OK, I know we go through this every winter- it snows, air ports shut down. But that is mostly in the States, where if you really, really need to you could find alternative ways to get home, but it is looking like some of the travelers stuck in the UK could be there until almost the new year.

So how to you prepare for that? Lets say that for some reason (paranoia, snow drift, laziness) you can't get to your checked bags for the first two days. So other than your papers, two good credit cards and cash, what would you have in your carry on. Assume you have to shelter at the airport.

BTW, cheers to the french for bringing in cots, boos to the germans for bringing in clowns.

Top choice, hands-down, is my iPhone. After that, underpants, socks, toothbrush, toothpaste, contact lens stuff, glasses, reading material, iPhone cable, laptop.

I just came back from an international trip that included plane changes, taxi rides and boat rides. I carried all of the things below:

-large laptop bag
-floss, toothbrush, toothpaste
-camper's toilet paper (Walmart)
-extra undershirt, underpants & socks
-bandana
-laptop
-cell phone
-chargers
-adapters
-AA & AAA batteries
-regular survival kit: flashlight, Bic, whistle, mirror, paracord, basic First Aid, etc.
-leisure reading
-beanie
-sun hat with wide brim
-hooded ski jacket (on me usually)

If I'm traveling through frigid airports, I'll carry clothes for cold weather. I've had my luggage get lost before on a stop through Denver I think it was. I had to spend the night in the airport because I missed a connection. The heat shut off for several hours in the early morning hours. When I travel with my fiance, I have to double up some things. I expect her to carry none of that stuff, but of course she still expects me to have what she needs.

I may sound lame for saying this: I don't enjoy air travel anymore. It's too complicated. If I can get similar enjoyment by driving somewhere local, then I'd rather do that.

Years ago, I was told that your carry-on bag should contain just about everything you need to survive at your destination should your main bag get lost (or you end up stuck at the airport for a while).

Therefore, besides cash, a cell phone, and identification on my person, I make sure my carry-on has:

1. Some extra cash.
2. Spare change of appropriate clothing (I usually pack jeans, a long sleeve shirt, underwear, socks, and a hat)
3. A water-resistant jacket
4. Basic hygiene supplies (comb/brush, tooth brush, wet wipes, ect)
5. Water and snacks (used to be able to bring through security, now must be purchased post the security checkpoint)
6. A battery powered Am/Fm radio with earbuds (to get up to the minute news regardless of whether cell phones or wifi is working).
7. Something to keep you busy for a day or two (i.e. a good book, ect)
8. A pen and paper
9 Basic first aid stuff (band-aids, gauze, OTC medication, as well as any necessary prescription medications)
10. A flashlight
11. A Whistle

I used to be able to carry a small Swiss Army knife in there as well, but now I have to put that in my checked bag.

I just hate that I can't check only a pocket knife. I typically pack in a carry on size bag but end up checking it to get my leatherman through.

Ultimately, what I carry on me everyday supplemented by a phone charger, a water bottle, and glasses would suffice.

My usual travel vest containing:
Cell phone
cell phone AA-battery charger
Nano iPod with built-in FM radio
prescription medicines
heatsheet
deck of cards
paperback book
toilet seat covers
aspirin
gum
toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss
digital camera
small notepad
pen
business cards

With that stuff I can contact people, be entertained, make friends, stay abreast of news, and wrap myself up. That's good enough for me.

-Blast

As others have said, it's not just getting snowed in. My wife and I used to fly down to the French West Indies, and occasionally our baggage didn't make it with us. One airline had only 1 flight a week to the island we were on, and all we had with us was our carry-on luggage.

We carry all our necessities in our carry-on nowadays, which includes a change of outer clothes and a couple or more changes of underwear, shoes, medicine, toiletries, and whatever we'll need for at least a couple of days. A cell phone is a necessity when traveling these days, along with it's power cord, an extension cord, and plug converters if we're going to the French West Indies. I generally also take a netbook with WiFi and power cord, too.

In this weather, we'd have our winter coats if we were going to be on the East Coast or Europe. I'd hope for food at the airport.

Adding to the above;

fleece top ( warm and comfy)
water bottle
phone/ phone charger/ earphones / battery
Snacks/ food - mostly balance bars

Money belt.

