Finnair’s fleet chief pilot Captain Marko Valtonen shares his pro packing tips.

Last year, Finland’s national airline, Finnair, transported almost 12 million people to more than 130 destinations across the globe, so it is fair to say its pilots know a thing or two about packing a suitcase efficiently. We spoke to its fleet chief pilot Captain Marko Valtonen – who has flown everything from a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 to an Airbus A320 – to get the inside track.

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Tell us about an average trip for you – how long does it last?

A normal trip for me is about 48 hours, a couple of nights. Our rest times between flights are strictly regulated to ensure we are fully alert when we next fly. Different long-haul routes have different minimum rest periods, dependent upon how long our flights are and how many flight crew share flying duties and rest periods during the time the flight is in the air. Safety comes first.

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What type of suitcase do you use?

I usually just bring a cabin-sized suitcase, which can be taken in the cockpit or placed in the crew-rest area locker. I use a Travelpro case, as they are designed with flight and cabin crew in mind and use space efficiently – there are lots of clever pockets and they are incredibly robust.

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What do you pack?

Given how often we fly, you learn to just pack the essentials; items that I need for those couple of days I’m away, essential toiletries and one extra change of clothes, depending on the weather forecast at our destination down-route. I always check the weather so I am properly prepared.

I take lightweight clothing to ensure I’m not weighed down by my bags. This also allows me to take a little more, including running shoes, shorts and T-shirt so I can exercise and unwind. My essential toiletries are my Floris No.89 Shaving Cream, which is great to travel with, and a moisturiser to match.

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Tell us your packing secrets.

I roll up my clothes, to reduce creasing, and divide them into sections so it is easy to get at my things when I arrive. Footwear and heavier items go in first, with lighter clothing in last, to avoid it getting rumpled. This also means the items I need first are packed last and the easiest to reach.

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**Are there any must-haves you always pack? **

As a pilot, we are always at work when we are down-route – even while we are relaxing. We dress in accordance with local custom and with respect to Finnair’s values. So I usually wear smart chinos and a shirt. But no tie.

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Is there anything you can’t travel without?

It would be challenging to travel without my mobile phone. This acts as my weather check, alarm, calendar and, of course, boarding pass – although we also have our ID badges, which act as our identification and clearly indicate our access to aircraft and airside facilities at the terminals we work in. Different colours and numbers on our badges indicate what level of access you have, whether to planes or to the airfields.

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