When Dr. Robert Forto, founder of Alaska Dog Works, boards a Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330 in Extra Comfort for a high-stakes international mission from Alaska to South Korea, it’s not just about getting there. It’s about arriving ready for a pivotal service‑dog assignment. With nearly 17 hours in the air, his kit must offer ergonomic support, technical resilience, and peace of mind assurance.
This is Robert’s first international flight across the Pacific Ocean and the first one on Hawaiian Airlines since the airline’s merger with Alaska Airlines earlier in 2024. He flies almost exclusively with Alaska Air, racking up tens of thousands of miles a year and close to 500K miles in the last decade. The two-airline merger could be a game-changer for his international travels since they just announced flights to Korea, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rome, Italy, London, and Iceland.
His first flight of this trans-Pacific journey was a 6.5-hour hop to Honolulu on Alaska Air, with a long 14-hour layover that included a night in a nearby airport hotel. Then up and off on a 9.5-hour flight across the ocean, where at one point it was -65°F degrees
Why Hawaiian Airlines Extra Comfort Matters
Hawaiian’s Extra Comfort class aboard wide-body aircraft, such as the Airbus A330, offers approximately 36 inches (91 cm) of seat pitch, around five inches more than standard economy. This provides an invaluable buffer for those needing flexibility and freedom to adjust their seating posture during a long flight.
Additional advantages include:
- Priority boarding and security, facilitating faster settling and less stress navigating the airport, Hawaiian Airlines Help Center.
- Personal electrical outlets and USB ports, ensuring all critical devices stay powered.
- International amenity kits crafted by NOHO HOME, complete with skincare, a toothbrush, a pen, and an eye mask, are essential for staying fresh across time zones.
These features lay a foundation of comfort and focus that enables Robert to attend to his client and travel with ease.
The flight was relaxing, and the FAs were attentive to the passengers, which included several drink services, a meal, a walk-up bar, and several snacks.
Essential Travel Gear for Robert Forto’s Transpacific Flight
Below is a curated breakdown of each travel item, focusing on how it enhances a long-haul experience:
- Memobottle A7
- A slim, rectangular BPA‑ – and BPS-free Tritan plastic bottle (approx. 180 ml; 95 g), designed to slip into jacket pockets or bags, ideal for discreet hydration during flights.
- Robust, leak-proof with stainless steel lid, also freezer and hot-water safe for flexible use.
- Audio & Communication Tools
- Apple AirPods Max & Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Premium noise-cancellation headphones essential for tuning out cabin noise and helping Robert stay focused and restful.
- TUDIOW Anti-Lost Strap: A smart backup for Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, ensuring nothing gets accidentally dropped or misplaced mid-flight.
- Work & Productivity Devices
- MacBook Pro A4 & iPhone 16 Pro & iPad A16: This trio delivers flexible productivity, with the MacBook for heavier workloads, the iPhone for communication, and the iPad for quick reference, form-filling, or entertainment.
- Anker 735 Charger (Nano II 65W) & Verbatim UTA-10 140W 4-Port USB GaN III Adapter: Portable, high-output charging solutions that keep all devices powered under tight power constraints.
- Perilogics SKYMATE Phone Mount: Hands-free use of the phone in flight, great for navigational apps, translations, or video calls with Alaska Dog Works’ team without occupying hands.
- Travel Organizer & Bags
- Away The Bigger Carry-On – Aluminum Edition: A sturdy yet streamlined carry-on ideal for long trips, durability meets style.
- Waterfield Designs AIR PORTER BACKPACK: A sleek, premium backpack for keeping essentials and tech organized and accessible throughout security checks and transfers.
- Comfort & Support
- Hest Pro Travel Pillow: Ergonomically engineered for neck support, critical for rest aboard long-haul flights.
- Ostrichpillow Eye Mask: Soft, light-blocking, enhancing rest quality in less-than-dark cabin conditions.
- Nite Ize RUNOFF® Waterproof 3-1-1 Pouch: TSA-compliant organization for liquids (3-1-1 rule), ensuring smooth security compliance and no spills.
- Entertainment & Documentation
- Nintendo Switch 2: Portal to entertainment, ideal for decompressing between tasks.
- DJI Osmo Pocket 3: Compact, high-quality stabilizing camera, great for capturing daylight in-flight or documenting parts of the service-dog process upon arrival.
- Personal Grooming & Finishing Touches
- Parker Travel Fusion Safety Razor: A fine trimming tool that occupies minimal space, crucial for maintaining a professional presence after time zone shifts.
- UAG Metropolis Kevlar® MagSafe Wallet: Durable, stylish carrying for cards that can attach magnetically to a phone for seamless form factor and security.
