regulations as they change very often. Do not rely on the information
provided by your travel agent. S/he is NOT the authority. Your
airline's Web site will explain in detail what you can and cannot
carry. Remember to do this for each airline, in case your travel
involves multiple carriers.
2. The US Department of Homeland Security has increased the level of
security post 9/11, so be aware of current regulations. At the time of
writing this document, with regard to hand-carry baggage, you are
allowed to carry bottles of fluids, etc only up to a certain fluid
ounce volume (very small bottles). Also you CANNOT carry any sharp
objects or anything that can be remotely used as a weapon.
3. Get only the necessities. Before I get into what you NEED to bring,
let me tell you about what DO NOT need to bring. Some of the usual
unnecessary items that sneak their way to the boxes are:
# Clothes hangers: They are an unnecessary weight addition, so avoid
them. You can get cheap and good ones when you come here.
# Electrical appliances: Most appliances here are designed for
110-120V, unlike the ones we get in India (230V to 240V systems).
Unless you bring a converter, they will be useless. In any case,
appliances like ironing box, mixers and grinders can be bought for
cheap from stores here.
# File folders: The US filing system uses the 3-hole system which is
different from Indian system, so please do not carry these
unnecessarily.
# Copious amounts of spices: No matter how much your Mom tells you,
convince her that you are not traveling to Antarctica! The punch line
to be used here is "We get everything there too, Mom!" For the love of
God, don't pack all those 10 kgs of tamarind. You get everything here
-- EVERYTHING! Just get small amounts for the starting week, and you
can buy the rest from here.
4. Before you buy the boxes, contact your airlines and confirm what
are the size specifications and the weight that you can carry. All
airlines are very strict about this, so it's best to know this before
you start.
5. Don't just watch the ad; buy that box. Get two good boxes -- they
should be able to withstand a lot of mishandling. Go for good branded
ones, as they are now available in light-weight and durable materials.
Remember that even a gram saved in the box's weight is a gram you can
bring as luggage. Try to go for boxes that have identification marks
and labels both inside and outside. They will be helpful when you need
to retrieve your baggage at your destination.
6. Get good carry-on hand baggage -- cabin baggage (again, as per
airline regulation). Get one with that has wheels as you may have to
move them around a lot during your trip and you don't want to tire
yourself carrying them. Also buy a good backpack. You will use it
almost all the time in US.
7. Start your packing well in advance. If you rush at the last minute,
you are bound to forget something. Keep a list of what you pack in
each box. That way you won't have to wonder whether you forgot
something.
8.Since you will be buying at least two boxes, it will be a good idea
to divide all the things to pack equally in both the boxes. The reason
is that sometimes one of your boxes may get misplaced by the airlines,
so you won't be totally lost until the other one arrives. Pack at
least one pair of clothes in the carry-on hand baggage (cabin
baggage). You never know, but in the rarest case both your boxes might
arrive late!
9. NEVER ever pack any original documents, certificates, cash, and
other very important stuff in the boxes. Always keep them with you in
your hand baggage. This is extremely important. If you lose your box,
you may get refunded by airline insurance. But if you lose your
original documents, then you're in big trouble! At the same time
remember to take photocopies of all your original documents and keep
at least one set in each of your luggage boxes.
10. Engineer talk, "The least surface area for a given volume is a
sphere". Roll your clothes so that they take less space (of course,
don't do that to your expensive formal shirts and suit!) Keep one pair
of shoes aside to wear on the journey. This will save space in the
box.
Some really useful tips there. I'd also consider what gadgets international students should take. In particular, what cool student gadgets and technology you should consider essential as an international student. There are many student horror stories of problems that you can experience when studying in the UK. One student whose laptop broke made a call to Dell to sort it out – but of course, he didn’t speak enough English to make arrangements! Follow our great student gadgets guide and avoid any unnecessary problems when studying in the UK.
ReplyDeleteThose are wise tips in preparing and packing for abroad..I agree that those necessary documents are the most important whenever you're going out there...so it should be taken carefully..
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