A FORMER flight attendant has revealed the crucial travel accessories she never flies without, and the one thing she always leaves behind.
When it comes to packing for flights, cabin crew members are pros and plenty have offered advice on what is and isn’t essential for a trip.
Ex-flight attendant Arina Bloom used to have to pack and unpack her suitcase three times a week.
In an article for Insider, she explained what items she considered vital for her carry-on and the items she never brought on board the plane.
Arina recommends packing an inflatable neck pillow for flights of any distance, especially if you’re going to be sat in the middle seat.
But her big tip was to brig an inflatable pillow instead of the bulky ones they sell in airport shops, as it’s easier to carry around.
Neck pillows can be expensive, although both Amazon and Shein have versions for around £3.
Planes increasingly have charging points on board, under or between seats.
By bringing a charger into the cabin, passengers can make sure they have full charge when they arrive at their destination.
Phone charger wires can be found for as little as £1.10 on Amazon.
Different airlines have different policies on food on board. Some will charge for food, some will provide free snacks, while others might not have anything at all.
Arina recommends coming prepared with your own food to prevent hunger from ruining your journey.
A pack of cereal bars wont cost you much, with most being around £2, or instant noodle pots for a similar price.
Then there were the items that she’d never include in her luggage – nothing sharp.
She said: “Sharp knives, box cutters, and large scissors (nail scissors are usually fine) are prohibited in carry-on luggage, but you can typically pack them in a checked bag.
“The only knife you can bring in your carry-on is a round-bladed butter knife, which may come in handy if you travel with homemade food.”
She previously shared some of her other top tips that she learned about the way.
One of those was only upgrading your ticket at the airport as this can save money.
She explained: “Just be extremely nice to the staff, and arrive early so business seats are still available.
“But don’t wait until you get on the plane — flight attendants don’t usually have that much power.”
Arina also explained why you should avoid the window seat.
She said: “Up in the sky, the sun that comes through the window is very powerful, which can lead to you getting exposed to more UV light than normal.”
Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday.
1. Write a list
Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase.
Or for complete ease, try Google’s AI app – Gemini – which will create a list for you and help you not over pack.
2. Involve your kids
Jemma said: “My girls are getting older, they’re 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say ‘this is what you need’ and they follow the list.
“And then I give them a rucksack each – and say to them ‘you can have whatever you want in there as long as it’s not liquid’, and they can take that on the plane. And that’s their ‘home away from home’ items.”
3. Try a hack or two
She said: “I think they all work, but for different reasons – and you’ve just got to pick the right one for your trip.
“Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you’re trying to get a lot of items into your case, it’s a space saver.
“Packing cubes are great – for example, I’m going on holiday with my three kids and we’re all using the same suitcase for our clothes.
“These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked.
“I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we’ve arrived.”
4. Decant beauty products
Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets – which are much lighter and smaller.
Or, if you’ll be popping to the shops when you’re abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive.
5. Get organised before you come home
Jemma said: “When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes.
“Also pack it in some form of order – so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person.
“Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don’t leave it.”
Meanwhile, this flight attendant revealed the three things cabin crew members are banned from doing on the plane
Another explained how to avoid getting bad service during flights.
