I was a few rows back from a toilet on an international flight and watched several people wait (desperately) for some toiletries-carrying, flossing, teeth brushing, 7step facial routine person to leave the airline bathroom. The waiting person just needed to pee. The airplane bathroom is for using the toilet, washing your hands, and getting OUT. 😣
If like me, u wiped down the tray with disinfectant wipes, pls don’t forget to also wipe the back of the seat where the tray touches when tray’s not in use. Also, wipe the entertainment (touch) screen, seat belt & buckles, armrests, any buttons u & other passengers might touch.
@ When you are dealing with a new bug that no one is immune to nor knows how it’s spread, absolutely. And even if you are traveling to unfamiliar areas even then you may not be as immune to as the locals, thus why tap water, in the US, can even get a small reaction out of your gut! As the herd immunities to things we were once able to reject dwindles I expect there will be even more need to clean more thoroughly if that even kills new bugs!
Years ago we traveled to Argentina. In buenos Aires they charged an arm and leg to for our overweight carry on to fly down to the southern tip. So on the way home, we WORE everything, our carry on was just an empty case. No extra fee!
I have the tray cover. Used it once. It hangs down when filled with items like my iPad hitting my legs. Didn’t care for it and was added weight and item to get out of bag. Btw you still have to touch the tray table to put it in so still need to clean that off first.
Very useful tech for any flight, Megan. The thing about the tray cover is that the germs should be wiped down with antiseptics before you cover them. The bluetooth converter is cool and you can add one item: portable power pack for phones that are running out of juice. Thanks for these fantastic items!
We've been using the tray covers for a while. Once we were confronted by an irritated flight attendant who would not allow us keep it on the tray until after the plane took off, even though the tray was up and latched. She insisted that it was connected to the aircraft so we were ordered to remove them and put them away.
To be fair, the airlines absolutely want to charge you more ($$) and also don't want you to know exactly where and when they lost your luggage (looks bad for them)
Hello, I am not a frequent flyer, but I discovered a travel hack that made a huge difference in my comfort on the plane and I thought I would share and maybe you have other similar tips you can share in a video on increasing comfort on flights. I just took took a 3 hour flight on Allegiant for the first time. I have recently had some low back issues and I have sciatica. On my first flight, I was in so much pain and it took me two days to recover. I just couldn't get in a position that was comfortable. Before my return flight, I thought that maybe I could use my neck pillow as a pressure reluef seat cushion in the same way i use one in my car. My cheap airlines neck pillow is just one of those horseshoe-shaped pillows stuffed with Styrofoam beads, but it is shaped similarly to my back relief seat cushion. On my flight home, I bought myself a second, nicer neck pillow and I sat on my cheaoer neck cushion, with the opening pointing towards the front of my body. It worked perfectly! I went from 3 hours of pain on my first flight to zero pain on my return flight. I would recommend bringing a thin pillowcase to put the cushion in before sitting on it as I was nervous about the seam ripping. I would just keep the pillowcase in my personal item bag so that you can still snap the neck cushion around the strap of your personal item bag, and then putting it over the neck pillow before sitting in it. That way if thec weak rips, the Styrofoam balls will be contained. I also think it would be neat to see info on different types of neck pillows aa the second one i picked up in the airport was amazing compared to my cheap, average neck pillow. I usual just use my neck pillow more like a pillow against the wall in my window seat. But the second pillow I purchased was made of memory foam and was designed to sit higher up around my neck snugly, so even without a wall, my neck felt supported with that I could cook just rest my head against the pillow itself. Prior to figuring this hack out and even before I had sciatica, my legs always felt uncomfortable on flights. At 5'4", I always felt like I needed something to prop my foot on. I had even considered trying to tie exercise bandung (the thinner kind that is cut off of rolls) around my back and around my knees or under my foot somehow to suspend my foot. But, this neck pillow hack worked. I know you could probably just being an actual ergonomic seat cushion, but i think it would take up too much room in your personal item bag, and this is great tip in "emergwncy" situations where you realize you need something after you are already at the airport. You can just pick up one of the cheapest neck pillows.
I have the light blue Tripped compression cube set and I love it and the toiletries bad is my absolute favorite! I use the airtag but we have to remember to check if it is activated. On my last trip, I discovered that my airtag showed that it was at home, and I was overseas. Because I named them generically by number, I had to check all of them to figure out which airtag it was. I bought cases for them, then named them after the case color or animal. If traveling with multiple airtags and like me, do not have a photographic memory, consider a strategy to tell them apart.
I had thought about purchasing a tray table cover, Recently, i was on an aircraft (I cannot recall the route I was on. The plane was a new plane) where one of these products would not work because of the way the closure clasp on the tray table would not allow the tray table to close if a product of this sort was being used. I carry cleansing towels for cleaning the tray table and I put nothing in that pocket except for items that are going to be disposed of during the flight.
one thing i don't understand about weight restrictions and requirements is this...say one person who weighs 150 lbs has 50 lbs of luggage, and another person who weighs 250 lbs has 30 lbs of luggage. so the person with 50 lbs of luggage has to pay a luggage fee, but the person with 30 lbs doesn't. yet the combined weight of the person and their luggage who didn't have to pay luggage fees weighs much more than the person who paid luggage fees. am i missing something?
I heard that some EU? airlines will be weighing passengers, for “take off and landing” weight calculations. I once flew into Rio with 2 50 pound suitcases and one 40 pound carry on, 140 pounds. Twenty pounds more than what I weighed.
I’m a small woman. I think of this all the time. Not that my luggage weighs very much because I wouldn’t be able to lift it. But it is horrible now that I have to bring everything on carry-on. As I said - I’m a small woman I’m 70 years old. And I have to now carry my own luggage?I’m going Amtrak!
