What's worse than being stranded at the airport after the airline lost your checked luggage? Being stranded at the airport without your luggage while your phone's battery falls to dangerously low levels. Here's a tip: pack your device chargers in your carry-on bag (and always carry a carry-on bag).
This morning, I packed my bags (one carry-on and one checked bag) for a week-long trip across the country. Somewhere between tossing in my clothes, shampoo, and many, many cables and cords, it hit me: What if my luggage gets lost?
It happens all the time, so I'm told. I try to limit my travel load to (free of charge) carry-on bags. But faced with 7 days away, I needed to up my load. And now I was worried what might happen if I were to arrive on the West Coast without my phone charger.
Your mother's sage advice was always to be prepared and pack a change of clothes (or at least a pair of unmentionables) in your carry-on bag, but a 21st century traveler should also make room for important power cords. If you do find yourself at your destination without your checked bag, you'll at least be able to maintain constant communication with friends or colleagues, and the airline's customer service line.
Even though this tip might seem like a no-brainer to most of you, we're willing to bet there's at least a few folks out there who will now be able save themselves from making this mistake just by thinking about this tip next time they're packing for a trip.
Do you have any other obvious (to you) tech travel tips? Share them in the comments and let everybody gain from your experience!
(Image: Flickr member Fatty Tuna licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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this is more of a comment for the guys, since women usually have a purse. in your carry on, always carry a second bag. It should be a small messenger bag, backpack, plastic shopping bag, ANYTHING.
When we were flying to Aruba, they did the always awesome, Hey, all of you with carry ons, yeah, you're going to gate check all of those. Plus you don't get them back at your layover, instead we'll just for real check them. But, since we're super nice, we won't make you pay to check them. That is how awesome we are.
So now, all the stuff you thought you had with you, gone.
Oh and yeah, since you have your little 3oz shampoo with you, but not in a super sturdy bottle, because it was a carry on, it will now explode. have fun.
i always carry a small 3-outlet power strip as well. I've used it numerous times in the airport when all the power outlets are taken up and weary travelers are unwilling to share the precious electricity. Now we can both charge and be happy! :)
Buy an extra charger and always keep it in your carry on, that way you never run out the door without it. I do the same thing with my toothbrush and a travel-size deodorant, and keep my travel-size liquids packed in a plastic bag so they are ready to go.
NEVER check your jewelry is something that I've been taught and abide by. Really, you shouldn't check anything super-valuable. Not checking chargers is a good idea.
Also, make sure your prescription meds are in your carry on. This seems obvious but it's amazing how many people put meds in their checked bags, which promptly end up en route to Timbuktu.
I always pack my chargers in my carry on, along with an extension cord. I like the small power strip idea; I'm going to start doing that. Keeping one's jewelry and toiletries in the carry-on is basic common sense. I also take a change of clothes; my luggage has gone to a different destination than I have on many occasions.
I always carry a small bag - nothing fancy, one pocket - for my camera, phone, and other small electronics. That way, I can very simply empty it out for getting through security quickly.
I'm surprised they don't consider the long cord as a weapon.
There is really no need to check a bag. Unless you're moving.
Clothes and toiletries in a roller carry-on and really important stuff (valuables/chargers/ID) in a backpack. If you get caught by "we're checking your carry-on to the final destination!" let the roller bag go and keep the backpack with you.
I hate lugging a suitcase around the airport, carting it through the crowded airport bar, shoving it into an already full overhead bin and bringing it into the bathroom with me, so I usually fly southwest and check my bag for free unless I'm only going for a couple of days.
A simple nice large tote with a pack cube or clothes, medication, electronics, jewelry, chargers, a little lotion and chap stick and a magazine or 2 are all I carry on.
If my bag does disappear, toiletries are pretty easy to come by and most decent hotels will provide toothbrush, razors, and shaving cream free of charge. If my stuff is delayed, I try to just go with the flow, the one time it happened to me, my luggage arrived before the morning and it wasn't a big deal at all.
Waiting for a 100 people to stuff bags into full overhead bins and always so frustrating while boarding.
I've learned the hard way that not only should this stuff be in a carry-on, it should be in a carry-on that you KEEP WITH YOU. On a flight where I got stuck in the back row, I had to put my rolling suitcase into the overhead bin about 10 rows up from my seat, and when I finally got up there after everyone else had left the plane, my bag was gone! However, a very similar-looking bag was sitting right next to where mine had been...
Luckily, the person who accidentally took my bag realized their mistake, and also had no interest in stealing any of my stuff. :p The airline took care of it and I had my bag by the next day, but it taught me a really valuable lesson -- if you can't see your stuff, don't assume that it's in the same place you left it!
I agree with Joco. I got on a very small plane once that had no space for my rolling suitcase, so the airline had to take it the suitcase from me at the gate. Being more used to larger aircrafts (before this happened, the smallest I've been on was a Boeing 727), I had no idea that you had to get them at the gate when you arrived at your destination. I was also stupid enough not to read the little pink ticket that told you to pick it up at the gate.
Good thing I always made sure I had a change of clothing in every bag I travel with. And except for my cellphone charger, there wasn't anything else really important in the rolling suitcase. It kinda sucked though that I had to look for a shop that sold cellphone chargers.
I keep my chargers in my purse at all times anyway. Works out great, especially if I'm at someone else's house and my phone is dying or I want to download something onto my Nook or my camera starts to commit sebukku.
If you travel internationally don't forget to put your plug adapter in your carry on, your American iPhone charger won't do you any good in the UK (or anywhere else) without it.
Another tip - go to you local hardware store to buy your adapter, Some places charge up to $20 for it, my hardware store charges $3.
DO NOT wait to get an adapter overseas. I have had a hard time finding them, and when I did they cost a fortune!
I agree with several of you... I hate bringing bags through the airport, but now my mind has changed. 50 lbs for free isn't really a lot if you are bringing your toiletries with you so i just invested in a spinning roller bag to put some extras in. I envied all of my friends theirs on my last international trip and think they are worth looking into.
I also put my important stuff and electronics in a small bag that I keep with me at my seat. get one with a large enough handle/shoulder strap so you can hook it over your rolling carry on for more ease of movement within the airport.
As for cords, I now carry a zip lock bag with extra chargers that I have bought on-line cheap. I leave it in my bag all the time. Now i am always ready to leave and also don't have to undo and redo all my home cords when packing and unpacking and I never forget a cord. Its great for travel, and weekends to the beach. I write an inventory of the cords on the outside of the bag with a sharpie so that when I am packing to return home I remember every cord and adaptor that I brought with me ( my husband once left a charger adaptor in the wall on a trip to disney with kids and we couldn't charge the video camera when we got to our next hotel)
The best investment I made was in a monster travel power cord. It is very small and light, plugs into itself and is very handy when your hotel room has hardly any outlets.
I got mine on amazon