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Life | Travel

What you should REALLY pack in your carry-on

Take it from someone who learnt the hard way

By Natalie-Elizabeth Tan - 

Credit: 123rf
Credit: 123rf
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When it comes to packing for travel, you probably pack your check-in luggage first before filling up your carry-on with whatever’s left. Well, it’s time to rethink that. This used to be how I packed, until I learnt the hard way not to do that.

When I recently travelled to Kansas City in the US, I had to transit through Denver, where I had an hour-long stopover. But during the flight, a thunderstorm hit the region and Denver International Airport closed temporarily, preventing us from landing. We had to circle, and the plane eventually had to land at another regional airport to refuel. By the time we finally landed in Denver, my plane to Kansas City was already halfway there.

Needless to say, I didn’t make it on the flight. On the other hand, my checked baggage did, and was sitting pretty in Kansas City International Airport’s baggage hold. To make matters worse, the next available flight was two days later, and my baggage would take a whole day to get it back to Denver. It was also nearly midnight at that point, so feeling dejected and tired (I had been awake for 30 hours at that point), I resigned to my fate and booked a room in the nearby hotel.

Little did I know, the ordeal didn’t stop there. Upon getting to my hotel, I opened my carry-on and was beyond horrified once I realised that I barely had anything useful. I barely had toiletries, I only had one change of clothes, and I didn’t even have my glasses.

Although I was able to purchase whatever I needed when I explored Denver the next day, I definitely could have saved a lot of time, trouble, money and frustration (just imagine scrambling to purchase necessities in a foreign, unfamiliar place!) if I had initially packed all that in my carry-on. 

My situation was pretty unique, but I’m sure you’ve all heard horror stories of luggage being delayed or lost — and sometimes never recovered — at various airports around the world. So, from someone who has experienced it herself, these are the things you should actually pack in your carry-on so you won’t have to scramble to purchase necessities if you encounter a problem with your luggage.

A change of clothes (or two)

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More than likely, you’ll probably need a fresh set of clothes, whether it’s because you’re icky since you’ve been travelling for hours or your checked baggage has been delayed. To be safe, pack two sets of clothes.

Glasses

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If you’re wearing contact lenses on your flight, you should bring a pair of glasses to change into if your eyes dry out — which they will, given how dry the air is on the plane. Bring a case and some solution for your lenses too, if needed.

Toiletries

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More specifically, items like a toothbrush, sunscreen, facial cleanser and makeup remover — things that your hotel or the plane won’t provide. Well, they’ll probably have a toothbrush and some toothpaste, but if you're particular, they won’t be of good quality for sure. Even if you don’t have dry skin, pack some moisturiser or even a face mask, as the air in the plane and the airport is rather dry. Oh, no harm packing some travel-sized shampoo, conditioner and body wash too.

If you do speak to an officer from the airline, you can try asking them for some toiletries too. That’s what I did, and I scored myself some basic toiletries that came in a water bottle. Which brings me to the next item on this list…

Water bottle

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Bottled water is expensive, even more so when you’re buying it from a convenience store in the airport. Bring a water bottle, which you can easily refill from one of the many water dispensers around the airport.

Wallet

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Remember to keep your cash and cards on you at all times lest your luggage gets lost or delayed — think of all the inconvenience it would cause!

Electronic devices and chargers

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This may seem like I’m stating the obvious, but I nearly packed my charger in my check-in baggage as I didn’t think too much of it. If you’re bringing a laptop, do remember to pack its charger in your carry-on too.

Medication

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To be prepared if you fall ill, pack some over-the-counter medication such as Panadol or even Po Chai pills in your carry-on. Same goes for prescribed medication!

Sanitizer, wipes and face mask

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With life returning to pre-Covid times, it’s easy to forget that the virus is still going around. To err on the side of caution, use these wipes to clean surfaces and the sanitizer to clean your hands. And considering that you’ll be in close proximity to a big group of people for hours on end, best to keep your mask on.

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