Long-haul flights are the annoying thing we all have to put up with if we want to travel the world. Unless you are lucky enough to be able to afford to fly first class, flying is generally boring, cramped and uncomfortable, especially if you are flying long distance. While you can’t do anything to shorten the length of the flight there are some things you can pack to make your journey more bearable. Here are my recommendations of long-haul flight essentials to take with you in your carry-on.
Documents
Although documents are not going to make your long-haul flight any more fun, they are the most essential thing to pack. Without these, you are not going to be going anywhere.
Passport and visas – These are the main documents you need to be able to travel to a foreign country. Check your passport has not expired and that it complies with the entry requirements of the country you are visiting. Check out the FCDO website for more information on passport and visa requirements for each country.
Boarding pass – Boarding passes may be given to you at the airport or you may receive them in advance. Some airlines will send you an electronic copy but others may require you to have a printed version.
Photocopy of passport – A photocopy of your passport is good to have in case the original gets lost or stolen. Although you won’t be able to travel on a photocopy, it can help you out if you are stuck in another country and have to report your passport stolen or have to apply for a new one.
Other documents – Most documents are now online, but it is still good practice to have a paper copy backup. You never know when your phone might break or you don’t have internet. Other documents you may need include your travel insurance policy, accommodation or transport vouchers, vaccination record or emergency contact numbers.
A pen – Pens are essential to pack in your carry-on luggage to allow you to fill in visa forms onboard. Plus, you may also need one if you plan on taking a puzzle book with you.
Food and drink
A refillable water bottle – Hydration is essential on a long-haul flight, as flying make you dehydrated quicker. Annoyingly the 100ml liquid restriction still exists in most airports, so you can’t just take litres of bottled water through security. However, you can take an empty water bottle through, then hopefully you can find somewhere to fill it up once you have passed through security. Quite often there are water fountains in airports or failing that you could ask nicely at a restaurant if they can fill your bottle. You may also want to purchase additional bottles of water if your airline is not providing free drinks onboard.
Food (nut free) – Food does not come with the same restrictions as liquids, so you can take as much as you like on the plane. The only exception is if the food is a gel or liquid consistency e.g. soup, then the 100ml liquid restriction would apply. I would recommend packing food that is nut free, as there may be someone onboard with a nut allergy. I have been caught out before where I packed lots of food for a flight, only to get onboard and get told that there was someone with a nut allergy and we weren’t allowed to consume any food with nuts. Annoyingly everything I had bought for that trip contained nuts, so I had to pay extortionate prices to purchase the onboard meals.
Entertainment and electronics
Entertainment items – Long haul flights are boring, but they can be made better if you have something to do. Things you could pack to keep yourself entertained could include magazines, an e-reader, tablet, puzzle books, card games or an MP3 player. If you are wanting to watch movies or listen to music on an electronic device, then remember to download them onto your device before flying so that you can watch them offline.
Wired headphones – On most long-haul flights there will be some type of entertainment system where you can watch movies or listen to music. If a plane has these TV’s then they should also provide you with headphones as well. But these headphones are usually cheap with poor sound quality and very uncomfortable to wear for a long time, so it is best to pack your own wired headphones.
Charger – If you are using any electronic devices on a plane, you may end up with the battery running low. Therefore, you will need a charging cable for any device you will be taking on the plane. Most planes have USB charging ports, so most devices can be charged up during the flight.
Comfort
Pillow and blanket – Many airlines will provide a pillow and blanket on a long-haul flight, but you may want to take your own. Even though airlines have a set allowance for carry on, I have found that most don’t care if you take a pillow with you or have a blanket tucked under your arm when you board. Just make sure that it isn’t so large that you are invading other people’s space.
Ear plugs – I used to get very painful ears when I first started flying but discovered that you can get ear plugs which help the reduce discomfort caused by air pressure changes. If you are prone to these types of issues, then buying a pair of flight earplugs might be the answer. If you don’t have this issue, then regular ear plugs are also essential to pack to drown out noise, allowing you to get some sleep.
A wrap or hoodie – Wearing layers on a long-haul flight is essential as the temperature onboard can sometimes range from tropical to freezing cold. A simple wrap or hoodie can add extra warmth if it gets too cold, or it can double as a pillow to snuggle into.
Eye mask – For night flights you are going to want to get some shut eye, but even though the cabin lights are dimmed during nighttime hours, there are still lots of lights around from people’s TV screens and the reading lights above. This is where taking a blackout eye mask is a life saver as it can help block out that annoying light allowing you to get some sleep.
Compression socks – Compression socks are designed to help increase circulation while you are sitting on the plane for a long time and reduce the risk of blood clots and deep vein thrombosis. They can also reduce the swelling that may occur in your legs and feet from a long-haul flight. Not everyone may choose to wear them, but they are beneficial for people who may be at higher risk of blood clots. Just make sure that you also get up and walk around at regular intervals to increase circulation, even if you are wearing compression socks.
Packing a blanket or hoodie is essential for a long-haul flight
Health and hygiene
Change of underwear – Wearing the same pants for hours on end is not pleasant for anyone, so stuffing a clean pair into your carry-on will help you freshen up during the flight.
Sanitary products – Ladies we know that periods can strike at any time, and the last thing you want is to be unprepared at 35,000 feet. Best to take at least one or two pads or tampons in your carry-on.
Deodorant* – Deodorant is another long-haul flight essential to help you freshen up during your journey. Not only will it make you feel cleaner, but it is also courteous to the other passengers to not be stinking of BO. Beware of aerosols though as some airlines may not allow them in carry-on luggage.
Toothbrush and toothpaste* – You will probably want to brush your teeth after your meals or before you go to sleep, so just pack a manual toothbrush and some toothpaste. Some airlines make also provide this in a free amenities kit.
Chewing gum – There may be times when you can’t brush your teeth, such as when the seat belt sign is on, or when the person next to you is sleeping and you can’t get to the bathroom. Chewing gum is a great alternative in these instances. It’s also courteous to other passengers to ensure that you don’t have smelly breath for the entire journey.
Lip balm, hand cream and moisturiser* – Airplane travel can play havoc with the skin making it dehydrated. It is a good idea to add beauty products like lip balm, moisturiser, face masks, and hand cream to your carry-on to help put moisture back into your skin.
Face wipes – It is very difficult to have a full wash on a flight, but you may want to still freshen up and face wipes are a great way to do this. You can use them to take off your make up or to wash your armpits mid-flight.
Travel sickness tablets – If you know that you get motion sick while travelling, then packing some travel sickness pills can be a lifesaver when you are starting to feel unwell. (Read more about how to avoid getting sick while travelling HERE)
Tissues – Although airlines should keep their toilets well stocked with toilet paper, there may be instances where you get to the bathroom and there isn’t any. This may not be as much of a problem for men, but ladies may want to pack some tissues in case there is no toilet paper. Tissues are also useful for wiping your hands after your meal or for cleaning up any drink spillage caused by turbulence.
Hand sanitiser* – Airplanes are a hot bed of germs. So many people from all over the world stuck in a metal box for hours on end breathing recycled air. There are many times when you won’t be able to get to the toilet to wash your hands, so hand sanitiser is essential to disinfect your hands before and after your meals.
*Make sure any toiletries (gels, liquids or creams) comply with the less than 100ml carry-on rule.
