Long-Haul Flight Essentials – Things That Got Me Through My Longest Flight Yet

In January of 2020, I embarked on the longest flight I have ever been on. My husband, Alex, and I flew from Cleveland, Ohio to Sydney, Australia with a layover in Houston, Texas. In total, we were traveling for more than 24 hours with our Houston to Sydney flight being 17+ hours. I have flown a lot in my life but the thought of being stuck on an airplane for that long honestly made me super anxious. Luckily, I had done my research on what to bring on a long-haul flight and I’m going to share all of the products that made the longest journey of my life feel like a breeze! Here are my long-haul flight essentials!

What To Wear For A Long-Haul Flight

Think about what will be the most comfortable to sit in for long periods of time. Personally, I like to start the day in one outfit and then change before getting on the longest leg of the journey. This helps me feel a bit more human when I land than I would if I wore the same outfit for over 24 hours. For me, leggings and a couple of layers do the trick. I hate being too cold on a flight.

What I Wear On A Long-Haul Flight

• Comfortable/stretchy pants or leggings – I find that high-waisted leggings bother me when sitting for so long so I tend to wear a pair of joggers with an elastic waist or lower waisted leggings.
• A short-sleeved cotton t-shirt – I like to wear layers just in case I ever get too warm and a cotton t-shirt keeps things very breathable and comfy
• A long-sleeved shirt – like I said, it sucks to get cold on a flight so I like having options for layering. My favorite is an oversized long sleeve shirt so I don’t feel too restricted. 
• A hoodie/sweater – The final layer I bring is a hoodie or a sweater. It’s nice to be able to feel toasty warm if you’re trying to catch some zzzs during your long-haul flight.
• Compression socks/fuzzy socks – these are a must if you’re going to be in the air for a while. I hate the feeling of my ankles swelling up so I always wear compression socks. Sometimes those can be a bit thin so I’ll wear a pair of fuzzy socks over them while I sleep.
• A scarf – a nice, soft scarf can double as an extra blanket for you during your flight. I love wearing an infinity scarf or a cashmere scarf on travel days.
• A Hair Tie or Scrunchie – I get really annoyed if my hair starts to fall in my face while I am trying to sleep. It’s always good to keep a scrunchie or hair tie around to keep your hair manageable. I like to use a silk scrunchie so that there is less chance of getting a kink in my hair when I arrive at my destination. 

Electronics Essentials For A Long-Haul Flight

Let’s face it, long-haul flights can be a real drag if you’re unprepared. It’s always good to have your favorite electronics around during your flight to entertain yourself with when you aren’t sleeping. Here are my favorite electronics to bring on a long-haul flight.

• Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones and case – noise-canceling headphones are the best investment I’ve ever made. These have saved me countless times from going mad when a baby is crying or the people closest to you aren’t the most respectful of quiet hours. Believe me, they’re a must-have!
• Laptop/iPhone/Tablet – the iPhone is obvious, of course, you’re not going far without that! But I also love having my laptop or a tablet to get a bit of work done on a flight or to download movies on.
• Aux Cord for my Bluetooth headphones – I like to make sure to bring my aux cord for my Bluetooth noise-canceling headphones so that I can use them for watching movies on the plane. If you don’t remember the cord, you will have to use the free headphones provided in-flight, which just aren’t that great, and don’t block out the extra noise either.
• iPhone Headphone Jack Adapter – I like to have an adapter so that I can plug my Bluetooth headphones into my iPhone just in case my headphones die or the Bluetooth isn’t working properly. It’s always a good thing to have around just in case.
• Electronics Chargers – Of course whenever you bring all of your electronics, you need to make sure to bring the coordinating chargers in case you ever run out of juice!
• Anker Power Block – I barely ever leave the house without my Anker portable charger. It is the best external charger I have ever had and it has lasted for YEARS.
• Cord Organizer – an electronics cord organizer can really be a great addition to your travel essentials. No one likes all their cords getting messed up, lost in the bottom of the bag, or tangled. This helps keep them all in one place and you’ll always be able to find what you’re looking for.

Entertainment Essentials For A Long-Haul Flight

Like I said earlier, being bored on a long flight is the worst! You need to come prepared with a few things to keep your mind off of the time. These are the sources of entertainment that help me survive long flights and sitting in airports. 

