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<p>I want your secrets. My problem is shoes.</p>
<p>Agree–shoes are my downfall too. They are hard go fold up. 
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<p>Okay…all you streamlined, efficient packers I need your help! I struggle with packing and always wind up with way to much stuff.</p>
<p>Another problem I have is that I don’t like to commit. My guess is that efficient packers plan out their days really well in advance. How can I possibly know what I’ll be in the mood to wear next Tuesday?</p>
<p>Jym, I found the 787-8 slightly better than the 777-200 in Business and slightly worse in economy. The business seats in the 787 are 180 degrees and thus a bit flatter. The economy seats are about an inch narrower. I do not use the entertainment, but it looked to be better. Some might like it, but it is still a 3x3 seating and is still a … Boeing. Nothing to get too excited about.</p>
<p>It was on Aeromexico. Those folks are trying very hard and I was happy to avoid the US airlines for a trip to Europe. </p>
<p>The trick to packing 2 weeks of clothes in a rollaboard is to ruthlessly utilize the space inside the bag and pick clothes for their mix-n-match, dress-up/dress-down versatility.</p>
<p>Don’t waste the space between the ribs in the back of the rollaboard. Stuff socks, schleppy clothes (stuff u don’t care if it wrinkles) between there, non-liquid small stuff (my medication/1st aid ziploc baggy) between there. If I have extra space in my rollaboard at the end of a trip to the US, I stuff dozens of Reeses peanutbutter cup packets between there-- imported Reeses peanutbutter cups are an expensive guilty pleasure in GMTplusland.</p>
<p>For clothes, I wear onboard my “fat jeans” and a lightweight blazer. I pack another pair of “dressy jeans”, tropical-weight wool khakis, another pair of pants. Then I make sure all the shirts can be worn w any of the pants-- you won’t believe how many black T-shirts and black turtlenecks I own. Underwear gets stuffed in a small zippered net laundry bag. I’ve got minatures of all my favorite toiletries that I leave always packed in my bag. I just use the hotel-provided shampoo, hairdryer. </p>
<p>Valuables, electronics, travel docs, headphones & neckpillow get stashed in backpack. If I miscalculated and run short of clothing, that’s what the hotel sink & hotel shampoo is for. </p>
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<p>In my case, it’s not really a matter of advanced planning so much as being the type of person who doesn’t feel the need to put much thought into his outfits before heading out…especially when he’s on vacation visiting friends. </p>
<p>T-shirts, jeans/shorts, and grubby sneakers in darker colors are my usual. If I’m going to a computer convention or meeting my engineering/CS friends, I MAY put a few seconds of thought into deciding whether to put on a computer techie/sci-fi* themed t-shirt, or whatever. </p>
<p>That and I figure on leaving some space for the free t-shirts or souvenirs I may be bringing home for myself and family/friends. </p>
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<li>I.e. Star Trek, Star Wars, Linux(with & without Penguins)**, etc.<br></li>
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<p>** I sometimes do this when I know I’m meeting friends who work for a famous companies based somewhere in Redmond or Cupertino. :D</p>
<p>“Another problem I have is that I don’t like to commit. My guess is that efficient packers plan out their days really well in advance. How can I possibly know what I’ll be in the mood to wear next Tuesday?”</p>
<p>You can’t bring your entire closet, though. My business partner is like this - it drives me crazy. You’re going to NYC for 2 days; why bring 5 outfits because you don’t know what you’re in the mood for! </p>
<p>GMT’s tips are good. Assuming you’re not traveling for a wedding or formal event, for 2 weeks - you only need 2 pr shoes and 1 pr sneakers and you wear 1 of those anyway. Roll casual clothing. Stuff socks and workout clothes in the sneakers. I bring H’s scrubs to wear as pajamas as they pack so flat. All toiletries in one permanently packed small bag - and of course it goes without saying, use the hotel shampoo, that’s what it’s there for! Makeup-wise, I bring moisturizer, a Nars Multiple and eyeliner and I’m done. Rip out perfume strips from mags and use as your scent on the road. Stage everything. I have 2 trips coming up this month and I’ve already selected, folded and put aside what I’m wearing, including jewelry. This weekend I leave to accompany D back to school (overnight stay) - since my goal is to maximize space for her stuff and I have 3 bags @ 70 lbs given my status, I really just need change of top and underwear and toiletries; it’s hardly a big deal to wear the same pair of pants and shoes 2 days in a row. And frankly that can fit in a large purse, which is my plan. </p>
<p>I’m sitting in a cafe at the airport waiting to board my flight. The only reason I picked this particular cafe is that I saw an unoccupied electrical outlet. I bought a beer just so I can plug in.</p>
<p>If I return from this trip having worn everything in my rollaboard bag at least once, then I will have considered my packing a success.</p>
<p>A beer?? What time is it there??? It coffeetime where I sit.</p>
<p>I’m sitting in asia right now</p>
<p>Sweet. Will be heading to Narita in a few months.</p>
<p>I’m headed to Narita. LOOOOOOVE the washlet toilet seats.</p>
<p>Yay for toto toilets :)</p>
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Even most employees from Redmond, Cupertino, Mountain View, etc would probably find that seriously geeky and very out of date. Have you been there lately or just heard from friends of bosses roommates and cousins… :-t </p>
<p>My guess is that GMTplus7 is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Just a hunch. Don’t know where I get this impression. </p>
<p>Aisle seat, exit row-- bonzai!</p>
<p>BTW, GMT and PG: my son successfully got off his flight back from Asia in Chicago and AA didn’t arrest him for not going on to MSP. Thanks again for the good advice.</p>
<p>MSP??</p>
<p>Minneapolis-St. Paul airport.</p>