Megan, yes I have in the past found myself 2 pounds over the limit. The lady at the counter wanted me to move stuff out of the checked bag into my carry-on to get the checked bag under the limit ... right there on the floor of the airport. Since then I have always tried to weigh my bags at home before leaving to make sure I'm well under the limit. I was doing it as you did with the bathroom scale but bought one of the luggage scales too a couple of years ago. As you say, game changer. And I always look at the weight at the airline counter scale to see how closely it matches and it usually matches what I weighed the bag at home. So I feel confident the luggage scale works well. Air tags ... I bought some of the Samsung ones before my most recent trip to England and they worked great. I had an extra one so I put it on my key ring. Now I can use my phone to find my keys at home or I can use my keys to find my phone! Get some of the silicon protector covers for them and they're pretty indestructible.
Glad to see you've changed your opinion on the usefulness of portable luggage scales. It's one of our most useful travel items when we have to fly in economy or premium economy. It's easy for us to go over the 50 pound limit on a single bag so the scale makes it easy to spread the load. It's hard for us to go over the 70 pound limit in Business and the most we've ever had was 65.
On Southwest my single checked bag was 11 lbs overweight. They wanted $50 to check it. I was packed in packing cubes so we moved a few things, made one of the carry ons a checked bag and I got 11 lbs out of the bag in record time! The agent said she’d never seen anyone be able to move that much weight! I had a few canvas bags which allowed us to check a carryon while removing in flight and meds. I’m not sure what possessed me to pack those canvas bags but it certainly helped if only to have a transfer place to hold the shuffled items. Our other checked bag was underweight so that helped too. Because of Southwest’s 2 bags free adding another bag was a no brainer.
I always travel with canvas bags that stay in my luggage at all times - it's a game changer when you go shopping in places where they charge for bags. (I'm looking at you, Montreal!) I also have 2 nylon bags that fold down the the size of an index card that travel with me. When open, they're enough to carry my personal item bag AND more stuff!
I always pack a cheap backpack on trips for carrying things like snacks or towels for the beach. Once or twice I got too many souvenirs so I put things I didn't care about losing into that backpack and used it as an extra bag. I'm curious what people bring that weighs so much because I'm 6'3", wear 2XL shirts and my bag isn't even close to the limit.
@ Shoes and fabrics like I think it was slickly are quite heavy. My suitcase it really too large to be used for shorter trips. And, when there is room more just in case items seem to get thrown in. I used to pack a daypack I’ve had for years but it’s made of pack cloth and heavy. Since the Southwest incident we now weigh our bags at home - yes we had the scale just hadn’t done it. We managed on one cruise we drove to to pack in only that one suitcase and carryons as we drove to the port. We had to fly back for a family emergency and managed to only be charged the check bag fee for that one bag. We did move weight around while packing though. I know people who bring memory foam for their bed, but they live locally. They usually give the steward it when they leave. I’ve also read how some handle a family member who needs to have their bedding changed overnight and how many adult diapers they must carry. That’s report was interesting because they worked with the room steward to get the red bags to put the bedding in and had the room steward leave extra sheets too. In their case the room steward only had to handle the red bags not those linens.
I pack an extra duffel (cheap collapsable from Walmart). Used once to move stuff from an overweight bag. The additional checked bag was either free, or less than the overweight bag fee. Usually I use the duffel fir laundry on the return trip
I’m so excited-I have all of these products & can vouch for them 100%! I never thought of using the toiletry bag in flight so I’ll give it a try on the next one. And after losing my passport shortly before I was scheduled to fly to Greece, I now have a passport folder that accommodates yet another Apple Air Tag (& a new passport). Thanks Megan, these are all great products & tips!
While waiting in line to check in, I took out my scale and weighed my case. The lady next in line said "Please weigh mine too". Then the person after her. I ended up weighing about 5 people's suitcases and saved some of them money as they moved heavier items from overweight cases to lighter ones. The airline staff that saw this gave me dirty looks but didn't say anything.
I agree that a luggage scale is very useful. I have one and I doublecheck the weight of my to be checked suitcase as I am packing it. Then I put it in my carry on bag since it does have a lithium battery. I also just purchased a "personal item" bag that is the maximum size permitted by United Airlines and I have a Scott-e-Vest on order. I'm planning to move overseas next year so I wall be carrying a lot of stuff.
I put Apple AirTags in all of my bags - including my personal item bag. The airlines don’t put a lot of effort into finding the bags they lost. They can make additional money off of the “lost” bags by selling them to the unclaimed baggage store in Alabama. So they have a greater incentive to lose bags.
In Australia QANTAS have just announced a way to share air tag tracking if your luggage goes missing. It’s too soon to know if it will work, but it’s a great idea.
I bought a luggage scale for international travel with strict weight limits. I noticed that the scale the airports use is calibrated differently from my scale. A checked bag was 19lbs in my living room with my scale and 20.5 lbs according to the airport check in scale. My scale was free with a set of compression cubes so it's not the most accurate thing.
I have one of the Airplane Pockets and love it! Just be aware that while it fits great on most trays, it doesn’t fit that well on first class trays (which are bigger) I was still able to use mine, I just had to slide it on sideways and it only covered half of the tray, but better that than nothing…
Love that tray sleeve idea Megan!! Think I'll pick up some packing cubes and a luggage scale. I've never been overweight on my personal bags...ever...which is interesting, since I've flown a lot in my life. Back in the 90's, I did travel with some work baggage that was over a couple times. Back then the fee was $25...so I paid it and claimed it on my expense report.
Last year's Europe trip, checked bag was far overweight. I'd bought a rolling duffel just in case, so was able to shift enough weight to the duffel. The ticket included one each, checked bag, carryon, and personal item.
DEFINITELY ordering the luggage hanging scale! Thank you for that tip. My wife is an over packer and I tend to overpack my carry one with electronics so I can work. This is will save us!
Been using compression cubes for decades. I started using them for backpacking then immediately started using them to travel. Nice to know there is another brand than Eagle Creek. Thanks for sharing!
I bought a luggage scale a decade ago and it has saved much consternation heading to the airport knowing I don’t have to move items between bags. Good advice tips.
I'm a Photographer. On working trips, my lighting case will almost always be overweight. Some airlines have a media exemption that makes it easier. I've paid from $20 - 50 other times. My carryon is always over the weight limit because it is all batteries and electronics. I approach the gate early, speak ro the attendents and, because they aren't allowed to put it in the hold, get a "cabin baggage" tag on it. By being courteous, asking for their help and being patient, I have rarely had a problem.
