Long Haul Carry On Essentials: Making Your Trip Comfortable
By Daniella from Sampler Platter Travel – this guide to long haul packing contains affiliate links to trusted partners!
Looking for a list of long haul carry on essentials to make your next long trip comfortable?
There’s no feeling like exploring a new country and ticking adventures off your bucket list.
But boy, who enjoys those 9+ hour flights to get there? Over many years of travel, we’ve gone through the trials and tribulations of figuring out just what to pack in your carry-on bag.
We think we’ve finally cracked what works best (at least personally) for long flights. Most importantly, we’ve figured out what fits in our carry on bags of choice.
Gone are the days of having to take out electronics while passing through security and not being able to fit them back in.
These 20 essentials may seem like a lot but will make your flight so much more enjoyable.
Long Haul Carry On 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, vaccine card (even though not many people ask for that anymore), boarding passes/train tickets/etc., International Driving Permit, and Global Entry card.
While passport holders can be very fun, we recommend getting a larger one to be able to keep all of your documents in one place. You definitely don’t want to have documents thrown around your bag if they don’t fit into a holder.
Check out this document holder on Amazon.
(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.
You can grab yours from Amazon, and the charge usually lasts about 8 hours of use. For longer flights, try and get some sleep if your headphones die!
(3) Charger Bag
I’m very guilty of forgetting to pack my chargers, so if you’re like me, do yourself a favor and get yourself a charger bag. They can hold everything from a long computer cord to a portable charger and all of the adapters for your destination.
Grab yours from Amazon here for your list of long haul carry on essentials.
(4) Computer/Tech of Choice
Choose between computers, tablets, or gaming consoles Whatever your tech of choice is, make sure it’s tucked safely into your carry on bag and not shifting around in your roller bag.
It’s just good practice to keep your electronics with you at all times because you never know what might happen with your checked bag. You won’t want your nice camera getting lost with the rest of your luggage.
(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!
Travel guides are also a super fun way to spend time on a long haul flight. You can do some last-minute travel planning or look at restaurants in your destination.
I am a recent Kindle convert and absolutely adore mine, available on Amazon.
(6) Lightweight Reusable 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 liter Nalgene.
The Nalgene is perfect because it is lightweight, but the liter size means you don’t have to constantly fill up your bottle.
On planes, while you can usually request water from a flight attendant, they don’t go by with their drink trollies as often as you might like.
(7) Neck Pillow
For ultimate sleep comfort, consider investing in a neck pillow. They 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.
They are available on Amazon so you don’t have to stress out about getting one at the airport.
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 carry on.
I use this little one by Liysoca and everything fits perfectly (available on Amazon). I love this little bag so much that it has become part of my daily life, not just travel.
(9) Hair Brush + Hair Tie
This one’s a personal underrated favorite of mine. It’s nice to tie up your hair before a long flight so you don’t get a rat’s nest by the time you land. In addition, it’s a good idea to tidy up with a quick brush before stepping off the plane.
I like these satin hair ties because they don’t pull out your hair, and I love this little tiny brush from Amazon. Leave your full-size brush at home.
(10) Deodorant
This one needs no explanation! After multiple hours in transit, it can’t hurt to freshen up. Travel sizes are always the best, so make sure you save up on space by getting a smaller version of your favorite deodorant. Smelling good is on the list of long haul carry on essentials.
Amazon has small deodorant here.
(11) Tissues
Travel-size tissue packets are a must-add to your collection. They’ll save you if you need to blow your nose or spill a drink in the middle of the flight.
(12) Hand Sanitizer
For a little extra cleanliness, slide in a small bottle of hand sanitizer. While we love the smell of Bath & Body Works, let’s face it, those hand sanitizers are riddled with toxic ingredients.
Make sure to get a cleaner version for your next trip.
(13) Ear Plugs
Prioritize that sleep! Invest in some earplugs that truly turn off the world around you.
