Cabin Crew Bag Raid: What's in your Bag?

As a flight attendant flying for more than five years, it sometimes seems like I'm living out of my suitcase. My suitcase is always packed and ready to go wherever my roster will take me. Along the line I've learned how to travel wisely and how to pack smart. Ever wonder what flight attendants have in their bags? Here's the list of what I have inside my company-issued handbag, trolley bag and suitcase:

In my hand bag:

1. Make-up kit- very useful for retouching in flight. Containing mostly the basics, like compact powder, blusher, mascara and lipstick. I like to keep my other make-up in my suitcase for layovers.
   
2. My "mini" notebook- contains my "compressed" or summarized notes on emergency drills, safety, first aid, aircraft infos, cabin service, etc. Also handy for keeping other relevant info you may need to write down. I also use mine as keeping record of my flight's information like date, flight number, destination, names of my flight deck crew and cabin crew and their position/duty for the flight, number of passengers and if there are special handling passengers, etc.
   
3. A small stack of Post-its- useful for taking down notes and other info that you don't want to forget while in flight like when you have take down a passenger's name or seat number, or if you're taking multiple orders. I also use mine for labeling locations of service equipment and other relevant information which will be useful for the crew who will take over the aircraft once we reach our destination.
   
4. Pens, and lots of it- one of the most essential things one needs to have in their bag. I have some that I've bought, but most of my pens are ones I collected from hotels I've stayed in. Passengers tend to ask to borrow your pen especially when filling out their immigration forms so I always keep some in my pocket.
   
5. A small bottle of perfume- I usually buy sets of my favorite scents in their miniature sizes so it won't be too much to carry in my bag. I usually keep this in my make-up kit.
6. Toothbrush, toothpaste and a small bottle of mouthwash- To use after meals and to keep my breath smelling fresh all throughout the flight.
7. Other official paperwork necessary for the flight like crew handover sheets, seat assignment charts, etc.
8. Mints- I put some in my apron pocket so I can have one before I go out into the cabin.
9. Extra hair accessories- like bobby pins and extra scrunchies.
10. My gadgets- mainly my mobile, camera and mp3 player. Very important.
11. My passport and licenses- travel documents that must be in my possession at all times and kept up to date. Without these, I can't operate on any flights.
    
12. wallet
    

In my trolley bag:

1. Cabin Service Manual- company issued manual containing relevant information on Cabin Service.
2. Memo Book- I keep all company issued memos regarding safety and service procedures and updates in one file.
3. Cabin Shoes and Apron- I always check that my service apron is available, clean and wrinkle-free and that my cabin shoes are properly shined and clean as well. I keep my cabin shoes in a small shoe bag which also has a small shoe polisher.
   
4. Plonky Kit- this is the term we use for the small bag of useful "goodies" for the flight. Inside my plonky kit there's a small flash light (good for walking around the darkened cabin in night flights), small scissors (but we have to keep this in our checked in luggage if the station we are departing from requires it), some band-aid, panadol for headache, scotch tape, a small stapler, a small calculator, another small stack of post-its, one or two pens, a black marker or pentel pen, a mini sewing kit for "emergency uniform button situations" , some plastic gloves and some safety pins.
   
5. An extra set of uniform- mainly the uniform blouse/shirt in case of emergency (like food spillage on your uniform, etc.) and an extra pair or two of stockings.
   
6. Overnight kit- in a small bag containing extra clothes, underwear and necessary toiletries. I choose a smart casual set of blouse and skirt or pants that are light weight and less likely to be wrinkled. This extra set of clothes is used in case of an unexpected layover because of delays or other circumstances that will require you to be out of uniform.
   

In my suitcase (to be brought only during layover flights):

1. My swimsuit and gym clothes- I like to swim in hotel pools, its good exercise and its fun so I always keep one in luggage. If a swim is not possible I often go to the gym instead or have a jog outside if there's a jogging/hiking trail in the destination.
   
2. My layover clothes and underwear- depending on the weather and the season. I make it a point to check the weather conditions of a particular destination before going to the flight by searching for the info in the internet. I ensure that the clothes I pack are appropriate for the destination and comfortable as well.
   
3. Shoes- again depending on the destination. In winter I like to wear my boots because its warmer on my feet. In summer I like to pack sneakers, ballet flats or sandals because its more comfortable to wear.
4. An extra jacket or sweater- even if according to the information the weather will be fair in the destination, I like to pack an extra lightweight sweater just in case.
5. Snacks and a bottle of water- just something light and easy to pack like crackers or chocolate. I also like to keep a bottle of water to keep hydrated especially after the flight.
   
6. My current book of choice- I always carry a book to read beside the pool or in my room to pass the time or if I can't sleep right away.
7. Street map or travel book of the destination- I often collect mine from the internet of from the hotels as well. Its helpful and handy for when you want to explore the destination.
   
8. Uniform for the next flight- necessary of course to have a fresh set of uniform for the flight back to your home base.
9. Toiletries bag- containing extra make-up, toiletries and other beauty and hygiene products essential for my stay in the layover.

So that's it. Those are the contents of my bags that I bring with me in all my flights and I'm sure it is similar to what other cabin crew have in theirs. It is practical to pack lightly but smartly for every flight. Just pack what is essential and useful for you for the flight and in the layover (and you'll even have more space for your shopping later, LOL).