Travel ritual: my handbag

my favourite weekend bag from Muji, pratical and ultra light!

A woman's mind is as complex as the contents of her handbag; even when you get to the bottom of it, there is ALWAYS something at the bottom to surprise you! - Billy Connolly

International baggage rules

Always check with the airline before travelling, how many and what size bags I can take.

Always check airlines in advance to know whether they add any special restrictions.

International flights varies from airline to airline. Generally, passengers are permitted to carry 1 piece of hand luggage and 1 small item (handbag, laptop) on board.

Hand luggage should not exceed 56 x 45 x 25cm (dimensions include wheels, handles, side pockets...), weight limit may range between 7-8kg, and to board with 1 personal item and 1 piece of carry-on.

So the small personal item must be no bigger than 40 x 30 x 15cm.

My travel handbag is a

• black weekend bag from Muji
• multi-pocket crossbody shoulder bag, made from durable and waterproof polyester
• 40 x 25 x 15 cm
• Ultra-light and soft
• zipped large main compartment (width of 14.7cm)
• 3 exterior pockets including 2 zips fastened
• 3 interior pockets including 2 to slip the phone or the wallet
  
• can be worn cross-body both ways or on either shoulder
• adjustable strap
• ultra light, durable and flexible
• I hung a distinctive sign: red and purple ribbons on the handle

=> use for long-haul flight or a road trip far from home (on site, I use another handbag, smaller)

=> to avoid wasting time or lose items at the security control, put little items (scarf, jacket, jewellery,  belts...) in the handbag/cabin suitcase

In this practical and lightweight handbag

(natural, organic, eco-friendly, biodegradable, vegan and cruelty-free products)

• in plastic cut-flush files: passport, etickets, boarding pass, itinerary, list of things to see and do, copy of travel vaccinations (and now of COVID-19 travel documents), prescription medicine (if necessary), copy of my blood type...

• pixel 4a 5G + chargeur

• kindle (charger in the cabin suitcase, capable of lasting up to several days of autonomy with a single charge)

• mp3 NWZ-E585B with noise-cancelling earphones (ideal in places like airplane cabins or train cars)

• compact power bank for charging on the go

• keys in a purse

• prescription sunglasses RB4191

• lafuma small shoulder bag: wallet, papers/documents...

• airport liquid bag

• a pouch with small useful items travel kits (like a kyu kyu bukuro from Japan): adhesive plasters, travel-sized small scissors, safety pin, handy travel sewing kit, painkillers, tweezers... in order to be prepared for any eventuality

• small makeup bag

• favourite cotton scarf

• large hair claw

• favourite wooden wide tooth comb made in ash wood FSC 100% certified (which is no longer sold, don't want to lose it)

• small bag containing a tiny notebook with useful information, emergency numbers, a pen...

• 2 pockets of tissues

• favourite vegan biscuits, dried fruits & nuts, fresh pieces of fruits (apple or mango or a banana), homemade vegan sandwiches

• BPA free water bottle to empty before going through security

• a mini compostable spoon to enjoy food like vegan dessert/yogurt, especially for my pre-flight snack
  

• a reusable foldable shopping bag

• individual hand sanitizing wipes, always in the outside pocket of my handbag

 => due to the airport security liquids rule, my hand sanitiser pocket size is in my liquid bag but don't use it to avoid getting my other items dirty (before Covid, I used to using Puressentiel and Alphanova)

and now with Covid,

• I always have some medical face masks with me in a small bag (wear it inside public transport, hospitals, small shops, when in a crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilation area...)

• and also a Covid pass just in case

To pass through security quickly,

to avoid wasting time or lose items at the security control, I put little items in my handbag or cabin suitcase

• jacket (in my cabin suitcase)
  
• scarf
• fashion jewellery: 1 ring and 1 bangle
• hair barrette (may trigger the detector – and in response, may be requested to remove it)
• belt
• not forgot to empty water bottle

some of my handbags that I used a few times; but now my everyday bag is a foldable backpack,
that I take whenever I leave the house