whY survival list

[leemin]

So next Tuesday I leave for my first overseas trip. Off to Europe for a couple of weeks. Pretty exciting.

However, notwithstanding my complete lack of prior experience, AFF has raised the standard I wish to travel internationally. :shock:

Unfortunately, my budget is very much 15-career-years behind my desires (who's isn't I guess?)-: I'm flying Etihad metal (VA codeshare) whY from MEL to LHR and back via Abu Dhabi.

I currently don't have any status (although will move to Velocity Silver after this trip - yippee) so have prepared a little survival kit for myself based on what I've read here on AFF:

- Real food from Cafe Vue
- Comfy clothes (but no Qantas J PJ's)
- Aisle seats so I can stretch out just that little bit more. Pending foot amputation by serving trolley.
- A neck pillow. Supplied pillow goes on the floor under my feet.
- Bose active noise cancelling headphones
- Purchasing access to the Al Dana lounge at Abu Dhabi airport for shower etc. 28 USD.

Have I missed anything? Has anyone else got any tips?

 

[munitalP]

So next Tuesday I leave for my first overseas trip. Off to Europe for a couple of weeks. Pretty exciting.

However, notwithstanding my complete lack of prior experience, AFF has raised the standard I wish to travel internationally. :shock:

Unfortunately, my budget is very much 15-career-years behind my desires (who's isn't I guess?)-: I'm flying Etihad metal (VA codeshare) whY from MEL to LHR and back via Abu Dhabi.

I currently don't have any status (although will move to Velocity Silver after this trip - yippee) so have prepared a little survival kit for myself based on what I've read here on AFF:

- Real food from Cafe Vue
- Comfy clothes (but no Qantas J PJ's)
- Aisle seats so I can stretch out just that little bit more. Pending foot amputation by serving trolley.
- A neck pillow. Supplied pillow goes on the floor under my feet.
- Bose active noise cancelling headphones
- Purchasing access to the Al Dana lounge at Abu Dhabi airport for shower etc. 28 USD.

Have I missed anything? Has anyone else got any tips?

ADD TO THE LIST:

1. Sports drink bottle- empty duty free Vodka into it so you don't get busted drinking duty free on plane
2. Eye shades - so the FA's don't see your giveaway bloodshot red eyes 2 hrs into the flight (just kidding, for sleeping really)
3. thongs or hotel slippers to wear when using the cube of poor aiming (aka the toilet)
4. Imodium pills - I wont elaborate... (ick!)

 

[Princess Fiona]

I would bring your own little amenity kit with ear plugs, lip balm, saline nasal spray ( use in the cube or you will get funny looks), toothbrush and paste, deodorant and hand creme.
My own kit is vastly more extensive than this but I'm taking a wild guess that you are male and wouldn't need as much kit as me.
Make sure the eyeshades are cotton as the nylon ones are sweaty and horrible. Sounds like a great adventure, try to post a little TR and photos if you can.
Happy Travels

 

[Lawlass]

If you have it, definitely an iPad or at least a smartphone loaded up with a few movies/games just in case your IFE doesn't work for whatever reason.

Wish I'd had the above when my entire plane spent six hours in darkness - no IFE, no reading light - when the announcements thingy malfunctioned and kept booming at us over and over that there was an emergency and our oxy masks were about to fall down. :shock:

 

[blackcat20]

Drops for the eyes can be good too, that air is really drying.

 

[Stargazer]

I would bring your own little amenity kit with ear plugs, lip balm, saline nasal spray ( use in the cube or you will get funny looks), toothbrush and paste, deodorant and hand creme.
My own kit is vastly more extensive than this but I'm taking a wild guess that you are male and wouldn't need as much kit as me.
Make sure the eyeshades are cotton as the nylon ones are sweaty and horrible. Sounds like a great adventure, try to post a little TR and photos if you can.
Happy Travels

Princess Fiona,

can you elaborate on your amenity kit. I am also female -- and a very inexperienced traveller -- so any input would be really welcome.

Thanks

 

[nlagalle]

Temazapam... I now swear by these for sleeping soundly!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Princess Fiona,

can you elaborate on your amenity kit. I am also female -- and a very inexperienced traveller -- so any input would be really welcome.

Thanks

No problem:
In addition to all of the above: I have a black cotton hairband and spare elastics, small bottle of mouthwash, dental floss, Optrex Eye Dew. Every time I have a facial I ask for sample sachets of cleanser,moisturiser etc. In general the richer creams are better. All sachets go in my clear kit bag. Last of all I have a few essential make-up items, small bottle of light perfume and a nail file/ buffer as I nearly always snag a nail en-route.
I recently found a great little travel website for women with a compact but very handy range of products : ciaobellatravel.com.au. Based in Brisbane ( I think)
I don't work for or have any links with them but their service is great.

 

[harvyk]

The only thing I really need to take is lip balm. Lucas' papaw ointment in the one I take.
The other thing I do is take as little as possible as every additional thing you take is something else you have to lug onto and off planes and around airports.

 

[Stargazer]

No problem:
In addition to all of the above: I have a black cotton hairband and spare elastics, small bottle of mouthwash, dental floss, Optrex Eye Dew. Every time I have a facial I ask for sample sachets of cleanser,moisturiser etc. In general the richer creams are better. All sachets go in my clear kit bag. Last of all I have a few essential make-up items, small bottle of light perfume and a nail file/ buffer as I nearly always snag a nail en-route.
I recently found a great little travel website for women with a compact but very handy range of products : ciaobellatravel.com.au. Based in Brisbane ( I think)
I don't work for or have any links with them but their service is great.

