Easy access to reading/music etc. on plane
I couldn't remember the title about a post where someone talked about how he/she organised everything into a bag or folder for use on the plane. All I know is that when we had to keep digging for something like book/pen/word puzzle books/lotion/sanitiser etc. I remembered that person and thought, "next time I will be better organised!"
My daughter found used tissues in her front seat pocket and was horrified. That's when I told her that I would try to read that post again for tips so next time, we would have everything we needed at hand.
Eli
Always dreaming of Europe 1/13/10
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I don't remember that post exactly but will share what I do. On my way to the airport, I put everything I need/want for the plane in a small day bag. (The bag has slots for my ipod, battery charger, pens, other small electroncs, etc.)
When I get on the plane, it comes out of my carry-on and stays on the floor in front of me. I have nothing extra in that bag---just what I'll use on the plane.
I never go near the pocket in front of me because I know they don't get cleaned out.
Thanks Frank. I remember several posts on it. I don't know if the poster I am thinking about said she actually makes a sort of pillowcase for her items, but I thought at the time it was overkill until I spent so much time digging in hand luggage for whatever the family wanted.
Has anyone used the seat back organizer? Do you like it? If so, is it worth carrying with you?
(I use Frank's system. Very important, as it is sometimes hard to get access to the aisle, difficult to retreive items from jam-packed overhead compartments, and you don't want bulky items in your limited personal space. I never put anything in the seat pocket because I need the space for my knees.)
Linda, I don't know why I had not noticed what a pain it was to keep getting up and pulling stuff out of hand luggage.
I may get something like what Frank posted. Sure wish the folks who posted on that thread would come back to share, or at least point me to that older thread. Just cannot think of the title to do a search! Thanks FrankII.
Don't remember the title of that post on organizing the seat-back pocket but what I learned from it was to put all my necessities in a gallon zip-loc bag. That made last year's plane travel so much easier and cleaner since everything only touched the inside of the bag and I just left the zip-loc. I brought an extra one for the return flight.
"Linda, I don't know why I had not noticed what a pain it was to keep getting up and pulling stuff out of hand luggage." Trust me, everyone else around you noticed! :)
We organized ourselves after security, and wore what we needed or had it in our daybags. I emphasized to my kids that while we had carry on bags, they would not be getting into them under any circumstances. Pretend your carry on is in the trunk of the car and you're not stopping till you get there.
Darcy - what a great idea! That organizer seemed pretty cool, but then you have to haul it around the rest of the trip. I always bring zip lock bags with me anyway. I will definitely try your system next trip. Thanks for the tip!!
It was really my fault as well that things were distributed between several bags. I had all intentions of organising, but then we left my sister in a hurry.
Was wondering while on the plane whether a huge Ziploc bag would be a good idea. I'd like to be able to sort of hang it from the seat pocket though for easy access, but probably not a good idea.
Hey, Eli, how about using one of those big black office clips. Kind of triangular, with 2 metal pieces? They come in all sizes and if you get the biggest one you could clip your big ziploc to the seat pocket.
I remember that thread, but unfortunately I can't find it either. I tend to travel extremely light, and with a midsize purse tote. I put whatever I need for the plane ride in the bag and tuck it under the seat in front of me. The only downside with this method is if the tray table is down, it's impossible to get to anything--but same would be true for the seat pocket.
I do like the ziploc bag with clip idea though, may have to try that one out next time.
Liz, thank you for remembering that thread!
The problem is that there are four of us, and each person at some point wanted "something" out of the hand luggage, and I was thinking on the plane that next time we're going to be better organised. I like the clip and ziploc idea too.
Eli....how about one bag for each person? This way, at the start of the flight, each person gets their bag out and you can relax. Mine is all packed and ready to go prior to leaving for the airport.
BTW, technically, nothing is supposed to go in the seat pocket except items put there by the airline. Some airlines enforce this, others don't.
FrankII, I don't want to use their pocket, just maybe clip it outside? Can't think of where else to keep a little "baggie" with useful stuff for the flight.
I take my daybag, with only what I need on the plane, and stash it under the seat. I can reach it and hold it on my lap during the flight to get at my book, pills, etc. If you stuff the pocket on the seatback in front of you that will limit the ability of you and fellow-passengers to get out. It is too easy to inadvertantly leave posessions behind in the pocket. Last year one of the airlines decided that they wouldn't allow passengers to use the seatback pocket. I wonder how that rule went?
Swan, I already mentioned that I was not going to stuff anything in the pocket. I am trying to figure out how to have items we need at hand, but keep them organised during a long flight. Our last flight from CDG to Houston was 11 hours!
