How to carry in-seat stuff while flying?

[swduncan]

After a long period of not traveling for business I’m doing a lot of trips, and I’ve been using my synapse 19 as the bag I take onboard, checking a main bag for the bulk of what I bring.

The synapse 19 works pretty well, but it takes up enough space under the seat that I prefer to put it in the bin. But between a kindle, ANC headphones, and a few more things there’s enough stuff I want to take out of the backpack but still have in a bag during the flight. It needs to be at least 8x9” to fit my headphones, and maybe a pocket or two would be nice. I can’t seem to find a TB item that would work for this, short of like a small cafe bag but I don’t need the strap nor very heavy construction.

What do you use to hold the stuff you use during a flight?

Thanks!

[G42]

swduncan The classic answer is to use a Packing Cube Shoulder Bag, Side Kick, or Side Effect plus some of the double swivel carabineers, for a Bag in Bag set up.

Check out the bag hack video around the 1:30 mark, showing it with the Side Effect
https://vimeo.com/160672777

Based on your dimensions, the PCSB is probably the size you want for this hack. Board the plane, tuck your pack under the seat, and pull out the PCSB as soon as the chime rings for 10,000 feet... If you're stowing the pack in the overhead, wait until you can get up or stow the BinB under your seat.

Note that the PCSB may sag a little, but the Kindle will help with that, as would a book, or a medium Organizer Pouch, or anything reasonably rigid.

[GrussGott]

What do you use to hold the stuff you use during a flight?

Big agreement with what G42 said, the PCSB is invaluable for something like this - here's a few pics (a bit old but no changes for me!) of how I do it - the SSC is a diddy kit with ear plugs, eyeshade, bandaids, lip balm, kleenex, etc on one side and snacks on the other.



And, now I use Sony ANC headphones, which I used to use a SSC as a case for, but I've switch to the B&W case in the pic as they fit great and it's extra protection:



Here's the setup on a Delta seatback with the pilot below (and my wife's 20yo LLbean backpack next to the pilot :



Here's what it looks like on a bulkhead seat:



Here's a view in a tight SW seat, same setup, Pilot is below:



and, when using the pilot as my underseat bag, usually the PCSB goes into the back of it, but if I'm really hogging it, then I put the PCSB into piggyback mode on the Pilot:



But, I have to confess. I've gotten bad - now I put the PCSB into the pilot and put the pilot into a WF and that's my underseat bag these days (the reason for the WF is, for long flights, I bring my own food in an insulated bag & it fits perfect into a front pocket of the WF)

IF it's useful, here the PCSB next to the PIlot with the WF & A45 in the background:

[nsh]

GrussGott these are amazing pics and great inspiration for me too. Thank you!

[Bogiesan]

Same with me: couple of little carabiners hold a basic zippered bag to the back of the seat in front of me. Two benefits: my bag is easier get stuff into and out of and, since I don't use the seat's pocket for ANYTHING, I don't leave anything behind. The bag zips closed and fits easily in my carryon. Holds all my in-flight needs including headphones, snacks, book, iPad, meds and emollients, masks, cables, &c. The bag is roughly 12" tall x 16" wide and came with an REI duffle.

[GrussGott]

One note for everyone, I'm not sure of the latest shipping design of the PCSB, but, for awhile, TB made them with strap clips on the top, not the sides, thus the bag-hanging trick won't work with any PCSBs that have the top clip design