Let’s face it, long-haul flights can be a real pain. Sitting on a plane for more than 6 hours can challenge your body especially if you’re sitting in economy class. There you are sitting next to people you don’t know in a cramped space and the engine noise is a constant in the background. That’s why your in-flight travel essentials is a must-have. I’m going to share some tips I’ve picked up over the years to help make your flight a little comfier and hopefully get some sleep during your flight.
Here’s my list of my top 12 in-flight travel essentials for those long-haul flights to your trip that much more comfortable.
My In-flight Travel Essentials List:
1) Eye Mask
If you plan on dozing off then a good comfortable eye mask is a must. Do yourself a favor and skip the complimentary eye masks the airlines offer. In a word they suck, they’re simply too uncomfortable and fit a little tight on my head. My absolute favorite sleep eye mask is from LKY Digital, I swear they like wearing a bra for your eyes!
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2) Ear Plugs
This is another must-have if you plan to sleep. I went with a PQ (Peace & Quiet) wax earplugs for sleep and was pleased with how it blocked out much of the cabin noise.
3) Sleep Aid
This is a must for anyone who has a hard time sleeping on a plane. I personally prefer Sleep Well (by Travel Sana) with melatonin however the trick is to start using melatonin a week before your flight so your body can adjust to it.
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4) Dental Care
For long-haul flights, I don’t want to have mush mouth during the flight especially if you plan to eat the inflight meals. Typically I’ll have a travel-sized toothbrush and toothpaste. Keeping a simple travel-sized dental kit will come in handy when traveling for more than 6 – 8 hours.
5) Deodorant
I don’t think this really needs an explanation but here we go. This is something I always bring with me for obvious reasons. No reason to not be fresh during your flight and people around you will be happy if you freshen up with deodorant.
6) Wet Wipes
I always bring wet wipes with me, with so many hours spent on the plane then rushing to get your connecting flight you’ll want to feel clean every step of the way. I recently picked up some Klean Freak Body Wipes and I found these far more effective than what I used before.
7) Earphones / Headset
If you choose to watch the inflight entertainment then earphones are a great thing to have with you. I never like the earphones the airline provides since they tend to have terrible sound quality.
8) Pill box/case
If you’re taking any sort of medication and need quick access then a simple pill box is a great option. Rather than going through your backpack and shuffling through numerous pockets a small pill box in your sling bag will make things so much easier.
9) Dramamine (ginger chews), ibuprofen, Tylenol, immune supplements
This can be anything you need for your flight, necessary medications, mild pain reliever or some sort of immune support supplement. If you’re prone to motion sickness then ginger is a great option to have.
10) Fast charging cable
This is a fairly obvious one to have for your cell phone or tablet. Most planes today will have a charging port so you can connect your devices.
11) Water Bottle
They always come in handy when waiting at the airport. In my personal opinion staying hydrated is important for any long-haul flight. Many international flights will offer a free bottle of water during the flight so grab one…it may come in handy for your connecting flight or whenever. Just bring a collapsible water bottle with you….I did exactly this and it lasted me the whole trip. In case you forget to bring a water bottle you can always ask for one when the flight attendant passes by.
12) Sling bag
Okay this is obvious but where do you plan to put all your in-flight travel essentials? I highly recommend the tomtoc 1.5 liter cross-body sling bag, I used it in my very last trip and it came in clutch.
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Hot Tip: NEVER use the hot towel the airlines give you! You don’t know when those towels were last washed and people will use them to clean other things than their hands…yeah they may wipe down their body you just don’t know.
Clothing options to consider:
Best travel socks
Seriously consider the socks you will wear, trust me you’ll thank yourself later. I never take my shoes off on the plane (it’s disgusting) so by the time I arrive at the airport and get to my destination an easy 15 hours have already passed. You finally get to your hotel/hostel you take off your shoes and BOOM that funk hits your nostrils…and no it’s not Sex Panther.
That’s where Smartwool Socks come in! I tested these on my last trip and these did me justice my foot odor was barely noticeable and my socks were odor-free the next morning. Wool has antibacterial properties and they require less washings than normal cotton socks.
Best travel pants
I can’t rave enough about my Prana travel pants….I absolutely love them!! They’re super comfy, stretchy and they don’t trap heat like blue jeans. I find the Zion Pant II (pictured below) is very versatile and can be used for travel, hiking, or going out. Nothing worse than sitting on a plane and your jeans are just hot.
Other in-flight items things to consider:
Your own in-flight entertainment
Nothing is stopping you from bringing your own in-flight entertainment. While most long-haul flights you’ll take may provide movies you can bring your tablet to watch whatever you choose or simply go analog and read an old fashion book.
Snacks
First and foremost, I absolutely eat airplane food and like it! I don’t complain about the food whatsoever. For any in-between snacks, I bring protein bars just in case I need a bite to eat during a layover or just in between meals.
Disinfectant wipes
For those that want to make sure your hands are always clean just bring some disinfectant wipes or hand sanitizer. They also come in handy to wipe down the tray from the seat in front of you.
Pen
Depending on where you are going, a simple pen will be needed when filling out those documents they hand out. You never know, many times I’m asked to complete a survey about the tour I was on or I need to quickly write something down…a simple pen will do.
Final takeaways with in-flight travel essentials:
Keep in mind the items above are things that fit my needs. Your list may be slightly different so feel free to pick and choose what best fits what your needs are.
- Make a list and keep your essentials list simple.
- Pick what you will need on your long-haul flight.
- The most important thing is to stay relaxed, just focus on your destination!