I use Loop Quiet Earplugs, and they have been an absolute lifesaver on multiple trips. Yes, they may be more expensive than the traditional silicon cones, but these are countlessly reusable, and they come in fun different colors. They even arrive in a tiny carrying case.
I’ve used them on so many trips that at this point, they have well past paid for themselves, and it was one of my absolute favorite travel investments.
(14) Eye Mask/Sleep 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.
I recommend a satin sleep mask because your eyes will thank you for that. They are more comfortable than cotton ones, and stylish too!
(15) Face Mask
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) Lip Balm
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.
They don’t come with labels, so if you’re extra careful about expiration dates, I would suggest writing the expiration date on a small piece of tape and sticking it on.
While this pill case is not a substitute for a vitamin case, it’s incredible for your emergency drugs as well as melatonin, a necessary tool for good sleep.
(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 is a great idea when you’re bored.
(19) Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Throw in a toothbrush and toothpaste. You can freshen up in the airport, on the airplane, or anywhere in between.
If you don’t want to take up too much space within your carry-on bag, we recommend this tiny little set of a toothbrush and toothpaste.
(20) Compression Socks
Last, but certainly not least, I don’t use compression socks, but I felt the need to include these on the list because travelers swear by them on international trips!
If you have poor circulation in your feet, or want to keep your ankles from swelling, get a pair of comfy compression socks for your trip.
Tips for Falling Asleep on Planes
Use an Eye Mask
The no-brainer for best plane sleep – turn off the rest of the world with an eye mask and avoid the odd lights schedule.
Ear Plugs
For a little auditory break, put some earplugs in and ignore the constant chatter, PA announcements, and food carts passing by. I absolutely adore my Loop Earplugs. You won’t have to buy silicon cones ever again!
Scarf
I love traveling with a scarf. Not only is it a great accessory, but it also doubles as an extra tent when you’re trying to sleep. Plus, nothing says ’please don’t wake me for food’ than being covered with a scarf.
Neck Pillow
A perfect way to keep your head in place (and stay relatively comfortable). Neck pillows do wonders compared to the pillows they give you on the plane, and they don’t take up much space because you can clip them to the outside of your bag.
Take Melatonin
If you have a super hard time falling asleep, take a couple of melatonin gummies 30 minutes before you plan on sleeping.
Don’t Drink Too Much Water
It’s important to stay hydrated while traveling, but you also want to avoid getting up to pee right as you start to fall asleep. Try to stop drinking water after the meal is served so you don’t wake up needing to head to the bathroom.
Brush Your Teeth
This is a quick psychological trick – at home, your brain knows that it’s time for bed when you start to do your winddown routine. On the plane, it’s no different. Take a moment to freshen up and brush your teeth to tell yourself it’s time to sleep.
Take Off Your Shoes
This can be quite controversial, but as long as you keep your socks on and your feet stay on the ground, it’s okay to take your shoes off on planes. It’ll make you feel more relaxed and comfortable.
Tips for Long Haul Carry On Essentials to Limit Jet Lag
Take melatonin, once you arrive so that you don’t wake up in the middle of the night or early in the morning.
If you arrive in the morning, stay active and get your sightseeing in before your energy crashes. This is especially true if you are flying across the world and landing at 5:30 AM.
The adrenaline will probably keep you going for a little bit, but you will most likely crash around 2:00 PM. To not waste the first day completely, make sure to get your sightseeing done in the early morning and take a nap after lunch.
That being said, keep yourself awake but don’t suffer. An 8 pm bedtime is better than a 3-6 pm nap. This is of course different depending on what time you land, but if you are able to stay awake, you should try to do so.
Drink a lot of water. Water is just really good for your body, so make sure to stay super hydrated and drink a lot of water throughout the first few days of your trip.
Limit your caffeine intake. When you first arrive, it may be very tempting to drink a lot of coffee to stay awake, but caffeine can mess with your body. Make sure to limit your caffeine intake, especially when you’re first beginning your vacation. Once you are over your jet lag, you can have as much as you want!
Hope you enjoyed this list of 20 long haul carry on essentials! Enjoy your next flight.
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!