First Transatlantic flight!

here's the list (I'm assuming this would apply to flights only within or from the US though, not flights from the UK.)

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

You are permitted to bring solid cosmetics and personal hygiene items as such lipstick, lip balm and similar solids. Please remember these items must be solid and not liquid, gel or aerosol.

So on a flight leaving from the US, lipstick is okay or solid lip balm in a tin, but not anything squeezable in a tube.

lipsticks, lip balm etc are technically allowed now on flights now, but I could totally see overzealous screeners taking them off passengers anyway...sigh 

A guy I work with flew to Glasgow over the weekend from Heathrow. At Heathrow he was allowed to have his chap stick but when we was leaving from Glasgow they took it from him. Seems not every airport is operating in the same way. That is a bit worrying as there seems to be no consistency.

as of yesterday, Heathrow said no cosmetics. (funniest thing I saw was a woman who had this massive sombrero that was rolled up. The worker told her she had to unroll it and wear it... I am sure he was just following rules, but a laugh was certainly had!) Heathrow said gel pens were allowed though!

Congrats on your first transatlantic flight! I flew Virgin, very apropos, and consumed lots of free alcohol. Be mindful of how much you eat and drink because it does have an overall effect with how you feel when you arrive.

definitely try to wear easy slip on and off shoes... pack a pair of socks or light sweater because it can get chilly or serve as an extra pillow or blanket.

if you have a very slim bag to hold your passport, money, pen, tickets, important info such as the address and telephone number of where you are stays. a small bag is  helpful so you can always keep it near you (even in the toilets) and have it on hand when you need to show them. I've never heard stories about theft on a plane but it certainly can happen!

your flight entertainment will be based on your airline. I flew one American carrier on a transatlantic flight and there was no in-flight entertainment.... oh that was awful. I did read the in flight magazine and duty free catalog though. Some airlines will even have a selection of magazines to read if you ask.

good luck! my sis just had her first transatlantic flight and did great. now I am prepping my dad!!

huh... I don't get why they'd all be so different.  But if you can take chapstick, I sure would!

huh... I don't get why they'd all be so different.  But if you can take chapstick, I sure would!

best bet is to check nearer the time you fly and bring the cruddy lip balm you are kicking around... I have loads I wouldn't cry over if they were confiscated.

my friend flew jetblue from CA to NYC and they gave a little onboard cosmetic kit but some cosmetic company. Virgin used to do that back in the day... they've gotten a bit skimpy these days. I'd bet some of the cosmetic companies are starting to make deals with airlines to provide this amenity as a way of advertising.

It is down to the security of the airport not the individual airlines. BA or Virgin might allow one thing but the airport is different.

But I agree no consistency

i have a case that i travel with.  when i flew from US to canada last week i took the * items out b/c i didn't want them confiscated.

hand cream*
mascara*
deodrant*
tampon
cough lozengers
extra rx medications
echnicaa liquid*
bottle of asprin & melatonian pills
ear plugs
face mask
tissues
lip balm*
comfy socks
copy of passport & back & front of all credit cards
bottle water*
blow up u-shaped pillow
currency of country i'm going to
a book
a few magazines
a snack- luna bar/almonds or the like...

i'd check with the relevent airport a week or so b/f you fly! 

You guys have been a HUGE help! At least I feel a TINY bit more prepared hehe Thanks a ton!

P.S. Keep the tips coming, I'm putting them all in my travel journal!

I sure hope I can take my chapstick on with me on saturday when I fly back to manchester! I get seriously dry lips that will drive me crazy if I go more then a couple hours without chapstick, I actually think my lips are addicted to it.

Anyways, this is what I normally bring with me on the plane:

My purse with all my normal purse stuff in it like hand cream, chapstick, hand sanitizer (really useful in germ-y places like airports), money, ID, credit cards, etc. I make sure this purse fits inside my larger carry on.
A book
Magazines
My Nintendo DS
Some kind of puzzle book like crosswords or word searches (and a pen)
iPod and headphones (the headphones they give you are crap)
Tissues (my nose always runs on the plane for some reason, I think it's the air pressure change or something)
A jacket/sweater even in the summer (it can get very cold on the plane, I'm usually freezing the whole time)
One change of clean clothing (especially undies) in case my luggage gets lost or misses the flight and I have to wait a day or two to get it back.

I also make sure I'm wearing comfy clothing so I'm comfortable on the flight, including slip on shoes so I can not only easily take them off for security but also so I can easily take them on and off while on the plane.

I usually also have a bottled drink (no glass bottles though) but I actually never use it because I hate having to pee during the flight, I usually try to minimize the bathroom trips to only one on the flight (and one just before the flight and one right after I've gotten my luggage after the flight. I'm kind of OCD when it comes to bathrooms and porta-potties and airplane bathrooms are the worst.

