There’s nothing worse than getting on a plane and realizing you forgot some of your travel essentials. We’re Gwyn and Ami, a couple that travels the world, and the USA, for a living. Today we’re sharing practical tips and recommendations for what to pack for long flights!

If you go on social media you’ll see people recommending a million things you need to survive a long flight. However, I don’t think you actually need to spend much money or buy that many things to have a comfortable flying experience. We’ve pared our list down to just the essentials you need for long flights. Our list also minimizes the items you bring for your flight that might not be used again during a trip. 

In addition to sharing what to pack for long flights, we also share our favorite carry-on bags for travel. Finally, at the end of the article you’ll find a travel essentials carry-on checklist you can reference when packing to ensure you don’t forget any travel essentials!

What to pack for long flights

Whether you’re planning a buck list trip to Europe of an outdoorsy getaway to a National Park in the United States, having the right carry on items makes all the difference in how enjoyable the journey is. See below for what to pack for long flights!

Identification and travel documents

The most important thing to pack for travel are your travel documents and identification. While this might seem obvious, it’s also a common thing for people to forget, resulting in panic (and missed flights!) at airports! Make sure to pack your ID, as well as your passport (if relevant). 

If you’re traveling to another country you will also want to ensure you have any required travel documents, including visas. This even applies to some layover locations! For example, starting in 2025 all non-European travelers must have an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) just to pass through an airport in the UK. Make sure to plan accordingly and apply in advance for any travel authorizations needed. These documents can take several weeks to process, and often require a small fee.

A luxurious travel blanket that works overtime

Airplanes are notorious for having bad temperature regulation, and I find I’m usually too cold on flights. To combat this I like to pack a travel blanket, and I highly recommend the Cocoon Wool and Silk Blend Travel Blanket. This luxurious silk and wool travel blanket is small and lightweight, but also surprisingly warm! The natural materials are incredibly soft (not itchy!), and the blanket comes with a thoughtful carry case. 

The best part of the Cocoon travel blanket is a 2-for-1 travel accessory. This blanket also doubles as a styling and warm scarf, making it more versatile than most travel blankets on the market. While this blanket is a bit of a splurge I think the quality and versatility make it worth it!

Advil, sleep aids, and all prescription medications

You never know what issues you might run into on a plane, so I always make sure to pack Advil with me on my long flights. For overnight flights I also like to buy a sleep aid, like melatonin. Finally, I always pack my prescription medications in my carry on bag. This ensures that I will have my medication with me even if my luggage gets lost. Personally, I also like to pack tampons (just in case!), and pepto bismol pills to combat in-flight bloating and discomfort.

A high quality mask

I know some of you are rolling your eyes, but most people who travel a lot have also had the super fun experience of getting sick shortly after a flight. No one wants to be sick on vacation! I like to be prepared with a face mask just in case the person next to me on the plane is sick. I recommend these KN95 face masks (paired with an ‘ear saver’ to make them more comfortable) or these N95 masks, both of which I have worn for long international flights.

Snacks

There is nothing worse than getting hungry on an airplane (or a layover) and being faced with the option of paying a ton of money for subpar food or hoping for a decent in-fight snack. To avoid this I always travel with plenty of snacks! Some of my favorite airplane snacks include fresh blueberries, dried fruits, celery sticks, hard cheeses, crackers, nuts, chocolate, and bars. I’m also a big fan of Trader Joe’s Shishito Crisps. In general, I try to prioritize foods that aren’t super salty, and that have a lot of fiber and/or moisture, since flying tends to dehydrate you and mess with digestion and gut function.

My airplane foods look pretty similar to the hiking “charcuterie board” pictured above.

A portable power bank

While many planes now come with plugs next to your seat, you may not find these on older planes. Additionally, it’s not uncommon to encounter an in-seat plug that doesn’t actually work. As a backup, I like to bring a portable power bank with me just in case I need to charge my phone or other electronics mid-flights. I like this one from Anker, which is slim and has enough power to fully charge your phone twice. Just make sure to charge it beforehand, and don’t forget your cell phone cords!

Reusable water bottle

Environmental concerns aside, I can’t imagine paying $5 for a bottle of water at the airport. I always make sure to pack a reusable water bottle with me for travel. I like this bottle by Nalgene and this bottle by YETI because they’re small, lightweight, and relatively easy to clean.