I love my tray cover but wasn’t able to use it on my recent trip to Spain with AA or Iberia. It was like the tray came out much farther over my lap so the dangly part had no where to go. It was really odd.
So it appears that after using the tray table product then take the contaminated fabri and put it in your bag so it can contaminate everything else. Clever!
Thanks for all your travel tips. And thank you for the tutorial on using those compression cubes. I purchased a set several months ago but have yet to use them. Now I know how 👍🏽 I’m going to use them going forward. Thanks again.
I always seem to get my checked bag to 50lbs (rarely under - but then I travel for long periods of time when I go somewhere). I have a luggage scale. I didn't have the scale with me when, after spending 3 months in Portugal leaving, my bag was over and I had to pay the extra.
I don't know if I'd say that airlines in NA (or at least the US) enforce the carry-on weight. So far I've flown on a few different airlines (Delta, United, Southwest, Frontier and Spirit) and have NEVER been asked to weigh a carry-on (Delta I think and United have a pretty generous max weight,. like 35-50 lbs). While others like Spirit may limit it to about 25-30 lbs, but still if you use compression cubes, that's a lot of stuff. They are usually more concerned about the size than the weight I think (international flights are more likely to check bag weights). The only time I once got hit with a bag fee was on my return flight from Montana to Chicago and I had to get a second bag (luckily I weighed my bag with a luggage scale I had with me and knew the original bag was overweight) so I paid only about $50 for a second checked bag, since I had to buy a cheap gym bag to check to put all my dirty clothes in (I had purcahsed some souviners that apparently weighed about 5 lbs but put me over the limit and my backpack was already full unfortunately, but it was only $50 plus about $15 for the bag). (Now I actually pack a spare small gym bag in case I need a second bag). This is also where your personal item comes into play, as many airlines in the US won't specify a weight (I've only seen weights mentioned for personal items for international flights and some are a bit bogus, like 5 lbs max, which I know some laptops that weigh more than 5 lbs alone without a laptop bag). But in the US, most of the time I have not seen one and will sometimes pack them to about 10-15 lbs so it's like I can carry-on about 50 lbs total between the carry-on and personal item bag (which for me is usually a regular backpack).
It really sucked when I had to gate check my bag, and when I got to Florence, my bag was still in Paris. I had to wait 24 hours to get it back. I had nothing to wear. So now I always have a change of clothes in my personal item bag. I am now waiting for the ETA site to go live so I can apply. Have to get one for the UK too apparently
I thought gate checked bag goes on the plane with you. It is just not on the overhead compartment but rather on the area where FA have their stuff too.
Ok, I love travel gadgets for flying and I don’t begrudge you those earnings as you point out so many issues we face and it is Christmas travel season after all. So I’m considering the air fly even though I did hold on to a pair of earbuds free from a plane, and the plane pocket for myself and others. I definitely recommend packing cubes and a luggage scale.
Compression packing cubes may reduce space, but weight remains the same, so it may be misleading. If carry on exceeds weight limit, they may tag it & charge a checked bag fee.
I was thinking the same thing…I get the organization of the compression cubes but not how the weight changes. Seems to me you are more inclined to over pack.
Oh, I totally agree. How dirty the pockets could be I have this very tray cover with the pocket built into it and I always take it with me. There’s times when I’ve been on certain size planes that my cover doesn’t work.
The airline I was flying home on to have major surgery, my luggage was 5 lbs over weight. They wanted $200. I had to remove my pillow s and carry them on. I was very sick. In Atlanta, flights were delayed but I was diverted to Memphis. I begged to be let off first and could they call to hold the plane. It was the last plane to my home that night. When they landed, they had closed the gate. And would not wait. I was so sick, I started crying. Several flight attendants stopped to help me. The Delta rep spoke with my husband , 2 hrs earlier, he had gotten home from Texas. He had to drive back to Atlanta and get me. I was to see my surgeon first thing in the next morning It was a nightmare.
Hate to burst your bubble on the packing cubes - but being able to put more clothing into a bag will INCREASE the weight, not reduce it. About 30 years ago they cracked down on the weight of carry on bags.
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.. I have used the compression bags and I like those but last time I used a vacuum sealed bag to get all my stuff in. I brought a little camping vacuum sealed pump 2 1/2” tall and is rechargeable. Enjoy your journey in life and thank you for sharing
I usually have family with at the airline check-in, if I am worried, I will have a bag to toss things in that can stay at my parents. I have though have purchased a luggage scale. Yet, I know what 22 kg feels like when I pick it up now, and have yet to be wrong. I just use the scale to be on the safe side to switch items from one bag to another.
We went on a family holiday, to Crete me, hubby a nd 6yo daughter along with FIL, step son and his girlfriend we were ok, FIL have a very light case but the girlfriend had a suitcase that ended up with an airport extremely heavy sticker stuck on it before we left the UK, lucky for us we had a friendly lady behind the desk who weighted the super light case with the heavy one and put them through as a couple so it averaged out the weight for 2 people. Packing to come home she had brought so many souvenir s we had to spread it all between us to get back without any extra costs😮
If your luggage is a little over weight. Wear a few items out of it to bring the luggage weight down. When you get on the plane remove the extra clothes and put them in your carry on. Maybe even stuff them into the over head compartment if no one is looking
I never encountered an overweight bag throughout my travel experience. I try to pack light even when I check a bag. I bought a non-digital luggage scale awhile ago. I bought a tile for tracking luggage and must have got a defect because it never connected to my phone to be able to track it.
❤wanted to thank you for your tips and knowledge.kepp them coming.i do 5 hour flights to South America and your tips make flying tolerable.oo love your dog. Adorable
Years ago in San Francisco my bag very overweight. I ended tossing some paperwork, not critical, and gave the agent some wine. The Apple AirTag is a game changer. That's how I learned my golf clubs did not make the transfer from Scotland and stayed in Paris for an extra day. I might have preferred to stay in Paris and my clubs home early. Perhaps another time!
