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Download your printable checklist here and gather all your long haul flight essentials in one place.
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What should I bring on a long haul flight?
Here's my tried and tested list of long haul flight essentials for business travel, baby travel, solo travel and beyond. Based on decades of travel as a professional travel writer and blogger. Believe me, I've made every mistake there is.
Start by choosing the best carry on luggage. Then move on to our checklist. I've rounded up the key links at the top for you. If you book or buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. So. You know. Cheers for that!
Also, it's not all about what you pack in your carry on. Read 23 long haul flight tips most passengers don't know.
Three main thoughts should guide your packing:
1) What you NEED during the flight and at the airport
2) What the airline MAKES you pack in your carry on vs checked.
3) What would spoil your trip if the airline lost your checked luggage.
Essentials do not include a toothbrush and a clean pair of pants. These are easy to replace, should the worst happen.
Essentials are anything specific to you that would make you feel ill or supremely uncomfortable without it and which are difficult to replace.
Wear loose clothes: long trousers and loose shaped T shirt
Some examples:
Recommended reading: The Ultimate Travel Packing Checklist (With Printable)
These days, who doesn't travel with tech? Whether it's iPads for the little ones, full video gear for the vloggers or "just" a smartphone for maps and the grandkids, we all have batteries with us. Which means...
Security rules change all the time but one of the latest updates is that you have to be able to turn any device ON when asked. So, remember your charger!
I have two tips for this: a worldwide multi-adapter if you travel frequently and a multi-plug piece of kit or plug to multi-USB kit. This helps charge many devices at once while travelling. Portable chargers and power banks also become essential for long flights with connections.
Firstly, if you plan to watch something on your phone or tablet, make sure you have headphones that fit it.
Second, many swear by noise cancelling headphones on a flight. This is something that has never really bothered me but Mr Travel Lab loves them. You can also get headphones for children that come with a noise limit (for the programme, not the child, alas ;-) )
DO NOT put your laptop in the hold. Have it with you in your carry on, with an easy to access case as you'll have to remove the case at airport security.
As a travel writer, a lot of my work takes place on a plane. And you don't need to be in travel for that to be the case. MacBook Air has built a name for itself as being the lightest computer on the market. I've now upgraded to the MacBook Pro to keep weight down but it's still pretty light.
As for reading, I've found that nothing beats a Kindle. The Kindle Paperwhite is lightweight and the screen is easy on the eye. Although you can read books on your phone, the eye strain is too much for me. Grab a waterproof Kindle and you can even try your luck at the pool once you land.
Bookmark now for your next long haul flight
Download your printable checklist here and gather all your long haul flight essentials in one place.
You can unsubscribe at any time.
Recommended reading: The Best Travel Apps for Europe: What Your Smartphone Wishes You Knew
Airlines should be able to cater for you and so should your hotel. But let's face it. Things go wrong.
Handy carry on snacks don't make a mess nor grow fungus mid flight.
Flapjacks, energy bars, apples, rice cakes = GOOD.
Chocolate, bananas, mousse = ER, NOT SO GOOD.
Inside tip: pack some packets of dehydrated couscous meals that just require boiling water. A real carry on essential for those with dairy allergies, lactose intolerance, vegetarian or vegan diets. Try rice cakes for a gluten-free option.
The Ice Hotel: Might be an idea to pack some gloves and a hat. At the very least.
If you’re heading to somewhere similar to where you came from, you can muddle on through in the same clothes you’re wearing for a day or two while you sort yourself out. You may feel icky beyond the threshold of ick but you can do it.
However, if you’re heading somewhere much hotter or colder then life can quickly become miserable and you can even cause some permanent damage.
So, for hot weather, in your carry-on make sure you have:
For cold weather:
Long Haul Travel Essentials for Kids: A Much Longer List!
Travelling with children really raises the stakes!
I have entire sections of this site dedicated to family travel.
Pack your swimsuit in your hand luggage. If the suitcase is lost, you can still swim!
OK, so you won't end up ill without these essentials in your carry on. But they do help make everything much, much easier.
Blisters abound in different climates when you're often walking more often than usual and wearing different shoes.
Compeed changed my life (alright, it's a slight exaggeration but it's not too far from the truth!)
These second skin stickers cover the blister and cushion the surrounding skin from further damage. Best of all, you can easily fit three into your passport holder or travel wallet so that you always have them ready on the road.
This is even more important if you’ve lost your luggage and have to tackle new or poorly-fitting shoes in a new climate. Sorted.
A scarf not only keeps you warm on a breezy plane, but it covers hair on streets, shoulders in temples, and can double as a skirt for the day if your luggage disappears en route to somewhere bright and breezy.
