Into the Void by Geezer Butler

This is the new book released by Black Sabbath bassist / lyricist Terence "Geezer" Butler. It only came out last month and I just now bought it. I only started it reading it around 1pm today and already I can tell it's going to be a good book

-Terence Michael Joseph Butler was born on 7/17/1949, in Aston, Birmingham, England. He was the seventh child to Dublin, Ireland-born citizens Mary and James Butler. He has six siblings, sisters Eileen, Maura, Sheila and brothers Patrick, James and Peter. He often describes seven as being his lucky number because that number appears so frequently in his life. He says that his sister Eileen tried to throw him out a window when he was young. He talks about growing up lower class to poor in Aston, including how he woke up many nights fighting bedbugs that infested his home and woke up many mornings covered in bites. Holidays to Dublin were occasional, but not all the time. One time while on holiday with his family in Dublin, he was made fun of by Irish kids for having an English accent. He states he couldn't win. He is a firm supporter of Aston Villa FC, the local football club and that he thinks the locals only support teams like Manchester City, Chelsea or Liverpool because they win a lot. Like most post World War II kids, he grew up with not a lot of money; he lived in a Victoria-style home that involved taking baths in a tin tub in front of the stove. He laughs about an incident that occurred when he was six. He was playing with marbles in another room and had accidentally seen his sister Maureen naked while trying to retrieve a marble that rolled under the tub.

-One night, he saw a sphere appear in front of him showing a man on stage with long hair and boots doing something. He says it wasn't exactly clear what this long haired man, wearing silver boots, was doing, but he would have this dream pretty frequently. As a child, he said that the Catholic faith was strong with him. He would buy all manner of religious items, such as rosaries and the like. This comes from being raised in a strict Irish Catholic family. The Catholic rituals fell out of practice with him when he started growing his hair long and attending church and someone there called him "miss" frequently, thinking he was a woman. Geezer says that because swearing was frowned upon in his house, anyone who said a swear word was punished. Even now, Geezer seldom swears because of his strict Irish Catholic upbringing.

-What started his interest in music was the huge skiffle craze of the 1950s. With Lonnie Donnegan covering the old Leadbelly song "Rock Island Line", all manner of kids jumped on this new craze. He also said Cliff Richard and the Drifters were big in his house, until they changed their name to The Shadows. Geezer laughs as mentions how, in one interview, Cliff Richard said he hated his song "Living Doll" and how one of his brothers put "I did too" next to it to anger one of their sisters.

Growing up in Aston, you were, more or less, a firm supporter of Aston Villa FC. He went to every game he could, since he lived near the stadium in which they played. When playing football (soccer to everyone else) in his backyard, any time he heard a cheer, he pretended it was for him. As he got older, he started attending grammar schools. His first school was Sacred Heart until he finished school there and moved onto Holte Grammar School. Fights there were constant between Holte Grammar and the Prince Albert School nearby, where future Black Sabbath vocalist Ozzy Osbourne attended school. While attending Holte, the discipline was strict. It was caning on the hands on backside and often called "six of the best", where you would be given a choice of hand or backside.

-His brother James, who he calls Jimmy, is the one who gave him the nickname "Geezer". His brother was stationed somewhere with a lot of Londoners, called "Cockneys" who would often use the slang term "geezer" as a way of saying "bloke, man, dude, etc.". Terence started using that term and thus became known as "Geezer", only after stating his proper first name is Terence. He mentioned the diversity in Aston, all the interesting cultures that came to live there, including Pakistani, Indian, black residents from the West Indies, Africa and more. Terence's father, who spent time in India, got along great with his Indian neighbors. They would talk incessantly and as such, both families became friends. Terence witnessed the other side of that friendly world of diversity-the ugly racism towards those who were different. His mother cradled a West Indian man who was beaten until an ambulance arrived. There was such ugly racism towards the black and brown population in those areas. And it was not just the Pakistani, Indian, Caribbean and African populations that were getting harassed. The Irish population of Aston faced discrimination too, including Geezer and his family. One of his sisters tried to book a stay in a bed and breakfast somewhere one time and there was a sign saying NO BLACKS. NO IRISH. NO DOGS. Turning tail, she came right back home.

-Not everyone knows that Geezer Butler is vegan. He made the conscious decision to pursue a vegan life when he was seven. His mother had put his dinner on the table and when he went to cut his meat, blood spurted out. He was disgusted. When he asked what it was, his mother told him it was from an animal. Suddenly, he thought of his dog and best friend Scamp. He decided from then on, not to eat meat or any animal by product. Later on, during his says in Black Sabbath, they went to a Chinese restaurant and Geezer told him he only wanted rice, the waiter said "Ah, a vegetarian". Geezer had never heard that term before.

-It was also his brother Patrick or Paddy who helped inspire a dream of becoming a musician to Geezer. He bought his younger brother a guitar after seeing how huge a fan of the Beatles young Terence was. He himself describes himself as an okay bassist, but not perfect. When he joined the band Mythology, which had then guitarist Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, he switched over to bass. Meeting Ozzy Osbourne for the first time was a real head turner. He said Osbourne walked around with a shaved head, dragging around a sneaker on a leash and was dressed in the skinhead attire of the day-tight jeans, dress shirt and Doc Marten boots. One of Geezer's siblings said "Something is at the door for you." And when Geezer answered, there was Ozzy.

Geezer was put in charge of money because he had gone to school for accountancy and the band trusted him the most with money. Prior to becoming Black Sabbath, the band was known as Mythology, then Polka Tulk Blues Band after a sari shop called Polka Tulk. Then Earth. They had to change their name after an accidental booking at a dance hall where the owners thought they were a pop band. That's when the band realized they needed a new name and fast. Suddenly, the horror movie Black Sabbath with Boris Karloff sounded right. They officially changed their name to Black Sabbath on 8/30/1969. Their debut album came out on Friday the 13th in 1969. He was horrified when he opened the album and seen an inverted cross on the inside. His parents were, not surprisingly, horrified. He had to tell them the record label did that, not him.

-One thing hardly anyone knows about Geezer Butler is that in his younger years, he suffered with depression and mental health. He worked at a steel factory called Spartan Steel, but he ended up getting fired for showing up later and later each day. After being fired, he went on the dole (unemployment for those who don't know what "the dole" is). His father was raging. "No Butler ever has been on the dole!" said his father. After getting fired, his depression pushed him to the point of self mutilation. He would cut himself with razor blades or stick himself with safety pins. He contemplated ending his life quite frequently. When the band came to record their album Paranoid, hardly anyone knew what that term meant back then. He wrote the lyrics while Tony wrote the iconic riff. The words are about depression, mental health. He wrote those lyrics because that's what he felt then. He was suffering from depression. Geezer says that some people called him a miserable guy, but he also says that you couldn't really talk about depression or mental health back then because the suggested solution was to get over it, walk a dog or something, just get over it. And it's not as simple as that.

-To this day, unlike most rock stars, Geezer has no tattoos. What stopped him from going under the needle and getting inked is one of his brothers had gotten a swastika and dagger tattoo because of his affinity for Nazi memorabilia. Their father was horrified and asked that he get something else. This brother did get something else and an infection set in because he didn't care for it properly. That is what stopped and has kept Geezer from getting a tattoo. And, because he was always reading, he was made the lyricist in the band because he could come up with lyrics that no one else could. He also, like most in the sixties, flirted with drug use. He would often buy hash and Black Bombers (a type of amphetamine) and he would be high out of his head. He laughs as he recalls the various adventures and misadventures of being in a band. Like one time, Tony Iommi was so drunk he threw up on Geezer's boots. And how a run-in with skinheads inspired "Fairies Wear Boots" or how he was inspired to write "Behind the Wall of Sleep" after reading a story called Beyond the Wall of Sleep by H.P. Lovecraft.

-He also describes how Tony Iommi became the sort-of, de facto leader of the band. He was tall, physically imposing and would often give someone a vicious tongue lashing if something went wrong. For example, when the band's transit van broke down, Tony opened the hood and was blasted in the face with brown, oily water. Ozzy burst out laughing until Tony gave him the tongue lashing of a lifetime and then Ozzy quit right there. When Tony had told the band that Jethro Tull had asked him to join the band, Geezer supported him and told him to go for it and see what happens. Not long afterwards, Tony came back and told the band how they were going to run things. They were going to show up at a certain time each morning and put their noses to the grindstone and really work. Tony had seen, first hand, how disciplined Jethro Tull was and he felt that Black Sabbath needed to be the same way, while secretly Geezer was thrilled to have Tony back.

