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Original poster

What to put in hand luggage for a 26hr flight

57 replies

CaulkheadNorth · 08/05/2017 22:35

Flying Heathrow - Kisumu (Kenya), with two stop overs and three hours driving either side.

So far I've got knitting, toothbrush, facewipes, deodorant, book, phone charger, spare vest top.

What have I missed?

OP posts:
Original poster
CaulkheadNorth · 09/05/2017 19:36

On the dates we are going, it was £600 less to break it down and change at Dubai. I think it's due to when the flights leave Nairobi to Kisumu but I'm not sure.
There are 15 of us going, including some families of 3 or 4 so price was a big factor.

I know we have 8hours at Nairobi on the way back but it might not be as long on the way there.

OP posts:
PestoSwimissimos · 09/05/2017 19:47

Whatever you do, don't take any medicines in your hand luggage without a prescription. Dubai are super strict on drugs.

PestoSwimissimos · 09/05/2017 19:52

Helpful list of restricted medications

here

Original poster
CaulkheadNorth · 09/05/2017 20:10

Asthama inhaler okay? I can't see it on the list but also not sure what it's officially called...

OP posts:
MrsPeelyWaly · 10/05/2017 02:51

"because I think they're such short flights they're not really worth the worry of what to pack."

Isn't UK to Dubai about 8 hours? I wouldn't class that as a short flight.

I do and it goes by very quickly. As far as hand luggage goes I would say your normal handbag with travel documents, your makeup bag with a clean pair of pants and maybe a toothbrush/paste, a kindle, your specs if you wear them, and a magazine if need be.

MrsPeelyWaly · 10/05/2017 02:57

Caulk your Asthma inhaler would be ok and to be honest this is beginning to sound as if your going on an expedition up the Himalayas. People go on Safaris and travel round Africa for weeks on end and because they are flying on very small Cessna type aircraft they're restricted to 15 kilos of luggage for the entirety of their holiday and It really is very do-able.

Seriously, you're putting too much thought into it and making it way more than it is - just throw a few things in a bag and enjoy yourself.

MrsPeelyWaly · 10/05/2017 03:12

I seriously do not envy you that 8 hours in Nairobi airport on the way back. Can you organise a private family tour and got to the David Sheldrick wildlife trust for a few hours. Or perhaps visit Giraffe Manor. I stayed there a few weeks ago and the visitors centre looked like a good few hours out.

Nakedavenger74 · 10/05/2017 03:16

There are paid for showers in Dubai airport cheap as chips and plenty of them. They give you towels and there's toiletries in there so a change of clothes or at least underwear and a hairbrush i'd chuck in.

beingsunny · 10/05/2017 04:11

Snacks Grin

Chargers for phones/iPads

TitaniasCloset · 10/05/2017 04:38

Blimey that list of restricted meds is long. Apparently you need a notary to carry them? Now how would you go about that? What a mission.

MrsPeelyWaly · 10/05/2017 04:51

Blimey that list of restricted meds is long. Apparently you need a notary to carry them? Now how would you go about that? What a mission

I regularly travel in an out with some of the most heavy duty of the medications on that last. In fact I travel from where I live in the Gulf to access the meds as they're not available where I am. The Dr or Pharmacist just make a copy of the prescription and thats it but I also know of people who've had their GP issue a letter saying they use the medication.

And I think I recall an article in the UAE press a while back from a senior police officer saying the above.

I bet the OP is now wishing they were going from Heathrow to Nairobi direct.

bojorojo · 10/05/2017 18:17

Is the saving £600 per person or per family? It cannot be per person so all this faff just isn't worth it. The hanging around is just to long, especially if children are involved! 8 hours at Nairobi airport isn't a good idea either. Are there still animals in Nairobi NP? Go for a quick tour around there or Giraffe Manor but that may be some distsnce from the airport and it wouldn't be a cheap trip. Can you go if you are not staying there?

MrsPeelyWaly · 10/05/2017 18:42

A friend saw the big 5 in Nairobi NP just a few weeks ago.

MrsPeelyWaly · 10/05/2017 18:43

Sorry it's about 45 mins to Giraffe Manor from the airport dependent on traffic.

Hefzi · 10/05/2017 20:07

8 hours in Nairobi on the way back? Commandeer a couple of taxis, and go to the giraffe sanctuary or take a guided walk at Sheldricks - or get a couple of rooms in a hotel between you. This is seriously not an airport to kill time at, and though you can pay for the lounge, last time I needed to do that it was 50usd for 5 hours (I needed the WiFi) : it's also pretty compact, and if you're there in the morning, it seems invariably to have people kipping along most of the seats and on the floor.

On a positive note, if there are British soldiers around, you can always find a game of cards Grin

And make sure you have insect repellent in your hand luggage. Otherwise, you always seem to get bitten like a bastard once you're airside. Nothing quite says fml like frantic scratching the rest of the way home Confused My colleagues think I'm louche because I'll change in Europe to save the tax payer a hundred quid: but if I saved 600 flying via Dubai, Kenya Airways would be paying me to travel and some Grin

bojorojo · 11/05/2017 15:31

Yes! I cannot see how it can be per person either! Just does not seem worth it to me. Knitting time or not!

RedSandYellowSand · 11/05/2017 15:43

Sunhat

TinyPawz · 11/05/2017 15:53

Can't use sterling in Dubai airport. Will need dirhams

UrsulaPandress · 11/05/2017 15:57

Done via Doha once to SA. Never again.

ShotsFired · 11/05/2017 16:06

Hand sanitiser - I got wipes last year - were great to also clean dubious items like tray tables as well as people.

Dick pillow (as I call them), not a u-shaped neck pillow. A thousand times comfier: www.amazon.co.uk/J-pillow-Travel-Pillow-British-Invention/dp/B009416CVC?tag=mumsnetforum-21

More than one book for variety (but if you are taking kindle, no problem).

Phone or mp3 player for audio options?

Comfy plane clothes (I take a lot of long haul night flights, so often change into the dreaded leggings and long sleeved t shirt to sleep)

Original poster
CaulkheadNorth · 11/05/2017 16:21

Thanks for all the ideas.

We're going with a charity, so I don't get a huge say in the flights chosen. Looking now for the dates of travel brings up flights at £1300. We're paying 750 as it's booked in two tickets - U.K. - Nairobi and then Nairobi - Kisumu. Due to this, we don't want to miss the flight from Nairobi back and have agreed to have a longer wait there, rather than just a couple of house but with a greater possibility of missing the flight.

I am one of a large group going, including a lot of teenagers. The teens have all been multiple times before. Another member of the group has booked them, and that's fine.

OP posts:
MrsPeelyWaly · 11/05/2017 21:14

Can't use sterling in Dubai airport. Will need dirhams

Not true

MrsPeelyWaly · 11/05/2017 21:17

OP I did wonder if your trip was charity related and because it is I suspect there is no money for extras so I'd forget about packing for the flight and concentrate on packing for the 8 hours in Nairobi airport.

What is the charity? I only ask because I have a one woman thing going on in Mombassa and I'm always interested in what others are doing.

Original poster
CaulkheadNorth · 11/05/2017 21:20

It's a University/school/nursery/hospital complex in a small village two hours drive from Kisumu. It's with a Christian charity based in Manchester that support the village.

OP posts:
ihearttc · 12/05/2017 17:40

You can't use Sterling in Dubai airport...We go to Dubai frequently (in fact we were there 3 weeks ago) and I ran out of Dirhams. They definitely didn't accept Sterling. Having said that there are loads of Exchange places in airport so you could always change some there.