Mrs X

Unread post by **Mervyn and Trish** » 02 Oct 2016, 08:33

Picture the scene. The queue for security at the airport. For the past 10 minutes you've been zigging and zagging, every 5 yards passing signs telling you what you can bring and what you can't. You've passed a man warning about liquids and handing out see through bags to put them in. As you approach the final zig you see a woman laden down with bling at the security point opening her carry on case. We'll call her Mrs X, though her real name is Mrs Twit.

After another five minutes and a last zag you arrive at security. Mrs X is still there, complaining as sufficient lotions and potions to stock a beauty salon and a hairdresser are being removed from her case and most of them, in extra large economy size, are being confiscated. The smaller ones are now placed in a plastic bag and she is moaning that no one told her it is only one bag per person. The plus side is her case is now 8kg lighter. Now she is reluctantly emptying her pockets of phone, keys, money, handcuffs, more keys, another £20 in loose change and another phone. Okay I made the handcuffs up.

She eventually makes it through security to rejoin a man who's been waiting 20 minutes. We'll call him Mr X.

In the lounge you meet another woman. Mrs Y, though her real name is Mrs Scrooge. She's bitterly complaining that she opted to travel hand luggage only to avoid paying £30 to put a case in the hold and has now had to pay £50 in the shops to replace all her beauty products that were confiscated at security.

Who says air travel can't be entertaining? And where were these people to miss all the publicity about increased security at airports over the last 5 years?

Unread post by **Silver_Shiney** » 02 Oct 2016, 10:04

Ah, but Merv, there is a class of citizen to whom rules and regulations do not apply.

I believe the technical name for this class is "arrogant, selfish, ignorant, inconsiderate git"

Unread post by **Boris+** » 02 Oct 2016, 13:42

I think 'Mrs Twit' is a great label for this woman! Yes, it's a pain being unable to take sensible (but collectively heavy) bottles of stuff (perfume, medicine, toiletries and cosmetics), but the regulations are there for safety and security reasons. Better safe than sorry - so if you want to fly, put up and shut up.

Similarly, some people get on a plane and completely ignore their kids, and the kids all too often announce their displeasure quite vocally! However, we've just come back on a flight with the most wonderful toddler in the row in front of ours, and we had the cutest inflight entertainment from this happy and well-cared for little 'un! His parents really worked hard at caring for him and entertaining him.

All too often, passengers go to an airport and leave the staff feeling that the passengers have left their brains and manners at the main entrance (or in the car park).

Unread post by **Meg 50** » 02 Oct 2016, 14:55

I haven't flown for donkey's years, but will soon....

these economy sized bottles? Are they allowed in your hold luggage? it's only cabin / hand luggage that they get arsie about?

Unread post by **Boris+** » 02 Oct 2016, 15:57

Meg 50 wrote:
I haven't flown for donkey's years, but will soon....

these economy sized bottles? Are they allowed in your hold luggage? it's only cabin / hand luggage that they get arsie about?

It's always the wisest thing to check with the airline you are flying with. However, I understand that you may check in luggage which contains normal sized bottles. The restriction is only for hand luggage.

Some countries do have restrictions about what food stuffs you can bring with you (for example, Canada is very strict about food stuffs). Again, check with the government website for the areas you are going to.

We found there are lots of shops over here which either sell small size toiletries, or that have nice clear plastic toiletry bags with empty regulation size small bottles and containers inside available. So, decant stuff like your usual shampoo/conditioner, same with any facial creams/moisturizers and try and get the little size of hairspray and deodorant. If you get the small clear toiletry bags (with zip), it's really easy at check-in or security, it's just one bag each to stick in the scanning tray. Of course, once you've bought them (available in lots of supermarkets and Boots), you can re-use them after the trip.

One silly idea - I always get a little coloured sticker to tell me which is my shampoo and a different coloured one to show which one is the conditioner - both fluids are virtually identical, and a little coloured sticker (safely secured with a bit of Sellotape) does the trick.

Have a great time.

Unread post by **GillD46** » 02 Oct 2016, 16:06

I pack all my toiletries in my checked bags, apart from a lip balm, deodorant and some hand cream. On a long haul flight you are given a miniature toothpaste and brush. I am astonished at the amount some people appear to need throughout their flight.

