Jul 8

The Worrier’s Guide to Packing Hand Luggage

Posted on Thursday, July 8, 2010 in College Life, Guides

Hey, hey. We’re back. =)

Alright. Basically, the key to packing your hand luggage is that you have to anticipate certain setbacks. What sort of setbacks? These are setbacks: your checked-in luggage stolen, lost, sent elsewhere. I hope I didn’t scare you, but sometimes, you never know where you’ll end up. Alright. =) So, here’s the guide:

A Change of Clothes

Undergarments x2-3
T-Shirt x1
Jacket x1 – hooded, long-sleeves preferably. Since you’ll be on a long-distance flight, they’ll provide the blankets and pillows.

Note: Don’t overpack! Make sure it is not too bulky or heavy after you’ve packed.

Toiletries & Medication

Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Facial wash
Shampoo
Soap
Lip balm
Sanitary pads x2-4 – bring these just in case. Also, try to prepare for heavy flow.

Note: All liquids and such may not exceed 100ml. Pack them all in a resealable, see-through ziplock bag.

Accessories

Cellphone + charger – just in case
Foldable bags – just in case you need an extra bag.
Torchlight + batteries
Personal MP3 player + headphones
Digital camera + charger
Pen + small notepad – just in case you need to record vital information.
Reading material – normally a paperback, preferably something interesting to keep you occupied.
Universal travel adapter – Low Yat sells some, it normally costs about RM30. It’s not for laptops, but for small electronic devices such as phone chargers.
Other electronics: Laptop + charger, handheld devices + charger (just in case the plane has a special slot for you to charge your devices)
Important: Before traveling, or packing, do remember to fill in your notepad with important information such as your student officer’s contact information, school address, point of contact’s contact information, etc. These things are important, and must not be forgotten.

Note: Put all the chargers together, in a small plastic bag or something. I don’t know if there are any 5 in 1 chargers out there, and I’m crossing my fingers that there would be some in the future. If there are any, please let me know. I’d like to de-clutter my hand luggage.

Important Things

Passport
Driver’s License/IC
I-20/DS-2019
Health insurance information
Boarding pass/ticket information
Bank cards + cash

Tips:

Make sure your hand luggage is not too bulky or heavy.
Make sure all the things you’ve packed are organized. It saves time when you need to get something out while on the flight.
Remember to put items that you don’t urgently need at the bottom.
When packing clothes, line them around the walls and bottom of your hand luggage. This allows the electronics to be safely placed in the middle.
Important documents should be placed within easy reach, especially if you’re going overseas. =)
Double-check your list and the items you’ve packed. Wouldn’t hurt to know.
Do not keep taking things out and re-pack your bag! This is the best way to leave out certain things that you need, and also the best way to forget putting certain things back inside.

Alright. That’s it, basically. Nothing much, and most of it are items requiring a little bit of common sense. Sometimes we forget, so it’s always handy to print out a list, or stick a packing list somewhere. Always double-check what you’ve got! You never know.