What I Learned About Air Travel This Weekend

What did we learn by traveling this weekend?

Attention ladies! If you’re trying to pack light so that you don’t have to have any checked luggage for a short trip home for the weekend, make sure you check that hygiene bag! I thought I was being smart by leaving shampoo and conditioner at home (I could always borrow where I was, right?) Well, you might as well smell for the entire weekend as you probably shouldn’t pack your face wash (118ml) or toothpaste (120ml) either! If it’s over 100ml—and most normally-sized personal hygiene items are—you can either throw it out or go get your bag checked.

I also learned that my hair straightener—which heats to 300ºC—does not pose any harm or risk to any other passengers, but my toothpaste has got to go! You can imagine my frustration when the woman sitting across the aisle from me on the plane had knitting needles!!!!!

I also learned that Air Canada will give you a 59$ seat sale ticket, but if you arrive at the gate three hours early, you will be so fortunate not only to be subject to a random search of all your nicely packed luggage, but you also will not be allowed to fly standby even though there was a flight to Ottawa leaving every hour, there were empty seats, and I had no checked luggage.

Oh yes, what a weekend of learning indeed!