Unread post by **Boris+** » 02 Oct 2016, 17:06

GillD46 wrote:
I pack all my toiletries in my checked bags, apart from a lip balm, deodorant and some hand cream. On a long haul flight you are given a miniature toothpaste and brush. I am astonished at the amount some people appear to need throughout their flight.

The thing is - firstly I always am a bit concerned about checked-in baggage going 'astray', and secondly I don't really fancy bottles leaking and spoiling my clothes. Yes, ok, we do have a small amount of clothing in hand baggage, but it's usually not our 'best' stuff (it's 'comfy' stuff), and I really do prefer as much as possible to keep best stuff away from potential leakages.

I'm not being fusspot, I'm just being cautious and trying to minimise hassle and worry - anything for the easy life. So liquids don't travel in the checked baggage with best stuff (including best shoes and handbags), and that includes stuff which might need dry cleaning.

Funny thing - we loaned a bag to someone recently, and yes - the airline 'lost it'. The airline did find it, and did return it by taxi.

Unread post by **GillD46** » 02 Oct 2016, 21:25

I tend to wrap, in bubble wrap and then put in a carrier bag. I've carried bottles of champagne packed the same - the brand we like and that cruiselines never seem to sell.

How do you manage with sunscreen Em? Surely those bottles are much larger than 100mls?

Unread post by **Boris+** » 03 Oct 2016, 07:59

GillD46 wrote:
I tend to wrap, in bubble wrap and then put in a carrier bag. I've carried bottles of champagne packed the same - the brand we like and that cruiselines never seem to sell.

How do you manage with sunscreen Em? Surely those bottles are much larger than 100mls?

Hi Gill,

Well that's about the only thing of the liquid variety which does have to go into our checked-in luggage. Firstly we do take the same sort of precautions, but not using bubble wrap, as we think it would make the bottle bulky. So, it's a plastic bottle, wrapped securely in cling film, put into a typical plastic sandwich bag and that goes into one of DH's shoes - and that feels safe to us. We don't use a lot of sun screen anyway - firstly because we don't like sunbathing, and secondly because we cover up to avoid the sun. We're going to have to get quite a bit older before we are ready for lazing about in the sun for ages, and if we are off out and about we always avoid shorts and short sleeves; so we don't need a whole lot of products for the sun.

One other thing - someone suggested making a photocopy of passport and putting that in luggage. Whilst that is a good idea, if luggage goes missing, the only place to have a copy of a passport (and any visa entries) is in hand luggage, not in checked-in stuff.

We've got a couple of hot climate outings on the horizon, and thankfully one which will be blissfully cold.

Unread post by **oldbluefox** » 03 Oct 2016, 08:27

It seems a lot of hassle for your favourite tipple. Thankfully we don't have this problem cruising out of Southampton but I would tend to leave the booze behind rather than take up valuable luggage allowance and extra hassle in taking it with me. I think I would survive and it would be a good excuse to try something I had never had before.

Unread post by **suespud** » 03 Oct 2016, 08:43

I often buy shampoo/conditioner and sunscreen ( I use a lot) airside if weight allowance is tight..and ALWAYS treat myself to a bottle of whatever new perfume I fancy and aftershave for hubby.
OH gets a couple of bottle of fizzy and vodka/whisky.
So no need to worry about it in our suitcases or hand luggage!!

Unread post by **GillD46** » 03 Oct 2016, 10:20

oldbluefox wrote:
It seems a lot of hassle for your favourite tipple. Thankfully we don't have this problem cruising out of Southampton but I would tend to leave the booze behind rather than take up valuable luggage allowance and extra hassle in taking it with me. I think I would survive and it would be a good excuse to try something I had never had before.

We normally have a very generous baggage alowance; 2x23kgs on European flights and 3x32kgs on long haul, that's per person, so weight doesn't really matter too much.

Unread post by **CaroleF** » 03 Oct 2016, 10:33

When we've flown I've always put the toiletries in one of the hold cases but usually seal the tops with parcel tape, then either keep said tape or take a small roll with me to do the same on the way home. The other thing I do, which really has nothing to do with weight is to line my soft top cases with bits of polythene - dry cleaners bags slit open, two to each case. The reason for that is this. On our first fly cruise to the Caribbean I didn't do this. On our return journey on the way to Bridgetown airport it poured with rain. When I got home I found that a red linen jacket that I had packed next to one of John's creamy sweaters and got soaked and said jumper was a patchy shade of pink! Yes stupid I know to put red jacket next to cream sweater but even so. Now in goes the polythene before any clothes and then I make sure the polythene goes right down the sides of the case.

