Flight attendant advises people to keep these 3 items from the hardware store handy while flying

Packing your luggage before a flight can be tricky. We always have to mind the weight limit of our baggage and sort things out carefully into our check-in bags. We might end up leaving behind some essentials as well to make space for a pair of extra clothing. However, this flight attendant is handing out some useful airport hacks that will make your next flight journey easier. Cici—who goes by @cici.inthesky on TikTok—made a video listing three must-have items people can grab from a hardware store before catching the flight.

Cici, who has decided to keep her full name undisclosed for privacy reasons, advises people on how a trip to the hardware store should be on their to-do list if they are taking a flight in the future. According to her, the first item she recommended was some plastic shoe covers which can prove ideal while going through a security check without risking getting your socks or feet dirty. "When you're going through TSA, just slip your shoes off, put these on, and walk through the security scanner germ-free," she said in her viral video.

"The one thing that I think is the most useful is the painter shoe covers because they protect your clothes when you pack," she told Insider in an interview. "If you're packing dirty sneakers in your carry-on, you can wrap the shoe covers around them to keep your clothing clean." She suggests people carry a bungee cord if they are traveling with multiple pieces of luggage. Cici demonstrated how she attached the bungee cord to her trolley bag and joined the other end to hand luggage or shoulder bag to carry them around the airport with ease. She adds that travelers can do the "same thing with their pillows as well."

The final item that Cici recommends buying is a simple carabiner clip. While using a clip, she shows how people can attach their heavy water bottles to their bags easily. Being a flight attendant, she claims to have witnessed these heavy metallic water bottles falling out of the passenger's bags as they try to place their luggage in the overhead compartments on the flights. However, with the help of a carabiner clip, people can solve this issue. Fellow TikTok users applauded her tips and tricks to make air travel easier for all and left a bunch of positive comments.

@boriquapearl appreciated this hack and wrote: "Shoe covers while in the TSA line is genius." @maria_a_71 added a hack too: "Duct tape. Use it to fix your suitcase if it gets damaged during an outbound flight. Not always easy to buy new luggage at vacation destinations." @pete4417 commented: "I put 10 rubber bands on my deodorant container and I’ll put a few wraps of duct tape in my toothbrush handle or razor handle."

@ginkeefer shared how they use carabiners: "I use small carabiners to keep all my zippers together on my bags. Stuff doesn’t fall out and harder target for anyone that tries to get in my bag." So, we are certainly taking a mental note to visit a hardware store before taking our next flight.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on August 16, 2023. It has since been updated.