Packing
Set your luggage apart from the pack.Tying a red ribbon to your black bag is not the most effective way to distinguish it. “When passengers use ribbons and bows, they can be torn off in the transporting process,” says Chris Gossner, a customer-service supervisor with US Airways for more than 20 years. Not to mention the fact that you’ll probably see dozens of other red ribbons circling on the baggage carousel. Your best move is to purchase a suitcase in an unusual color, such as bright blue.
Stockpile samples.To save precious quart-bag space on overnight trips, Freida Burton, a US Airways flight attendant for almost 31 years, carries samples of cosmetics, moisturizers, and prescription creams, which she requests from her doctor. Go to
walmart.triaddigital.com/free-samples.aspx or
www.freesamplesblog.com for a variety of regularly updated freebie offers. Or take advantage of Sephora’s and Kiehls’s policies of giving three free samples with any online order at
www.sephora.com and
www.kiehls.com.
BYO blanket (and disinfecting wipes, too).“I hate to say it, but tray tables are rarely cleaned, so wipe them off before you use them,” says Sarah Scott, a former US Airways flight attendant who worked for 19 years. “And steer clear of the blankets and pillows. They’re only washed when they look dirty.”
Pack your electronics in a single layer.You will increase your chances of speeding through security if you take the time to lay your electronics flat. “When things are tossed in haphazardly or jumbled together, we spend more time determining what they are (from the X-ray) and have to manually check bags,” says Sterling Payne, a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Do your own bag check before you leave.To keep from getting stalled in security and losing innocent (but sharp) items you forgot were in your bag — hello, nail scissors! — carefully check each piece of luggage at home first. “If you think through the screening process as you’re packing, you’ll be fine,” says Stephanie Carter Naar, a transportation security officer based in Washington, D.C.