• A Good Book – I usually prefer reading a physical book over an ebook so I don’t have a Kindle yet. But if that’s your thing, great! Bring that instead!
• Music – Listening to music during takeoff and landing is my favorite thing. It really helps me to take my mind off any potential turbulence or motion sickness I might be experiencing. Don’t forget to download your favorite playlists beforehand!
• Games – I love to play mindless games on my phone while I listen to music. It is one of those things that just does the trick to pass the time. My favorites are Bejeweled Classic, Solitaire, Mahjong, and Flow. Very exciting, I know! 
• Podcasts or Audiobooks – Sometimes I will be in the mood to listen to a podcast or an audiobook while I play games too. Just make sure you come prepared and have them downloaded before you get on the plane. 
• In-Flight Entertainment – most long-haul flights will have a large library of TV and movie options for you to choose from. I love it when they have movie series like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter that I can binge through to pass the time. 
  • Keep in mind that you can download audiobooks, ebooks, movies, and music for free with a library card via the Hoopla, Overdrive, and Libbey apps.

Sleep Essentials For A Long-Haul Flight

I am not a very good sleeper while traveling at all. These are my absolute essentials for actually falling asleep on a long-haul flight that I swear by.

• Eye Mask – sometimes you might want to sleep when the main lights are still on, or you just want to decrease distractions while you’re trying to fall asleep. A nice silky eye mask does just the trick for me!
• Trtl Travel Pillow – I have been searching for the best travel pillow for years and I have finally found it! The Trtl pillow wraps around your neck perfectly and has adjustable neck support so that you don’t wake up with horrible pain in your neck. 
• Small Travel Blanket – I always bring an extra travel blanket (or use my scarf) to lay over my legs while I’m sleeping. It helps me feel more sleepy and keeps me nice and warm. 
• Ear Plugs – I like to have a pair of earplugs on hand just in case I get uncomfortable trying to sleep with my headphones on. Between the hoodie, earplugs, and eye mask, it really helps me to relax and not get distracted by other people’s tv screens while I’m trying to fall asleep. I can’t be the only person this happens to, can I?
• Melatonin – taking melatonin or a sleep aid on a flight that is 10+ hours can be helpful if you are not a great sleeper on planes. My hubby and I took melatonin on our trip to Sydney and it was definitely helpful.

Easy Skincare Essentials To Pack 

I definitely do not do my whole skincare routine while I am on a long-haul flight but I do have a few essentials that I keep in my carry-on bag so that I don’t show up at my destination too scary or dried up.

• Lip Balm – if I could have only one item with me, it would be my lip balm or chapstick. Being up in the air can really dry out your lips and I hate getting chapped lips. I keep my chapstick out and use it often while flying. 
• Beauty Collagen – I don’t use beauty collagen daily, but I like to use it the day before, the day of, and the day after my flights. I use the Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen that you can just mix up in a water bottle. It isn’t my favorite tasting drink but it definitely helps to keep my skin healthier so I do it!
• Evian or Rose Face Spray – to keep my skin hydrated, I usually bring some Evian hydrating spray or Herbivore rose water spray to spritz on a few times during the flight. 
• Cleansing Face Wipes – It can be difficult to fully wash your face in the tiny airplane bathroom while flying. I like to bring cleansing face wipes to use instead to keep my face feeling clean.
• Biossance Vitamin C Rose Oil – this stuff is literally magical and works wonders on my skin. It is my absolute favorite skincare product for every day as well as while flying. It is so hydrating and keeps your skin fresh, dewy, and glowing.
• Nasal Spray/Eye Drops – as I mentioned, I hate feeling dried up, so nasal spray and eye drops really do the trick when I am feeling too dry.
• Lotion – obviously, when you use hand sanitizer a lot, your hands get pretty dry so I also keep a lotion on me at all times. I hate anything super scented (and the people around you might be sensitive to certain scents as well) so I like to use Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion.

Toiletries To Pack For Your Long-Haul Flight

There are a few toiletry items that a person really just cannot do without. Here are my essentials for a long-haul flight to keep you (and your neighbors ) happy.

• Deodorant – like seriously, do I need to go into detail? Just use it. 😉
• Hand wipes – If you aren’t able to get to a shower for 24+ you might like to have these on hand to stay fresh while you’re traveling.
• Dry Shampoo – I like to use a little dry shampoo before I even get on the plane (pro tip, use the dry shampoo BEFORE your hair gets greasy for best results!) and again before going to sleep.
• Toothbrush/Toothpaste – again, I probably don’t need to explain this one. I love the feeling of brushing my teeth either before I get off the plane or right after. It just makes you feel so much better, doesn’t it?!

Covid Essentials For A Long-Haul Flight

I really don’t even want to talk about this, because it really sucks that we are still dealing with the pandemic but I am just going to put a few things here just in case it helps anyone who feels comfortable flying now. 