Thanks Princess Fiona,
The ciaobellatravel web site is great. Could I just ask you or another member of the forum -- as I am a very inexperienced traveller I seem to recall hearing that there are restrictions on make up, creams etc in your hand luggage -- that these need to be in clear containers, limited to a small size. And also that you can't take aerosols (eg deodorant) in your hand luggage. Is this correct -- are there any other restrictions.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Creams, lotions and liquids are limited to 100ml or less each. You must have all such items in a clear plastic bag. The Glad Medium size food storage bag is the correct size, I have a similar clear PVC bag. Aerosols can be carried in carry-on (provided they are less than 100ml) but must have secure lids. Not supposed to be in checked baggage ( I think ?)
Someone more experienced than me will probably chip in with the relevant links.

 

[Tortuga]

It's funny but it is actually a survival... I had an overnight flight across from Madrid to Buenos Aires and it was really my idea of torture. I had a huge guy next to me, who stank, everyone else except me seemed to sleeping.. I was counting down the seconds, not fun at all.. Could not get comfortable at all.:evil: If anyone knows any sleeping pills that don't require a subscription I would appreciate it.. I tried "natural" ones and they didn't do anything. Make sure you stay hidrated as well, take walks to stretch your legs and get the blood flowing. Don't eat too much food either, it's harder to digest 38,000 ft up in the air. Have a good trip

 

[juddles]

In the good old days of flying, they used to ply you with alcohol. Prior to all sorts of health and safety nonsense, this served a very useful purpose. Despite the seat pitch being no better, the seats themselves cough, no fancy IFE etc, etc, people were actually heaps happier!! Almost every flight was a party.

Those days are long gone. But take from it what is essential: a good dose of alcohol improves the Y experience. Deadens noise, reduces discomfort, makes the big sweaty guy next to you less abnoxious. It is the all-round improver. So forget all the cute gadgets. Just get a large bottle of duty free, and imbibe it in a discreet fashion. No single other thing will diminish your suffering so much.

 

[Princess Fiona]

In the good old days of flying, they used to ply you with alcohol. Prior to all sorts of health and safety nonsense, this served a very useful purpose. Despite the seat pitch being no better, the seats themselves cough, no fancy IFE etc, etc, people were actually heaps happier!! Almost every flight was a party.

Those days are long gone. But take from it what is essential: a good dose of alcohol improves the Y experience. Deadens noise, reduces discomfort, makes the big sweaty guy next to you less abnoxious. It is the all-round improver. So forget all the cute gadgets. Just get a large bottle of duty free, and imbibe it in a discreet fashion. No single other thing will diminish your suffering so much.

ROFLMAO, Juddles that is the best post I've read all year Add the shades for sleeping and the Optrex Eye Dew drops to mask the bloodshot look on arrival and there you have it

 

[JohnM]

ROFLMAO, Juddles that is the best post I've read all year Add the shades for sleeping and the Optrex Eye Dew drops to mask the bloodshot look on arrival and there you have it

I think this counts as sound medical advice unless I've mistaken PF's occupation :mrgreen:.

In my whY days, I just kept asking for more little bottles of red wine (now it's just pour more from the big bottles ). Definitely have some eye drops.

 

[thommo9]

My only suggestion is lip balm and a good one of that. Burts Bees is the brand, fantasic. If not that, Paw Paw which was peviously mentioned is also great.

 

[amaroo]

I've always found the drinks have less of an affect on the way over but are very damaging on the way back.

 

[Timtammi]

I swear by sleeping pills. Both on the plane and to get over jet lag when I get there. However, I wouldn't recommend trying them on the plane for the first time, if you have never taken any before talk to your doc about them and whats available and try them at home first to see how you pull up afterwards. For me, they are the only thing that makes long haul bearable during and minimises jet lag after. YMMV. If you are young you may pull up faster, I'm finding as I get older its harder to get over the jet lag without some assistance.

BTW, I'm female too and don't take near as much as PF on a long haul. A lippy (helps you feel/look better when you get there!), some lip balm, face moisturiser, toothbrush/toothpaste and deodorant do me. If I know I will have a shower enroute I will add my travel size shampoo and conditioner.They do supply in lounge showers but I like my own. Hmmm.. now that I look at that list perhaps its not much less than PF after all!! Anyway, all fits easily in the 1L placcy bag, all liquid/gel items must be under 100 mls ea. Note that they can be quite strict on the 100 mls thing. My mum had her 110 ml sensitive teeth toothpaste confiscated on our last trip together. She didn't think toothpaste was a liquid (it is for this purpose) or that 10 ml over would be an issue (it was).

Cheers and have fun!

Timmi

 

[blackcat20]

My survival pack contains the following:

• deoderant
• lip balm (usually paw paw)
• eye drops (my eyes tend to dry out and burn)
• face cream
• hand cream
• panadol and neurofen (for headaches or achy legs which I get from being stuck sitting for so long)
• 1L water bottle (FAs often happy to refill)
• tracky pants to change in to
• some snacks, just in case there isnt enough food (which there wasnt on my last MEL-LAX-MEL flights)
• neck pillow

 

[Fantic125]

Take along some well fitting earplugs as well - some people find it difficult to sleep with the Bose headphones on.

Rather than place the pillow on the floor when you try to sleep, try putting it behind your lower back where the seat pad and seat back meet.

Have fun!!