I wish you would make a video of shipping your luggage to your motel via UPS, which is less expensive that paying for checked baggage on an airline. Or have you already made that video?
I have a hanging toiletry bag that I use in hotels, etc, but I simply cannot bring myself to brush my teeth in the plane's RR....the smell in there makes me want to spend as little time as possible there. I wait until I'm in the airport to take care of it.
Another thing to mention. Don't put water bottles or bulky items in that seat back pocket. It pushes right up against the lower back of the person in front of you. There's no separation or barrier.
Last flight my air tag in my checked bag said it was still located at the airport where I checked in when the arrived at my destination. Even sent me a warning message. Turns out it was on the flight after all and showed up at the carrousel.
Saying the airlines are clueless as to where your bags are is a little harsh. The FAA reports an average of 26,000 U.S. flights, with upwards of 2.6 million passengers PER DAY with a baggage loss rate of 1%. How many of us can claim a fail rate of only 1% in OUR jobs? I've been flying for 40+ years, and have never had a piece of baggage lost, or even damaged. This is why I'm one the rare ones who checks a bag, and gets on the plane unencumbered by a carry on. I only take a personal bag which fits under the seat. When did we become a society that must have all of our belongings within arm's reach on a plane?
Arm's reach is not the goal! The goal is to avoid going to luggage claim and have to wait. But, yes, sometimes luggage is misplaced and having to wait can be very inconvenient and expensive if you miss a land connection as for a cruise or a train.
@@wberckmann I allow an extra 20-30 minutes for getting to the baggage carousel ...it normally takes 15-20 minutes to get to the "arrivals" exit, which is by the carousels anyway. If my luggage is ever misplaced (never happened) I don't sweat it, as I always get travel insurance. Plus, the luggage bands they put on at check in (Delta, for one) allow for tracking during your trip, plus I use Apple Air Tags.
I used to fly a ton, always checked bags. Really got pissed when I got on flight and all overhead bins taken by people with a "carry-on" and "personal item" with everything for a 2 week trip.... JUST CHECK THE BAGS!!!! Over 100 flights in 1 year, my bag got on wrong place 1 time. It was to me the next day...
On an international flight, I was told my "personal item" was too heavy. I had an iPad and a 14 inch Mac in it... nothing else. They relented with a little polite negotiation to reason.... A computer bag should be allowed to weigh at least as much as a single laptop.
Last year, we were travelling from Melbourne Australia to Montreal. We got bumped by air Canada in Sydney and waited 2 days for another flight. This time with United. Got as far as Fiji and had to make an emergency landing due to a medical emergency. Stuck on the runway for 3 1/2 hrs. Only made it as far as Honolulu due to crew being over their flying time. Tickets were somehow frozen. United eventually sorted the. And we we given new tickets via Denver and New York. But, because we had so many stops, the bags were no longer packed in the original way and I had no clue on weight. The main suitcase was 5 lb over and they said the charge was going to be $200 US. I gasped and she decided to waive it.
*Tripped Travel Gear Compression Cubes* shoptripped.com/portableprofessional-holiday24-carryon
*Tripped Travel Gear Toiletry Bag*
shoptripped.com/portableprofessional-holiday24-toiletry
I was a few rows back from a toilet on an international flight and watched several people wait (desperately) for some toiletries-carrying, flossing, teeth brushing, 7step facial routine person to leave the airline bathroom. The waiting person just needed to pee.
The airplane bathroom is for using the toilet, washing your hands, and getting OUT. 😣
If like me, u wiped down the tray with disinfectant wipes, pls don’t forget to also wipe the back of the seat where the tray touches when tray’s not in use. Also, wipe the entertainment (touch) screen, seat belt & buckles, armrests, any buttons u & other passengers might touch.
I was thinking back of seat too!
This used to seem OCD but now it’s absolutely essential!
@ When you are dealing with a new bug that no one is immune to nor knows how it’s spread, absolutely. And even if you are traveling to unfamiliar areas even then you may not be as immune to as the locals, thus why tap water, in the US, can even get a small reaction out of your gut!
As the herd immunities to things we were once able to reject dwindles I expect there will be even more need to clean more thoroughly if that even kills new bugs!
Oh no, the channel has turned into a full-time sales and marketing for products
Years ago we traveled to Argentina. In buenos Aires they charged an arm and leg to for our overweight carry on to fly down to the southern tip. So on the way home, we WORE everything, our carry on was just an empty case. No extra fee!
I have the tray cover. Used it once. It hangs down when filled with items like my iPad hitting my legs. Didn’t care for it and was added weight and item to get out of bag. Btw you still have to touch the tray table to put it in so still need to clean that off first.
Very useful tech for any flight, Megan. The thing about the tray cover is that the germs should be wiped down with antiseptics before you cover them. The bluetooth converter is cool and you can add one item: portable power pack for phones that are running out of juice. Thanks for these fantastic items!
We've been using the tray covers for a while. Once we were confronted by an irritated flight attendant who would not allow us keep it on the tray until after the plane took off, even though the tray was up and latched. She insisted that it was connected to the aircraft so we were ordered to remove them and put them away.
The airlines do not care if people know about any of these "hacks."
Yeah, the title was pretty misleading
To be fair, the airlines absolutely want to charge you more ($$) and also don't want you to know exactly where and when they lost your luggage (looks bad for them)
@@manvaerisagreed. Airlines charge more for checked bags as a deterent. It seems that encourages carry-ons.
Hello, I am not a frequent flyer, but I discovered a travel hack that made a huge difference in my comfort on the plane and I thought I would share and maybe you have other similar tips you can share in a video on increasing comfort on flights. I just took took a 3 hour flight on Allegiant for the first time. I have recently had some low back issues and I have sciatica. On my first flight, I was in so much pain and it took me two days to recover. I just couldn't get in a position that was comfortable. Before my return flight, I thought that maybe I could use my neck pillow as a pressure reluef seat cushion in the same way i use one in my car. My cheap airlines neck pillow is just one of those horseshoe-shaped pillows stuffed with Styrofoam beads, but it is shaped similarly to my back relief seat cushion. On my flight home, I bought myself a second, nicer neck pillow and I sat on my cheaoer neck cushion, with the opening pointing towards the front of my body. It worked perfectly! I went from 3 hours of pain on my first flight to zero pain on my return flight. I would recommend bringing a thin pillowcase to put the cushion in before sitting on it as I was nervous about the seam ripping. I would just keep the pillowcase in my personal item bag so that you can still snap the neck cushion around the strap of your personal item bag, and then putting it over the neck pillow before sitting in it. That way if thec weak rips, the Styrofoam balls will be contained.
