Pack your belongings in two categories: use a small backpack or bag for personal items what you want to take with you onboard, and the rest can go in the big suitcase.

Most airlines allow passengers to carry onboard 2 hand luggages, typically a smaller handbag or a roller bag, and/or a laptop. Depending on the size of the airplane and the size of the luggage compartment flight personnel might force you to check in larger carry-on bags.

Most airlines have weight limitation on how heavy a checked-in suitcase or bag can be. Try not to pack more than 25 kg or 50 lbs in one suitcase, because you might have problems at the check in. This is especially true when you come home from America, and you are full with gifts and all the cool stuff you bought for yourself, and it's easy to go over the weight limit. Best is to call the airline you are flying with and ask.

I'm talking about this from personal experience. My wife was flying home a few weeks ago from Los Angeles to Budapest. She had lots of gifts to the family and to make everything simple she used a BIG suitecase. It was really heavy, but we didn't care because we didn't know about weight limits on planes. I found out later that because her suitecase was heavier with a few kg than the admitted limit she had to unpack at the check-in point, and re-pack some of the stuff in a box the airline gave her..

What to take on-board? I suggest the following items:

• your passport and all your papers, you will need these during the check-in process
• your plane tickets
• your money
• some books, newspapers to spend the time better in the plane. It's true, in most airplanes you get free newspapers to read, but what if you are not interested in those. A paperback book to read is a great idea.
• If you want to work and have a laptop take it with you onboard. For two reasons:
  - it can help you to spend the time productively
  - the luggages in the airport are handled usually very tough and I wouldn't leave a fragile laptop in the luggage-handlers hands.
• If you know you are sweating and you have problems with odors then I suggest you to include in your backpack an extra pair of socks and a T-shirt or shirt. You can go to the lavatory and change it any time if is necessary.
• Eventually it might not be a bad idea to pack some food and drink with you: maybe 1-2 sandwiches, some fruits or cookies. Yes, you get food on the plane, but if you are used to eat a lot, the food what you get on the plane is not too much and some extra food will be welcome. Especially if you switch planes and you have to wait at some airport for 2-3 hours or more for the connecting flight you will be really hungry.

Dress comfortably for the plane. Don't be fancy nor dress very elegantly if this is not necessary. Think that you will be in that plane for the next 10-12 hours or more and it will be a hell if your shoes are tight or your pants are not comfortable. Dress as comfortably as you can. Honestly, nobody cares if you wear jeans, even if you travel on the first class.

When buying your ticket, if you are tall I suggest you to ask for an aisle seat instead of a window or a middle seat. Thus you will have the chance to stand up and take a walk if you want to stretch your legs. I personally always ask for an aisle seat. I know, the window seat is more interesting in the first and last 15 minutes of a flight, but in the rest during the flight it's just pain to get out from the window.