Hopefully by the time you fly in January, most of the bans on certain carry on items will be gone but you should check a few days before you leave to be sure of what you can bring. I did hear they are making the no-liquids thing permanent but I'm not sure about that.

I sure hope I can take my chapstick on with me on saturday when I fly back to manchester! I get seriously dry lips that will drive me crazy if I go more then a couple hours without chapstick, I actually think my lips are addicted to it.

Anyways, this is what I normally bring with me on the plane:

My purse with all my normal purse stuff in it like hand cream, chapstick, hand sanitizer (really useful in germ-y places like airports), money, ID, credit cards, etc. I make sure this purse fits inside my larger carry on.
A book
Magazines
My Nintendo DS
Some kind of puzzle book like crosswords or word searches (and a pen)
iPod and headphones (the headphones they give you are crap)
Tissues (my nose always runs on the plane for some reason, I think it's the air pressure change or something)
A jacket/sweater even in the summer (it can get very cold on the plane, I'm usually freezing the whole time)
One change of clean clothing (especially undies) in case my luggage gets lost or misses the flight and I have to wait a day or two to get it back.

I also make sure I'm wearing comfy clothing so I'm comfortable on the flight, including slip on shoes so I can not only easily take them off for security but also so I can easily take them on and off while on the plane.

I usually also have a bottled drink (no glass bottles though) but I actually never use it because I hate having to pee during the flight, I usually try to minimize the bathroom trips to only one on the flight (and one just before the flight and one right after I've gotten my luggage after the flight. I'm kind of OCD when it comes to bathrooms and porta-potties and airplane bathrooms are the worst.

Hopefully by the time you fly in January, most of the bans on certain carry on items will be gone but you should check a few days before you leave to be sure of what you can bring. I did hear they are making the no-liquids thing permanent but I'm not sure about that.

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagcabin/public/en_gb

Then click on the latest information

This is a link to the BA site telling you what you are allowed. Which ever airline you are flying with should have a similiar site to see what is and isn't allowed.

It does say no cosmetics and no toilietries.......

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagcabin/public/en_gb

Then click on the latest information

This is a link to the BA site telling you what you are allowed. Which ever airline you are flying with should have a similiar site to see what is and isn't allowed.

It does say no cosmetics and no toilietries.......

Thanks, we are traveling on BA but I believe that info is listed under "Customers departing from the UK (including customers transferring through the UK)"

We're not departing from the UK, we're departing from the US and entering the UK, for which it says "Customers starting their journey outside the UK will have to adhere to any local restrictions that may apply at their airport of departure."

Which means I have to check the JFK airport security, not the airline. I just checked their website and they are only saying "no liquids or gels" and then they have a link that has already been posted here which says they are allowing solid cosmetics like chapstick.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

Obviously my hand cream and sanitizer are out which sucks but at least I have my chapstick! lol.

LoL

I just had to laugh out loud when I saw that "personal lubricants" are allowed in your carry-on but not toothpaste or hand lotions. 

Gotta wonder about the priorities of people making those rules!   

I just had to laugh out loud when I saw that "personal lubricants" are allowed in your carry-on but not toothpaste or hand lotions. 

Gotta wonder about the priorities of people making those rules!   

I had the same thought!    Maybe the mile high club may be a higher priority than inoffensive breath for some! --okay, I guess there could be other reasons for needing it, but it struck me as funny anyway.

One thing I often do is take a travel pack of baby wipes that I can use to clean my face or other parts of my body.  It helps me feel like I've stayed a bit cleaner, then I can take a stick deoderant and get off the plane not feeling so grungy.  I think those are okay still, but if not, I guess you can use paper towels that are wetted.

One piece of advice I'd give is to get up more than the people around you.  Everyone tends to stay put in their seats for most of the time, but if you get up and walk around regularly your body will be so much happier once you land.  Do stretching exercises too.  I personally try to always get aisle seats.  Windows are nice, but with transcontinental flights the view is always the same--clouds and water.  If you are on the aisle you can stretch legs out easier and you don't have to climb over people to use the bathroom or walk in the aisles, which makes it easier to get up.

I wonder with the cosmetics.. is it just things with liquid or absolutely none? My airline site isn't really clear on that. I am wondering about powder and such? No huge deal but it is nice to be able to freshen up and look a little more alert when you arrive!

I'm hoping I can do baby wipes and my stick deoderant. It says no deoderant, but it also says solid cosmetics are now allowed. My deoderant is a solid, so I think I'll try, worse case scenario, I have to buy new deoderant, which isn't expensive anyway. My boyfriend is picking me up at the airport, so I definitely want to be able to be as fresh as possible! My make up is powder, so I don't think there will be any problems with that.