What do you take on a flight

[Holibobsjoy]

Full disclosure I have never flown before so I'm quite overwhelmed by everything.

We are flying with Tui and are not taking checked luggage. It's hot and we are only going for 5 days so no need for too much.

We have our cabin bags which are all the correct dimensions or under the research that went into them was outrageous. The website seems to indicate I can take a handbag or laptop bag that fits under the seat in front. My partner who has flown before but not for some time says that it doesn't say it on the booking confirmation so we can't take it.

Does anyone know? Can I take a handbag or aibu?

My partner has got me all flustered and I'm questioning everything but we can't afford to pay more but we fly tomorrow morning!

Oh gosh does lipstick count as a liquid?!

Some very good points to think about thank you

Lipstick, lip balm and hand cream are all liquids as they can be melted down. I found this out when I left them in my handbag going through security! Oops x

I always take:

• case for overhead locker or to be checked in
• tote bag or rucksack for under the seat (tote bag for beach holiday; rucksack for more active holidays)
• mini bag which has my passport, boarding pass, phone & glasses in so I can actually find those rather than have to faff around in the tote bag/rucksack. This mini bag can then go in my tote.

Make sure all electronics are charged and that you have a charger so that, if they unexpectedly die, you can re-charge them before security. You do have an adapter for when you're on holiday, don't you? If not, pick one up at the airport.

I always take a pashmina to use when I inevitably get cold on the plane but also works well for cooler evenings and, depending on where you are going & what you're doing, if you need to cover your head or similar at any point. If this doesn't fit in my bag, it is tied around the handle of my tote/rucksack in what I like to think looks like a stylish way but probably just makes me look like a bag lady

If, when going through security, your bag gets filtered off to the conveyor belt of doom, don't worry. It could be that something in your bag looks like something you're not allowed to carry (my travel hairdryer has been mistaken for a gun at least 3 times), the scanner didn't work (on our most recent trip, it just didn't scan my bag) or you've been an idiot and left something in there that you're not allowed (a half finished bottle of sunscreen which was still in the pocket of my rucksack at the end of last year's ski trip and which was immediately confiscated)

I fly very often for work (once every couple of weeks) and I have never had lipstick count as liquid. To the point that I started to get foundation, blusher and bronzer in stick form so that it wouldn't count as liquid. Also bar of soap rather than shower gel, deodorant in stick form not roll on/spray etc.

OP you have had great tips, I always dress in layers as plane can be hot/cold. I also bring ear plugs as I hate noise. Have a lovely holiday - I am so jealous!

Extra legroom may mean you're in exit row seats.

If so, you can't put anything under the seat in front. It doesn't mean you can't take the handbag though, just that it too may also need to go in the overhead locker. The cabin crew will let you know if so, so don't worry.

Have fun!

Wear something comfortable, layers are good, plane can get chilly. Definitely hard sweets to suck on for take off and landing, they’re randomly hard to find in airport shops I find, so buy some before you go.

make sure your pockets are empty before you go through security and be aware you might get asked to remove your shoes, so you might not want bare feet. If you put any electronics in the security tray don’t put anything on top of it. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport, have your boarding pass on your phone, you can go straight to security as you are hand luggage only - the check in desks are only for people who are checking bag to the hold. Make sure your passport is handy.

have a great time!

A*m I ok to bring a water bottle rather than buy one from the airport?
*
Yeah. I took mine the other year. Just took the lid of during security. Mine is one of the thermos ones so isn't see through, and then got them to fill it up for me in Costa.

One thing I find easier for going through security. Is to have everything that needs to come out of bag, in one area. That way I'm not stood in the queue rushing to get everything out of various pockets. Although I did leave my nook in once by mistake. The security guy was like can you identify this please. It literally looked like a coloured rectangle amongst everything that was in my bag on the screen. Told him no I couldn't but did a mental check list in my head and clicked on as to what it was. I'd missed it because the case on it was dark so it had blended in with the lining of my bag. I did get a huge lecture about not obeying the rules and to listen in future. Yet coming back from Charles De Gaulle a full bottle of water has gotten left in by accident and we'd crammed loads of stuff on top of it. All they did was open my bag have a quick look inside and wave me through. It wasn't until we'd sat down and I was looking for something else did I find the bottle of water

No we aren't exit row I made sure I wouldn't have any responsibility for anyone else! I don't know what I'm doing so if anything goes wrong and I had exit row duties everyone would be in trouble.

Thank you everyone. I feel far more prepared and have now got a good shopping list for the airport, a few extra things in my bag and a tote with small bag for quick grab stuff and a pashmina in my tote ready for chilly evenings and cold flight.

Mumsnet is the best so much love and care here from everyone 💗

Now I need to try and sleep I'm literally like an over excited child it's 2am I need to be up in 5 hours.

I take my iPad for DP and download Netflix films, I download audio books for myself or on my kindle.
If you are sat next to someone selfish who had cartoons on full blast with no headphones for their child like we were then you can put headphones in and watch a film or listen to a book and drown it out!

TUI have great onboard shopping and had a sale on when I travelled last month if you are into make up, skin care, perfume etc…

We usually book airport lounge so you get food and drinks included, can charge devices and it’s peaceful - you have to watch screens though as they don’t announce flights.
I love airports though so we usually arrive extra early and have time in the lounge then do any shopping.

Amazon sell cabin under seat bags that you can fit loads in and have hidden pockets for passports, power bank pockets to charge phones and are very light. I’ve used mine for overnight trips away as well as it’s so handy. I’ve included a link, you might already have something like this but I only discovered it this year and it was a game changer.

My DP has problems with his ears not popping after flights, he now uses a nasal spray and had no problems since.

I hope you have an amazing holiday, I didn’t fly till I was an adult but as soon as we landed I booked my next holiday abroad! It’ll be a beautiful view on a morning flight with a window seat.

Definitely enjoy choosing the fanciest Boots meal deal.

I usually get a triple spiced chicken wrap, yogurt and innocent smoothie so breakfast, snack and lunch all in one go.

The water fountains take a bit of tracking down but are usually near the toilets or sometimes just after security. Or you can ask at food outlets but I only do that if I'm buying something which I rarely do.

I always take a reusable shopping bag as useful for flight and also beach and any shopping on holiday.

My two pennies worth:

It's a rookie error to get overexcited spraying perfume at duty free. Do not do this. The smells will intensify the plane and you risk making yourself and everyone around you feel a bit sick. Use one of the sample paper sticks if you want to try something out.

And stay hydrated. Planes are really drying.

@Salumthecat could you repost the link for the bag please?! Can't see it on the app and sounds like exactly what I need for upcoming trip! Thank you ☺️

Just an update we had the best holiday ever thank you everyone. We are flying back tomorrow morning and I feel totally prepared I have a little list of duty free to get and I'm quite excited to be flying again and have 3 sugar free chupa chups for take off and landing 😀 Thank-you everyone

That's a nice update, OP.

Hope you have/had a good flight home.

:)