• Disinfecting Wipes – good old Clorox wipes…you really cannot leave the house without a travel pack or 2 of these. 
• Hand Sanitizer – I never go anywhere without hand sanitizer, especially these days. Like my lip balm, I keep this out and use it often while flying.
• Face masks – keep in mind that some airlines are not allowing cloth face coverings or bandanas as masks. It is probably best to get a pack of surgical masks or KN-95s for your trip and save the reusable ones for before and after the flight. 
• Face Shield – An optional item that is probably not the most comfortable thing ever, but if you want that extra protection it could be a good idea.

Medications To Bring On Your Long-Haul Flight

• Motion Sickness Kit – I get a bit motion sick when flying or driving. I never leave for a trip without these motion sickness essentials: Seaband Nausea Relief Wristbands and Anti-Nausea Ginger Gum, The Ginger People Gin-Gins Original Ginger Chews Candy, and some Dramamine. I don’t like to be zonked out when I arrive at my destination so I only use Dramamine if my motion sickness becomes severe.
• Prescriptions – of course, you will want to ensure you have all the prescriptions that you will need throughout the duration of your trip filled before jetting off. 
• Ibuprofen – I always bring travel size Advil because I almost always get a headache on travel days. So bring whatever works best for getting rid of headaches for you!
• Pepto Bismol – I like to have a few Pepto Bismol Liquicaps with me just in case I get a stomach ache at any point. 

Other Essentials to Bring On Your Long-Haul Flight

Gum, Snacks, Water Bottle

Don’t forget to bring a few healthy snacks from home on your long-haul flight just in case you are hungry at any point during your flight. I always chew gum during take-off and landing so that my ears don’t pop. I absolutely hate that feeling and try to avoid it at all costs, so gum is essential on my long-haul flight checklist! 

You should also consider bringing a reusable water bottle with you on your trip. Most airports have water bottle refill stations and it is always good to come prepared in case you are thirsty in-between meal times. I love my HydroFlask and also my LARQ Bottle – read more here about why I think it’s the BEST water bottle for travelers. 

The Obvious Essentials For Any Flight

Just because they’re obvious doesn’t mean we haven’t all had to turn around on our way to the airport after forgetting our passport or ID! I have a triple check policy when it comes to remembering my passport, ID, and/or appropriate visa/paperwork – once the night before, once before I walk out the door, and once when I get in the car. You can never check too many times! You can also make sure you have your boarding pass printed out or the digital version loaded onto your phone to speed up your check-in process. 

Tips For Staying Organized

1. Use The Right Luggage – a good carry-on bag is essential. Whether you prefer a suitcase or a backpack, make sure you choose something that will hold up well without breaking the bank! If you’re a backpack/carry-on only person, Osprey backpacks are great and come highly recommended by loads of other travelers. If you are a suitcase kind of person (like me) consider a nice Samsonite 4-wheel roller carry-on suitcase. I love mine and have been using it for years!
2. Come Prepared – use my free long-haul flight essentials packing list to show up for your flight prepared and ready to go.
3. Contain Your Items – I like to contain my items so that they stay organized and are easily accessible when I need them. Packing my essentials into a few small pouches or pockets helps me stay sane and keeps things from getting too unorganized throughout my trip. 
4. Relax – try not to stress too much and enjoy the journey. Any inconveniences you might face will be well worth it when you’re exploring a fun new destination!
5. Follow The Rules – for a smooth day of travel, follow all the rules and guidelines put out by TSA, your airline, and the different countries you will be visiting. Measure and weigh your luggage and personal items to ensure you don’t have to check your luggage unexpectedly. Follow all TSA guidelines and don’t bring any restricted items or full-sized toiletries, and for goodness sake put them in a quart-sized clear bag. Please don’t be the one holding up the line for everyone else by not doing things correctly right off the bat. 
6. Dress Comfortably – don’t try to be too fancy. It is possible to look put together while still being comfortable during your travel day. You won’t regret it!
7. SMILE & Be Kind – be kind to the workers you come into contact with. Being rude or yelling at airport/airline employees isn’t going to help anyone. Please, be courteous to the people surrounding you as well. Treat people how you would want to be treated and the journey will be so much better for everyone involved!

Happy Travels!

Now that I’ve shared with you what to wear, pack, and tips for preparing for your travel day, enjoy that trip you’re taking! While long-haul flights can feel daunting or nerve-wracking at times, don’t worry – you’ve got this, my friend! I’m so excited for you as you embark on this dream vacation you’re about to take! If you want all of this information and all of my long-haul flight essentials in one easy checklist, use the form below and I’ll send one right over to you! Bon Voyage!

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