Yes, it's true, in recent years airline policies have gotten so strict that we need to buy and pack specifically for a 3oz lifestyle. But it doesn't have to be a pain! In fact, I like to look at it as an opportunity to take a break from my normal routine, try something new, and live simply. Here are 10 airline friendly travel essentials that will get you through security and off to a stress-free vacation.
Obviously this list should be tailored to suit your specific type of trip and destination, but here are a few items we've found universally helpful:
1. A Bottle Set: While it's easy to pick up travel sized versions of your usual goods, or swipe them from hotels, using a travel kit is a more economical and eco-friendly option. I've had this one from Flight 001 for years and use it every time I travel. It comes with a reusable quart-size zip pouch and various sizes and styles of bottles that you can label and fill with the toiletry of your choice.
2. Stain Remover: Stain sticks or wipes, or mini pouches of laundry detergent for errant stains or to quickly do a wash in the bathroom.
3. Tissues: They're great for so many things — cleaning up a spill, picking up something dirty you don't want to touch, and of course the obvious annoying runny nose or sneeze.
4. Towelettes: Facial cloths are preferable to liquid soap, especially when traveling, because you can clean up quickly, anywhere, without the need for water. You can use these for the body, too, or to clean up spills in a pinch.
5. A Dental Kit: This one's pretty obvious. Having toothpaste/toothbrush/mouthwash/dental floss on hand is crucial to landing with a clean mouth and fresh breath. You can even get toothpaste tablets, but I haven't yet tried them.
6. Hand Sanitizer Wipes: Yes, you can buy small bottles of hand sanitzer, but all too often I've found it leaking in my bag. Wipes are a little more expensive, but this way you can avoid the whole liquid situation altogether.
7. Pain Reliever, Dramamine, Cold Medicine, etc: You never know when an ailment will attack, and you don't want to be traveling without relief, especially on an airplane. You can usually find travel sized packets, or just transfer some from a full sized bottle to a travel box or ziplock.
8. Solids and Bars: Body soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, perfume, etc, all come in solid versions. Just sooo much easier than their liquid counterparts, and they often last much longer. Lush is a great resource for most of these.
9. Lip Balm and Lotion: It's so easy for your skin to get dry while in the air, so stay moisturized and don't forget tubes of these. I love Smith's Rosebud Salve because it moisturizes any part of your body, fits in a mess-free tiny tin and lasts forever.
10. Ear Plugs: Not technically a toiletry, but whether it's the roar of the engine, people talking, or babies crying, pure silence is golden.
What are your airline friendly travel essentials? Let us know in the comments!
MORE TRAVEL TIPS ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
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• Summer Suitcase: Tips for Packing Lightly
• Tips: Making a Packing List
• The Top 10 Things To Carry With You When You Fly
• Packing List for a Long Weekend: Country Escape Edition
• Getting Ready for the High Seas: Packing for a Cruise Vacation
• Packing List for a Long Weekend: City Travel Edition
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Travel size Lysol wipes to wipe down my armrests and tray table --- I've heard they are the most germy places on planes.
I also love Burt's Bees spray hand sanitizer made with aloe and witch hazel --- it smells delicious and lemony! I carry it all the time, not just for air travel.
The toothpaste tablets from Lush are... interesting. The ones I tried were more soapy tasting than toothpaste normally is, but I do think they worked ok once I got past the flavor.
I have the little organizer in the picture above. Its amazing! My Patagonia nano-puff jacket folds into its own pocket and fits in this organizer (I always get really cold on planes) I can also store chapstick, mentos (to keep my ears from popping too much) my phone, passport, money, a granola bar, tissues, travel toothbrush, and hand sanitizer. Then the whole thing fits nicely in the seat front pocket so everything you need during the flight is at your fingertips!
I hope those lysol wipes don't smell like lysol. I find it so offensive when people trade one gross thing for another. My pet peeve is sitting in a cafe or restaurant and smelling the sanitizer as nearby tables are being cleaned. Or worse, when the floor is being mopped with bleach.