-September 16, 1978 is a very important day in Geezer's life. It was the day he first saw his future wife Gloria. He was initially taking a bus with Ozzy, Bill and Bill's brother Jim from gig to gig. But, because of Ozzy and Bill's drinking being out of control, he had to break up fights between them frequently. Geezer took an air pistol and threatened them with it. They stopped fighting immediately. Because of Bill's ridiculous lack of hygiene, Geezer started taking a plane from gig to gig. He went into detail about how Bill would vomit and leave it there to foul up the air on the bus. Or how he'd hardly shower. Or how he would have bowel movements in the bus bathroom when you were not supposed to. He states that when he landed at the airport in St. Louis on the date mentioned above, he seen a beautiful woman waiting for a friend. She got in a Porsche and Geezer told his limo driver to follow her. Once at a stoplight, he rolled his window down and asked her out for lunch. She immediately said Yes. They went out more and more often because they got along so well.

-When making some of their albums in the 1970s, Geezer talks about the adventures and misadventures that took place. He says that it was Ozzy who pushed the panic button in the Bel Air mansion where they were recording one of their albums. Not realizing what the button did, they quickly found out that panic button alerted the Bel Air police. Quickly rushing to hide any drugs in case they came in, it was all for naught-Geezer told the maid to stall the police and they didn't even come in. They just responded to inquire about what happened and the maid told them someone hit the button by mistake. In Tony's book, Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath, he says it was Bill who pushed the button and that the police DID come in to find a group of wide eyed men sitting there. After explaining the error, they walked out and suddenly someone was on the phone to order more drugs. It was after the Never Say Die! tour that Geezer strongly contemplated quitting. He was just not in it as much as he used to be.

-Geezer describes Tony as being the leader and, as such, was at a habit of doing long guitar solos. He talks about some of the bands travelling with Sabbath, including Black Oak Arkansas, Yes, Van Halen. He said that the guys in Van Halen were nice guys, but Tony was getting irritated that resident guitarist Eddie Van Halen would do ridiculously long solos and Tony would tell him to quit. Geezer honestly started wondering if they were becoming old fashioned with this new band sweeping the music charts. He also notes that he came very close to punching Ozzy. He said that Ozzy always did have a cruel streak to animals and one night, he was flicking off the eyes of a lobster.

-Geezer sets the record straight about the story involving him pulling a knife on Malcolm Young, since AC/DC was travelling with Black Sabbath. He didn't pull a knife on Malcolm; he had a flick knife that also had a comb on it and he was showing people this item and someone said he pulled a knife on Malcolm. Then there's the famous story of Ozzy going missing before a concert. In Tony's book, they were somewhere in Tennessee to do a concert and Ozzy went missing, only to turn up several hours later. The band thought he had been kidnapped and had issued missing person alerts on the news. It turns out that Ozzy had a cold and, instead of taking a spoonful of Night Nurse cold medicine, which is what you're supposed to do, he drank the whole bottle. Instead of going to his room, he went into the first room he found and passed out. In Geezer's book, the story is the same. The band was touring with Van Halen and their gig was in Nashville. Van Halen played, Black Sabbath didn't and, as a result, the venue was smashed to bits.

-When he and Gloria had their first child, Geezer was overjoyed. He named the child Terence Damien (after his first name and one of his cousin's first names). He called his son Biff as a nickname due to the fact that when he was born, he appeared to have no neck and looked like a boxer. It's also because of Gloria that he got clean and sober; he quit drinking and using drugs because she hardly even drank. Ozzy also quit the band, and as a result, left Sabbath wondering what was their next step. Tony, who had been talking to former Rainbow front man Ronnie James Dio, suggested him as their next vocalist. Contrary to popular belief, Geezer actually didn't care if Ronnie wrote lyrics because it freed him up to focus on his bass playing. At first, it was all roses with Ronnie in the band. It was like a breath of fresh air because instead of singing with the riff, as Ozzy would do, Ronnie would sing across it. He would also make suggestions about where to put guitar lines and bass lines since Ronnie knew how to play guitar and bass.

Geezer and son "Biff"

-After a while, tension started building in the band. Ronnie would not be the kind of person to simply address concerns with that person at a a good time; he would simply state, right then and there, what the problems were. He came to Geezer about all of his complaints. Eventually, his wife Gloria grabbed Ronnie and pinned him to the wall, shouting "You're upsetting my husband!" because Geezer's depression was setting back in. Geezer confirms the story about Ronnie coming in after hours to fiddle with the tunings on the master tapes. Geezer confirms with Lee De Carlo, who was working on the album, that Ronnie was in deed coming in after hours and tuning down the bass and guitar because he thought they were too loud. And, eventually, Ronnie quit Sabbath to form his own band Dio. Geezer is not too upset about this; he is happy that Dio went on to become a successful heavy metal band, with Holy Diver being their biggest selling album. But with Ronnie out of the band, they were back at square 1 with no singer.

-After Ronnie left, in came Ian Gillan, formerly of Deep Purple. At the time, the band was renting a mansion owned by Virgin exec Richard Branson. Ian would sleep in a tent outside and cook on a little campfire, claiming the cool air was better for his voice. Geezer describes the songs on what would become Born Again at so-so. Around this time, he and Gloria welcomed their second child James, named after Geezer's father. He named his son James because it was also around this time that his father passed away. When Geezer quit the band, he formed his own band called g/z/r and recorded one album called Plastic Planet. Later on, he would change the band name to GZR and record albums like Ohmwork and Black Science.

Lineup of GZR around the time of Plastic Planet

-As the 1980s gave rise to the 1990s, things in the music world changed. And with Sabbath, came more and more tension. This caused Geezer's depression to go into overdrive to the point where he was drinking again and causing issues with his wife. As the 1990s gave rise to the 2000s, the line up of Black Sabbath would change frequently. It was eventually in the mid to late 2000s when Geezer finally had a mental breakdown from all of the stress and had to go to the doctors to get prescribed antidepressants. He said they are a life changer and have been on antidepressants ever since. He does say that the only downside to antidepressants is that they do make you gain weight. After the band recorded 13, their most recent album with Rick Rubin they retired from touring. He does make a small mention of his recent arrest for a drunk and disorderly in a Death Valley, California bar. He doesn't go into too much detail about. You can find those details elsewhere on the internet. Now, Geezer lives in LA with his wife Gloria and two sons James and Biff. He and Gloria dote on their grandkids. He even laughed as he said one of his granddaughters is now playing music and went to a music class with her guitar and wearing a Black Sabbath shirt and how she got the class to play "Iron Man". He smiles with a kind of pride as he describes how his granddaughter is almost proud of the fact her grandfather is one of the people who played "Iron Man" on a regular basis

The Flight Attendant's 12 Rules of Etiquette

We all know that not everyone has the most etiquette on an airplane. They leave messes for the flight staff to attend to. Here, according to the New York Times, are the 12 rules of etiquette for summer travel. And this article was composed by a flight attendant. She seems to have some snappy retorts for those who break the rules.

She's worked as a flight attendant for 21 years and she's seen / heard it all. She's seen small spats increase over to violence. With tensions rising because of the pandemic and more, violence against flight crew and passengers have been increasing quickly

1. While everyone has a right to recline, there's a polite way to do it

-If you want to recline, simply ask the person behind you if it's okay. If you don't, that's bad. The wrong way to go about it is to just go ahead and slam back as if you're in an easy chair at home. Those seats have flip down tables and the person behind you may have been working on something related to work because this might be a work trip for them. The slamming back of a recliner has broken laptops, spilled drinks, caused fistfights, resulting in flights being diverted. Not only that, if the person behind you has to use the bathroom, they can't get up because you're essentially in their lap. Prior to reclining, peek behind you and see what it going on and ask politely if the person minds if you recline.

