Comments on: Always Pack Your Toothbrush In Your Carry-on

By: Emily @ Maiden Voyage

Emily @ Maiden Voyage — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:33:15 +0000

Yikes! I’ve had a flight delayed 4 hours, and that was bad enough — can’t imagine 9 hours! In addition to a toothbrush, I think it’s always wise to bring a fresh pair of underwear in your carry-on. If you get stuck in an airport for a really long time (or if your bag gets lost) you will really want that clean pair of undies!

By: Anil

Anil — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:57:48 +0000

I really like sleeping in airports and long flights – it’s a good way to force yourself to disconnect.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:02:32 +0000

It’s good to know there are more us who love airports and long plane rides. There’s something about the energy of being in a place where everyone is off to an adventure.

Last month I had a nine-hour layover in Seoul. Fortunately, I was free to roam about the airport, so I got a room at the Incheon Airport Transit Hotel (www.airgardenhotel.com). Something about the basic amenities of a shower and of course, brushing my teeth, felt like luxury. It seemed like a good way to rest before the next long flight, so I could make the most of all those movie options.

I’m looking forward to hearing more about your trip to Mongolia.

By: Dave and Deb

Dave and Deb — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:49:56 +0000

This is a great post! So well written and funny! I loved it when you said angels singing:) don’t feel bad, I love airports and long flights too! I make Dave go early for our flights so that we can hang out in the airport for a little longer. I love eating unhealthy food and having a beer before leaving. It has become a ritual. Can’t wait to hear all about your time in Mongolia.

By: Ba

Ba — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:13:14 +0000

And yes, I do think that you have fans, lots of them, probably by the thousands.

By: Ba

Ba — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:11:56 +0000

I was prepared when I left the US to go visit VN back in April. I expected security to be the same at all major international airports. I found that on the US took the liquids and gels thing seriously. They didn’t seem to care at Taipei nor Tan Son Nhat which kinda worried me.

By: Rebekah

Rebekah — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:56:44 +0000

Just spent 9 hours at Dubrovnik airport myself after waking up at 4am to get a 6am flight. When told “cannot” at 5 to 6 I was too tired to be angry. Had some brekkie and a coffee, paid for the internet (paying for internet in airports is so yesterday!) and went and pretended to be a homeless person in the park out the front of the terminal. Took a bit of a nap on our beach towels, woke up and played a couple of hours of Uno with my lovely travel companion on the grass, had the cheapest airport lunch ever- a repeat of breakfast, only with beer, then went window shopping at duty free (I still can’t work out why they’re selling Hello Kitty and Panama Hats made in Equador in Croatia). Not so bad- but I think without the sleep in the park it would have been a very different story!

P.S I can pretty much guarantee Drabbles that the pilot did in fact want to land, and his (or her) day would have been just as messed up as Drabbles’ because of the return to Beijing- only Drabbles probably got to drink better coffee for the day.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:14:15 +0000

@Ba – you make me laugh…fans??? I have fans??? That tickles me.
Glad you liked the post and really glad I could enlighten you on airport lounge passes. It doesn’t always work, but it’s worth a try!
Strangely, most of the airports that I travel in/out of they only care abt the water restriction – they could care less if you have a bottle of sunscreen with you! It spoils me and I know I will be in for a shock when I come home to visit!

By: Ba

Ba — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:52:03 +0000

Wow, as expected. This was great. I just learned about the lounge pass deal. I haven’t done enough air traveling to know such thing existed. Thank you for informing your fans. Since 9/11, any liquid or paste has to be in a 4 oz. or less container and is recommended to be placed in a quart size ziploc bag, according to the US Dept. of State. I am pretty sure you already knew that.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:38:50 +0000

@mosh – how did you ever figure out my toothpaste terror plot? Curses!

By: admin

admin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:37:20 +0000

@Drabbles – OMG – I feel so bad for you. The UB airport is horrible. You may have some reprive if you understand Korean – but that was all there was on TV when I was there, no wireless, and some really sad eating places. Ugh. I hope you made it out of there. If all else fails – try to talk yourself into the MIAT lounge!

By: Mosh

Mosh — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:03:28 +0000

Oh, and do watch if you pack your toothpaste in your carry-on in Europe, the US or Oz. Unless it’s a tube under 50ml and you wrap it in a secondary zip-lock clear plastic bag then some air-nazi may assume you plan to use it in a James Bond-esque plot to blow your way onto the flight deck.

Because obviously as long as it’s inside a zip-lock plastic bag then it can’t possibly be a disguised explosive.

By: Mosh

Mosh — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:01:19 +0000

My worst was a 13-hour delay in one of the Rome airports about 18 months ago. Nothing likeyou describe as all the staff buggered off around 10pm. Myself and the rest of the passengers were left int he airport with nobody to harass or query about our flight. No lounge, no food, nothing until a truck arrived at 5am and dropped about 50 bottles of water at our feet then left again.

Worse, due to European legislation we should have been fed, escorted to a hotel, brought back the next day and so on. The airline didn’t respond to complaints and the European people in charge, when I contacted them, told me to get in contact with the airline…

That’s my one crappy experience and other than that airports just don’t bother me. I like ones that give me free wi-fi and benches I can sleep on when I have a long transfer or have to arrive ages before my check-in. Other than that they really start to look the same after a while!

Oh except Paro International in Butan. Google it. It’s beautiful.

By: Drabbles

Drabbles — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 05:14:11 +0000

I’ve been stuck at the airport in UB for 15 hours because of “weather”. Which, trust me, is a worse airport to be stuck at than Seoul! Funny thing was, the flight in from Beijing (the one I was meant to catch out) was only 20 mins from landing at UB when they turned around and went back to Beijing cos the pilot didn’t want to land. The joys of air travel

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:36:10 +0000

I don’t think you’re too abnormal- I love long plane rides and hanging out in airports too. It’s so nice to have nothing to do but sit back and relax…

By: Rhona

Rhona — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:47:08 +0000

I laughed at the way you described your teeth. I am very picky about my teeth also so I can totally understand that feeling of utter disgust when the film starts. Gross.
Thanks for the great tip on airport lounge details. I had no idea such things existed so it is something I will keep in my back pocket. As you said, the most they can say is, “no”.

By: sladescross

sladescross — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:51:07 +0000

Very entertaining!

Lets hope you win the trip to Antartica as that should be some story to tell.