Afll of the above - also, after spending a long 12 hours in Iqaluit airport a few years back without a hotel (think Nunavut, way northern Canada, Baffin Bay etc), I now pack a sleeping bag liner in my carryon. And if I have room, I also pack a sleeping pad, I have an inflatable Big Agnes that packs small but blows up and is really comfy to sleep on. The sleeping bag liner I think is way more comfortable to sleep in than throwing your jacket over your shoulders. They come in silk (popular), fleece, flannel, and cotton, and run maybe $30-60 before sales - http://www.rei.com/search?search=sleeping+bag+liners&seq=1&hist=query%2Csleeping+bag+liners.

I'm partial to a little food to get me by in airports - pack a few power bars, they're better than nothing. Also some hard candy - that's easy to spread around, especially with kids who can't tolerate flight delays nearly as well as most adults.

Also my Zune music / video player - loaded with music I like to listen to, I also load a few movies or TV shows before trips so I can watch them. Also sorta cool is Comcast's Infinity service, where you get your cable TV content over the Internet wherever you are - if I'm in an airport waiting for a flight or even at destination, its easier to fire up the laptop to watch a movie on HBO (or Netflix, don't forget that) rather than pay hotel rates for access. And I also keep my 3G/4G adapter handy, with it I can get Internet access from anywhere that Sprint has coverage. I like travel with a full laptop more than a smartphone, but you can also get most of the same stuff, just on a smaller screen.

FWIW I've never gotten into carrying spare clothing in my carryon - I tend to wear a Patagonia capilene base layer, maybe a wool sweater or shirt over that, and a fleece, or warmer jacket if I'm headed to a colder destination. The capilene is good for at least a week before it gets too smelly or troublesome - and if I need a shirt change, I don't care too much what it is, I'll pay $20-25 for a souvenir t-shirt at a news stand. Also I carry gloves and a warm fleece hat most destinations - if I leave an airport, and have to head home overland, its one less thing to worry about. Also I wear wool slacks most flights, not levis - that just comes from having to check in when you land, I'm convinced you get treated just a touch better if you dress a bit better. ymmv

I pretty much never travel without both my well-stocked computer case and a carry-on bag. Overseas is more difficult because of restrictive carry-on rules, but that's rare enough I don't worry about that except as the exception and am never happy... Generally wear a travel vest then with lots of the stuff I normally pack in the vest

On person is my Crackberry phone and normal pocket gear including a couple flashlights. Knives going in checked baggage. Almost always have checked baggage for that reason. :-(

Rolling Computer Case includes:

Computer (duh!) w/ charger
Verizon Air Card
Spare battery for Computer
Web-cam
Mouse
Phone Charger
MP3 player and Noise Canceling earbuds
Three paperback books
8.5 x 11 Ruled Notepad
Travel File
Assorted Pens
First Aid Kit with OTC Meds
JIC Prescription Meds
4-inch Scissors
Large Nail Clipper
Duct Tape
Safety Pins
2-3 Flashlights
Digital Camera
Mini-Mate Ionic Air Supply (especially useful when the guy next to you is a heavy smoker and smells like it, or hasn't taken a shower in a week)
2 x Folding N-90 Face Masks
BIC Lighter
Aseptic Packed Tuna (folding spork and paper towels all in ZipLock bag), Lara Bars and other eats
Waterless Towelettes
Back-up Funds and Credit Card (hidden)
colored zipties (to secure checked baggage)
Toiletries in 1 qt. ZipLock bag incl. hand cleaner
Travel Tooth Brush
1 Bottle Water (picked up past security)

In my carry-on:

Minimum of complete dress for next anticipated business day including shoes or boots (which varies depending on what I am supposed to be doing). Sometimes two days, just depends on how bulky it is.
2-days underwear
Personal Grooming Gear
2 packages aseptic packed Tuna and breakfast bars
Medical Kit
Sewing Kit
Duct Tape
Large Clip (holds drapes closed)
Vacuum packed T.P.
3 receptacle 6 ft. Extension Cord
Pocket Survival Pack
2 x Folding N-90 Face Masks

Outerwear, including gloves and cap/hat, I typically carry on person, may stuff an additional layer in carry-on

Sure I am forgetting something....

I can say that I have at various times ended up using virtually everything I carry.

I now abhor flying commercially because of all the security restrictions (your choice: molestation or radiation) and thus fly only when forced to. That said, I always consider the weather at both the beginning and end of my journey and dress appropriately. I have a carry on bag which has the following:

road maps, professional licenses, FAK, notepad, misc. electronic components for my iphone and notepad, appointment/calendar book, personal logbook, steno pad, 5oz flask (empty), spare cigs, spare ziplock bags, zip ties, $10 roll of quarters, spare glasses, sunglasses, 15ft of cordage, bandannas, bic lighters, magic marker (black), plastic spoon, ink pens, hoodie.