2. Clean up after your kids

-The flight attendants are not maids. The planes do not come equipped with mops, vacuums or other cleaning supplies. In fact, their "cleaning supplies" go as far as hand soap, wet wipes and air freshener. You are not required to clean up, but it makes their jobs easier and faster when you do. It's also considerate. The other side of the clean up coin is that messes present a safety hazard; and they can delay the next flight of people. Think ahead: if you're bringing children, can they handle a large bag of snacks without making messes? Do they make a lot of messes with large bags of snacks at home? If the answer is no to either of those questions, bring a smaller, more easily controllable container of snacks for them. Once they're gone, they're gone. They don't get any more

3. The overhead bins are not your own personal Tetris game

-The overhead bins are to be shared by people in your row and immediate vicinity. In economy class, aka regular flying class, it's first come, first serve. With that said, still be considerate of others. Don't think that whole bin belongs to you. It's not acceptable to take out someone else's bag to make yours fit. Sliding them to the side is fine. Larger bags belong in overhead bins while smaller bags are told be stored under the seats. They go over this during the safety and rules of flying

4. No one wants to hear your conversation

-If you're on the phone, please be considerate of those around you. Use wireless earbuds or keep the conversation PG-13. No one wants to hear about the drama of someone having a family member arrested for something or hear an XXX-rated conversation. Plus, being on the airplane is no time for goodbyes. It's time to find your seat, stow your bags in either the overhead bin or under the seat in front you ASAP so people behind you can do the same thing. Also, no one wants to hear your music, movies, TikTok or video games. Bring headphones or earbuds, especially kids. It don't matter if the flight attendants can see what you're watching. They don't care; they just don't want to hear it.

(A personal example of mine is from a couple of years ago, me and my family were going to Mexico and the woman in the seat across the aisle from me was watching Fifty Shades of Grey on her Kindle. Thank God she had earbuds; I would have laughed myself sick hearing the moans of passion coming from that Kindle, lol. I told my sister and we were snickering so hard we were shaking)

5. The middle seat gets both armrests

-This is not arm wrestling; the middle seat gets both armests. That's the prize for being squished like sardines in between two people

6. Headphones are a perfect conversation ender

-Do you have an overly chatty seatmate who is just dying to tell you things you could care less about? Put those headphones on and signal conversation over. Headphones are the perfect way to signal to that diarrhea of the mouth seatmate you don't want to talk. And if you want to read, they should also take a hint. If they put their hand on your book to force you to listen, politely tell them that you are not interested in talking. If they still don't get the hint, be a little more forceful in letting them know you don't wish to communicate with them. Not everyone wants to talk with their seatmate, unless it's a sibling, friend or family member

7. Keep your socks on

-Foot smell is inescapable. An airplane is, more or less, a giant metal tube. If a smell escapes, the whole cabin will smell that smell.  You can take off your shoes, but keep your socks on. Also, keep your feet to yourself. It's not acceptable to put your feet on the armrest of the person in front of you; you may as well put your feet in their face because that's what it's like. Also, put your shoes on when using the bathroom

8. The call button is not a toy

-The call button is to be used only if you need a coffee refill, a medical issue or a disruptive passenger. It's not to be played with. Prior to pressing it, look around. Make sure the flight attendants are not already in the aisle passing out food and drinks. Only hit the button several times if it's an urgently dire emergency

9. Don't discipline other people's children

-That's the responsibility of that child's parents to discipline them. Nothing makes a flight more annoying than when a child behind you treats the seat as a personal punching bag. If a child is being disruptive, seek out the child's parents and ask that they do something about their child being disruptive. You don't have to yell and argue; calmly and nicely ask them to please have their child stop doing that. Tell them that it is beginning to annoy you. Ask them if they can make it stop. That way, you come off as nice and respectful and it does not come off as an accusatory tone

10. Seating issues are to be done before getting on the plane

-Airlines, by law, are not required to seat families together. You can ask to be seated together when checking in at your airline's front desk. The gate agents have access to the seating chart and family reservations. Ask them first if it's possible to change seats. Some airlines have a rule that families with kids under 13 must sit together. Contact the gate agent before boarding, or better yet, contact the airline prior to coming to the airport to save you frustration

11. You don't have to switch seats if someone asks you

-This will make a lot of people angry only because you have a choice seat and they got a crappy seat. It's completely fine to say No when someone asks you to switch seats with them. If you paid extra for your seat, then by all means, you should get to keep that seat. But if it is a good chance, such as getting a window seat or aisle seat, then go ahead and switch, as long as it's okay to move about the cabin

12. Flush. Please

-We all go to the bathroom on the airplane. We all have had to have a BM on the plane. Sometimes it's unavoidable. Please flush after you are done. This is complete common sense. No one else wants to flush what you've left behind. Not only that, but like foot smell, BM smell can spread throughout the cabin and no one wants to smell that. Look for the button and use it

A few bits of my own advice...

Don't clip your nails on the plane

-For the love of God, please do not do this. Not only is it inconsiderate, it's plain unsanitary. If your nails need to be clipped, do it BEFORE getting on the plane. No one wants to hear the rhythmic click click of a nail clipper. Because that means that that person's nails could risk getting in someone's hair, in someone's food or drink. And if you're clipping your toenails, there's something wrong with you. That's even more unsanitary because of foot conditions like athlete's foot, foot fungus and more. No one wants nails infected with foot fungus or other foot conditions getting on them; they're contagious. Not only that, it'll also be a miracle you got through security with a nail clipper considering they usually have a sharp nail file attached and could be considered a weapon.

Don't push your way through the airplane

-Everyone wants to sit down just like you. Don't push your way through the airplane because that could cause someone to fall and get seriously injured. Be patient because if there are people on the plane with babies or small children, they have to get them situated first.

-A great example of this. Me and my family had gone to the Dominican Republic a couple of years ago on vacation. We didn't know there was a wedding party on board where both the bride and groom had also brought their families. One person in the wedding party was a very overweight child complaining about having to walk too slow and he was pushing his way through the plane so he could sit down as soon as possible. As a result, he fell into my mom, who fell in to me and I fell into my sister, who fell into her airplane seat and got a nasty bruise shaped like the armrest on her lower back. My mother sought out his parents and told them what he was doing, but they didn't seem to do anything. They were just as preoccupied with sitting down as everyone else was

Don't knock someone over as soon as the bathroom door opens

-The flight staff only allow one person at a time to stand outside the bathroom. As soon as that person comes out, do not knock them over and practically push them out of your way. This can cause tempers to flare, words to be uttered, and before you know it, a fist fight. Be patient. Also to tie in with this, do not start banging on the door, demanding that person hurry up. Even though the planes do serve alcohol, do not consume tons of it; you'll have plenty of opportunity to get sloshed when you get to your destination. Until then, do not drink heavily on the airplane and then start banging on the door, telling the occupant to hurry up. It's 100% YOUR FAULT you have to relieve yourself; you shouldn't have drank all that booze. Not only that, but if a parent is in the bathroom with their young child, a child young enough to still be in diapers, that parent has to attend to those needs so that child doesn't get a urinary tract infection. That will take time to change and clean the child to get them into a clean diaper. Also, if a woman is experiencing Mother Nature, if you know what I mean, it takes time to attend to those needs as well. Be patient. Just wait your turn!

Don't overdrink on the airplane

-You'll have plenty of opportunity to get hammered when you arrive at your destination. Not only is it mind bogglingly expensive to drink alcohol on the airplane, but if you consume too much, you're either going to throw up or have to keep using the bathroom. And if you're in the middle, you don't want to bother your aisle seatmate, who might be asleep or doing something else, to keep getting up to use the bathroom. And they will be absolutely repulsed if you end up throwing up into one of those air sick bags right next to them, or worse, throwing up on yourself. So save yourself some issue and don't overdrink on the airplane. You'll be saving yourself not only $$$, but also the trouble of constant bathroom visits and/or throwing up

If you're with someone you love, don't start making out in the seats

-It's completely fine to be in love and sitting next to the one you love. It's a completely different game when you start making out so hard that it's only a matter of time before clothes start shedding. Save the passion for the bedroom at your hotel

-My parents witnessed this on the way home from Tahiti one year. They were on the airplane with a bunch of French residents, since a lot of French residents catch a connecting flight to De Gaulle Airport in France through CVG, the major airport serving the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area. My mom and stepdad were coming home from Tahiti and this French couple in front of them started making out and then they really got into it. According to my mom, they were one step from shedding clothes and going down on each other right there. A flight attendant had to tell them to knock it off because there was a little French girl sitting next to my mother. She was in the middle of a custody battle with her parents; her mother lived in Paris and her dad lived in Tahiti and she had just gotten done having time with her dad, so she was going back to Paris.

