had another epiphany. This only applies to open seating airline travel, however. If you are unfortunate enough to board late in the game (either you fell asleep and checked in online only 20 hours pre-flight instead of 24 hours, or your connection was shortened by a delayed first leg flight), it's a given on many flights that you'll be sitting in a middle seat, or at least in the last available set in a row. So, as soon as you step into the aisle, keep your eyes peeled for any row with an adult and a child between ages 3 and 12. Unless the child is abnormally obese, you're going to have ample room sitting next to that child, with all the elbow space you desire.
I sat next to a seven-year old on one flight this week, and it was perfect. Yes, he did ask his companion every 30 seconds between taxi and 10,000 feet if he could turn on his Nintendo DS, but that was nothing compared to sitting arm-to-arm, thigh-to-thigh with some random man.
I'm thinking about employing this strategy again, even when I'm not one of the last 20 people to board. If every seat ends up being filled, might as well choose your companions rather than sitting first in a row and leaving yourself wide open to miseAnd hy.
Here's the latest lesson learned: Twist-ties are an easily-obtained tool for securing suitcase zippers. Yes, so is a TSA-approved lock, but I don't feel like spending money on a TSA-approved lock. I secure the locks to keep the bags from opening in transit, not to deter theives (which is why my CHI iron always travels in my carry-on). I used to use cable ties, but they require a knife or scissors to remove, and I can rarely FIND the cable ties when it's time to leave for a trip. The twist-tie is simpler, and if the TSA searches your bag, they'll replace the twist-tie when they're done (They'll also repack your suitcase backwards, so that everything you put on the bottom is on the top when you next open the case. Creepy).
What are your best travel tips?
3 comments:
Now I want to go someplace, just so I can use your tips. It might even get me to replace my Diet Coke with water, but I doubt it.
L.
Yep, I frequently take the empty water bottle with me for that reason. :)
My greatest packing tip is one I learned in 1997 on my first overseas trip (thank you, Rick Steves!): fold all your clothes, then put each item (maybe two in cases of small shirts or chemises) in a gallon-size ziplock. Sit on the bag while closing it, to squeeze out all the air.
This has a number of benefits, Rick Steves primarily citing that it makes your clothes smaller, so you can pack more in less space.
However, I think the best benefits are 1) that if TSA unpacks your bag, nothing gets unfolded/wadded up/etc.
...And 2) you can pack and re-pack your clothes (changing your options--it takes me awhile to decide what to pack)--without the folds annoyingly coming apart. (The main point being: clothes are smaller and stay neater.)
Plus, you can keep dirty clothes separate (and odorless). Just take a pen that will mark on the bags, and once you have something dirty, put it back in the bag and label as "dirty."
Love the tip, Starrlett. I've used the spacesaver bags with a vacuum seal in the past, but they're kind of a pain. This is low tech and simple. One more reason to love Ziploc!
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