Carry-on Essentials for a Long-haul Flight
Q: I’ve never taken a 15+ hour flight before. Do you have any tips to make it less painful?
A: Absolutely!! I *strategically* prepare my carry-on items the night before a long-haul flight!
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Let’s be honest, while it’s super fun to explore far-flung destinations, the long-haul flight that takes you there can be pretty miserable! It’s not normal to be restricted to an upright chair for 15+ hours!
I once flew from Hong Kong to New York with twin infants in the row behind me… they took turns (very loudly) expressing how uncomfortable they were throughout the flight. And as incredibly irritating as that experience was for me, I TOTALLY understood their pain!
Unless you have the luxury of flying first class (with those DREAMY lie-flat seats!), I’d absolutely recommend preparing for your long-haul flight; it’s a MUST. Want a head start with your carry-on checklist? Check out my carry-on essentials for a long-haul flight below!
Here are my carry-on travel essentials for a long-haul flight!
Technology necessities.
On the eve of your departure, spend some REAL time strategizing your media. Movies, Netflix series, music, podcasts, audiobooks… these things often take a ton of time to download, even on warp-speed wifi. I like to ensure I have enough things downloaded to carry me through the long-haul flight TWICE. First, you never quite know what you’ll be in the mood for at 20,000 feet, so it’s nice to have loads of options, and second, this is a good way to pre-prepare for your return flight too!
Not feeling anything you pre-downloaded? Make sure you have a pair of WIRED headphones with you somewhere in your bag! Many times the flight attendants will pass these out, but sometimes you have to pay for them. I always keep a pair stashed in my bag to watch whatever movie options are available on the headrest TV. As much as I love my wireless AirPods, they can sometimes be useless on these long-haul flights!
Always buy the wifi. Like always. Budget for it when you think about your long-haul flight cost. Having ample access to the internet, social media, or texting with friends is something we don’t even think about day-to-day. But on an international flight that trudges on for hours? While you’re strapped in that little prison of a seat? It feels like *luxury*. It’s that little piece of flight self-care you didn’t know you needed.
Lastly, and MOST importantly, bring a couple of portable chargers! While most long-haul international flights will have outlets at your seat, I recommend preparing for a situation where you’re stuck without them! I like to bring a portable charger for the plane, but I ALSO keep a second one (or more!) stashed in my carry-on after arriving at my destination. The only thing worse than running out of battery mid-flight is running out of battery upon arrival while you’re trying to commute from the airport to your hotel!
Looking for a good one? This Mophie charger is my absolute favorite! It charges my phone from “won’t turn on” dead to 100% charged… TWICE! One more tip? Remember that these chargers are only about 10% charged out of the box, so again, make sure to fully charge them the night before your departure! If you take ONE thing away from this blog post, let it be this — portable charger(s) are an ESSENTIAL carry-on item for a long-haul flight!
Bring your cozy comforts…
These carry-on items are pretty obvious but worth a gentle reminder. Bring your favorite snacks, some warm layers for when the airplane becomes an arctic tundra, a travel blanket and/or pillow (I like to bring a pashmina or sweatshirt to play double duty as a pillow and/or blanket), and most certainly, SOCKS.
After cozying into my seat on a long-haul flight, the first thing I do is to shove my shoes under the seat and put on a thick pair of high socks. It’s a quick & easy tip to turn your seat into your new home for the next several hours. Even better to stow a pair of compression socks. They will help keep the blood moving (even when you’re not). Anyone who’s landed with swollen ankles double their regular size will understand the value of compression socks. They also help alleviate blood clots, which are a common health risk associated with long-haul flights… !!
Here’s a cute and comfy pair of Bombas compression socks, and another affordable option of socks from Amazon. Feel cozy and be good to your body — win-win.
…but don’t get too comfortable!
Every 3-4 hours, I recommend forcing yourself out of your seat to walk down the aisles, visit the bathroom, and keep your legs from becoming complete jelly. I like to take advantage of the larger bathrooms on long-haul flights by spending an extra few minutes in there for stretching and touching my toes. It’s my own mini yoga session and keeps my back from stiffening up too much!
This is likely TMI, but I’m going to go there because you deserve to know — bring Miralax Mix-In Pax.
These are individual packets of a light laxative that can easily be mixed into liquids or mushy foods like yogurt. I like to take one of these the day before a long-haul flight, mid-flight, and the day after arrival. I don’t know the science behind constipation and airplane elevation, but I know it’s a THING for me. It can happen even when I drink loads of water! And it makes me feel downright uncomfortable even if I’ve landed in a tropical oasis. These are mild enough to keep things moving without making you run to the bathroom every 10 minutes.
What else do I do to keep myself moving and kill some time? Take care of personal hygiene. Keep your toothbrush and deodorant easily accessible, as well as a face wash. A splash of cold water on your face can be just the thing to brighten up an otherwise endless feeling of long-haul flight!
Game changer: Focus on health & wellness.
When I decided to treat my airplane seat as my personal spa boutique, it TOTALLY changed my experience on long-haul flights.
HYDRATE. Unfortunately, it seems water can be tough to come by on flights, even though the altitude causes such dehydration!! I always make sure to carry-on two liters of water on a long-haul flight. Also, while some wine may help me fall asleep at the start of my plane ride, I try to avoid alcohol throughout the flight — even more dehydrating! Use your water to wash down some vitamin C, and you’re set for an easier post-flight experience!
REST. Sleeping on a long-haul flight is the ideal way to mitigate jet lag and also kill some time! I always bring an eye mask, earplugs, and Advil PM to give myself the best chance of actual shut-eye. Unfortunately, Melatonin never works for me, but a couple of Advil PM usually does. Find what works for you, and don’t forget it for your long-haul trip!
TREAT YO SELF. You know those face masks and mini serums you never remember to use at home? Bring them on your long-haul flight! I am that shameless girl sitting with a moisturizing face mask on for half the flight. I tap into some lovely R&R and land with dewier skin than when I took off, which would otherwise NEVER happen!!
Some additional suggestions!
Last-minute tips for your long-haul flight?
First, keep your passport and ticket information handy! There’s usually SOME customs or immigration form you have to fill out, so don’t bury those items in the bottom of your bag! Keep a pen at the ready and fill everything out as soon as the flight attendant passes them out to passengers. It’s always a bit of a cluster to fill them out after arriving at the foreign airport!
Second, keep foreign currency handy so that you’re not scrambling for taxi cash upon arrival! When possible, I like to exchange some petty cash in local currency before my long-haul flight. It makes the entire arrival process much smoother and less stressful!!
I hope you found these tips helpful! What are your carry-on essentials for surviving a long-haul flight??
