You're heading to the airport for a long haul flight - what have you done to prepare by the night before?

I love an airport lounge so I would book myself a pass at one to relax and enjoy some food and drink while I’m waiting for the flight

Lip balm

print your boarding passes - return airports doesn’t always have the scanning systems

take photos of all your important docs and do yourself a WhatsApp group with them all on.

a good marker pen to put write your phone number on your child’s arm in case they get lost.

Electronics charged, extra clothing layer/blanket if plane is chilly, documents and money in hand luggage, find locks for suitcases

Spare glasses/contacts if needed in all different parts of luggage in case something gets lost!

Money, passports/visas, phone and chargers with these you can at least get sorted if anything else went missing!

Snacks, suitable clothing for destination (ie coats if cold or tee-shirts etc if hot). Book and other amusements for plane for child.

I usually have the other stuff packed before departure day and I use packing cubes especially if there may be multiple
parts of a trip where I can separate things down.

I wouldn’t even class NY as long haul, it’s mid-haul really from the UK.
the worst bit is if you’re coming back overnight as the flight isn’t actually long enough to get any amount of sleep by the time they’ve served dinner and then the buggers wake you up to serve an inedible croissant for
breakfast before landing.

If you're going to NYC, buy an electrical adapter.

Three hours for a trans oceanic flight.

Take photos of your printed docs.

Pack the docs in your hand luggage.

Bring hand sanitiser.

If you're my husband you will wonder at about 11pm if you should do some laundry.
Early the next morning you would be travelling to the airport and inform me that you left it in the machine and have no underwear packed.

What the OP said

I'm American so I don't need to. I keep telling myself it's just a trip to my mom's house, nothing to stress over 😬

Call your bank and CC company to tell them your dates of travel.

I’m pretty sure you’ll need an eSIM for the USA, OP. It’s not like roaming within Europe. Easily sorted though. Have a fab time - I’m going in Feb and can’t wait!

@newyorknewyorkforevernewyork Make dc pack their own little backbag with their favourite books and toys. You need books and toys. And a lot of snacks.change of clothes in hand luggage for both of you. I always carry birth certificates. Their sleepy toy too if they have a favourite. (as long as you dont leave it behind in NY)

Photo of picture page of my passport taken on my phone.
Any visa docs saved to phone.
Double check online boarding pass; screensaved.
Everything packed including everything that's going in carry-on.
One last weigh of large bags.
House key in carry on.

As you are flying BA from LHR, I will assume you are going from T5, there is no McD but there is a Five Guys. They have the new scanners so you can take more than 100ml, and don't have to faff about taking it all out your bag at security. But you can't have liquid in a thermos or metal water bottle. Plastic ones are fine.

I still take empty bottles and fill up in one of the water stations once through, I just drink water so no squash needed.

3 hours is fine and you can't drop your bag off before that usually.

How are you getting to the airport?

Haven't been to NY in years, but I have been in the winter, and it was very cold.

Have you done your ESTA??

Silly OP. You want a Spoons. Of which there is always one.

Booked Meet and Greet parking.

Oh God and I'm also having a bloody kids party, forgot that 😭😭

Made a checklist on my phone for anything not in the luggage or totally essential that I'll have to ensure I have with me/pack last thing (eg chargers, coats, documents). Then I can check it off at the door even if half asleep!

Oh this thread is making me anxious! I'm also off to NYC in just over a week's time and here's all of the things still to do:
Make sure I have warm enough clothes for everyone, buy whats needed
Think about which suitcases to bring
Finish buying presents for everyone
Start buying presents for some!
Wrap presents
Find passport
Pack
Wade through the shit tonnes of work I still have to get through
Attend 2 Christmas concerts (kids)
Visit MIL in care home

And we're away this weekend. I wish I was an organized mum like you all 😭

List of things that can only be packed last minute (mobile, charger, glasses, hairbrush, any snacks to be taken from the fridge, anything to be put in the freezer if not finished, etc.).

Turn off appliances (except fridge/freezer, obvs.).

Check travel arrangements to the airport.

Check your phone contract as international
roaming charges are £££££ if not included in your contract!
it depends on the airport, our local one is fairly
small and i’d go no more than 2hours before an International flight with hold luggage, but somewhere bigger like MAN or LHR and I’d go 2.5-3hours. It also depends on your journey time to get there. I’m fairly complacent about such things as I’m 20min drive
to the airport but from further away I’d allow more time
for any hold ups.

Take photos of all docs and email to yourself.