re: OT World Travelers: What is the ONE thing you can't do without

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12 segment week

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I feel your pain. Everytime I step on a plane I have at least 3, flying from small airport to small airport can drive a person insane.

No I haven't.

And you know why? That pillow is fricking massive, would take up way too much room, and would probably break those flimsy drink trays. I'm shocked they advertise something so impractical.

somebody fricking ACKNOWLEDGE MY HYSTERICAL POST

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It's inflatable though

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If someone ever starts blowing up a pillow in the seat next to me, I'm hitting them. I thought it was a bomb.

I have an inflatable travel pillow...but it's small and fits in my backpack

K, only if it's a man or ugly chick. Your pillow is safe.

Dip

Most has been stated. I always fly international for work, business class so I don't worry about bringing snacks or food but the following I wouldn't get on the plane without.

-Bose noise cancelling headphones
-Tablet with movies and charger (i've had a broken screen in my seat on a full flight, unable to watch tv sucks).
-Small toiletries bag, toothbrush and paste, chapstick, IMMODIUM (cannot stress enough how many times this saved my arse) Advil, travel deoderant, hand sanitizer, face wash. The airline provides some of this to business class customers but usually low quality. Also I've missed connections or had flights cancelled and gotten stuck at an airport or overnight in a hotel without my checked luggage, you will want to have this stuff.
-A set of underwear, socks, shirt, and gym shorts. Same reason as above with missed connection. I really recommend getting a set of under armour compression shorts or similar for flying, you will get chaffed as hell moving around in a seat for 16 hrs in just regular boxers. After a long flight, putting on a fresh shirt is almost as good a feeling as taking a shower. Also you may spill food, booze, vomit (booze induced), whatever on your shirt and will be glad you have something to change into. Bring extra underwear in case you get stuck in a hotel without your luggage.
-At least one magazine to kill time between having to shut off devices and the on flight entertainment kicking in (every airline is different on this. Delta you can leave your shite on and the entertainment is available as soon as you get on the plane. Lufthansa you have to wait till cruising altitude to get on flight movies).
-Passport and currency for every country you will pass thru.
-I usually don't worry about it but some people have locks for their carry ons. There are definitely instances of people having their stuff rummaged thru while they are sleeping.
-Chargers for all my devices with adapter for plugs for wherever i'm going and passing thru. Same issue with getting stuck somewhere, you will want to be able to charge your stuff.
-Sunglasses
-Light rain jacket. I remember once i was flying from Houston to Ghana via DC. It was 70 degs when I left houston, warm as shite in africa. Got stuck overnight in DC with no jacket, it was 40 degs and raining. By the time they finally cancelled the flight it was close to midnight, standing outside for an hour waiting for a bus in cold arse rainy weather sucked. No telling what kind of weather you may fly into.
-Pen, it's a pain trying to borrow one of these to fill out your customs form if the airline doesn't provide them.

While this sounds like a lot of shite I drink on flights and refuse to do work so I check my work laptop and can fit all this into my briefcase, that's all I carry on.

Also, for those that don't travel much... research where you're going and make sure you have reliable transportation for when you arrive. DO NOT accept rides from cabbies that are waiting in the airport lobby!

Also, make sure that your carry-on bags will meet the criteria and that you won't have to valet check them while boarding. This is where shite gets lost/stolen! If you are forced to, take EVERYTHING that is remotely valuable and any medications out before checking the bag.

I've always found it beneficial to dress nicely as well, you're much less liable to be hassled in immigration/customs if you're wearing business attire (nice slacks, button down, and decent dress shoes). It also helps tremendously to have TSA Pre-Check for domestic travel or the US Customs GOES Pass for international.

Oh, and don't forget to let your credit card companies know when you'll be traveling and for how long. I always get some local currency for the country I'm going to before I leave the US if possible. It's also smart to have not only US dollars, but Euros and British Pounds as well, especially if you're going to a third-world country (Nigeria, etc.). Also, be VERY careful about where you exchange money while in-country, there are scam artists EVERYWHERE and they prey on tourists.