40 Useful Tips for Travelling by Plane

Anyone who has travelled via plane knows what works and what does not. They know what to bring and what not to bring. Here are 40 useful tips for travelling by plane.

1. Arrive at the airport ahead of time

-If you're flying internationally, it's best to be at the airport at least three hours in advance. This will give you time to get checked in at the front desk of the airline you're flying through, get through security with TSA and find your gate. This also applies to domestic (not international) flights as well. It's always a good idea to get to the airport at least three hours ahead of time because the lines will be long and you want to have enough time to get through security, get checked in at the front desk of the airline you're flying through and find your gate, especially if the airport is a big one serving multiple areas.

2. Don't lose sight of your luggage

-Keep your luggage with you at all times. Most if not all the time, the big luggage you bring, the checked in bags, will already be on the airplane because when you check in at the airline front desk that you're flying through, they'll weigh your bag to see if it is considered overweight bag fees. And if it's clear, they print out a tag, put it on your suitcase and put it on the conveyor belt behind them to get loaded on to the plane. Don't lose your luggage or take care of other people's luggage. They can accuse you of theft, drug trafficking or some other illicit crime

3. Check-in

-The most important step. This is the first step on your vacation. You must check in at the front desk of the airline you're flying through. When you arrive at the airport, you'll see a long counter broken down into different areas. These "areas" are check in desks for different airlines. Make sure to check in with the correct one. This is where you can confirm whether you want an aisle or window seat, get your luggage tagged and loaded on to the airplane, confirm whether you are travelling solo or part of a group, get luggage weighed to see if overweight bag fees are in your future and you can check in up to 48 hours prior to your flight. There are two ways to do it. 1.) Traditional. Arrive at the airport at least 3 hours (the site this link is from says 2, but it's better to do it 3 hours) before your flight. It's always better to have more than enough time than not enough. Go to the check in desk to confirm information, register your luggage, and once everything is confirmed and accurate, will issue your boarding pass. 2.) Online. Check in online through the airline's website. This will save you time and keep you from going through the long lines and allow you to choose seats yourself.

4. Go to security control and exercise caution

-This is your next step. With your boarding pass, you have to go to security control, where your luggage is checked for prohibited items. After getting checked, proceed to the departure lounge for your flight. When you're in line for this, take off your shoes and take off any belts, chains, watches or any other metal item. Put them in a bin provided. Push the bin with your items through the scanner when it comes time for you to go through the metal detector. Once you're in and get the all clear, get your belongings from the bin. Wear flip flops and put those in the bin to save TSA some extra time on having to search your shoes and also save you time by just slipping into them. Not recommended if you have to run through the airport, though

5. Enter the boarding area and complete all the necessary forms

-If you have to wait for someone, do it outside the boarding area because once you enter this area, you can't go back outside. Go to the migration area as soon as possible in case your trip is international. It is here that you carry out the legal requirements of your trip, such as passport check, boarding pass, digital photo, fingerprints, the reason for travel and other reasons

6. Migration is only for international flights, not domestic flights

-If you are travelling outside the country, then you must go through migration. If you are flying domestically, you don't have to go to migration. Just sit back, relax and wait for your flight to announce the beginning of boarding

7. Find your boarding gate

-This is where you'll board the plane. Normally, boarding passes indicate your boarding gate. If not, locate the screens listing departing / arriving flights and locate it that way. And, if need be, ask someone who works at the airport. After locating it, stay close to it otherwise you risk missing your flight. Make sure to find it as soon as possible because the boarding gates are usually at the end of the airport and if it's a large airport, could take some time to get there

8. Look through the shops in the departure lounge

-Only if you have time, you can look through the shops in the departure lounge and buy items, such as food, clothing, etc., without paying taxes

9. Not everything tax free is cheaper

-Despite being tax free, some items are not cheaper. Don't buy too much; you're only allowed one carry on and as much as two bags

10. VIP lounges can be considered

-Flights can be delayed. It's the natural thing to happen sometimes. It's good to be prepared if your flight is delayed 12+ hours. There are private boarding rooms that have a single bath, wifi, comfortable seats, refreshments and also fewer passengers in the VIP lounge so you can emerge recharged

11. When leaving your seat, verify you have everything

-Passengers often forget things in the departure lounge. When it's time to board, verify you have everything and have not forgotten anything

12. Choosing your seat

-The "best seat" depends on your needs. If you don't want to be surrounded by strangers, choose the back of the plane (or like my stepdad jokingly says "Whoever heard of an airplane backing into a mountain?" My stepdad is goofy). This area is usually quieter when the flights aren't full. You might even manage to get 2-3 seats by yourself. If you want space to stretch your legs, the seats next to the emergency exit are for you. These rows are separated a little more than the others. The window seat is ideal for sleeping and relaxing and also perfect for those flying for their first time. If you suffer from vertigo and know you need to get up and stretch your legs, might we recommend choosing the aisle seat. Also, if you have to use the bathroom pretty frequently, the aisle seat is also recommended

13. Locate your seat

-The time has come to board the plane. Finding your seat is not hard; the seat numbers are listed above your head on the bottom of the overhead compartments. Locate your seat and sit down unless there is someone else in your row; then get up and let them in to sit down.

14. Relate to the environment

-Once you find your seat, talk to your seatmate. They might have interesting stories. If they speak a different language, use the apps Google Talk or Hello Talk.

15. Make sure everything is correctly functioning

-Make sure the seat belts work, that your carry on is under the seat in front of you and if something doesn't work, let one of the staff know

16. Get comfortable for take-off

-While it won't be a long wait for take off, get comfortable. Look around. Observe the interesting people getting on and what they're wearing. Listen to their excited conversations about where they're from and where they're going and what they plan on doing

17. Be observant when filling out the immigration form

-The staff on international flights will give an immigration form for passengers to fill out during the flight. Enter all the required information such as passport number, reason for trip, return date and any item that requires prior declaration. Be honest when filling it out otherwise you could run into trouble entering your destination country.

How does it feel to be travelling by plane for the first time?

-It can be scary or nerve wracking if you've never flown by plane before. You have nothing to worry about. That is why extensive examinations of airplanes are done prior to flight. The first thing that will occur is that the plane will take to the runway. The captain turns on the engines and you begin moving. Suddenly, a force will push you back as the engines reach full power and you start to rise. You'll start to feel as though you're floating. Of course, your ears will pop because your ears are trying to adjust to a change in altitude. Once the aircraft stabilizes, a calm will wash over you as you enjoy your flight

18. Despite being scared, enjoy the takeoff

-It's a highly unique sensation. The force that pushes you back is like some rollercoasters that start off by shooting you off at high speeds. It's exciting

19. Chewing gum

-This often helps. And if you don't have gum, just move your jaws around as if chewing gum. The motion of your jaws helps decrease the intensity of your ears popping. The only reason your ears pop is because they are trying to adjust to a change in altitude. After a few minutes, and the plane stabilizes, your ears will stop popping. They'll start popping again when you are in the landing process of landing at the airport of your destination

20. Don't read during takeoff / landing

-Reading, plus a feeling of emptiness, the change in pressure can work against you. It will possibly cause you to feel dizzy or a strong urge to vomit. Don't do it

21. When landing, be observant and enjoy it

-It's important to remain seated until the plane comes to a complete stop, as the captain usually suggests. Look out the window to see the area of your destination, the airport, what other airplanes are there from foreign / domestic airlines. When you are given the all clear, unbuckle your seat, fold up your tray and enjoy the arrival

22. Carry receipts / invoices of any purchases

-Security checks will always ask for some sort of proof of purchase upon entering your destination country and board the plane. If you bought nothing on the plane, you're good

23. Eat prior to boarding the plane

-Sometimes airlines offer free snacks and food to its passengers, depending on the length of the flight or the airline. Lately, a lot of airlines have started charging for some food to make up for lost revenue during COVID-19. You want to make sure your stomach is somewhat filled before boarding. Eat somewhere in the airport. Airports ALWAYS have restaurants and stores open early to make sure you are nourished before boarding