I carry the following on my person:

cigs, bic lighter, ink pen, 2 wallets (ID and credit cards), calendar book, bandanna, comb, sunglasses, iphone, 2 stones (medicinal), appropriate clothing.

My checked luggage (if it was returned while I'm delayed):

Large bag with: 4 sets of normal clothing, seasonal clothing, medicine bag, set of linens/blankets, Shaving kit, FAK w/meds/vitamins, cigarettes, and a teddy bear.

Small bag with E&E kit: KaBar knife, food, VFR charts, 2 Bota bags (empty), metal cup, mess kit/gear, knee braces, bandannas, bic lighters, 25ft of 3/8ths in. line, feador, playing cards, leatherman, SAK, flashlight, credit card survival tool, 4 AA batteries, hat, fire starter, and a photon light/laser. I've got more gear in this bag but this is what comes to mind, impromptu.

I will ship ahead rather than deal with checked baggage, if possible. My carryon is essentially a BOB with the usual necessities including snacks (my favorite bars are Tonka bars, cherry pie Lara bars, and Banana nut bread Clif bars - usually two or three of each) plus generally a change of clothing, toiletries, and whatever unique, absolutely-can't-lose items might be involved in the excursion. Cutlery is always the trickiest issue.

I agree that airplane travel isn't fun anymore. I can remember when it was, but I date myself.

Haha, my mother tells me all the time about how she used to just walk from the airport entrance to the plane. You could hop right on the plane and, if you didn't have a ticket, you could pay for the trip right there on the plane as long as there was an open seat. The only real security was that some of the pilots carried their handguns with them that they had from back when they flew during the war.

She also loves to tell me about how, when she was a kid, her father would give her a quarter, which was enough to ride the trolley to the center of town, watch a film at the theater, buy a soda and a few pieces of candy, then ride back home..all on one quarter..talk about dated.

I could have been the guy trying to lure your mom into the balcony. I did have to mow the lawn in order to obtain my quarter.....

I don't keep a list so checked my carryon pockets to see what's there, just a few things there that haven't been mentioned (or could be again):

+1 on plastic spoon/fork. I carried a spork then promptly lost it, I think to a Capuchin monk...
+1 on maps, city and country at least. Sure, you can have this on your electronic device, but without a device you're lost again. For years I made it a practice to always carry mappage to route me all the way home via roads and highways. For the life of me I can't navigate from Atlanta to Seattle without a map or three. Too much good bbq to pull you off your route...
nitrile gloves, stuffed in a 35mm film container. Have come in handy particularly with ill fellow passengers. Flight crews have them but won't hand them out quick enough to make any difference.

Sure, air travel ain't as fun anymore, but some of us have to fly, and I've always allowed alot of time to get through barriers. Until recently the xray route has always saved me time over the other security options - getting pulled out of a line for an xray, instead of standing in line for regular inspection. It can really save time at Heathrow. But on the whole I haven't seen any difference in security except for those who insist they don't want the radiation, to each their own.

Also if you are low risk and a frequent international traveller I can recommend the Global Entry program, you check in at a kiosk rather than wait in line with others at passport control. I think its $100 for 5 years - but again, some folks find that level of prior inspection (background check) intrusive. I've been through enough background checks though it really doesn't matter to me. I'd rather front load it than wait for a border guard to perform his own analysis in real time, and maybe force me to dump out my carryon for his inspection.

In addition to much of the good stuff listed above, I always bring a pair of ear plugs, compass, hand sanitizer, and poncho. My keychain is 4' of braided para cord with a AAA Mag Solitaire and a Boy Scout Hot Spark fire starter (from the days when no matches or lighters were allowed). I also keep a 1.5" piece of hacksaw blade with the teeth ground off in my wallet.

I just returned from a trip out to Idaho to attend a family funeral.

Leaving RDU, I forgot my 3x5 cards and handkerchief/bandana in my back pocket. Instant patdown of my buttockal region. Had to go to sniffer machine too. Yeah, lots of terrorists have retired military ID cards.

Coming back, in SLC I had on a sweatshirt over a regular polo shirt. The machine was "unable to see my armpits". Another hand inspection. Glad I wore deodorant that day. Oh, he also checked my watch for "hanging wires". Dick Tracy would be in trouble.

In my checked bag I had my codura notebook with SAK/Maglite/bic lighter/floss/ducttape/bandaids/pencil and pen. No problems getting it through.