The overuse of antibacterial wipes, sanitizers, sprays and gels is causing all kinds of problems, starting with antibiotic-resistant bugs and going from there. If you need to live in a germ-free bubble, stay home. If you travel, leave your germophobia at home and just wash with soap and water like everyone else. I've backpacked to over 35 countries over the past decade or so, and I've never said to myself "gosh, I wish I had five different types of lysol wipes to wipe down every surface that another human being might have touched".
(Though packing tissues is a must. Especially in countries where you're likely to encounter, erm, "creative" bathroom situations, shall we say. Like squat toilets and no toilet paper. Just remember to be a good travel citizen and take biodegradable stuff as much as possible, and for heaven's sake don't throw paper in the toilet in countries where the plumbing can't take it!)
I think the super bugs are caused by inappropriate uses of antibiotics (people not finishing the bottle once prescribed, people using antibiotics when they are sick with a virus, and most importantly, overfeeding antibiotics at feed lots to counteract the horrendous conditions in commercial meat production). I don't use sanitizers and antibacterial soaps at home, but you'd better believe I bring it with me on any form of public transportation.
I won't board a plane without "Earplanes." They help your eardrums adjust to the pressure of quick ascents and even faster descents. A perpetual problem flying on late planes. EarPlanes won't eliminate ear drum pain, they just help your ears adjust to the pressure.
I always keep a sewing kit in my luggage or cosmetic bag, not to mend clothes but in case of blisters-- this has saved me many times.
Instead of hand sanitizer or lysol (um, ew), I use alcohol preps. They're 1-inch individually-foil-wrapped pads soaked in alcohol used by diabetics and other users of injectable drugs. Super cheap -- like 200 for $2 at most pharmacies. Alcohol is the simplest and best antimicrobial out there. Plus, because it's not a "liquid," it doesn't take up room in the quart-sized bag. Just don't (like me) forget you have one in your pocket when you go through security -- there's enough metal in the tiny foil packet to set off the detector.
Parnassians, you're incorrect.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1560569/Anti-bacterial-soap-helps-superbugs.html
I've never sanitized anything on a plane (or anywhere else) and I've never gotten sick on a plane.
The trick is to avoid touching your face (mouth and eyes) and washing your hands with soap and water. The other important thing is to drink plenty of water. If you are dehydrated you are more likely to get sick.
HHRI, You're very lucky if you've never gotten sick on an airplane. It seems I always catch a cold on a trip. Probably just as you say, by touching my face, or by a member of my family doing that and then giving it to me.
Maybe its dumb, but I sometimes eat fruit or homemade salads on flights, and the hand sanitizer is really just for cutting any sugary juice left on my hands or a bit of salad dressing (not because I'm a hyper paranoid germaphobe...) when the fasten seat belt sign stays on the whole flight (and I usually fly redeyes) and it seems inconvenient for every one around me to have to get up so I can go wash my hands.
Where is the bag/pouch from? Don't forget your own earphones, and extra hair elastics!
Pouch is from Flight001
http://www.flight001.com/all-products/in-flight-comfort/f1-seat-pak.html
Parnassus is mostly correct. Avoid antibiotics. Superbugs are caused by the overuse of antibiotics, which means both the kind you take for medicine and the kinds found in antibacterial soaps, etc. But, use of alcohol based hand sanitizers or most cleaning products, like bleach, is fine and does NOT lead to antibiotic resistance. So use alcohol-based hand sanitizers if you need to indulge your inner neat-freak/germophobe.
Maybe the word "avoid" was too strong Ambigamaine. It's preferable to use them when prescribed by your physician and ALWAYs finish the cycle no matter how great you feel before that. This way we avoid taking them when a bacterial infection is not present, and the creation of plasmids if there is.
Like L M Cummings, I also anticipate blisters (traveling I end up doing much more walking around in questionable shoes than I would at home) and pack a sheet of moleskin.
I also like a small nail clipper - you can cut threads and tags and paper and hangnails or your knitting - and I've never had one questioned by security.
I love the solid shampoo/conditioner from Lush for travel - they're small and won't explode on airplanes from the pressure! They take some getting used to but definitely love them!