24. Avoid coffee or alcohol prior to boarding

-Don't drink coffee or alcoholic beverages prior to flight because they will cause some discomfort. Try to stay hydrated prior to flight and also use the bathroom before boarding. While the airplanes do have multiple bathrooms, passengers hardly listen to the flight staff who say that only one person at a time is allowed outside of the bathroom

25. Take advantage of your carry on

-Put as much as you need in there. This will save on weight for your checked in luggage. And if it does not fit in the container that the airports / airlines say is a max size for a carry on, please do not force it in to the shape required; airlines / airports are not stupid. They will charge you for oversize bags

26. Always have your passport handy

-If you've ever seen any of those To Catch a Smuggler shows, you'll see that airport security is always roving around, keeping an eye out for suspicious activity. They will be standing at the end of the boarding gate to screen incoming passengers for any suspicious activity. If you have your passport in a place that's easily accessible, and they ask for it, you can quickly hand it to them if they ask

27. Wrap luggage in plastic sheeting

-This might seem strange, but it's not altogether unusual. People have witnessed the horror of how airport employees treat other people's luggage. "Not my luggage, not my problem" seems to be the mantra. Wrapping your luggage in plastic protects them from damage and also protects them from being opened and illicit items being put in or being stolen

28. Protect your valuables

-Wrap your fragile items, such as breakable souvenirs, bottles of perfume / cologne in clothes to protect them from the horrible luggage treatment at the airport

29. Plan your entertainment

-You must keep yourself entertained on flights. Some flights offer in-flight TV or movies, music, etc on long flights. Take something to occupy your time, such as a book or two, magazines, a table preloaded with TV shows or movies, anything to pass the time

30. Try and sleep

-Invest in one of those foam bead neck pillows. They are one of the most commonly seen items on people's luggage at the airport. Use one of these around your neck and sleep on the flight.

31. What to do if your seatmate wants to talk constantly?

-Some of us are unlucky enough to get a seatmate who wants to talk. Constantly. Show them you are busy by wearing earphones or reading a book. If they put their hands on your book to put it down and make you listen to whatever they are rambling on about, speak up. Tell them you don't care what they have to say and you'd like to read or listen to music or watch something on a laptop / phone / tablet.

32. Invest in earplugs

-These little handy devices will cut down on noise in a crowded plane. Go for the highest decibel rating you can get. The higher the rating, the more protection you'll have and also the more noise blocked. These can help you sleep on a noisy airplane

33. Bring a travel pillow

-Take a travel pillow with you, especially on long flights so you can catch some sleep. This is similar to the advice about trying to sleep on the airplane. Invest in a foam bead neck pillow. They button and unbutton so all you have to do is button it around your neck and lean back against the seat to sleep

34. Bring a sleeping mask

-Like the earplugs and travel pillow, sleeping masks will block out light and let you sleep on the plane

35. Stand up occasionally to stretch your legs

-After a while, the captain will say that it is safe to move about the cabin. Some people get up and walk around. Some people just stand to wake up their numb muscles. Some even do yoga or exercises in the aisles. This allows your body to start circulating blood again throughout your body

36. Before leaving the plane, check that you have everything

-It's common for a passenger to leave something on the airplane when exiting the plane. Make sure you have everything you brought with you before you leave

37. Bring items to sanitize and kill bacteria

-Tons of people have sat in those seats you're sitting in now. Wipe them down with sanitizing wipes to avoid picking up bacteria

38. Never go in flip flops

-Wear comfortable shoes that cover the whole foot. You not only want to be comfortable, but when the plane gets up in the air, it's going to be cold. Your feet will freeze in flip flops and you'll be uncomfortable

39. Bring a long sleeve shirt or jacket

-It's suggested that wearing a long sleeved shirt or jacket before, during and after the flight will help you warm

40. Long trip? Avoid jeans

-If you're going on a long trip, avoid jeans. They have metal buttons and rivets on them which can cut into skin and thus, make you uncomfortable. Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing. But not clothing that makes you look like you just rolled out of bed or even your pajamas. But, if wearing jeans on long flights doesn't bother you, then do what you feel is best. One advantage of jeans is they are thick and will keep you warm up in the chill air

More successful tips on flying with kids

Flying with kids can be stressful. Making sure you have everything you need to ensure a good vacation can be overwhelming. But, after a few times of doing travel with kids, you pretty much become a professional. Here are some tips on how to travel with kids like a pro.

Flying with Kids Under Two

-This is often THE most stressful type of travelling. Unless they can walk by themselves, odds are high they will need a stroller. And unless they are toilet trained, odds are also high that diapers will be among the items you are most worried about having. But, aside from those little minor instances, kids under two tend to be really excited about going somewhere they've never been. Nothing is more adorable than seeing that wide-eyed excitement of a child travelling to a new place

-Some airlines offer no cost to kids under two who fly because those kids can share a seat with Mom or Dad. While that certainly saves money, it also might happen that your child will need a seat of their own by the age of 2, in case they are big enough for their own seat. Depending on the length of the flight, you might find out quickly that buying a seat for your child will help your comfort and sanity

-If your child uses a car seat at home, bring that car seat with you. Make sure to check it in with the check-in desk of the airline you're flying through. Just make sure to strap your child in when everyone else is getting settled in. If they do well in a car seat, then they'll do just fine on the airplane. Just ignore the comments and dirty looks from the other passengers if you're supposedly holding up the line to address the needs of your little one(s) because people will say something or give you a look, like you're holding them up from sitting down (believe me, I've seen it on airplanes; people get ridiculous when boarding a plane because people are addressing their little ones needs)

-Introduce your kids to the flight crew, such as pilots, co-pilots, flight attendants. This makes them feel like they're part of the journey. Some kids even get wings as junior fliers

-If you're travelling with a baby, bring a baby carrier with you. Make a special checklist for baby when you are packing for vacation. This list should include everything that cute little baby will need for his/her first trip, such as toys, clothing, diapers, sunglasses, hats, sunblock, food, etc. You may not be able to wear the baby carrier during takeoff/landing, you can wear it in flight to keep the baby calm

-When booking your flight, let someone know you'll be travelling with an infant. There are many things to consider when travelling with babies and infants. Two of these things include where babies can sit on the plane or if the baby is sitting on your lap. Just make sure to express your wishes to travel with a baby to the airline check-in desk and boarding to ensure that little baby will have the time of their life

Booking Your Flight

-This is the part of the process where you get to choose what airline you're flying through and when you'll be flying out and if there are any layovers. Some airlines, like Southwest, have better family benefits than others. Choosing the right airline will guarantee maximum enjoyment for you and your family. Consider timing as well. Consider what time would be good to fly out. Early morning flights or evening flights are often the best because the child can sleep through the process of take off or landing. And even if they do wake up on the flight when everyone else is asleep, just let them know to be quiet to avoid waking others. These early morning or evening flights also help avoid departure delays. And take into consideration the possibility of layovers. While those might be cheaper than direct route flights, they can also add chaos into the mix and cut into travel time. Because, like you, your kids are excited about vacation because it's new and exotic to them and they want to get to the destination just as fast as you do

-Before you book your flight, call the airline ahead of time to inquire about being booked together as a family. Airlines are not legally required to put everyone together as a family. And if they can, that is good. If they are unable to put everyone together as a family, they will ensure that the family is not totally separated, just in seats near each other.

-If you're flying internationally, everyone needs a passport, including babies. Make sure that your passport is valid beyond the travel dates just to make sure you don't run into issues with foreign airport security. If you're travelling with someone who is not your son or daughter, such as a niece, nephew, grandchild, get a child travel consent form completed and signed by that family member who the child belongs to and take with you on the trip at all times so that if airport security asks you who that is, you can hand them the form and they'll know you're travelling with someone who is not your child and that you have permission to do so.

-Consider a TSA pre-check. This often eases the stress of long lines with one or more parents travelling in large groups. It helps ease the security process. If international travel is what you're doing, Global Entry is the ticket for you. It's good for five years and includes a TSA precheck.