Travel pillow and eye mask

If you anticipate trying to sleep on the plane, I recommend packing a good neck pillow. I’ve tried a lot of travel pillows over the years and can confidently recommend the Ostrich as the most comfortable travel pillow (read more below). Also, if you’re really trying to get solid sleep, I also recommend packing an eye mask which helps keep you in total darkness when the pilot turns on and off the cabin lights periodically. I really love this eye mask from Ostrich, which is completely blackout, and doesn’t put any pressure on your eyelids. 

TRTL vs. Ostrich – which travel pillow is better?

I recently tested out two trendy travel pillows on long overnight flights – the Trtl Travel Neck Pillow and the Ostrich Go Neck Pillow. While the Trtl Travel Neck Pillow packs down small (great for space savings!) I found that the part that wrapped around my neck put pressure on my neck which was uncomfortable. The Ostrich Go Neck Pillow was quite a bit bulkier, but very comfortable, and supported my head well. I got several hours of comfortable sleep on my flight when I used the Ostrich Go Neck Pillow.

Essential toiletries

In addition to bringing medication, there are a few toiletries that I always have in my carry on bag. Some of these essentials I use on the flight, and some I bring just in case my checked baggage is delayed. My airplane toiletry essentials include hand lotion, chapstick, face lotion, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and face cleaning wipes. I put my preferred hand lotion in these refillable TSA-approved travel-sized “GoTube” containers. I’ve been using them for years because they never leak! 

I also like to pack my mascara and blush (aka my two makeup essentials) just in case my checked back doesn’t make it to my destination. Those are the two things I need to look polished and put together. Because I have curly/wavy hair, sometimes I’ll also carry on my hair products, which I put in either GoTube containers or Cadence capsules. Both styles of containers are pictured above. I prefer the capsules for hair care products, and the GoTubes for shampoo, facewash, and conditioner.

Headphones and entertainment

If you want to enjoy in-flight entertainment you’ll need a pair of headphones! While many airlines provide these for you, it’s good to bring a pair just in case. However, you’ll want to be mindful that most airplanes still use the old style of corded headphones for in-flight entertainment.

Outside of your headphones you might also want some entertainment, like a book, games, or your laptop.

Extra socks, shirt, and underwear

Even if you’re not checking a bag, I recommend packing an extra pair of socks, a shirt, and underwear with you in your carry on. This is a just-in-case measure I try not to skip! This ensures you have a backup pair to wear at your destination just in case your luggage goes missing, which can also happen if you’re required to gate check your bag at the last minute.

Our favorite carry-on bags for travel

REI Trail 25 or trail 40 backpack

We’ve taken these bags on countless trips as our carry-on companions! The REI trail 25 backpack and REI trail 40 backpack (which has nearly two times the capacity of the 25) are our go-to carry-on options for trips that include some hiking. These backpacks are versatile, include an integrated rain cover, and can also fit a laptop or hydration bladder. They look a little more ‘outdoorsy’ than some people might prefer, so you want something more streamlined and polished check out our other two picks below!

Gregory Retna 28 backpack

If you want the convenience and comfort of a backpack but don’t want to look like you’re a high school student the Gregory Retna is a great option. This polished bag has a multitude of thoughtful features and storage compartments that make it ideal for travel. Use discount code “GwynAmi15” for 15% off Gregory products. 

Portland Leather Goods zippered leather tote bag

The Portland Leather Goods leather tote bag is a great travel companion if you want to look polished! We recently used our zippered version of this tote for a 10 day trip to Europe. I appreciated that the back was generously sized for my carry-on items, and that it also looked classy enough to carry around Europe as my primary purse. I recommend getting the zippered version if you plan to use this tote for travel. If you want something lighter the Longchamp Le Pliage tote is a great option to consider.

Carry-on checklist for long flights

Below is a short checklist of 13 travel essentials you should always pack for long flights. Let me know in the comments if I left out any of YOUR travel essentials for long flights! 

Carry-on packing checklist for long flights

I hope you found our article on what to pack for long flights helpful! Looking for more? You can find our other travel and outdoor adventure gear recommendations here. Looking for trip inspiration? Click here for our travel and destination guides!