Naomi Campbell at the Airport Is Surprisingly Relatable — Until It’s Not

Naomi Campbell’s flying ritual is surprisingly relatable — until it’s not.

In a video released on her YouTube channel last week, supermodel Naomi Campbell let fans into her airport and airplane rituals. Much like us, she easily succumbs to the siren’s song of the candy in the Duty-Free shop. But in an unexpected move, once she’s boarded the plane, she dons rubber gloves and disinfects “everything you touch,” to the delight of those around her.

The video starts with the supermodel passing through security at Nice International Airport. She is flying a Qatar Airways flight to Doha. “I love traveling. I was born traveling,” Campbell says. Much like us, she considers the airport a prime location for people-watching. “Of course I check out people’s legs,” she admits. “I check out everything.”

Before passing through the security scanner, she chugs water to get her bottle through — which is a surprisingly relatable move. But it’s once Campbell passes through security things get really good.

Campbell’s voyage through the Duty-Free shop is the stuff that memes are made of. “I’m getting this and I don’t care!” she proclaims while heading to the cashier with a bag of Twix. She then yells “Beauty!” while heading to the cosmetics section of the shop and applies a Chanel lip gloss. Things get deeply relatable as she passes a rack of Haribo candies and cries, “No!” but then purchases a couple of packets. She also peruses the magazines on display, praises the diversity of the models featured on the covers and purchases a copy of Vogue.

And then, Campbell becomes her iconic self. Once she’s boarded the airplane, she roots through her Louis Vuitton bag to locate a special Zip-Loc bag. It’s then revealed that this ZIp-Loc contains a pair of rubber gloves, which she always brings and keeps separate. She then procures a pack of antibacterial wipes and disinfects “anything that you could possibly touch.” She offers to share her pack with the woman sitting behind her. “This is what I do on every plane I get on,” Campbell explains. “I do not care what people think of me. It’s my health and it makes me feel better.”

In addition to the disinfectant, Campbell also keeps a seat cover with her, which she hand-washes at the hotel and changes out every week. (She just buys a new one at the airport in a color that makes her happy.) She also wears a face mask to avoid picking up germs. “This is my protection from people’s coughing and sneezing,” she says. “As much as I travel, I should get sick so much more with colds and stuff and I’m blessed that I don’t. And I really think that this helps me, my little routine.”

And now we’re off to upgrade our in-flight kits to Campbell’s level of germ-prevention.

How to Avoid Travel Nightmares While Mercury Is in Retrograde

Getty Images [edited]

Originally published on December 4, 2017.

‘Tis the season to freak out about Mercury going back into retrograde. If you’ve been living under a rock — or usually tune out your astrologically inclined friends — Mercury retrograde is when the planet looks like it’s moving backward across the sky. Mercury ordinarily moves west to east, but while in retrograde, it appears to move east to west.

Mercury retrograde has been documented since the mid-18th century, so panicking about its effects is by no means a new thing. Mercury is said to affect your communication, self-expression, and your mind. But on a more practical level, especially with all the holiday travel coming up, it is also said to affect air travel, transportation, phones, and computers. So the fact that Mercury is going back into retrograde starting December 3 isn’t great news. It’ll be in retrograde until December 23, and some argue that you shouldn’t travel at all during Mercury retrograde.

But we disagree. December 3-23 are prime travel days, and all you need to successfully travel during Mercury retrograde is good preparation. Follow these tips and you’ll be able to handle any travel nightmare that the planets throw your way.

Check into your flight 24 hours in advance.

More than organization or saving you time at the airport, this will ensure that you commit your flight details to memory well before heading to the airport. In other words, checking in ahead of time could save you from missing your flight.

Download some Netflix to watch offline.

You never know when you’re going to sit on the tarmac at the airport or have to drown out the crying baby behind you on the train. Having some "Orange Is the New Black" locked and loaded couldn’t hurt. 

Leave a lot earlier than you need to.

This is Mercury retrograde. There could be an accident that causes an unexpected traffic jam, or you could accidentally go to the wrong airport. Take it from someone who recently ended up at a nondescript airplane hangar called “LA Airport” instead of LAX — you’re going to want the extra time.

Write down the travel documents you need and tape the list to your front door.

There is nothing worse than getting to the airport/bus station/questionable Amtrak port and realizing that you don’t have your ID. Put a Post-it on whatever surface you’ll see before walking out the door with a checklist. Sometimes an analog reminder goes a lot farther than a phone reminder you can easily ignore.