Strategic Synergy: Tools + Flight Environment
Within the extra space and power access of an Airbus Extra Comfort seat, Robert can:
- Stay hydrated with the Memobottle, without fumbling bulky water bottles.
- Maintain productivity, plugging in his MacBook or phone to outlets, avoiding power anxiety aboard a 17-hour flight.
- Maximize rest by using the Hest pillow and eye mask to reset your circadian rhythms ahead of a demanding arrival.
- Capture and unwind with the Switch 2 for gaming and the Osmo Pocket 3 for quick content creation, which also supports remote team communication and promotional needs.
- Stay professionally groomed, easily, as airport layovers or immediate client meetings demand appearance optimization.
Robert Forto’s Long-Haul Travel Workflow Checklist
From Alaska to South Korea: Staying Comfortable, Productive, and Prepared on a 17-Hour Flight
- Pre-Flight Prep
✔️ Confirm Extra Comfort seat selection on Hawaiian Airlines (power outlets + extra legroom).
✔️ Pack hydration & wellness kit (Memobottle A7, Ostrichpillow Eye Mask, Hest Pro Travel Pillow).
✔️ Pre-load entertainment (movies, podcasts, Nintendo Switch 2 games, playlists).
✔️ Download key client files & notes onto MacBook Pro, iPad, and iPhone for offline access.
✔️ Charge all devices fully before departure.
✔️ Place travel documents, wallet, and boarding pass in Waterfield Air Porter Backpack for easy access.
- Packing Order
Carry-On (Away Aluminum Bigger Carry-On):
- Clothing, toiletries, and a Parker Travel Fusion Razor (a must for the comfort of a home shave).
- Backup pair of Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones + TUDIOW anti-loss strap (can’t count how many times I dropped an ear pod while asleep on a redeye flight). The strap is a must.
- Nite Ize RUNOFF pouch for liquids (TSA 3-1-1 ready, have used this for years).
Personal Item (Waterfield Air Porter Backpack):
- MacBook Pro A4 + charger.
- iPad A16 + Apple Pencil.
- iPhone 16 Pro + UAG Kevlar MagSafe Wallet.
- Anker 735 Charger + Verbatim 140W Travel Adapter.
- Memobottle A7 (empty until past TSA, love this bottle and bonus, the passengers around you will think it is a flask, NEVER bring your own alcohol on a plane!).
- DJI Osmo Pocket 3 camera.
- Ostrichpillow eye mask & Hest pillow for quick grab.
- In-Flight Workflow
Hour 1–2 (After Takeoff):
- Hydrate (fill Memobottle with water).
- Plug in your devices and set up your work essentials.
- Focused deep work: emails, strategy docs, Alaska Dog Works planning.
Hour 3–8 (Cruising):
- Alternate between rest (using an eye mask and pillow) and light reading on the iPad.
- Play Nintendo Switch for two or watch a downloaded movie for a mental reset.
- Stretch and walk to the galley every 2–3 hours.
Hour 9–15 (Second Work Block):
- Short laptop sessions for edits, notes, or journaling.
- Use the SKYMATE phone mount for hands-free video or calls if needed.
- Noise-canceling headphones on for focus.
Hour 16–17 (Pre-Landing Routine):
- Freshen up: wash face, Parker razor quick shave, reorganize bag.
- Final review of client files on iPad.
- Repack essentials into the backpack for quick exit.
- Arrival Strategy
✔️ Switch power adapter to South Korea setting with Verbatim UTA-10.
✔️ Sync with the Alaska Dog Works team via iPhone hotspot or Wi-Fi.
✔️ Use the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 to capture arrival content (optional).
✔️ Head into meetings refreshed, organized, and presentable.
- Travel Tips from Robert’s Routine
- Hydration first. Sip every 30–40 minutes; dehydration causes fatigue faster than jet lag.
- Two headphone rule. One for work, one for rest, you’ll never be caught with dead batteries.
- Compartmentalize gear. Keep all charging cables in one pouch, grooming in another, and work tools in their own bag pocket.
- Balance work and rest. Don’t try to power through 17 hours of work alone; your brain needs recovery to perform at its best.
- Pre-landing reset. Groom, hydrate, and mentally rehearse your first meeting before stepping off the plane.
Bonus Items
Conclusion
Robert Forto’s mission from Alaska to South Korea, on behalf of Alaska Dog Works, demands a kit that’s as adaptively resilient as he is. Hawaiian Airlines’ Extra Comfort experience offers him more than just room; it provides the ergonomic, tech-enabled foundation to travel as a confident, responsive professional. His meticulously chosen gear, from hydration to high-end audio, power banks to grooming tools, forms a mobile command center that ensures he arrives ready to perform at his best.
This synergy of innovative gear and strategic cabin choice underscores what long-haul travel should be: not just getting there, but arriving capable, alert, comfortable, and primed for purpose.
