Originally Posted by
jshoneycutt
Just got picked up by a regional and am looking for some uncommon advise (at least uncommon to these boards that I can see). I am an ultra-light backpacker and love carrying just the bare necessities with everything in close reach. What strategies have you come up with for managing your personal belongings while flying? I am thinking of sewing plastic sleeves into my passport to hold my certs, DL and a credit card... What size luggage? Which items have made all the difference and which are easy to do without?
Thank you,
Don't touch the passport. Just get a leather cover for it that has pockets. When ever you go through customs just take it out. It's all of a 2 second ordeal.
If you don't have a case the cover tends to start trying to tear which makes the passport invalid. I've had my holder for 16 years and it's still in good condition. My monogram name is the only thing starting to wear but that's not a big deal.
Just bring an extra shirt or two depending on the trip length and set of overnight street clothes. I normally pack two pilot shirts, two undershirts, a pair of jeans, two button down shirts, socks for every day and underwear for everyday. If it's winter I have a light shell jacket that go in for the overnights.
I typically only pack 3oz bottles of toiletries. As it makes dealing with the TSA easier if I decide to go sans monkey suit for my commute.
I have a small cooler that snaps onto my bag. I put some microwave soups and snacks in the main cooler. Some overnight hotels don't have food in or nearby, especially small BFE airports. Since this bag fits beside my seat I put anything personal I might need it its upper compartment. Like my ear plugs, TOLD cards, gum, extra pens, etc...
Last but not least I have a brightline flight bag for my headset and EFB. I also have my portable GPS/ADSB puck incase the weather is ****. But you didn't hear me say that.....
I could easily get rid of the flight bag if I chose to use the company headsets. Hope this helps!