Tag the bejeezus out of your luggage.

When you’re toting people’s presents and the one sweater you’ve been waiting to debut, you really don’t want to have your luggage end up in some far-flung destination. Put a tag with your information on the outside of your bag. Then put one on the inside of your bag. Maybe even add a secondary contact number for good measure.

Download your boarding pass into your Apple Wallet so you can stay up to date on flight delays.

Your boarding time on the Apple Wallet pass will update automatically. And don’t forget to check your flight right before you call your taxi or ride-share to the airport.

Stay calm, and focus on your energy in addition to external factors.

It’s easy to blame Mercury retrograde for a flight delay — especially when you’ve been sitting in an airport for six hours. Remember that Mercury retrograde can affect your energy and mood, too, and unlike your delayed flight, how you respond to a travel crisis is within your control. With a good pair of headphones, you can find some peace even amidst airport chaos.

How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Sneak Out of Heathrow Airport

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This story was originally published on August 22, 2017.

Prince Harry is a busy guy. As a member of the royal family his schedule is jampacked with meetings, charitable events and more, so we wouldn’t hold it against him if he couldn’t uphold the regular duties of a boyfriend as well.

But, as it turns out, Prince Harry is a true professional in that department, too.

Related: Pippa Middleton's Honeymoon Plans Are Just As Luxurious As You'd Expect

According to the Metro, Prince Harry pre-arranged for his girlfriend Meghan Markle to bypass the regular security line when she flies in and out of Heathrow Airport so that she can sneak in and out unseen, and so that Harry can be waiting for her on the tarmac when she arrives.

However, the plan to get Markle in and out of the airport unseen isn’t exactly easy. In fact, it involves onboard security checks, a waiting Audi RS6, and a very helpful group of airport staff.

“It’s been happening for a while,” an airport source told the Express.

The source added that Markle usually tries to only carry hand luggage when she travels to meet Prince Harry so she won’t have to find her checked luggage. Next, the source explained, “All the necessary security checks must be carried out in advance or onboard because she walks straight from the plane steps to Harry’s car.”

The source noted that the pair was offered the use of the Windsor Suite at Heathrow, a VIP lounge separate from the crowds. However, the VIP service costs nearly £3,000 for each use, so the pair decided to make their own arrangements.

Related: Here's a Breakdown of the Top 10 British Royals in Line for the Throne

And while Kensington Palace wouldn’t confirm the unique airport arrival, Dai Davies, the former head of royalty protection Chief Superintendent, told the Express that it is indeed typical for royals to be collected directly from the tarmac.

“Given who Harry is, given that he is accompanied by Met police officers and that any security checks would be preordained then I don’t find it that unusual,” Davies said.

Unusual or not, we still think it’s romantic.

7 Travel Habits Frequent Fliers Swear By

"More discerning travelers know their stuff and want to get where they're going, especially on connecting flights," says Julie Danzinger, director of luxury travel services at Ovation Vacations in New York City.

To help you breeze through airport screening, she recommends splurging on an airport meet-and-greet service like Solve, whose concierge can carry your bags, escort you to your airline's check-in, make sure you board on time, and whisk you past airport security, immigration, and customs.

"When you land you kind of feel like a celebrity," Danzinger, who's been a big fan of the Las Vegas-based startup since it launched last year, said.

These Are the Most Common Items People Forget to Pack (Video)

Even packing ahead of time (and not half an hour before heading for the airport) is not a foolproof method for ensuring you don't forget something.

And just as frequently as you forget something vital, you'll also remember that specific thing right when there's no turning back. Just made it to the airport? That's the moment you'll think of the sunblock you left on the dresser.

Amazon tracked the most common items ordered on its shopping app in 2016, and the list is a revealing look at the accessories that tend to slip our minds (even though it's difficult to go even a day without them).

Photo Illusration by Mariah Tyler; Image Source: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Phone Chargers

Maybe you even remembered to pack it — and then left it in an outlet at the airport. Either way, phone chargers were the most common travel item ordered on the Amazon app. In 2016, shoppers ordered 11 million of them.

A little less than 60 percent of the chargers were for Apple products, and 40 percent were for Android devices. Buying a new charger every trip can cost you, so next time you're on the go, try to remember to always unplug that charger when you get your device. And consider getting a portable battery charger to reduce the times you have to charge from power outlets.

Camera Chargers

That DSLR isn't very useful if you forgot the charger for the battery pack.

