'Can't accidentally leave it': Aussie pilot swears by common hack to remember essentials
As an airline pilot you'd think Ian Manning would not need travel hacks. After all, he flies around the world as his job.
But the Brisbane-based Virgin Australia pilot admits he actually uses a common way of remembering to collect the essentials from his hotel room.
And it involves a single shoe.
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Brisbane-based Virgin Australia pilot Ian Manning shares his travel tips. Supplied
"Early in my travels, I was always told to look after my passport," he tells 9Travel.
"I remember I was in London and thought I'd found a safe spot, in a light shade, only for the light bulb to burn a hole right through it...
"Replacing it was an ordeal."
Now, Ian says, he has a better travel hack.
"I tuck my passport inside one of my work shoes in the safe," he explains.
"That way, I can't accidentally leave it behind - I can't exactly go to work with just one shoe."
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The clever hack involves the hotel room safe. Getty
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Hopefully with both shoes plus passport intact, Ian is piloting Virgin Australia's Pride Flights - which he has done every year since they launched almost six years ago.
"It's more than a flight, it's a celebration," he tells us, ahead of his trips from Brisbane and Melbourne to Sydney on Friday.
While these flights are clearly a highlight, Ian also has a few destinations that stand out.
"Domestically, it's hard to choose with so many beautiful places in Australia, but I'd say Adelaide tops the list. It's where my family is, so it's the perfect chance to catch up with them and friends," he says.
Ian has piloted all the airline's Pride Flights. Supplied
"Internationally, Bali is my favourite overnight destination on the Virgin Australia network.
"Amazing people, sun and surf - it's just the perfect quick escape."
And while jet lag isn't an issue in Australia, for Bali it can be.
Ian advises to deal with it by taking short naps of no more than an hour and staying hydrated.
"It can be tough at first, often meaning an early night, but it really makes the adjustment smoother," he says.
The seasoned traveller also always brings a specific kind of suitcase.
"I travel with a soft cabin-size four-wheeler and a nav bag - a specialised bag designed for pilots and aviation," he tells 9Travel.
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Noise-cancelling headphones are a must. Getty
As for what goes in that bag, Ian always has noise cancelling headphones and a supportive neck pillow, as well as something warm in case the plane gets cold.
"My top tip: comfy shoes and layers," he says.
When he is abroad, there's also one thing he always sorts out to stay connected on his phone.
"Grab an e-SIM online," he says. "The coverage is often better.
"I also always change most of my money in the country I'm visiting, though I'll swap a small amount before I leave for essentials like water, coffee or a beer when I arrive."
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