Lightening Up – Air Travel Tips

Air Travel Tips to Pack Lighter & Smarter . . .

Remember the good ‘ol days of flying? The days when we used to actually have some leg room, the meal and movie(s) were included, and we could keep our shoes on through security? Those times are long gone. Now, traveling by air means stuffing 3 oz. bottles in baggies and spending at least two or more hours at the airport. Oh, and let’s not forget about those baggage fees! Frivolous over-packing is just not an option any more, especially if you’re only going away for 1-2 days at a time. With me traveling so much the past few months, I had to learn very quickly how to pack light and how to pack smart. Here are a few air travel tips:

• Bring a backpack.
  A backpack is a whole lot easier to work with than a large bag, even if it can be closed. This should contain your electronics (including chargers), medication, and other items not easily replaced. Pre-pack a clear bag for liquids (3 oz. or less). Make sure this can be easily taken out for security. The same applies to a laptop, if you’re bringing one. Optionally you can stick in a few snacks, magazines, headphones, make-up, etc. The backpack will need to be stowed under a seat during takeoff and landing so make sure it’s not so full that it’s bursting at the seams.
• Bring a small rolling suitcase.
  Place your (heavy) backpack on the suitcase for easy transport. Your back/shoulders will thank you. Fill this with clothes and other items you won’t need immediately. With most flights being full, the flight crew often asks for volunteers to check in one of their bags for FREE. You’ll have to pick it up at baggage claim but at least you won’t have to pay the fee or deal with the whole overhead compartment mess.
• Don’t overload on tech.
  If you don’t need it don’t bring it, otherwise it’ll be like carrying dead weight. On my recent trip to Orange County, I was able to leave the laptop, tablet, and big DSLR camera at home. Having my Samsung Galaxy S4 was enough.

The vivid colors, big screen, clear resolution, and responsive platform let me tweet, take notes, update my Facebook status, email, and take photos like a champ. Not convinced? The following photos are completely unedited except for being resized.

Love the detail and how it handles various lighting conditions.

Easy food photography and quick enough to capture my daughter’s tribal sunscreen application.

How cool is this picture-in-picture photo where you can use both the front-facing and the rear-facing cameras at the same time?!

If going on a more extensive trip and/or bringing the family, your ‘essentials’ will obviously change. Still, the basic ideas apply to each person accompanying you. What packing tips do you have?

I was not compensated for this post. However, as a #VZWBuzz Lifestyle Ambassador, I did receive a Samsung Galaxy S4 for my participation in the program. All opinions are 100% my own.