7 Items That You Should Always Include In Your Carry-On Bag While Flying
By
Professor Theodore Henderson
“Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey”
~ Babs Hoffman
As remote workers, business travelers, and digital nomads our strategy is to keep our travel approach simple and necessary items accessible. It would be best to keep particular travel necessities, such as those highlighted in this post, close at hand in a smaller carry-on bag—not in your large carry-on bag and definitely not in a checked bag.
When packing for a journey, it’s a good idea to stick to your airline’s carry-on allotment in order to avoid additional expenses for checked bags and the chance that an airline would lose your luggage. In most cases, this entails packing one bag for the overhead bin. A second “personal item” (such as a handbag, briefcase, little rolling suitcase, tote bag, or small backpack) that will fit beneath the seat in front of you. Different travel accessories can be helpful as you implement this strategy.
However, there are often no more overhead bins available before all passengers board the aircraft. Your bigger carry-on may need to be checked at the gate, leaving you with only your personal item.
Despite your best efforts, your bag will be subject to the behavior and inconveniences of checked baggage. This includes the possibility of getting lost, being sent to an unidentified location without you, or experiencing a delay at baggage claim. Also, let’s remember and, obviously, being separated from you for the duration of the flight (at least).
For these reasons, you should always keep a few essential travel items in your personal onboard item. The reason is simple: you must wait a while before getting your hands on the rest of your belongings. Having these things close at hand would be best since they serve as identification, facilitate communication and payment for goods, and preserve your health and safety.
Seven items to have in your carry-on bag
Here are the seven items you should always pack in a bag that will fit beneath an aircraft seat, regardless of whether you want to check a suitcase or travel with just carry-on luggage:
1 Your identification and other crucial travel papers.
This includes any necessary visas and paperwork you’ve printed off to simplify your life, such as your passport. Or, if you’re traveling domestically, valid state-issued picture identification (itinerary, contact info, and so on).
2 Your cash.
If you consider putting your wallet in a zipped pouch on your roll-aboard luggage or anything similar, don’t. You presumably had planned to keep your cash and credit cards nearby.