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Have you ever lost anything left behind on a plane? My family has. The saddest story I heard was the couple who could not get into the country of their honeymoon because they left their passports behind in the seat pockets. The passports disappeared. What happened? Did the cleaners take the passports or throw them away?
I makes it a policy never to leave passports or phones anywhere except in the pocket of a jacket I am wearing (especially in the last half hour before getting off the plane.
Here are my tips:
1 Get on the plane early. Place your luggage in the locker over your seat, or further towards the direction in which you are exiting so that you don't have to fight the flow of people exiting to reach your overhead case.
2 Keep all your luggage stored in the same compartment, the same side. Use a belt or string to tie the duty free bag to the other suitcase so it does not get forgotten. (A long string - not one which will bring down the second parcel on somebody's head.)
BOARDING - COUNT BAGS & BITS
Count the number of items on entering and leaving the plane. For example eight:
1 One carry on wheeled bag in black or red,
2 One black jacket,
3 One black umbrella,
4 One duty free bag with a bottle of champagne or prosecco or whisky or vodka, (or chocolate, perfume or souvenirs or toys.
5 One handbag/briefcase/backpack
6 One phone in neck bag/overbody bag/belt
7 One black or red scarf.
8 Plane amenity bag with socks and toothbrush.
SEATING - ARMREST RELEASE
To exit, from the aisle seat, check under the armrest for the release button. On my plane there was a semi circular upside down dome under the armrest towards the back. Press the button in and simultaneously pull the end of the arm rest upwards. Your armrest lifts. To replace the armrest, simply push it back down.
I showed this to the person across the aisle who had smiled. He was delighted by the revelation. He enthused, "It's magic!"
Try telling your fellow passengers. You might make a friend.
TOILETS
Go before the meals when the aisle is blocked by a serving trolley. If there is a queue in the middle of the plane, you might find a free toilet or shorter queue (line up) at the back.
Go after meals, especially before breakfast or the last meal, before the plane descends to the airport.
If you have drinking water in a sealed container from the meal, you can use this to clean your teeth, and wash, instead of the water ominously labelled NOT DRINKING WATER.
Use a tissue to wipe the door handle and tissue paper disposal and tap and flush button.
Hold open the door as you dispose of the tissue.
You can hold the door open with your foot to avoid touching it again.
TOILET SEAT COVERS
Look for the wafer thin paper toilet seat covers in the rack in the toilet. It's tricky to pull out one, only one. You need to remove the centre. Otherwise you wet yourself.
LANGUAGE LEARNING ON BOARD
I used the Berlitz language learning to get started and brush up on Greek and Mandarin Chinese.
You can also set your film (movie) to show subtitles in another language. Or watch a foreign language film with English subtitles.
REST & SLEEP
Modern planes have bendable headrests. You pull the two sides forward. This cradles your head so you don't fall sideways. That's handy and comfy for you. And save annoying the others.
How about tilting your seat backwards? Press the button in the arm rest. First look behind to check that the person behind you is not learning forwards and drinking. I hesitated to learn back for five minutes before looking back and finding that the seat behind was empty. I also worried that every time I lifte the tab which held the water glass I might be annoying the person in front. Again, the seat ahead was empty.
STORING SPECTACLES
I wanted to remove my spectacles and wear an eye mask to cut out light when sleeping. I could not wear the eye mask over the glasses because it pressed uncomfortably and started wearing a mark into my nose. I had packed a glasses case. But where was it?
Necessity is the mother of invention. I had a scarf around my neck. I was able to hook the sides of my spectacles over the scarf.
EXIT
If you have a laptop or Ipad you might want to put it back in your wheel on bag or handbag so as not to forget it or knock it or drop it as you exit.
Add a count for anything bought on the plane - ideally placed inside another bag.
Dispose of dirty paper hankies and other items which could be a hazard to others and obscure items left behind.
About the Author
Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer, author and speaker, member of Singapore Online Toastmasters International speakers group. Please share links to your favourite posts.
I makes it a policy never to leave passports or phones anywhere except in the pocket of a jacket I am wearing (especially in the last half hour before getting off the plane.
Here are my tips:
1 Get on the plane early. Place your luggage in the locker over your seat, or further towards the direction in which you are exiting so that you don't have to fight the flow of people exiting to reach your overhead case.
2 Keep all your luggage stored in the same compartment, the same side. Use a belt or string to tie the duty free bag to the other suitcase so it does not get forgotten. (A long string - not one which will bring down the second parcel on somebody's head.)
BOARDING - COUNT BAGS & BITS
Count the number of items on entering and leaving the plane. For example eight:
1 One carry on wheeled bag in black or red,
2 One black jacket,
3 One black umbrella,
4 One duty free bag with a bottle of champagne or prosecco or whisky or vodka, (or chocolate, perfume or souvenirs or toys.
5 One handbag/briefcase/backpack
6 One phone in neck bag/overbody bag/belt
7 One black or red scarf.
8 Plane amenity bag with socks and toothbrush.
SEATING - ARMREST RELEASE
To exit, from the aisle seat, check under the armrest for the release button. On my plane there was a semi circular upside down dome under the armrest towards the back. Press the button in and simultaneously pull the end of the arm rest upwards. Your armrest lifts. To replace the armrest, simply push it back down.
I showed this to the person across the aisle who had smiled. He was delighted by the revelation. He enthused, "It's magic!"
Try telling your fellow passengers. You might make a friend.
TOILETS
Go before the meals when the aisle is blocked by a serving trolley. If there is a queue in the middle of the plane, you might find a free toilet or shorter queue (line up) at the back.
Go after meals, especially before breakfast or the last meal, before the plane descends to the airport.
If you have drinking water in a sealed container from the meal, you can use this to clean your teeth, and wash, instead of the water ominously labelled NOT DRINKING WATER.
Use a tissue to wipe the door handle and tissue paper disposal and tap and flush button.
Hold open the door as you dispose of the tissue.
You can hold the door open with your foot to avoid touching it again.
TOILET SEAT COVERS
Look for the wafer thin paper toilet seat covers in the rack in the toilet. It's tricky to pull out one, only one. You need to remove the centre. Otherwise you wet yourself.
LANGUAGE LEARNING ON BOARD
I used the Berlitz language learning to get started and brush up on Greek and Mandarin Chinese.
You can also set your film (movie) to show subtitles in another language. Or watch a foreign language film with English subtitles.
REST & SLEEP
Modern planes have bendable headrests. You pull the two sides forward. This cradles your head so you don't fall sideways. That's handy and comfy for you. And save annoying the others.
How about tilting your seat backwards? Press the button in the arm rest. First look behind to check that the person behind you is not learning forwards and drinking. I hesitated to learn back for five minutes before looking back and finding that the seat behind was empty. I also worried that every time I lifte the tab which held the water glass I might be annoying the person in front. Again, the seat ahead was empty.
STORING SPECTACLES
I wanted to remove my spectacles and wear an eye mask to cut out light when sleeping. I could not wear the eye mask over the glasses because it pressed uncomfortably and started wearing a mark into my nose. I had packed a glasses case. But where was it?
Necessity is the mother of invention. I had a scarf around my neck. I was able to hook the sides of my spectacles over the scarf.
EXIT
If you have a laptop or Ipad you might want to put it back in your wheel on bag or handbag so as not to forget it or knock it or drop it as you exit.
Add a count for anything bought on the plane - ideally placed inside another bag.
Dispose of dirty paper hankies and other items which could be a hazard to others and obscure items left behind.
About the Author
Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer, author and speaker, member of Singapore Online Toastmasters International speakers group. Please share links to your favourite posts.
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