What to Pack for a Long Flight: Carry-On Travel Essentials
Ah, the dichotomy of travel. There’s no feeling like exploring a new country and ticking adventures off your bucket list. But boy, who enjoys those 8+ hour flights to get there? Over many, many years of travel, I’ve gone through the trials and tribulations of figuring out just what constitutes a carry-on travel essential.
Enter my absolute favorite list. I think I’ve finally cracked what works best (at least personally) for flights outside of the continental U.S. Most importantly, I’ve figured out what fits in my carry-on bag of choice. There’s nothing worse than having to take out electronics while passing through security and not being able to fit them back in.
Quick note: None of these links are sponsored. I just love certain products and want to spread the word about what works for me! Plus, I’m a diehard fan of my Fjallraven Kanken Classic backpack, which holds all of these items perfectly.
Table of Contents
Essentials
(1) Documents
Alright, a no-brainer. I love my oversized document holder because I can keep all my documents in there such as a passport (or two), vaccine card (even though not many people ask for that anymore), boarding passes/train tickets/etc., International Driving Permit, and Global Entry card.
(2) Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Crying babies and PA announcements no more. I was an Air Pod lover until I got my first pair of Bose Q45 headphones. Now there’s no going back – with a toggle to switch between ambient noise and a complete blackout, you can choose when to listen to the dinner options and when to drown out the sounds of the engine. I also love that the headphones operate via Bluetooth but have an aux cord to watch movies on the plane screen.
(3) Charger Bag
I’m very guilty of forgetting to pack chargers, and if you’re like me, do yourself a favor and get a bag for them. I got mine from Target and it holds everything from a long computer cord to a portable charger and more.
(4) Computer/Tech of Choice
You can be a computer, iPad, or Nintendo Switch kind of person. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s tucked safely into your personal bag and not shifting around in your roller bag.
(5) Entertainment of Choice
The same goes for your entertainment of choice – don’t forget your Kindle or paperback unless you plan on staring at the flight tracker the entire time!
(6) Light Water Bottle
Pack an empty water bottle to fill up once you’re past security. Your body will thank you in the air. At home, I’m a die-hard Hydroflask fan. However, when traveling, I like to pack my super light 1 Litre Nalgene from REI.
(7) Neck Pillow
For ultimate sleep comfort, consider investing in a neck pillow. Most airports sell them for less than $15 and can make a big difference between a broken neck and decent sleep. For extra space-saving techniques, clip your neck pillow to the handle of your bag.
Personal Care
(8) Bag for Personal Care Items
For the following items, I recommend getting a small bag so they don’t get lost in the bottom of your larger bag. I use this little one by Liysoca and everything fits perfectly.
(9) Hair Brush + Hair Tie
This one’s a personal underrated favorite of mine. Sometimes it’s nice to tie up your hair before a long flight so you don’t get a rat’s nest with twenty residents by the time you land. In addition, it’s nice to tidy up with a quick brush before stepping off the plane.
(10) Deodorant
This one needs no explanation! After multiple hours in transit, it can’t hurt to freshen up.
(11) Tissues
Drugstores like CVS and Walgreens always have great options for travel-sized tissue packets. Throw a couple in your bag because you never know when you’re going to get access to napkins.
(12) Hand Sanitizer
For a little extra cleanliness, slide in a small bottle of hand sanitizer.
(13) Ear Plugs
Prioritize that sleep! Invest in some earplugs that truly turn off the world around you. I love my Loop Quiet earplugs, and while I was initially off-put by the price, I’ve used them for countless trips now and they’ve been a lifesaver.
(14) Eye Mask
Another sleep classic you can’t forget! Planes have a weird lighting schedule, and you definitely don’t want to be trapped in a light cycle you can’t get out of.
(15) Face Mask
Okay, so not many airlines still require the use of a face mask, but I still like to carry one just in case. When I flew EVA Air in April 2023, they had all passengers wear a face mask. Better to be safe than sorry. Plus, you never know if you’ll get stuck sitting next to an unfortunate person with a sickly cough.
(16) Chapstick
Dry and chapped lips love to come out when you’re up in the air. Throw some chapstick into your bag, and you’ll be happy and moisturized later.
(17) Pill Case
For your Advil, Tylenol, and Melatonin, get a fun pill case so you don’t have to lug around separate bottles of drugs! This segmented pill container is my favorite and comes in different fun colors.
(18) Pen
Always slide a pen into your bag! You don’t want to be stuck without one when the customs forms get passed around. Also, if you’re lucky enough to be on a flight that still has magazines, playing a little Sudoku and filling out a Crossword never hurt anyone.
(19) Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Last, but certainly not least, throw in a toothbrush and toothpaste. You can freshen up in the airport, on the airplane, or anywhere in between.
Hope you enjoy your next long flight and pack these essentials!
Inspired by the idea of a long-haul flight and want to look for a place to go? Check out our Destination Guides. Happy Sampling!