I wear a ScotteVest Jacket on the plane. I have all the basics hidden in the inside front pockets. I also put Kindle software on my Ipod Touch and load that with books, etc.
I like the idea of the zip lock bag and clip though. I am going to try that on a trip with family in a few months.
Okay, I got a smile out of seeing Scotland magazine tucked into the Deluxe Seatback Organizer. ; ) They do like they would be a pain to carry around during the rest of the trip. I combine the daypack idea with a smaller subset of materials in an easy to find bag within the day pack. I put the sleeping / waking up items--facemask, ear plugs, tylenol PM, blow up pillow, tooth brush and tooth paste, hand cream--in it. My book and iPod have their own permanent homes in the day pack so I don't have to worry about finding them. Always have a separate red bag for charging equipment and I use that the whole trip.
Pam
Some nice ideas that could be combined to helping me not be so disorganised and frantic.
The organiser looks good, but then I'd have that extra piece to take along. Zippies sound good with that big clip.
I like the idea of the big clip too rather than have the zip loc stuffed in the seat back. Isn't this Helpline great for helpful ideas!!!
I have one of the Nirvana organizers from Zen Class (not the Magellan's one shown earlier) and thought I'd share. It only takes up the space on the tray table (doesn't hang down by your knees) and slides on and off the upright tray table very easily. I see a lot of concerns here about having to "lug" it around for the rest of the trip. My 2 cents -- hey, I'm lugging around all this gear, reading material, snacks, etc. anyway, so why not have it organized in a slim travel tote? It's really small but holds a lot and it doubles as a shoulder bag if you want (has strap plus handles), but I leave the strap at home and just slide mine in and out of the backpack that I carry all this assorted clutter in. Then I mount it on the tray table before or after takeoff and never have to think about it again until landing. My wife slips hers in to her large tote, or her wheeled suitcase/carry on. Trust me, it saves us hassles, it doesn't create them! Hope this helps some of you. www.ZenClass.com
Earl, thank you so much for adding to the discussion.
I will definitely check it out, and you're right, we are still lugging those items around, so why not have them organised. But what's the difference between what FrankII posted and what you are using? Seems like you can mount them both to the table?
Thanks Eli - good to be here - came across this site just the other day. Great resources here and many topics covered. Nice.
Yes, they both mount on the tray table in the upright position. I don't know much about the other two, but I saw that one of them hangs down to the knee space area when I was first shopping these things about a year ago so I ruled it out immediately(the Slimline was not there I think). Between the Nirvana and the Slimline organizer (the 2 that don't hang down), mine has a built in sleeve on the outside of the bag so it just slides right on the tray and then you just close the latch. I think the other one uses a loop of some kind on the latch and maybe velcro straps to stabilize. Not a velcro fan personally, but I really went with Zen because of the sheer amount of stuff it holds (I need to get to my netbook a lot inflight - and carry lots of other little gadgets and comfort items) and it only took up the dead space on the back of the tray table. Plus I don't think the Slimline was available when I got mine a year ago. It also looks good but maybe not quite the capacity of mine just judging from the photos at both sites (hard to say)?
They all seem to address the issues in your original question very well. Finally, for more feedback, might suggest you read the customer reviews of the Deluxe Seat Back Organizer and the Slimline version at Magellan's and also read the reviews on Zen Class' Nirvana at eBags.com (where I bought mine). Clearly, these things aren't for everybody, but whatever you go with, I still think you'll be happier than with juggling ziplock baggies on or around the seat back pocket. Still gotta "lug" the baggies! (that's just me, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion!) Hope that helps. Good luck!
Earl, welcome! I hadn't noticed that you were "new" around here. Plus you're in my favourite part of Texas!! I love, love Austin :-) I always say that if I can't be in Europe, then let's go to Austin.
Thanks for the extra there on reading about these organisers on Ebags. While Ziploc bags are a quick, inexpensive solution, having everything organised and hanging right in front of me in their individual compartments would make life in the air so much easier. I tend to have dry eyes so always need my drops. Then my daughter wears contacts and she needs her eye drops. Hubby always gets a headache in flight, so guess who he asks, "did you bring Advil?" Or they need a pen, or hand sanitiser. It's always something, and I am beginning to love this idea.
Thanks Eli - sorry for delayed response but have been traveling and not been back to this site for a while. Yes - Austin is great... we have a saying that's sort of become the city's tagline and you see it everywhere now - "Keep Austin Weird". Not Europe, but it's a unique place for sure.