What to pack?

B767Driver- good tip about the softener sheets in the bag, I think I'll try that.

I'm guessing the long haul pilots either check a bag or they have larger crew closets. But I don't know for sure. Good question!
 
scoobs said:
So how do the long haul pilots pack for two weeks?

Same as above, just add small bottle of detergent for washing underpants in hotel sink. :p


Actually, I can pack for two weeks in my old crew bag. That's with clean underwear & socks for everyday. I just wear the clothes a couple times, but you'd be amazed the volume of clothes you can fit when you pack well.
 
Well, I do wear jeans & sweaters at least twice, sometime 3 times if necessary. Shirts I'll wear at least twice as long as they haven't gotten stained/dirty. Some people are really grossed out by wearing something more than once, but as long as you use deoderant and aren't rolling in dirt, it's perfectly acceptable in my book to wear something more than once. Re-wearing is really at the heart of packing well, with the exception of underwear. (I have heard of guys turing them inside out, but I want no part of that.)

Go light on bulky items, only pack as many jeans/sweaters as necessary.

Is sleepwear necessary? If you can sleep in shorts/t-shirts do so and forgo dedicated sleepwear.

Roll clothes instead of packing them folded. Shirts, especially, compact very nicely rolled.

I carried small bottles of shampoo, etc. Target has small little plastic bottles that I could get several weeks worth of product in, and not have to carry full-size, or even compact size manufacturer bottles.

Go easy on extra shoes. I had my uniform shoes, and ONE other pair (usually leather casual shoes) in my bag.

There's probably more, but I'm being attacked by a toddler demanding a hug, so I'll have to add more later.
 
For the (dress) shirts, Iron, then fold them up then put each in a plastic grocery bag. They stay nice and folded that way and can be literally pulled out and put on, and still look crisp.
 
CapnJim packs like a girl.

CapnJim said:
Any tips? I pack terribly...


Jimbo,
Try packing for at least 10 days at a time. And you can't stay clean hauling freight. It all still goes in one carry on size roller. I can barely pick it up but it fits.

J
 
FlyChicaga said:
I sometimes don't get it! Who are these people that bring Sharpie markers to work??

Sharpies, nothing. I want to know who are the people who bring glue sticks? Some of the Bros are loaded! And even more importantly, who are the jackholes who bring something to scrape it off?!

As for packing, (4day) I bring two uniform shirts, 1 pair uniform pants, 4 undershirts, two shirts (usually nice tshirts), one pair jeans, pair running shoes, workout shorts, workout tshirt, three pairs gym socks and one old tshirt that I sleep in. With that, I can fit my jumprope, stretch bands (for working out), hand gripper, medication, brown belt and phone charger in a 22" rollaboard. This weighs nothing. I will usually take something else to do to fill it out. This trip, I fit three boxes of Christmas cards to be addressed as well. It's almost enough space to fit my laptop. I could do it, but don't want it thrown in the cargo bin.
 
hank1292 said:
Jimbo,
Try packing for at least 10 days at a time. And you can't stay clean hauling freight. It all still goes in one carry on size roller. I can barely pick it up but it fits.

J
That sucks man! Didja break down and get the PNS bag? I'm still dragging that Ross Special that I found for $30.
 
Wow JD, you and I pack pretty much exactly the same. I just don't have the workout gear.

I carry a "commuter bag" on the side with magazines, my fleece, iPod, and a book. I've stopped bringing my computer on the road. I'm really worried about getting it broken or stolen.
 
I don't have wireless, so it's not too effective for me to bring my computer. But it is nice for music (I don't have an mp3 player). When I bring it, it creates too much crap. Then I have my rollaboard, flight bag, crew cooler (I pack food for every trip), and my laptop. Too much. I just shove a book, magazines, etc. anywhere I can find space.
 
Even better, I always bring home the shampoo/conditioner bottles and soaps to add to my hoarde. Then I'll pick one with a tight top, empty it and refill it with my preferred shampoo. That way if I lose it on the road, all I've got to do is re-empty another one and refill once I get home.
 
jdflight said:
I don't have wireless, so it's not too effective for me to bring my computer. But it is nice for music (I don't have an mp3 player). When I bring it, it creates too much crap. Then I have my rollaboard, flight bag, crew cooler (I pack food for every trip), and my laptop. Too much. I just shove a book, magazines, etc. anywhere I can find space.

I weighted mine last summer and it was 50lbs. I couldn't believe it. That was my flight back, with H2O and snacks, my PNS 22" (16lbs empty) carrying my laptop, books, chargers, clothes and misc. And my lunch cooler. I as astounded.

I always get a kick out of the F/A when they try to help me out and get my bag down at the end of a trip. It is so friggin heavy. But one thing I have learned is that carrying your flight bag or what ever, on the hook cantilevered off the back really is great to balance the load. This makes pulling the thing through the airports a one finger operation.
 
I once put all my bags on a scale at DTW, just for kicks. My roller bag, kit bag & crew cooler all together weighed almost 70 lbs.
 
Flying the Van is great because the front cargo pod compartment is for the crew. You can put an awful lot in that space-and it makes you a lazy packer!
-LC
 
Talking about smelly A/C try being the FO on a Dash8. I sit right in front of the lav! After a few hours in the airplane you kind of get used to the smell, but that first leg is pretty tough.
 
Ophir said:
But one thing I have learned is that carrying your flight bag or what ever, on the hook cantilevered off the back really is great to balance the load. This makes pulling the thing through the airports a one finger operation.

The J-Hooks that attach to rollerbags are awsome and I know what you mean about the one finger operation. Sadly, a few months ago, my travelpro was in the bin of an airplane and the J-hook was lost. I bought a new J-Hook at the crew store in MSP a few weeks ago and guess what...the clip that it hooks into on my bag broke! :( Im gonna be roughing it a little bit more.
 
CapnJim said:
That sucks man! Didja break down and get the PNS bag? I'm still dragging that Ross Special that I found for $30.


Jimbo,
You got to get the PNS bag. Does not look any bigger but you can pack the stuff in it.
 
Yup. I'm starting to get rollaboard-envy every time I see one of those things. I even had a FA with one, but he was a straight male so I kinda think he was trying to compensate.
The bag I have now is functional though, so I gotta wait till the wheels fall off/freeze up or the handle falls out. Shouldn't be long.

I ran into this one cat I was in training with, and he had gone whole hog with his uniform/gear. PNS bag, Scott leather case, company issue leather jacket, TAG aviator watch (freakin' thing was huge. Gotta be worth 2 grand just for the scrap metal), the works. I'm thinking to myself "This dude is on 1st year salary same as me. What gives?"

Family? Rich as hell. Must be nice. Dude dosen't even have any student loans to repay.
 
Back
Top