What’s In My Carry-On | Long-Flight Essentials
I love to travel. The newness of each destination, the shift in perspective that can only come by experiencing cultures, the feeling of stepping into a different version of myself. But flying? Not my favorite part. The airport alone is an experience I’d love to avoid, between the security line shuffle, the uncertainty of each airport’s rules (shoes on? shoes off? toiletries out? what about electronics? I DON’T KNOW WHY WE’RE YELLING!), the anxiety of racing from one end to another to catch your flight, and then finally getting onboard only to squeeze into a seat that was clearly designed for profit over personal comfort. And, the biggest pet peeve of all: that moment when the seatbelt sign turns off and everyone immediately stands up. Why?! You’re not going anywhere. None of us are going anywhere. Sit. Down.
One day I’d love to just skip all of this and fly private, though I would happily settle for first class! That is my dream! But until then, I’ve learned to get really intentional about how I travel. Over time, I’ve refined my carry-on to contain items that actually support me through the long-haul of the flight, so instead of feeling irritated, I feel a little more grounded and secure in my own world.
Noise Canceling Headphones
After a flight home from LA where we were sat behind a family of screaming toddlers for 2+ hours, I knew my AirPods weren’t going to make the cut for our next international flight. This summer, I snagged my partner and I each a pair of Sony Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones, and after using them on our most recent trip to Luxembourg, these are forever the first thing I’m packing. They block out e v e r y t h i n g : engine hum, cabin noise, crying babies, and those overly-chatty seat neighbors surrounding you. Whether it’s on shorter flights, with my audiobook cued up, or longer ones where I can plug into the in-flight entertainment, I get to escape into my own world. It makes the entire flight feel less anxiety-inducing and so much more restful.
iPhone | Pad & Keyboard Case & Apple Pencil | Chargers
I like to think of this as my portable studio. I can write, sketch, edit photos, draft posts, read, or watch shows without carrying my laptop. And the Apple Pencil is great for doodling when my brain needs to reset. I also have a few game apps available whenever I have the option to connect to Wi-Fi, like at hotels, that I can play to help myself lean into my nightly ritual and wind-down for the evening.
Hydrating Skincare
Pre-flight, I slather on moisturizer like I’m about to head out for a trek up a windy mountain trail. Then, on the flight, it’s: no contacts, no makeup, just moisture, moisture, moisture! My favorite trio is the Sculpted by Aimee HydraGlo serum, CloudCream moisturizer and beauty balm. Once we’ve landed and arrived at our hotel, I like to apply a sheet mask to sleep in and let it soak in overnight so that I wake up looking refreshed, dewy & hydrated.
Travel Documents
While I typically will use the airline app or Apple Wallet for boarding passes, there are those occasionally times where paper is necessary. I like to keep my pass tucked into my passport and easily accessibly as we’re moving through security & customs. This simple yet stylish passport cover is perfect for keeping everything you might want handy protected and contained. I love the added feature of card slots, perfect for storing Priority Pass or Global Entry cards so that everything you need is right at hand.
A Bag of One’s Own
On recent flights, I’ve bounced between using the Calpak Kaya Laptop bag, which is also one of the bags I use everyday. Calpak has a fantastic warranty, however, I can’t personally recommend the bag as one of the straps began to tear within the first year of use. And as the bag isn’t real leather, there’s only so much I can do to salvage it. While I plan to use it through its lifetime, my goal is to upgrade to something that’s a bit more roomy as the other issue I encountered when packing for Europe, was that it was too small to hold everything I needed accessible on the flight. For that flight, I ended up using an old hiking backpack that held everything I needed, but since it isn’t structured, I found I was constantly unpacking & repacking to access the things I needed most.
I want something that fits under the seat, can hold everything, and doesn’t require constant unpacking & repacking every time I want to access my headphones. My partner ordered me this duffle the night before our flight because I was struggling to fit everything into my classic carry-on suitcase (a post for another day!) so I’m currently eyeing their tote bags and backpack options, leaning toward this one so that it matches the duffle.
Electrolyte Packets & Water Bottle
Flights are dehydrating, especially if you’ve spent anytime at the airport bar before take-off or had drinks mid-flight. Before boarding, I like to fill my water bottle and drop in an electrolyte packet to sip throughout the flight. I’ll also pack extras for post-landing as these are especially great at easing jet-lag as they help with tiredness, and that dull, low-energy feeling.
Wool Wrap
This is my version of travel armor. It doubles as a scarf and as a blanket, and it gives me something soft to curl into. I prefer having the fan on even though I tend to find flights are always cold, and those airplane blankets they give out just don’t cut it. A wrap instantly makes me feel more warm and comforted with something that smells like home.
Agenda & My Favorite Gel Pen
You never know when inspiration will strike! I like to carry my agenda with me both as a place to jot down ideas, as well as to use as a travel journal to recapture moments from our trip. I have a dedicated travel section in my planner including these inserts where I can record our favorite coffee shops, restaurants & attractions, as well as rough out an itinerary or fill-in at the end of the day so I can refer to my notes later.
Sunglasses & an Eye-Contour Sleep Mask
I love taking a red-eye for international flights. Although times have changed, and it’s no longer the golden age of flight, there’s something nostalgically glamorous about taking off, having a glass of wine and eating dinner mid-air. (If only we still had that leg room. . .) Post dinner, I like to pop a melatonin, turn on a comfort movie on the in-flight entertainment, pull down my eye mask, and attempt to sleep for the remaining hours of the flight. I prefer one that’s contoured so it doesn’t weigh heavy on your eyelashes and eyelids, as I feel my eyes tend to flutter as I’m drifting off. Sleep is never easy in seats that don’t lie flat, and I refuse to recline as I despise having that done to me, so the sunglasses are for when you land. Because even though you might be jet-lagged, the world never needs to know, darling.
Travel is never going to be perfect. There will always be delays and crying babies and someone trying to shove an oversized suitcase into the overhead bin like it’s a magic trick. But having the right things with me makes the whole experience feel less chaotic and more like something I can move through on my own terms.
These are the pieces that help me stay comfortable, hydrated, rested, and supported while I’m suspended in a metal tube for hours on end. If you’ve been trying to figure out your own long-flight routine, hopefully this gives you a place to start.
And if you’re also working toward that “first class every time” era . . . girl, same. We’ll get there. In the meantime, shoppe the links below to build out your own carry-on essentials.