You may need this more than you think: even in Rome, you need to cover up in order to enter the Vatican and Swiss Guards are on standby to check you have the right attire.
Recommended reading: Gift Ideas for Travellers; What To Buy People Who Love Travel
This might just be me. But, well, sometimes other people smell! A few drops of scented oil or a little spritz of something onto my scarf or tissue can make the whole thing a lot less unpleasant.
Just because. Handy if you ever get stuck and they've run out of paper. Useful to mop up any spills as someone passes a drink across you to another passenger. Handy to have something that smells nice, as above!
Freshens the breath, helps with a dry mouth, can stop your ears from going pop on take off and landing. Just don't be obnoxious with it, on behalf of your fellow passengers. Please?!
These are useful for so many reasons. They’re handy to carry about town, once you’re on the aircraft you can use them to separate the things you actually want on the flight from all the other equipment you needed in your carry on.
And if you lose your luggage and have to shop for more things, at least you already have a bag to put these things in to.
It takes up next to no space but leaves you with plenty of options.
Brilliant.
In case the airline loses your luggage. You can still go for a swim!
Recommended reading: The Hiking Gear List: What to Pack for A Walking Holiday
Remember that travel size bottles aren't just about keeping weight down. Most airlines have a limit as to the volume of fluids (liquids, gels and pastes) you can take through security at the airport. Less is more when it comes to this.
Planes get dry and lips get sore. Either pack a dedicated lip balm, otherwise plain vaseline tubs can also treat blisters, sore noses, sunburn and all sorts.
For long international flights, it's nice to be able to brush your teeth. Just remember to keep toiletry sizes SMALL because of the airport security checks.
Some people need a raft of toiletries to keep their skin in good condition. If that's you, you're probably better off buying a DIY travel toiletry set like this which allows you to decant your own toiletries into travel-sized bottles.
Recommended reading: The Best Cabin Luggage For ALL Occasions (Seriously.)
Don't end up so tired you need to rely on old buildings for support...
Also, don't forget to check out these 23 long haul flight tips that most passengers don't know.
For some reason, I fought against eye masks for years. Why?! They're brilliant! Lightweight, useful, only mess up your hair a little bit ;-)
Foam ones work fine. So do using headphones and a background sleep app.
Planes can get cold and if you're sitting still, so will you. Some airlines provide blankets but not all do. So, either enlist your scarf from earlier or make sure you have a jumper with you.
Yes, you feel a little ridiculous but who really cares? Alternatively, you can buy pre-filled travel pillows that can clip onto your luggage but they're quite bulky. Only use if you have the luggage space.
In Flight Sleeping Tips: use the horseshoe travel pillow the "wrong" way around to stop your head from tipping forward and waking you up. Try to sleep when they tell you to! Don't wait until when the lights come back on!
Use a toiletries bag and fill it with a blanket or jumper once you're on the plane. Use it as a foot rest to help take the weight off your back and wedge yourself into position for sleep.
It gets cold up in the sky. Add an extra pair of socks to your list of long haul flight essentials. Extra points if they're warm and snuggly.
Read more about how to sleep on a plane here.
You can just about get away without a water bottle but life is easier if you have one. Many airports and airport lounges offer refills and it's easy to ask the cabin crew to refill your own bottle than to keep asking for separate glasses of water.
Download your printable checklist here and gather all your long haul flight essentials in one place.
You can unsubscribe at any time.
You are not allowed to bring anything into the cabin that could easily and feasibly be used as a weapon. That includes knives and guns, obviously, but knitting needles, antlers and Viking hats could also be confiscated.
For the same reason, liquids are limited at the security point (although you can usually buy fluids once airside.) Some bright spark tried to make an explosive out of various liquids during the flight and so now we are all restricted to 100mls or less of any soup, baby food, water or anything else that could qualify as a gel, paste or cream.
Think comfort first and foremost.
DO wear loose clothes in breathable fabrics.
DON'T wear jeans, tight leggings, short skirts or shorts or restrictive bodices.
A huge slouchy cardigan or sweater helps to balance the temperature changes mid flight. A scarf is helpful too.
Bookmark now for your next long haul flight
Hi, I'm Abi, a doctor turned writer who's worked with Lonely Planet, the BBC, UNESCO and more. Let's travel more and think more. Find out more.
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Compeed changed my life too hahah! And a sleep mask is essential for me even on a two hour flight – completely zone out when I have one on!
Three cheers for compeed! I wonder if they know how many lives they’ve changed :-) Where is your next trip?