Amazon shoppers ordered more than 4 million camera chargers and memory cards from the app in 2016.

Toothpaste

Shoppers purchased 3.75 million tubes of toothpaste in the mobile app in 2016.

The front desk at a hotel can sometimes help out with a travel-size toothpaste, but frequent travelers have no excuse for forgetting toiletry basics. Sure, TSA rules can be a pain, but make it a habit of stockpiling travel-sized necessities like toothpaste, sunblock, and shampoo and conditioner, and then keep them in a basket in the bathroom or on a closet shelf. Then, whenever you go to pack for a trip, all you have to do is grab them.

More frugal travelers should buy a set of travel-sized bottles to refill with their own products.

Swimsuits

There's nothing worse than getting to a hotel and realizing there's a pool — if only you had remembered to pack your swimsuit.

In 2016, customers bought 3 million swimsuits on the Amazon app.

Maybe just always pack a swimsuit?

Hair Brushes and Combs

As becoming as the windblown look can be, traveling with some basic grooming items is a good idea. Last year, people bought 2.6 million brushes and combs on the go.

Chrissy Teigen Reveals the One Thing She Never Wears to the Airport

starzfly/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Touring the world as a model has its perks: Spending more time on the road than at home will quickly turn anyone into a pro-traveler.

No one knows this better than Chrissy Teigen, who has spent much of her career traveling the globe for runway shows and spreads in Sports Illustrated.

We caught up with Teigen at the Chase Sapphire Reserve event in New York City, where she shared her favorite travel shoes and the one thing she never wears to the airport.

“It’s always a pair of heels. For the most part it’s a boot or something I can get off quickly,” Teigen told Travel + Leisure. But there’s more to her choice than just looks.

“I’m incapable of wearing flats,” Teigen said. “For some reason my calves are at their most relaxed when they’re in 6-inch heels. When I wear flats, they are super tense and I’m very uncomfortable in them.”

Based on recent shots of Teigen at the airport, it’s seems super versatile black heels are her main go-to. And, while her travel shoe of choice might not be the most comfortable, we have to admit she always looks great. We’ll just file this one under, “Airport looks to strive for.”

Love her look? See below for a few styles we think would be Teigen-approved.

Courtesy of Nordstrom

To buy: BLONDO 'Kali' Over the Knee Waterproof Boot, nordstrom.com, $200

Courtesy of Nordstrom

To buy: Kendall + Kylie 'Miaa' Beaded Sandal, nordstrom.com, $56 (originally $140)

Courtesy of Nordstrom

To buy: Tony Bianco 'Sierra' Sandal, nordstrom.com, $144

Courtesy of Nordstrom

To buy: Christian Louboutin 'Pigalle Follies' Pointy Toe Pump, nordstrom.com, $695

Courtesy of Nordstrom

To buy: Jeffrey Campbell 'Siren' Bootie, nordstrom.com, $125

Weird Reasons Planes Turn Around Mid-flight

Turning a plane around mid-flight is a rare occurrence and is often due to some sort of pressing mechanical issue. But on occasion an unforeseeable, non-technological event happens that forces the plane to make an unexpected u-turn. That’s exactly what happened Thursday night when a plane going from New York to Tennessee had to make an emergency landing in West Virginia—because a bird hit the windshield.

Airport spokesman Mike Plante said the pilot alerted air traffic controllers they were going to make an emergency landing at 4:50 p.m., after a bird struck the plane and cracked the windshield.

It's not the only flight to have been forced to turn around because of encounters with birds. Earlier this week a plane lost an engine because of a bird strike, causing the Washington, D.C.-bound flight to return to Key West International Airport. Flight FR3445 to Palma de Mallorca in Spain returned to Manchester Airport after the plane collided with a bird shortly after takeoff. An American flight returned mid-journey to JFK Airport after the pilot hit a flock of geese after takeoff. And in 2010 a Beirut flight had to turn around when a bird got caught in the plane’s fan blades. Luckily, no one was injured in these cases, and the planes made it safely to the ground.

These freak events aren’t the only bizarre things to happen to or on a plane that force it to turn around. Over the years there’s been tales stories of airborne incidents that have caused mid-air detours. From odd smells and foreign creatures taking over the cabin to a mystery illness and an impromptu passenger performing Whitney Houston, these are some of the weirdest reasons planes have had to turn around.

Jordi Lippe-McGraw is a Contributing Digital Reporter with Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @WellTraveler.