I laughed a lot. And a nephew is a supervisor with the TSA and he thinks half the stuff they do is BS. I did ask him for some new knives for Christmas tho, lol.

Doug,

My travel is about as frequent as yours, but I won't check bags under most circumstances.

My kit was similar but here's some changes I made in 2010:

All of these:

- Computer (duh!) w/ charger
- Verizon Air Card
- Spare battery for Computer
- Web-cam
- Mouse

Were replaced with a netbook computer (sometimes a Dell Mini 9, sometimes an Asus something or other. The itnegrated web cam is nice, and they have integral 3G broadband.

I just did a trip with only an iPad, it's close - VERY close to able to replace the netbook, but I really want the camera, when I replace my first generation 3G iPad next year with the one with the camera, I'll totally ditch the netbook.


As far as these items:

- Phone Charger


I carry THREE charger cables!

- MP3 player and Noise Canceling earbuds
You carry a crackberry? It plays music. I use an iPhone, but it also deletes the separate MP3 player.


Three paperback books

I stick to the Skymall catalog...hey look! A life-size fiberglass Yeti! Who doesn't need that?

Digital Camera
iPhone!

Mini-Mate Ionic Air Supply (especially useful when the guy next to you is a heavy smoker and smells like it, or hasn't taken a shower in a week)

Cool gizmo!


Aseptic Packed Tuna (folding spork and paper towels all in ZipLock bag),

Wait, wait - this goes in your bags and they don't freak out? It looks like a package of platique on Xray.


1 Bottle Water (picked up past security)
I carry my water bottle through empty. I just can't pay $4.00 for a bottle.

Carry On:
I have about the same setup, maybe a little more because I don't check bags, but I've recently added a vac-packed blanket and pillow, as they don't offer them in flight most times now.

At this point flying is like backpacking, only harder. I can't tell you how much I despise it, and how often I wish I could take a train and rely on being there even close to on-time. But the Northeast Regional is late 25% of the time and the trip to Chicago via the Cardinal/Hoosier line is a dismal 40% of the time it's late.
And not just a little late.

Let me make another suggestion: bring along an abundance of patience and goodwill.

It's unlikely that being stranded in an airport will be life-threatening no matter how long, but we'd be surrounded by ill-tempered people in great stress. My suggestion is not to become one of them. Somewhere in the building there are some calmer people sitting around waiting for it all to conclude so they can get on with their travels. Find those people and join them. Do favors such as watching bags while people take bathroom breaks or go for food, share what you can, be of good cheer.

Remind each other that although it does suck right now, it will end and it will be a great war story next year.* Being calm and supportive is a great gift to share.



*"Why, I remember back in two thousand aught ten when we were stranded for fifteen days in Belgium! The snow was drifted to five hundred feet, and we couldn't flush the toilets because they were so far below the surface of the snow. We had ice coming out of the urinals in the men's room, and the Finns were in there skating!"

Usually not much choice as I often need multiple outfits for different "missions" or stay multiple days. But, whatever works. A friend refuses to check and he usually looks it. He thinks it doesn't matter, but presentation does, especially when trying to be persuasive or meeting with higher ups.



I have looked at netbook options. If all I needed to do was basic email and wordsmithing would work, but they don't have enough computing power in my experience. Often doing image work, powerpoints and the like. My ultralight Toughbook weighs just 3 lb and does it all and stands up to all my abuse. Next year it'll be 5 years and time to get a new one which will have wireless built in and even longer battery life, so can drop the battery.

Just not going over to Apple for computing, too much pain.



My ancient Crackberry barely serves as a phone and email platform. <~> Once I see what Verizon does with the iPhone next year, I'll make a decision as to iPhone or Android phone.



One of best investment in my mental health I ever made! I was skeptical that it would work, but it does.



Apparently not. <shrug>



Can't stomach the taste of the water at many places. Cost of doing business. <shrug>




Yeah, should have mentioned I carry a Thermarest inflatable lumbar support and seat cushion always and on long trips on Southwest I carry a neck support pillow. Flying Continental is not needed since they have the adjustable headrests. 90%of my flying is on Southwest or Continental. Not looking forward to what I view as the destruction of Continental customer service with the merger with United, which I despise.



"Despise" is a good word for it. Every opportunity or need must be balanced with the pain of flying and sometimes the pain wins out and I just say the hell with it.

Train not an option for me in any case. Only time I take a train is if I fly into New York via Newark or my flights to DC via BWI. Then the train connects me with the city transportation services.

That's some good advice right there.