16 Items You May Want to Carry to Have a Comfortable Long Flight
Congratulations! You booked your trip, packed your bag and gone through your pre-trip checklist. What’s left! You need to make sure you have a comfortable flight. No one wants to be stuck on a long flight without some essential items to make sure you have a comfortable flight.
Listed below are sixteen (16) items you may want to pack in your carryon:
1. Reusable Water Bottle. Airplanes are very dehydrating, so it is important to drink as much water as possible. Dehydration can diminish your health because it dries out your skin, makes you more susceptible to jetlag, and weakens your immune system. I suggest you travel with a metal or plastic water bottle or purchase a collapsible and/or foldable water bottle that you can easily store and will not take up much space.
It will also help you save money because most airports have “hydration stations” where you can fill your water bottle rather than buy an expensive bottle of water. Just remember to empty your bottle before you go through the security line.
2. Hydrate Your Skin. Other things to keep you hydrated on a plane are hand moisturizer, eyedrops, and cough drops. Your skin, eyes, and throat will all get very dry, which can lead to an uncomfortable trip. These three items will save you from drying out and help you feel healthy and fresh when you land.
3. Noise Cancelling Headphones. The headphones you get on airplanes are usually cheap with poor sound quality and are uncomfortable if worn for an extended period of time. You need noise cancelling headphones so that you are comfortable when binge-watching TV or listening to a relaxing sleep playlist. They also help you block out noise when you want to get some sleep.
4. Healthy Snacks. The type of food you eat during a flight will make or break your body's reaction to traveling longer distances. Pack snacks like mixed nuts, cheese and crackers, and fruits that are low in carbs and high in protein. Also bring gum. Gum takes away bad breath after snacking and helps relieve ear pressure while taking off and landing.
5. Mini-Toiletry Bag. After and during a long flight you are going to want to brush your teeth, so make sure you pack a toothbrush and toothpaste. Pack lotion to keep your skin moisturized, a can of dry shampoo, natural deodorant, and hand sanitizer. If you have a slim portable travel toiletry case it will keep everything organized. You can also bring a travel size bottle of facewash to feel even more clean and fresh.
Do not forget to pack your prescription medicine and put it in your carry-on. I always carry a few pain reliever tablets and antihistamines in travel size containers. If you suffer from cabin pressure, pack a few decongestion pills, like Sudafed.
6. Compression Gear. For any flight, wearing compression clothing encourages good circulation and helps your body adjust to pressure changes. This is especially important for longer flights. Purchase a pair of compression leggings for durability and comfort.
Make sure you wear comfortable shoes to go with your compression socks. If you want to go shoe-free on the plane, bring a pair of foldable slippers for those bathroom trips. Alternatively, slip on flats or sneakers are good options if you want shoes that go on and off easily.
7. Bring a Scarf. To avoid using the airplane blanket, you can use this scarf as a blanket. You will be grateful later if the airplane is cold. You can also use this scarf during your travels if you visit a mosque or get cold on a bus tour.
8. Extra clothes. Remember to dress comfortably for your flight and make sure to bring an extra change of clothes (and underwear) in your carry-on luggage just in case your luggage gets delayed or lost. If you arrive in a new country without your luggage, you will be incredibly happy if you planned and had a fresh pair of clothes in your carry-on.
9. Sleep Aids. You may experience discomfort on a long flight and have a problem falling asleep or just trying to relax. Why not try a melatonin spray or melatonin pills? They both can be purchased over the counter. They are natural medicines that replace prescription sleep aids. You may also want to sip a bedtime time like chamomile or peppermint tea. These suggestions work wonders for relaxation.
10. Paperback Book or Magazine. Travel is a wonderful opportunity to get lost in an enjoyable book. It’s a good idea to bring at least one form of non-electronic entertainment for takeoff and landing or for any time you want a break from the screen or if the battery on your device dies. Magazines and books are more expensive in the airports, so I suggest that you bring one from home.
11. Back-Up Entertainment. Have you ever had a blank screen on your inflight entertainment—if it hasn't happened to you yet, consider yourself lucky. Just in case your screen fails or if you just want your own entertainment, bring a laptop, tablet, or reader. You can bring a compact back-up hard drive to store movies or TV shows to watch on a laptop.
You can also download any shows or movies on any subscription services you have that allow this feature, like Hulu or Amazon Prime. Make sure your devices are fully charged before departure just in case your seat doesn't have outlets.
12. Sanitary Wipes. Do not be embarrassed to pull out your wipes and sanitize your seat and your surrounding area on the plane. This is especially important because of Covid-19 and is highly recommended. Planes are covered with germs, and it is easy to catch colds as well as pick up other germs. You can also use these wipes to clean and sanitize your hotel room.
13. Eye Masks. If you have trouble sleeping, you may want to use eye masks to help create a more relaxing environment for sleep. They are also a good jet-lag remedy because sleeping in the dark makes you rest better. Make sure to pick eye masks that do not apply pressure around your head.
14. Neck or Travel Pillows. These pillows are another way to increase comfort on planes. It may be cumbersome to carry but it is worth the sacrifice. If you do not want to carry a pillow around or do not have room, you can always bring an inflatable pillow. You can purchase an inflatable pillow with a built-in neck support feature.
15. Back-Up Power Charger. Even if you charge all your devices before you travel, your devices will probably run out of power, or you will have a low battery by the end of your flight. Most larger planes now have power outlets at seats, but this is never a guarantee. Make sure you pack a compact size portable charger that won't take up a lot of space and gives a quick, full charge to make sure your phone is available when you land.
Be sure to pack an extra USB output charger as well as any necessary converters that you may need so that all your devices are fully charged during your flight and on your tours.
16. Motion Sickness Pills. Motion sickness pills are helpful because they prevent you from getting sick on a long flight. However, they have additional benefits, their side effect of drowsiness may help you fall asleep. Just be sure to avoid the ‘non-drowsy’ version.
Final Thoughts
Listed about are some of my favorite things to pack when I go on a long flight. These items will make your long flight more comfortable so that when you arrive at your destination you will be ready for your adventure abroad.
Do you have any items that you pack in your carryon on long flights that I did not mention? If so, please let me know in the comments.
And if you are ready to travel again and experience a new destination, contact Cindy at cindy@colesvilletravel.com or call 301-989-1654. We are ready when you are.
Until then, stay inspired.
Cindy
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