At the Airport

-Now that you're at the airport, those kids are going to be just as excited as you. Everything around them is new and foreign to them and they want to explore everything. Nothing is cuter than that. Do a practice run of checking in to waiting at the gate, so your kids have an idea of what to expect. If your kids are the type to have a lot of energy, try to find activities to wear them down before the airplane starts boarding. So they'll be tired when they get on.

-Some airports have small entertainment areas, such as mini museums, kids activity centers, movie theaters and more. Do a few laps around the airport to wear down your kids energy.

Boarding the Plane

-The best part of the trip. Kids look forward to this as much as their parents do. Boarding early might work for some people, but resist the temptation to do so. More time on the plane means kids get antsy and want to start moving around, which might hamper other passengers from boarding. Some airlines allow those with small children to board first, since it takes some time.

-If you're bringing a stroller, bring a lightweight one that folds like an umbrella. These might look like the cheapest grade stroller, but airlines love these because there's not much weight to it and they're safe for flying and also light on weight for you. Check the stroller at the gate before boarding for no additional fees. Let the gate agent know you're bringing a stroller and they'll tag it for you. You can simply pick it up with your luggage at baggage claim with all the other luggage

On the Plane

-If you have children who are not yet fully toilet-trained, bring overnight diapers in your carry-on. Bring a pack of sanitizing wipes as well and wipe down every surface your child might touch, including the flip down tray. Since the temperatures in the plane can either be Arctic or stifling, dress for the temperatures. Wear comfortable clothes and dress in layers. If you're bringing a baby, bring a blanket to cover the baby and will also help block out light during nap time. Wear comfortable shoes on the plane so your feet aren't hurting the whole time.

-Bring a mask for everyone and insist they wear it on the plane except when eating or drinking. Because not everyone has the same level of consideration for others by openly coughing / sneezing without covering their mouths, there's a high chance you can catch a cold on the airplane, and it's not due to the cold air. An airplane is like a giant metal tube and those germs will float in the air, landing on anyone, potentially rendering them ill later on. To prevent you or your family from catching a virus from some inconsiderate doofus on the airplane who doesn't want to cover their mouth when sneezing or coughing, bring masks and insist everyone in your party wear one. This is post COVID-19 we're talking about. We'll never be rid of COVID-19; it's here forever. Make sure you protect you and your family by wearing a mask. So that you all won't get sick. And if you or your family do get sick with a cold later on, take a lot of Airborne or other immune-support gummies daily in addition to cold / flu medicine. Take at least 5-6 of those gummies or immune support supplements daily; it will help boost your immune system and, thus, get you better faster. And if you have a sore throat and believe in sweating out a cold, drink hot tea with honey in it. The honey will soothe your throat and the hot tea will soothe it as well.

-Make the flight extra special by allowing exceptions to the rules you normally follow at home. Find a rule you have at home and break it on vacation, provided the kids are behaving themselves. If they don't get snacks too often on the plane, break out some snacks for the little ones. It'll not only reward them for being good, it'll also fill them up and give them another reminder of a fun vacation to be. Break out the iPad or tablet loaded with kid-friendly material and make sure you have travel headphones.

-Bring snacks for the little ones and chew gum to avoid ear popping during takeoff / landing. With babies, there's nothing you can do about the ear popping. And they know it too. That's why babies cry; their ears are popping and they can't do anything about it. The best thing you can do is comfort the little ones until the pressure equalizes inside the airplane. After that, the cute little babies will be good to go. Make each item you have a surprise. Alternate between snacks and toys for the kids throughout the flight. Water coloring books and sticker books always work well because they're not messy.

Exiting the Plane

-This is what I jokingly call "the stampede". Everyone wants to get off the plane ASAP to start their vacation. But, you can't just go running off the plane; everyone wants to do that. Make sure to look everywhere so that you don't forget anything. If you're not in a particular rush, ask if it's okay to tour the cockpit, where the pilots sit and ask for a family photo. Just wait for everyone else to exit the plane and ask for permission from one of the flight attendants or pilots.

How to Successfully Manager a Plane Ride with Kids

Kids get antsy to start moving after a while. On a long plane, they get even more antsy and want to move around. We all know travelling with kids can be stressful. Depending on the age of the child, it can be overwhelming. Here's how to successfully manage a flight with kids.

Self-Care Prior to the Trip

-Take care of yourself before, during and after the trip

-Call some friends before flying

-Write down your anxieties and envision what a great trip it will be

-Exercise before the flight or a day before

-Carry an essential oil with you. Hand lotion might want to be avoided since it contains glycerin and glycerin tests positive for explosives at the airport. Take out the essential oil for a breath of calm before the storm

-If you're religious, say a prayer. If not, stay grounded and tell yourself everything will be okay

The actual trip

Timing is key

-Schedule the flight for the evening hours. So that kids will sleep better at night

Pack right

-If time is the issue, make packing your carry-on a priority over your suitcase. Finding things in transit is harder than when not in transit

Always go back to basics

-Guarantee that your kids have everything they need within easy reach- food, drinks, clothes, a favorite toy or plush animal

Comfort is good to consider

-Dress your kids in soft, comfy clothes in case they sleep on the airplane. Bring pillows and blankets to make them comfortable, no matter if it's a long or short flight

Consider entertainment

-Nowadays, there are specially-made Kindles for kids that can sometimes come preloaded with kid-friendly material. If there is no kid-friendly material on it, download some books or kid-friendly movies or TV shows to keep your little ones occupied. Just tell them when it's safe to start watching and make sure it's in Airplane Mode so it's safe. Since not all kids like in-ear buds, bring those oversized headphones for kids. And, you don't have to worry about the volume killing their hearing because most if not all kids headphones now come made with volume control on the actual headphones to prevent hearing loss

Avoid bringing car seats

-Nothing causes more headaches for parents than bringing car seats. You have to do all sorts of special arrangements at the check-in desk for the airline you're flying through. If you can, rent a car seat or arrange for family or friends to have one for you. So that you don't worry about bringing one and having the worry of it getting lost or stolen at the airport

Always ask for help

-There's nothing wrong with asking for help. The flight attendants are more than willing to assist passengers with anything they can

Self-Love

-Give yourself some love for making sure everything went smoothly. Remember that you are not alone here. Your spouse will also be there for you. And if you have older kids with you, they can help too

August Birthdays

Since it's now August, time to say Happy Birthday

Valtteri Bottas

-Birth name: Valtteri Viktor Bottas

-DOB: 8/28/1989

-Where: Nastola, Finland

-He drove for the Mercedes team from 2017-2021 and the Williams racing team from 2013-2016

Bruce Dickinson

-Birth name: Paul Bruce Dickinson

-DOB: 8/7/1958

-Where: Nottinghamshire, Englnad

-He is known for his highly operatic singing style and high energy performance on stage

Joe Elliott

-Birth name: Joseph Thomas Elliott

-DOB: 8/1/1959

-Where: Sheffield, England

-As a child, he would make up names for imaginary rock bands and Deaf Leopard was one of them. Later on, the spelling was changed to Def Leppard and the name stuck

Rob Halford

-Birth name: Robert John Arthur Halford

-DOB: 8/25/1951

-Where: Sutton Coldfield, England

-He realized he was gay when he was ten years old

Glenn Hughes

-DOB: 8/21/1951

-Where: Cannock, United Kingdom

-He's known more for his operatic vocals than his unique style of playing bass

James Jagger

-DOB: 8/28/1985

-Where: New York City, New York

-In an interview with the New York Times, he said he was classmates with Robert Pattinson, with whom he shared a drama class

Antonio Banderas

-Birth name: Jose Antonio Dominguez Banderas

-DOB: 8/10/1960

-Where: Malaga, Spain

-He's provided the voice for Spanish sword fighting cat Puss in Boots ever since his first appearance in Shrek 2

Viola Davis

-DOB: 8/11/1965

-Where: St. Matthews, South Carolina

-She was the first black actress to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for the TV show How to Get Away with Murder

John Deacon

-Birth name: John Richard Deacon

-DOB: 8/19/1951

-Where: Leicester, United Kingdom

-After Freddie Mercury died, John Deacon quit Queen because of his close friendship to the singer

Sean Connery

-Birth name: Thomas Sean Connery

-DOB: 8/25/1930

-Where: Edinburgh, Scotland

-DOD: 10/31/2020

-Where: Nassau, Bahamas

-Prior to becoming an actor, he held a variety of odd jobs, such as coffin polisher, milkman, truck driver, artist's model for the Edinburgh College of Art

Shawn Michaels

-Birth name: Michael Shawn Hickenbottom

-DOB: 7/22/1965

-Where: Chandler, Arizona

-Took his wrestling name from rearranging his real name to Shawn Michaels

12 Tips to Packing for a Plane Ride

We all love travelling. We all love that excitement of knowing we're going away on vacation or holiday as Europeans would call it. But we all also know the headache of packing; knowing how much to pack, how heavy the max weight limit is for luggage and more. Here are 12 tips for packing for a plane ride.