I also think it would be neat to see info on different types of neck pillows aa the second one i picked up in the airport was amazing compared to my cheap, average neck pillow. I usual just use my neck pillow more like a pillow against the wall in my window seat. But the second pillow I purchased was made of memory foam and was designed to sit higher up around my neck snugly, so even without a wall, my neck felt supported with that I could cook just rest my head against the pillow itself.
Prior to figuring this hack out and even before I had sciatica, my legs always felt uncomfortable on flights. At 5'4", I always felt like I needed something to prop my foot on. I had even considered trying to tie exercise bandung (the thinner kind that is cut off of rolls) around my back and around my knees or under my foot somehow to suspend my foot. But, this neck pillow hack worked.
I know you could probably just being an actual ergonomic seat cushion, but i think it would take up too much room in your personal item bag, and this is great tip in "emergwncy" situations where you realize you need something after you are already at the airport. You can just pick up one of the cheapest neck pillows.
I have the light blue Tripped compression cube set and I love it and the toiletries bad is my absolute favorite! I use the airtag but we have to remember to check if it is activated. On my last trip, I discovered that my airtag showed that it was at home, and I was overseas. Because I named them generically by number, I had to check all of them to figure out which airtag it was. I bought cases for them, then named them after the case color or animal. If traveling with multiple airtags and like me, do not have a photographic memory, consider a strategy to tell them apart.
I had thought about purchasing a tray table cover, Recently, i was on an aircraft (I cannot recall the route I was on. The plane was a new plane) where one of these products would not work because of the way the closure clasp on the tray table would not allow the tray table to close if a product of this sort was being used. I carry cleansing towels for cleaning the tray table and I put nothing in that pocket except for items that are going to be disposed of during the flight.
I used the Tripped packing cubes on a trip last month and they were great. Do you wash packing cubes afterwards once home?
I do. But I'm a germaphobe, so I sanitize everything.
Of course.
Where did you take that airplane toilet room photo? I’ve never seen one that big! 😂
On a private jet perhaps, cos all the plane toilets I have been in were cramped as heck.
one thing i don't understand about weight restrictions and requirements is this...say one person who weighs 150 lbs has 50 lbs of luggage, and another person who weighs 250 lbs has 30 lbs of luggage. so the person with 50 lbs of luggage has to pay a luggage fee, but the person with 30 lbs doesn't. yet the combined weight of the person and their luggage who didn't have to pay luggage fees weighs much more than the person who paid luggage fees. am i missing something?
Yes!!! This has always bothered me!!! Let’s make it fair for everyone… air travel by the pound!!! Stop ripping off “smaller” people!!!
In some small planes (5 passengers in some Caribbean island hoppers), they weigh the passengers together with their luggage.
Every time I'm in an airport check-in queue, I think of this. It seems totally fair to me.
I heard that some EU? airlines will be weighing passengers, for “take off and landing” weight calculations. I once flew into Rio with 2 50 pound suitcases and one 40 pound carry on, 140 pounds. Twenty pounds more than what I weighed.
I’m a small woman. I think of this all the time. Not that my luggage weighs very much because I wouldn’t be able to lift it. But it is horrible now that I have to bring everything on carry-on. As I said - I’m a small woman I’m 70 years old. And I have to now carry my own luggage?I’m going Amtrak!
Megan, yes I have in the past found myself 2 pounds over the limit. The lady at the counter wanted me to move stuff out of the checked bag into my carry-on to get the checked bag under the limit ... right there on the floor of the airport. Since then I have always tried to weigh my bags at home before leaving to make sure I'm well under the limit. I was doing it as you did with the bathroom scale but bought one of the luggage scales too a couple of years ago. As you say, game changer. And I always look at the weight at the airline counter scale to see how closely it matches and it usually matches what I weighed the bag at home. So I feel confident the luggage scale works well. Air tags ... I bought some of the Samsung ones before my most recent trip to England and they worked great. I had an extra one so I put it on my key ring. Now I can use my phone to find my keys at home or I can use my keys to find my phone! Get some of the silicon protector covers for them and they're pretty indestructible.
I travel mostly with only a personal bag but it is cheaper to have a checked bag than a carry-on when flying Ryanair.
I love your weekly travel tips and positive vibes Frenchy!
Glad to see you've changed your opinion on the usefulness of portable luggage scales. It's one of our most useful travel items when we have to fly in economy or premium economy. It's easy for us to go over the 50 pound limit on a single bag so the scale makes it easy to spread the load. It's hard for us to go over the 70 pound limit in Business and the most we've ever had was 65.
On Southwest my single checked bag was 11 lbs overweight. They wanted $50 to check it. I was packed in packing cubes so we moved a few things, made one of the carry ons a checked bag and I got 11 lbs out of the bag in record time! The agent said she’d never seen anyone be able to move that much weight! I had a few canvas bags which allowed us to check a carryon while removing in flight and meds. I’m not sure what possessed me to pack those canvas bags but it certainly helped if only to have a transfer place to hold the shuffled items. Our other checked bag was underweight so that helped too. Because of Southwest’s 2 bags free adding another bag was a no brainer.
I always travel with canvas bags that stay in my luggage at all times - it's a game changer when you go shopping in places where they charge for bags. (I'm looking at you, Montreal!) I also have 2 nylon bags that fold down the the size of an index card that travel with me. When open, they're enough to carry my personal item bag AND more stuff!
I always pack a cheap backpack on trips for carrying things like snacks or towels for the beach. Once or twice I got too many souvenirs so I put things I didn't care about losing into that backpack and used it as an extra bag. I'm curious what people bring that weighs so much because I'm 6'3", wear 2XL shirts and my bag isn't even close to the limit.
