In a recent evacuation incident where an American Airlines 737 had a landing gear problem requiring evacuation, photos and videos showed passengers evacuating with their carry-on bags. Presumably, they were concerned about leaving things like ID, essential medications, etc. behind, even though they are not supposed to bring baggage when evacuating.
https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/dia-plane-issue/73-8d21d56a-e9f3-4df2-8441-a469aca7ea65
https://simpleflying.com/american-airlines-737-max-evacuated-denver-landing-gear/
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I’m appalled by the photos of the passengers with their carry ons going down the inflatable slide. There was one with a man, a small child and a carry on. Unbelievable!
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When I used to frequently fly internationally, I would put my passport in a case that was hung around my neck and tucked inside my shirt.
Another important thing to do is to backup your laptop before trips. That way if you have to leave the laptop on the plane, at least you have your data.
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And more common than having to evacuate, don’t leave valuables in bags in the overhead compartment, especially on an overnight flight.
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Also don’t kick your shoes off as soon as the plane starts taxiing out of the gate.
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I’ve considered a travel vest. Just not sure how comfortable it would be to wear while sitting. Best Travel Vest for Women – SCOTTeVEST
Another reason not to put essentials in your carry-on baggage (versus in your pockets) is that you may be required to gate check the carry-on baggage if the storage fills up before you board, or you find out that the aircraft is a regional jet with smaller than normal storage spaces.
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Comfort likely depends on what you put in the pockets of the travel vest. Oddly shaped hard objects are more likely to make issue than soft or small flat objects.
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As a regional jet, low on the totem pole flyer, it’s about a 80-90% chance that I will have to gate check my bag.
Anything that I really need, goes in my backpack.
I can’t imagine the plane filling with smoke and the idiot in front of me opening the overhead bin before we go down the inflatable slide!
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I assume one needs to take it off and put it through the xray machine, rather than wearing it while you go through. But it is very intriguing. I’ve been traveling a lot with Spirit and Frontier, and if you only take a personal item you can get a really cheap rate. Putting a bunch of stuff in a SCOTTeVEST would be helpful.
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I remember a long discussion years ago on CC about a coat basically made of pockets and whether you could fly wearing that
It would be nice if airlines weren’t so fussy about like a hip pouch and didn’t count it as a personal item. You could keep your passport, phone and cards/cash in there and not have such a worry
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Put it inside a backpack or other carryon and then take it out once you’re on board?
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I have my “essentials” in a wallet on a chain. I hide it under a jacket or cardigan while walking on the plane and getting ready for takeoff. If I have to run to evacuate the aircraft, it would not interfere as it would if it were worn crossbody over the clothes.
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I’m the goofy lady who flies internationally with 2 neck wallets - my normal one plus another for my passport. It’s less stressful to have the important stuff on me (though stashing in backpack is an option if it gets uncomfortable).
I sometimes put a drawstring backpack in the side pouch of my backpack. That allows me to keep my kindle, a few snacks etc with me if i decide to put backpack in overhead compartment. Later in the trip it can work well for stashing a jacket when inside at a museum.
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This is basically what I meant - but I’ve heard more than one person say they were told to remove it and pack away unless that was their only carry on item 
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Size up as Scottevest runs small. We got ours on EBay. I didn’t find it uncomfortable on a long flight, but I then didn’t load the large pocket on my back.
On Facebook, posts from news organizations about this incident have hundreds of comments, mostly either criticizing those bringing their bags while evacuating or justifying bringing bags while evacuating. The latter mention that their ID/passport, essential hard-to-get medications, money/cards, mobile phone are in their carry-on. But keeping that stuff in the pockets of one’s clothing avoids any concern about leaving one’s essential hard-to-get medication behind when evacuating the airplane.
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Isn’t it backed up to the cloud?
I’ve been told that when scanning my ticket. Of course I comply, which obviously holds up the line. Then I get to my seat and put the cross body bag back on. Seems so stupid, airlines. If something is staying on one’s body the whole time, it’s a stretch to call that a carry on. Winter coats are larger, people take those off relatively more often than cross body bags/fanny packs, yet they don’t count as a carry on. Seems perplexing and poorly considered.
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I’m assuming they do it because they want to be sure everything can fit in the space limitations and don’t have the time to consider case by case. Of course everyone takes things out of their carryons once they’re on board.. laptops, books, baby feeding stuff, blankets if you’re flying distance on a budget airline, etc etc. So putting it in a backpack to board and taking it out and putting it on your body when you’re on board seems totally logical to me.
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