1. Make a checklist

-It's always good to make a checklist of everything you'll need for that trip. It keeps you organized and you can double and triple check the list to make sure everything you need is there. It's good to do this list before you go. Starting early guarantees that you'll have time to get items if you haven't already. Think about where you are going and the type of weather that exists there and what you plan on doing there. That will help you figure out what type of clothing you'll need. Everyone does travel lists differently. If you are the type of person to list how many per item, do it like this. Categorize each item and list how many of that item you'll need.

-How many times do you plan to wear that clothing item? Are you going somewhere tropical with water or pools? If so, how many swimsuits are needed? Will you need gym shoes for walking around? Also keep in mind airports charge for overweight bag fees because they need to make sure all luggage is stored on the plane. Packing lists help those who tend to overpack and helps them pack lighter and smarter. You can double and triple check the list or check however many times you want as long you make sure you have all you need. You can even set your luggage somewhere and each time you add an item, check it off the list. So that you know you have that item

2. Not everything goes into your checked bag

-"Checked bag" is the luggage that goes onto the airplane. "Carry on" is the smaller bag you literally "carry on" the airplane with you. This can include a backpack, gym-sized duffel bag or small wheeled suitcase that easily fit underneath the seat in front of you. Not everything can fit into your checked in bag. Liquids can go in there as long as they are not over a certain amount and have a locking lid. Spray sunblock, which usually comes in highly pressurized cans, would not be wise to bring on an airplane. Those are usually not allowed. Smaller items can be kept in your carry on. Lately, airlines have been setting the rule that if a carry on doesn't fit inside a certain sized compartment, you must pay oversize bag fees. Your best bet for a carry on is a backpack.

-A gym duffel bag can also serve as a good carry on as long as it's not overfilled. If you're going somewhere tropical that has a pool, put a swimsuit, cover up, flip flops or other small items into your carry on while your other items can be stored in your checked in bag. You can even store a book or item in your carry on to keep you occupied on the plane in case boredom strikes. In the case of electronics, such as handheld game devices, tablets, phones, wait until the airplane crew says it's safe to use electronics on the plane. And when you get to your destination, if the first place you have in mind is the pool, you're completely allowed to go get your tanning oil or sunblock out of your luggage before it's taken to your room

3. Use the right sized suitcase

-Using the right sized suitcase for your trip ensures overpacking won't occur. We're all guilty of overpacking at least once on a trip. The fine art of packing for vacation is perfected over time and using the right sized suitcase ensures it won't happen again. If you're going on a small weekend trip, then you can probably get away with a small suitcase or even a carry on. If you're going for a weeklong trip, then a slightly larger suitcase would suffice in addition to a carry on. If you're going for longer than a week, then you may need two suitcases depending on where you're going and how long you're staying. Prior to going, weigh your suitcase. A lot of airlines say 25 pounds is the max weight limit you can get away with before you have to pay overweight bag fees. If your suitcase is over 25 pounds, see if there is anything you can put in your carry on to lighten the load.

4. Choose a color palette

-If you're going somewhere warm and tropical, dark colors may not be wise. You'll be hotter because the sun is attracted to dark colors. Bring clothes in colors that you can mix and match with. For shorts or pants, bring black, white, grey or any shade of brown or bring jean shorts in colors that go with anything Those colors go with everything. Think about where you're going. Is the climate warm or cold? This will also help you decide what to bring as well. Simply stick to coordinating colors and colors you can mix and match with other clothes to save space and weight. It also helps to think about if you're going somewhere with an a la carte restaurant, which means the men have to dress up a little and so do the ladies.

5. Go for travel friendly fabrics

-When you're getting ready to fly on a plane. you want to wear something that is going to travel easy and bring travel easy clothes too. You don't want clothes that you will have to iron or steam when you arrive at your destination. Not only that, but you also don't want the headache of bringing a steam iron with you only to find out your hotel has one on stock. Stretchy fabrics and wrinkle-resistant clothes are the best choice. Also think about odor-resistant and quick drying clothes so you can wear them multiple times

6. Lay out everything

-This is a must! This is like doing your checklist for vacation. Lay out everything you plan on bringing. This will save you trips to the closet and allow you to see everything. Mark each item off as you see it. When done, you will know if you have to do any last minute shopping for last minute items. Not only that, but you'll also be able to see if you're going to have anything immediately flagged as suspicious by TSA (they only seem strict because they are doing their jobs to ensure security). Also, use packing cubes. These are handy little devices. Just fold the clothing or roll them up into these packing cubes and they save space. Folding your clothing items into these packing cubes will ensure that everything is neat and tidy when you go. Coming back home, it doesn't matter about putting your clothing items into these cubes; TSA will go through your items anyway. May as well just toss your clothes in and make it easy for them

7. When to roll, when to fold

-Some people roll their clothes up, some people fold. There's a time to know when to do one or the other. Roll heavy items, such as jeans, and put those on the bottom. Roll lighter items, such as t-shirts, pajamas, casual pants and dresses, and put those on top. This will guarantee your suitcase will actually close. And if you're using a packing cube, fold the lighter items in there and if you can, fold the jeans in there too. If you cannot fold jeans in there, simply roll the jeans up and put them beneath the packing cubes

8. Place shoes on sides away from clothes

-This is because you don't want scuff marks on your nice clothes. With flip flops, stick one inside the other and put them on their side. So that they not only avoid scuffing your clothes with black marks, but you can also keep them together. You can also put shoes in some sort of bag to keep them from dirtying your clothes. And most if not all suitcases come with a separate zip up compartment. You can also put your shoes and other small items there. This will help you save space

9. Keep toiletries separate

-That lovely law by Murphy "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong". This almost always happens on at least one vacation (I know it does for me and my family, lol. In fact, the first time me and my sister went to Mexico with my parents, my stepdad forgot to put his tanning oil into his checked in bag and luckily, someone from the airport told him and kindly let him fix the issue. They jokingly laughed when he said he forgot.). Any spillable items, put into a clear plastic bag or a bag specially made for toiletry items into your checked in bag. If you're only taking a carry-on, make sure that the liquid items follow the TSA-approved rule of 3.4oz or less and put in to a one quart bag. Pack your toiletry bag last so it doesn't get squished under all your clothes and you can access it quickly with going through security if you're using only a carry-on. A clear transparent bag also makes it easier for security to see what you have. They will stop you if you have anything with glycerin in it, such as lotion. That's because glycerin will show up positive as an explosive.

10. Use the max amount of space for accessories and undergarments

-Roll items such as socks, underwear, workout gear, swimsuits or scarves and put them in the smaller areas, such as the interior zip up area of your suitcase. You can fit all the items you plan on bringing into your suitcase if you do it right. Fit all the other small items around your clothing. Think about compression cubes as well. They not only save space, but they also keep you organized. You can also use a smaller bag for your undergarments, socks, etc.

11. Bring extra bags

-It's always a good idea to bring extra bags, especially if you're going somewhere with a pool. You can use these bags to put swimsuits in, separate dirty clothes from clean or bringing home souvenirs. Reusable, waterproof bags are the best. And you can also use bags from the hotel you're staying at to store items in because almost every hotel has laundry services, which means they'll have bags on hand for small, medium and large clothing items.

12. Delicate items go on top

-If the point of your vacation involves going straight to a meeting with business professional attire or you're going somewhere cold, put the delicate items for this on top. Put those items in your suitcase last so they are on top. Anything fragile or delicate, like clothing with studs or any sort of embellishment, should be on top to avoid getting crushed or damaged because airport employees take less than perfect care of luggage by simply throwing it onto the airplane. Their mindset is, more or less "Not my luggage, my not problem". That's how so many souvenirs get broken when stored in your main luggage.