@ Shoes and fabrics like I think it was slickly are quite heavy. My suitcase it really too large to be used for shorter trips. And, when there is room more just in case items seem to get thrown in. I used to pack a daypack I’ve had for years but it’s made of pack cloth and heavy. Since the Southwest incident we now weigh our bags at home - yes we had the scale just hadn’t done it. We managed on one cruise we drove to to pack in only that one suitcase and carryons as we drove to the port. We had to fly back for a family emergency and managed to only be charged the check bag fee for that one bag. We did move weight around while packing though.
I know people who bring memory foam for their bed, but they live locally. They usually give the steward it when they leave.
I’ve also read how some handle a family member who needs to have their bedding changed overnight and how many adult diapers they must carry. That’s report was interesting because they worked with the room steward to get the red bags to put the bedding in and had the room steward leave extra sheets too. In their case the room steward only had to handle the red bags not those linens.
I pack an extra duffel (cheap collapsable from Walmart). Used once to move stuff from an overweight bag. The additional checked bag was either free, or less than the overweight bag fee. Usually I use the duffel fir laundry on the return trip
I’m so excited-I have all of these products & can vouch for them 100%! I never thought of using the toiletry bag in flight so I’ll give it a try on the next one. And after losing my passport shortly before I was scheduled to fly to Greece, I now have a passport folder that accommodates yet another Apple Air Tag (& a new passport).
Thanks Megan, these are all great products & tips!
You are also the company selling these products.
While waiting in line to check in, I took out my scale and weighed my case. The lady next in line said "Please weigh mine too". Then the person after her. I ended up weighing about 5 people's suitcases and saved some of them money as they moved heavier items from overweight cases to lighter ones. The airline staff that saw this gave me dirty looks but didn't say anything.
I agree that a luggage scale is very useful. I have one and I doublecheck the weight of my to be checked suitcase as I am packing it. Then I put it in my carry on bag since it does have a lithium battery. I also just purchased a "personal item" bag that is the maximum size permitted by United Airlines and I have a Scott-e-Vest on order. I'm planning to move overseas next year so I wall be carrying a lot of stuff.
I put Apple AirTags in all of my bags - including my personal item bag. The airlines don’t put a lot of effort into finding the bags they lost. They can make additional money off of the “lost” bags by selling them to the unclaimed baggage store in Alabama. So they have a greater incentive to lose bags.
In Australia QANTAS have just announced a way to share air tag tracking if your luggage goes missing. It’s too soon to know if it will work, but it’s a great idea.
Travel Hacks ? You mean products you are selling ...
Love the tray cover with the pocket! How clever
So easy to pack too! Happy travels, Dana!
Me too! I usually despise the ridiculously small useless seat back holders that fit nothing. Great gift idea too!
I bought a luggage scale for international travel with strict weight limits. I noticed that the scale the airports use is calibrated differently from my scale. A checked bag was 19lbs in my living room with my scale and 20.5 lbs according to the airport check in scale. My scale was free with a set of compression cubes so it's not the most accurate thing.
Me too! I’m going to try to make one from old fabric over Christmas.
and then you put that cover in your handbag and all the germs of the cover are in your bag. or do you throw it away?
Usually these videos are informative, this one was an infomercial. 😢
Yes! I usually appreciate her videos but not this one. So you want me to spend even more money on my travels? Glad she can afford it 🤷🏾♀️
I have one of the Airplane Pockets and love it! Just be aware that while it fits great on most trays, it doesn’t fit that well on first class trays (which are bigger) I was still able to use mine, I just had to slide it on sideways and it only covered half of the tray, but better that than nothing…
Love that tray sleeve idea Megan!! Think I'll pick up some packing cubes and a luggage scale. I've never been overweight on my personal bags...ever...which is interesting, since I've flown a lot in my life. Back in the 90's, I did travel with some work baggage that was over a couple times. Back then the fee was $25...so I paid it and claimed it on my expense report.
Last year's Europe trip, checked bag was far overweight. I'd bought a rolling duffel just in case, so was able to shift enough weight to the duffel. The ticket included one each, checked bag, carryon, and personal item.
DEFINITELY ordering the luggage hanging scale! Thank you for that tip. My wife is an over packer and I tend to overpack my carry one with electronics so I can work. This is will save us!
Your videos are always so helpful. Thanks for everything you do. I may look into that tray table cover, great idea!
Been using compression cubes for decades. I started using them for backpacking then immediately started using them to travel. Nice to know there is another brand than Eagle Creek. Thanks for sharing!
Yay! Love ur videos so much always so helpful and amazing ☃️💚🎁🎁💚☃️☃️💚🎅🏻❄️🎁🎁🎁💚☃️🎄🎄☃️💚🎁🎁💚💚🎅🏻🎅🏻❤️🎁🎁🎁💚☃️🎄🎄🎄☃️💚🎁💚
Happy belated thanksgiving Megan 🎅🏻🎅🏻❤️❄️❤️🎁🎁💚💚🎄☃️🎄💚🎁🎅🏻🎅🏻❤️❤️❤️🎁🎁💚🎄☃️☃️🎄💚🎁🎅🏻🎅🏻❤️🎄☃️☃️☃️💚🎁🎁🎁💚🎄🎄🎄🎁🎁🎅🏻❤️🎄☃️☃️
Will you be able to use the SmartTag if you have a different (travel) esim card???
Tile tags just need an app and an internet connection. So sim doesn't matter. I assume all tags work similarly
Another great post! So nice to see you
I bought a luggage scale a decade ago and it has saved much consternation heading to the airport knowing I don’t have to move items between bags. Good advice tips.
Compression bags will not change the weight I'm told... So while u may have more space the weight temains the same
I'm a Photographer. On working trips, my lighting case will almost always be overweight. Some airlines have a media exemption that makes it easier. I've paid from $20 - 50 other times. My carryon is always over the weight limit because it is all batteries and electronics. I approach the gate early, speak ro the attendents and, because they aren't allowed to put it in the hold, get a "cabin baggage" tag on it. By being courteous, asking for their help and being patient, I have rarely had a problem.