Much against my better judgement I have packed a bottle of Pimms inside a case to go home. We bought two in Duty Free on the way out, thought we'd get through two, we both like Pimms and it's difficult to buy in the Caribbean, and we only used one so needed to pack the other in order to take it home. I had some bubble wrap which had been round something else on the way out so used that and fixed it all firmly with cellotape. It then went in amongst John's jumper and fleece - yes my husband has been known to sit out on the balcony in the Caribbean wearing a fleece! Anyway we got it safely home.

Carole

Unread post by **Boris+** » 03 Oct 2016, 14:18

Carole, I really like your tip about using polythene inside a bag. We don't have anything red which we would take on a holiday, but there's nothing worse than packed-stuff getting damp, especially if it's dry clean only stuff. Thanks for that.

Unread post by **Silver_Shiney** » 03 Oct 2016, 14:27

My mum's neighbour used to own a villa in Corfu ... they had a bumper crop of olives one year and a neighbour kindly pressed them, yielding several bottles of oil to take home. They put these in their hold baggage... and had a bumper load of washing to do when they got back to the UK

No matter how well it's wrapped, I fear it's too risky putting glass bottles (other than relatively small, thick bottles of fragrance) in hold baggage. As Jasper Carrot once said, you know baggage handlers exist, 'cos you see their footprints in your luggage...

Unread post by **GillD46** » 03 Oct 2016, 15:09

Those of you that are very cautious about packing bottles may well be right, but we have done it for umteen years, always pack them in the middle of clothing and had no issue, so until we do..............

Unread post by **Dancing Queen** » 03 Oct 2016, 19:10

GillD46 wrote:
Those of you that are very cautious about packing bottles may well be right, but we have done it for umteen years, always pack them in the middle of clothing and had no issue, so until we do..............

Me too Gill in fact years ago I used to buy Lladro in the Canaries and would regularly pack it in a case ( well wrapped of course ) as it exceeded customs allowances ( and before anyone knocks it .. we've probably all done it

) never had a breakage but it was worth the risk anyway for the savings.

Unread post by **jay-ell71** » 03 Oct 2016, 19:25

We too have packed a bottle or two in our checked baggage. Seabourn give you a couple of bottles in the suite and we rarely drink them. Wrapped inside clothes in the middle of the case seems to keep them safe.. as Gill says ... until.......

Unread post by **Stephen** » 04 Oct 2016, 08:37

Was Mrs X blonde by any chance and had a label on her back saying 'im thick as sh*t'

Unread post by **Boris+** » 04 Oct 2016, 09:45

Fingers crossed for all the bottles in baggage folk. On a brighter note, maybe Gill won't have to fly for her next cruise anyway.

Unread post by **Frank Manning** » 04 Oct 2016, 09:47

Interesting post. I dont fly if I can help it. Had enough of that for 30 years, flying in to Heathrow Friday night, and back out Monday morning. I used to just put two changes of underwear, a tooth brush, and an electric razor in my hand baggage. You can manage for a day or two without things provided you can clean your teeth, shower, shave and put on clean underwear, if you get breakfast at Heathrow, Dinner in Oslo, baggage in Cairo.

Unread post by **GillD46** » 04 Oct 2016, 10:15

Boris+ wrote:
Fingers crossed for all the bottles in baggage folk. On a brighter note, maybe Gill won't have to fly for her next cruise anyway.

Not next month, Boris, but yes flying to Miami for the following one in April.

Unread post by **Boris+** » 04 Oct 2016, 16:07

GillD46 wrote:
Boris+ wrote:
Fingers crossed for all the bottles in baggage folk. On a brighter note, maybe Gill won't have to fly for her next cruise anyway.
Not next month, Boris, but yes flying to Miami for the following one in April.

That sounds great, so Southampton bound first, and then Miami - have a great time.

Unread post by **GillD46** » 04 Oct 2016, 18:06

Thnak you.

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