My additional tips

-I know a lot of these tips may seem the same as above, but I feel like adding my own experience with these tips might help as well.

Invest in a luggage lock and key

-These will help keep unwanted items out of your luggage. The only time you want to lock your luggage up is when you are done getting out items at the hotel and are waiting for the hotel staff to take your luggage to your room and when your luggage is in your room and you're not there. If you've seen any of those To Catch a Smuggler shows on National Geographic, then you'll know why I suggest a luggage lock and key. This is to keep people from sneaking things into or out of your suitcase. People could sneak anything into it, such as drugs and when you go to the airport, TSA will think those drugs are yours. Keep the luggage lock and key in a place you'll remember, such as your carry on. When you get ready to head to the airport, remove the luggage lock and key because TSA will simply cut it off.

Plan ahead

-Know what type of place you're going to. Try and do research about the climate there and pack accordingly. If you're going somewhere tropical, basic t-shirts, jean shorts and flip flops will be the order of the day. If you plan on attending an a la carte restaurant, dress it up a little. Bring nice clothes, such as nice shirts and pants, dresses and nice shoes because those restaurants won't let you dressed otherwise. If you're going to do a lot of walking, a good pair of gym shoes will serve you well. If you're going somewhere with cold temperatures, it would be wise to pack winter weather gear. It also comes down to what you plan on doing there. If, for example, you're going to Japan to climb Mount Fuji, cold weather gear would be advisable, because you can climb that mountain by using a path carved into the mountain.

Keep all valuables in one place

-Most if not everyone takes money and jewelry with them on vacation. When going through TSA, if you're wearing a necklace, you don't have to take it off; TSA will look around it. Bracelets, rings and any sort of body piercing must come out because it will set off the metal detector. When you get to your destination, put your valuables in a safe with a code that only you will remember. If the room doesn't have a safe, put your valuables, such as money, jewelry, etc., in your luggage and lock it up with a key that you keep on you at all times. Just so that the housekeeping or hotel staff don't rob you.

Don't overpack / overstuff carry-ons

-Let's face it: we've all overpacked for a vacation at least once. I'm guilty as charged the first time I went to Mexico with my family. My stepdad is guilty on all charges EVERY time we go on vacation. Luckily, he's learned not to bring silk Hawaiian shirts on vacation otherwise he's sweating up a storm. Do not overpack your suitcase; you will pay massive fees in overweight bag charges. Also, with carry-ons, if your bag doesn't fit in a certain sized compartment they have there in the airport before check in, you'll be paying massive overweight bag fees there too. I've seen people try to cram an oversized gym duffel bag into the compartment, saying "it fits". But I also tell them "It only fits because you pushed it in there." If you accidentally accrue overweight bag fees, bring a card or some cash with you to pay.

If you plan on bringing your bank card, call ahead and let them know

-Any financial service who offers a debit / credit card also offers a type of add-money-onto-it type of card. If you plan on using one of these cards where you add money onto it, make sure to do this ahead of time. If you plan on using your regular credit card / debit card through your bank, call ahead and let the Fraud services department know where you're going, how long you'll be gone and when you're coming back. Tell them that if they see any kind of transactions on your bank statement from in and around this region, that it's you and not suspicious activity. Because if you don't do this, they will block your card and thus, your card will fail to work. It's all in the name of YOUR PROTECTION!! They will block your card thinking that someone has gotten a hold of your card and committing fraudulent activity on your card. Having a mother who worked in Card Fraud for close to ten years will have you thinking this way. So please make it easy for the Fraud department and call ahead to let them know if you're using your card outside the country or using your card somewhere else and let them know where you're going, how long you'll be there and when you're coming back and tell them that any transactions from in and around this area is actually you and not fraudulent activity. The Fraud department will thank you  very much for making their job 100% easier. They truly appreciate you thinking ahead and making their days just a bit easier.

Weigh your suitcase ahead of time

-Most if not all airlines have a maximum limit of 25 pounds. Anything over that will get you charged overweight bag fees. To avoid having to pay a hefty price for overweight bags, weigh your suitcase. Pack everything you plan on bringing into your suitcase and use your bathroom scale to weigh it. If it's under 25 pounds, you're in the clear. If it's over, re-assess what you're bringing and decide if there are items you can do with out. If you're going somewhere for a long while, and plan on bringing multiple pieces of luggage, spread out your items through these suitcases and weigh them. If they all fall under the 25 pound limit, you'll be in the clear and won't have to pay overweight bag fees.

Run through your checklist to make sure everything is there

-There is no limit to how many times you can run through your checklist. Doing this early ensures you have enough time to get last minute items you need. A day or two before you leave for the airport, run through your checklist and check off each item that you have listed and make sure it's there. Once everything has been checked off and you see that those items are present, then you're good. Pack everything up once again and rest assured that you have everything you need. Also, to let you know, most if not all hotels sell essential items in their gift shops. These essential items can include over the counter painkillers, such as Tylenol, Motrin, Aspirin, feminine hygiene items, sunblock, tanning oil and more. 

-Also make sure your boarding pass and passport are together or on you somewhere that can be easily accessible. Get a passport holder and keep your passport, boarding pass and all necessary information about the hotel together on you. Best place to keep it would be your carry-on because it will be with you at all times. If you're using one of those pay-to-park lots at the airport, make sure you have your passport, boarding pass and everything about the hotel you're staying at together on you somewhere. So that TSA at your airport knows your itinerary and won't worry about you committing suspicious activity, especially if you don't know the name of the hotel you're staying at.

-Here's why you should keep your boarding pass, flight information, hotel information, passport on you at all times somewhere on you. One time, me and my family were going to Mexico. We had parked in the Valu-Park lot at CVG, the main airport that serves Northern Kentucky and the Cincinnati region. We pulled up to the front of the airport and my stepdad, who was in charge of the passports and boarding information for him and my mom, he didn't have on him. My mom immediately worried that he left it at home. She asked the Valu-Park driver to take her back to the car, thinking he left it there or dropped it in the car. 10 minutes later, she returns, that's what happened. He had it on his lap, since he was in the passenger seat and my mom drove us to the airport, and it fell on to the floor. And because the carpet in my mom's car is black and the passport holder was black, she didn't see it immediately, but opened her passenger door all the way so the parking lot lights would help her see it. She found it on the floor of the passenger side. We all felt so relieved that it was only in my mom's car and not at home because we lived 45-60 minutes from the airport and if we had to go home to get it, we would have missed our flight because we had to be there three hours prior to leave at 7am. Then further on, when going through the Cancun airport, my stepdad thought he lost his passport, once again, my mom worried. She told him to check his carry-on. There it was. He forgot where he put it for a second because my mom told him to put it in his carry-on. Coming home through the Cancun airport, he once again thought he lost his passport. This time, I told him to check the bin of things he had to take off to go through the scanner and metal detector. His passport was under his shoes.

Put all souvenirs in your carry-on

-We've all seen how careless airport employees are with luggage. They throw luggage onto the airplanes without a care in the world about the fact that the people whose luggage that belongs to have bought souvenirs that they don't want broken. If you bought souvenirs, and there's no doubt that you did, the best place to put them would be your carry-on. So that there's no chance of them getting broken when these careless airport employees simply throw your luggage onto the airplane. Their mindset is, more or less, "Not my luggage, not my problem". Yet, if it was their luggage that got tossed onto the airplane, there'd be holy chaos rising. Simply put, put your souvenirs in your carry-on so that they'll not get broken and they'll also be with you.

-And if TSA stops you because of something suspicious in your carry on, just tell them the truth-they're souvenirs that you don't want the careless airport employees breaking because of their inconsiderate attitude towards luggage. And also, tell the truth on what you bought overseas or in another country. All they're trying to do is make sure you aren't bringing in anything bad. Any kind of food item is usually prohibited, unless it's been safely processed. Any kind of wood item is usually inspected for insects that could prove to be invasive species. If TSA clears these items and declares them safe, they hand them back to you and you're free to go. Certain food items are allowed, but other food items, such as certain types of fruits, meats, vegetables or fish, are usually not allowed because they can bring in insects that often prove to be invasive species. And you'll get a fine for violating that law if you don't initially declare it.