Great tips! Putting a bunch of things in my cart in amazon
Thank you Megan!
I love my tray cover but wasn’t able to use it on my recent trip to Spain with AA or Iberia. It was like the tray came out much farther over my lap so the dangly part had no where to go. It was really odd.
So it appears that after using the tray table product then take the contaminated fabri and put it in your bag so it can contaminate everything else. Clever!
I have one of those tray pockets and I love it!
Thanks Megan, great video as always.
I had Air fly, but I had difficulty connecting it in the plane even though I had already set it up with my Bose!
Thanks for all your travel tips. And thank you for the tutorial on using those compression cubes. I purchased a set several months ago but have yet to use them. Now I know how 👍🏽 I’m going to use them going forward. Thanks again.
The best travel hack is a travel vest. Mine has a pocket for a 13” iPad and headphones plus battery and cables.
I always seem to get my checked bag to 50lbs (rarely under - but then I travel for long periods of time when I go somewhere). I have a luggage scale. I didn't have the scale with me when, after spending 3 months in Portugal leaving, my bag was over and I had to pay the extra.
Love to see a blacklight scan of the trays and seatback pockets. Bet it would be very revealing!
I don't know if I'd say that airlines in NA (or at least the US) enforce the carry-on weight. So far I've flown on a few different airlines (Delta, United, Southwest, Frontier and Spirit) and have NEVER been asked to weigh a carry-on (Delta I think and United have a pretty generous max weight,. like 35-50 lbs). While others like Spirit may limit it to about 25-30 lbs, but still if you use compression cubes, that's a lot of stuff. They are usually more concerned about the size than the weight I think (international flights are more likely to check bag weights). The only time I once got hit with a bag fee was on my return flight from Montana to Chicago and I had to get a second bag (luckily I weighed my bag with a luggage scale I had with me and knew the original bag was overweight) so I paid only about $50 for a second checked bag, since I had to buy a cheap gym bag to check to put all my dirty clothes in (I had purcahsed some souviners that apparently weighed about 5 lbs but put me over the limit and my backpack was already full unfortunately, but it was only $50 plus about $15 for the bag). (Now I actually pack a spare small gym bag in case I need a second bag).
This is also where your personal item comes into play, as many airlines in the US won't specify a weight (I've only seen weights mentioned for personal items for international flights and some are a bit bogus, like 5 lbs max, which I know some laptops that weigh more than 5 lbs alone without a laptop bag). But in the US, most of the time I have not seen one and will sometimes pack them to about 10-15 lbs so it's like I can carry-on about 50 lbs total between the carry-on and personal item bag (which for me is usually a regular backpack).
Never been charged for overweight. Even in my economy days my checked bagage rarely weighed more than 24-28 pounds
I love packing cubs so much🎄☃️☃️🎁🎁☃️💚🎄🎅🏻🎅🏻❤️❄️❄️❤️🎁☃️🎄💚💚💚☃️🎁🎁🎁🎄💚💚☃️🎁🎁🎅🏻🎅🏻❤️☃️☃️🎄💚💚💚🎄🎄🎁🎁🎄🎄❄️❄️🎄💚
It really sucked when I had to gate check my bag, and when I got to Florence, my bag was still in Paris. I had to wait 24 hours to get it back. I had nothing to wear. So now I always have a change of clothes in my personal item bag. I am now waiting for the ETA site to go live so I can apply. Have to get one for the UK too apparently
I thought gate checked bag goes on the plane with you. It is just not on the overhead compartment but rather on the area where FA have their stuff too.
@@maryloubautista2317 Not always the case sadly
@@renferal5290 that sucks.
Ok, I love travel gadgets for flying and I don’t begrudge you those earnings as you point out so many issues we face and it is Christmas travel season after all. So I’m considering the air fly even though I did hold on to a pair of earbuds free from a plane, and the plane pocket for myself and others. I definitely recommend packing cubes and a luggage scale.
Thanks for sharing. Great video !!
Compression packing cubes may reduce space, but weight remains the same, so it may be misleading. If carry on exceeds weight limit, they may tag it & charge a checked bag fee.
I was thinking the same thing…I get the organization of the compression cubes but not how the weight changes. Seems to me you are more inclined to over pack.
Why wouldn't the airline not want you to know?
Oh, I totally agree. How dirty the pockets could be I have this very tray cover with the pocket built into it and I always take it with me. There’s times when I’ve been on certain size planes that my cover doesn’t work.
The airline I was flying home on to have major surgery, my luggage was 5 lbs over weight. They wanted $200. I had to remove my pillow s and carry them on. I was very sick. In Atlanta, flights were delayed but I was diverted to Memphis. I begged to be let off first and could they call to hold the plane. It was the last plane to my home that night.
When they landed, they had closed the gate. And would not wait. I was so sick, I started crying. Several flight attendants stopped to help me. The Delta rep spoke with my husband , 2 hrs earlier, he had gotten home from Texas. He had to drive back to Atlanta and get me. I was to see my surgeon first thing in the next morning
It was a nightmare.
With the scale you can also go in your tackle box and use a fish scale if the weight range is good
Lol thank you I use most of these hacks. 😊
Always great travel tips.
Hate to burst your bubble on the packing cubes - but being able to put more clothing into a bag will INCREASE the weight, not reduce it.
About 30 years ago they cracked down on the weight of carry on bags.
Yay its My Fav Travel Guide! I Love You Megan!
Expanding My Awareness each time to arm me with travel wisdom through your videos!
💖💖💖
Thank you so much! Great to know you find them helpful! Safe travels!
Always enjoy your vids and seeing that cutie, Ollie! Thanks, Megan!
Nice to hear! Happy travels, Patrick!
My return flight was cancelled in October, and I had to pay a lot off money for a new ticket. How much - what %- age - am I due for a refund?
I love my trip "help" accessories too.
Great video, Megan! Just added a tray table cover to my holiday shopping list. 😉
Some people are saying the tray table covers are not airline approved and they were not able to use them.
