15 ITEMS TO BRING IN YOUR CARRY-ON ON A LONG FLIGHT

We’ve all been there. The dreaded long-haul flights, we’re about to embark on that may be up towards 14, 20 or even 25 hours long to get to our dream-destination at the end of the rainbow. Now, whether you’re flying economy or business class, these 15 items to bring in your carry-on on a long flight will definitely make a difference to your experience before, during and after your flights.

I’m about to head on a 25-hour flight(s) to Denmark next week, so these are the 15 essentials I bring with me.

Have you thought about them all?

#1 – Neck Pillow:

A lot of you will think: ‘Isn’t this a given?!”. But, there are soooo many people who travel without one. And what if you end up in the mid-seat with no windows to lean up against and you’re fighting your neighbour for the armrest? My pointe exactly! Neck-pillow to the rescue.. Allow yourself to spend $40 on a neck-pillow and catch some ZzZ’s on the plane before your arrival. Sleeping on the plane will also help your jetlag when you arrive at your end destination.

Foam Travel Neck Pillow from Cotton On

#2 – Fuzzy Socks:

How many times have you been on a flight and you’re freezing (to death!)? If your feet are cold, it won’t matter how much you try to heat up the rest of your body, it just won’t work. Bring a pair of fuzzy socks from home that you can slip on to keep you warm. Bonus points if you also bring a pair of compression-socks to wear underneath them to help DVT – no matter what age you are!

Fuzzy Socks from Rubi Shoes

#3 – Good Headphones:

I see so many travellers always relying on the little earphones that the airlines hand out on the flights. Most of the time, though, people have too small ears for the ear-phone to fit into, and they’re of such poor quality that you don’t block any of the noise out from the aircraft, leaving you with having to listen on the highest sound-level resulting in a splitting headache.

I always bring a pair of Head Phones and the cable – which means they both work with bluetooth (off the plane) and on the plane. Normally the airlines has a splitter so you can insert it into the screen, but you might want to bring one just in case.

My favourites I’ve had for years are the Beats Solo by Dr. Dre as they collapse together to take up minimal space in your carry-on.

Beats Solo 3 by Dr. Dre

#4 – Facial Wipes:

The first thing I do when I get on a long-haul flight, is to take off all my makeup so my skin can breathe. The air is very different on a flight, so you want to give your skin the best chance to stay healthy whilst you’re travelling.

They also double up as serviets after you’ve eaten on the plane.

3 in 1 Micellar Wipes from Burt’s Bees

#5 – Face Oil:

The air on a flight is a lot dryer with not much moisture which means your skin will dry out a lot quicker than when on land. Simply bringing a face oil to apply (after you’ve removed makeup – remember face wipes) eliminates that problem quickly and efficiently.

I use an oil like Jojoba from The Jojoba Company because it doubles up as a cuticle-oil and hand-creme for me and I also use it on my dry hair-ends and as a makeup remover. Products that double up are great for travelling because it means more space in your suitcase for other things (read: shopping!).

Pure Jojoba Oil from The Jojoba Company

#6 – Under Eye Masks:

I don’t know about you, but after a 25-hour flight, I look pretty darn tired and puffy, even if I’ve gotten some sleep, my eye-area just still won’t settle.

I’ve started bringing little single-pack’s of eye masks on a flight to boost hydration and help with dark circles and puffiness underneath my eyes, when I fly. You feel (& look!) a lot fresher when stepping of that plane.

Pack Your Bags Undereye Patches from Tarte @ Sephora

#7 – Silk Sleep Eye Mask:

.. and to help you shut out the light, tv-screens and other distractions, bring a silk sleep mask – silk, because it’s gentle on your skin and won’t promote wrinkles – on your flight to feel comfortable and help you catch some better ZzZ’s without disturbances.. Plus, you’ll look chick AF.

Slip Sleep Eye Mask from Slip @ Sephora:

#8 – Water Bottle:

It’s so important to stay hydrated, but even more so when you’re flying. You don’t want to constantly be asking the cabin-crew for a paper-cup of water-refills. It takes too long, and the staff will be tired of you before the flight is over.. Instead, bring a large water bottle they can top up for you once in a while, and it will remind you to drink more as well.

Rose Quartz Crystal Infusion Water Bottle from Maaemo

#9 – Large Scarf:

You won’t just look über chick as you arrive in the airport and board the plane, the scar will also double up as a blanket if you get cold on the plane, or extra cushioning for your head if you get the window-seat and want to sleep up against the wall.

Printed Soft-Feel Scarf from Zara

#10 – Glasses & Contacts

If you’re like me who uses daily contact-lenses, it’s a good idea to bring your glasses on the plane to give your eyes a break from contacts. Also, as I’ve mentioned a few times above, the air on flights are incredibly dry and can cause real dryness in your eyes if you keep drifting in and out of sleep as well.

Bring a pair of specs and ditch the contact-lenses once you’re on the flight. Just keep a spare pair of contacts in your carry-on and you can pop a pair in before you land.

Harper Frames from Bailey Nelson

#11 – Essential Oils & Crystals:

If you’re anything like me, and get a bit of anxiety and stress when you’re stuck in small places (hello economy class!), then stock up on a few essential oils and crystals that helps with stress and anxiety and promotes peace, calm and tranquility.

Essentials oils that are good for anxiety includes:

• Lavender
• Chamomile
• Bergamot
• Rose
• Vetiver
• Ylang Ylang

Crystals can also help to calm your senses and breathing so that you can better settle in.

Crystals that are helpful for promoting peace & calm includes:

• Clear Quartz
• Rose Quartz
• Amethyst
• Black Tourmaline
• Lepidolite

Lavender Pure Essential Oil from In Essence

Zen Rok from Hart Roks

#12 – Fragrance:

As you can’t bring liquids over 100ml on international flights, it’s a good idea to get your favourite perfume in a travel-size. This also means you don’t have to bring the whole bottle, as you probably won’t use all of it during the time you’re away either way.

Santal 33 from Le Labo

#13 – Snacks:

For heavens sake, please bring snacks onboard. Sometimes, I feel like I might’ve starved (ok, over-dramatising but you get it) if I didn’t have my pre-packed snacks for my flights. There are times where I don’t find the food too enticing onboard flights, and there are other times where the meals just simply don’t fill me up or I’m peckish outside of meal-hours and I don’t want to eat candy-bars and pretzels.

Grab a few snacks to bring onboard like fresh fruit, protein-bars, pre-made salads and nuts so you at least have a backup plan when you’re stuck on a long-haul flight.

Choc Coconut Fudge Snack Bar from The Daily Bar 

#14 – Notebook & Pen:

Spend your time in the air to journal and scribble down your thoughts and feelings. It could be about anything that has no importance, or it would be a project or dream you’re working on. You’re in an (almost) undisturbed space, so utilising that time to turn inwards, could be incredibly beneficial.

.. and, having a pen on you always helps when you have to fill in arrival-forms etc.

Pale Pink A6 Notebook Set from The Daily Edited.

#15 – Audiobooks & Podcasts

Why not take the (flight)-time to learn something new? Whether it’s learning about your self through a self-help audiobook, studying a language or listening to your spiritual practice, audiobooks and podcasts are a great way to spend your time usefully whilst being on a flight.

Just remember to download them before you take off, if you have no wifi onboard.

A Course In Miracles from Audible

Last but not least; ENJOY your flight. It’s time to yourself and the outside world, and it can actually be incredibly amazing – even if you DO travel on Economy-class ;)

Anna xx