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving..
I have used the compression bags and I like those but last time I used a vacuum sealed bag to get all my stuff in. I brought a little camping vacuum sealed pump 2 1/2” tall and is rechargeable.
Enjoy your journey in life and thank you for sharing
I usually have family with at the airline check-in, if I am worried, I will have a bag to toss things in that can stay at my parents. I have though have purchased a luggage scale. Yet, I know what 22 kg feels like when I pick it up now, and have yet to be wrong. I just use the scale to be on the safe side to switch items from one bag to another.
We went on a family holiday, to Crete me, hubby a nd 6yo daughter along with FIL, step son and his girlfriend we were ok, FIL have a very light case but the girlfriend had a suitcase that ended up with an airport extremely heavy sticker stuck on it before we left the UK, lucky for us we had a friendly lady behind the desk who weighted the super light case with the heavy one and put them through as a couple so it averaged out the weight for 2 people. Packing to come home she had brought so many souvenir s we had to spread it all between us to get back without any extra costs😮
Tripped bags are a game changer. Airlines broke the zipper but a luggage strap around bag and the cubes kept belongings intact
If your luggage is a little over weight. Wear a few items out of it to bring the luggage weight down. When you get on the plane remove the extra clothes and put them in your carry on. Maybe even stuff them into the over head compartment if no one is looking
Unfortunately found the airfly pro very difficult to pair and poor sound quality
I never encountered an overweight bag throughout my travel experience. I try to pack light even when I check a bag. I bought a non-digital luggage scale awhile ago. I bought a tile for tracking luggage and must have got a defect because it never connected to my phone to be able to track it.
❤wanted to thank you for your tips and knowledge.kepp them coming.i do 5 hour flights to South America and your tips make flying tolerable.oo love your dog. Adorable
any tips on travel to Ecuador?
Back in 2004 was visiting a friend in the US but was returning back to Australia. They changed me $100. I had another bag that was also 25kg.
Years ago in San Francisco my bag very overweight. I ended tossing some paperwork, not critical, and gave the agent some wine. The Apple AirTag is a game changer. That's how I learned my golf clubs did not make the transfer from Scotland and stayed in Paris for an extra day. I might have preferred to stay in Paris and my clubs home early. Perhaps another time!
If you fly Sun Country, they charge the same for a carry on as well as a checked bag. Currently $59.
Airplane pockets, smart just ordered one!
Didn't know they existed.
I always bring on the flight a full large pizza 🍕 it would be nice to have attachment that I could set the pizza box on.
With anchovies I presume.😂😂
😂
I wish you would make a video of shipping your luggage to your motel via UPS, which is less expensive that paying for checked baggage on an airline. Or have you already made that video?
"6 Amazon affiliate links for things airlines don't care about" lol
stay home if you are that paranoid about germs
I have a hanging toiletry bag that I use in hotels, etc, but I simply cannot bring myself to brush my teeth in the plane's RR....the smell in there makes me want to spend as little time as possible there. I wait until I'm in the airport to take care of it.
Korea Air and Japan Airlines/ANA does not allow an AirTag in the checked luggage FYI
The airfly bluetooth sounds like a great idea!!!
Air Canada sends texts when checked luggage is loaded on the plane, when it is put on a connected flight and when it has been taken off the plane.
Another thing to mention. Don't put water bottles or bulky items in that seat back pocket. It pushes right up against the lower back of the person in front of you. There's no separation or barrier.
Last flight my air tag in my checked bag said it was still located at the airport where I checked in when the arrived at my destination. Even sent me a warning message. Turns out it was on the flight after all and showed up at the carrousel.
Saying the airlines are clueless as to where your bags are is a little harsh. The FAA reports an average of 26,000 U.S. flights, with upwards of 2.6 million passengers PER DAY with a baggage loss rate of 1%. How many of us can claim a fail rate of only 1% in OUR jobs? I've been flying for 40+ years, and have never had a piece of baggage lost, or even damaged. This is why I'm one the rare ones who checks a bag, and gets on the plane unencumbered by a carry on. I only take a personal bag which fits under the seat. When did we become a society that must have all of our belongings within arm's reach on a plane?
Arm's reach is not the goal! The goal is to avoid going to luggage claim and have to wait. But, yes, sometimes luggage is misplaced and having to wait can be very inconvenient and expensive if you miss a land connection as for a cruise or a train.
@@wberckmann I allow an extra 20-30 minutes for getting to the baggage carousel ...it normally takes 15-20 minutes to get to the "arrivals" exit, which is by the carousels anyway. If my luggage is ever misplaced (never happened) I don't sweat it, as I always get travel insurance. Plus, the luggage bands they put on at check in (Delta, for one) allow for tracking during your trip, plus I use Apple Air Tags.
I recently flew from Monterey to San Diego on Alaska. My carry on was too heavy, so I had to return to the desk to check it. It cost me $35.
I used to fly a ton, always checked bags. Really got pissed when I got on flight and all overhead bins taken by people with a "carry-on" and "personal item" with everything for a 2 week trip.... JUST CHECK THE BAGS!!!! Over 100 flights in 1 year, my bag got on wrong place 1 time. It was to me the next day...
Your best video ever! 🤩
On an international flight, I was told my "personal item" was too heavy. I had an iPad and a 14 inch Mac in it... nothing else. They relented with a little polite negotiation to reason.... A computer bag should be allowed to weigh at least as much as a single laptop.
Last year, we were travelling from Melbourne Australia to Montreal. We got bumped by air Canada in Sydney and waited 2 days for another flight. This time with United. Got as far as Fiji and had to make an emergency landing due to a medical emergency. Stuck on the runway for 3 1/2 hrs. Only made it as far as Honolulu due to crew being over their flying time. Tickets were somehow frozen. United eventually sorted the. And we we given new tickets via Denver and New York. But, because we had so many stops, the bags were no longer packed in the original way and I had no clue on weight. The main suitcase was 5 lb over and they said the charge was going to be $200 US. I gasped and she decided to waive it.
I have a travel scale to keep bags under 70lbs. We have status so we do not pay fees.