Hardly anyone looks forward to being trapped on an airplane for hours on end, but long-haul flights are unavoidable if you like to travel the globe, as I do.
I’m writing this from Tokyo’s Narita Airport on my three-hour layover while waiting for my nine-hour connecting flight to Singapore, fresh(ish) from my 13.5-hour flight from New York. That’s about 25 hours of transit folks, not counting time to and from the airports.
I’m usually pretty good with these marathon itineraries since I often doze off prior to takeoff, but today I’m suffering from a triple whammy of discomfort: a sinus headache, which is threatening to become a migraine; that time of the month; and an upset stomach. Oh, and did I mention that I’m in coach the entire way, and my seatback entertainment system broke about two hours into my initial flight? What a way to spend a birthday.
TMI? Perhaps. But I’m writing this because I made the mistake of packing when I was tired and inadvertently put my carry-on toiletries kit in my checked luggage, plus forgot to pack a book—silly me—so all this forced meditation time got me thinking about just what carry-on items are essential for long-haul flights, at least for me.
So here’s my preferred in-fight packing list—“perfected” over the past 25-plus years of international travel.
- Water. Buy a big bottle before you board. Better yet, bring an empty bottle and fill it up from the fountain after you pass through security. Don’t forget a small spray bottle, too. Keeping your skin hydrated is as important as your body, especially after enduring several hours of enclosed stale air. Evian sells an ideal 1.7-ounce size for $5.50.
- Lip balm, hand cream and face moisturizer. See hydration note above. Reapply regularly.
- A travel set including a blanket, earplugs, eye cover and neck pillow (the cushioned ones are more comfortable, but inflatable ones save space). I’m a big fan of DreamSacks and its travel kits, especially the luxury set with a silk/cashmere blanket and silk carry-case that fits a travel pillow nicely. Prices from $59.
- Ear-covering headphones. Those in-ear plugs hurt like hell.
- Slippers. I get out of my street shoes before I even board the plane.
- A silk scarf/shawl to block those pesky drafts.
- A small toiletries bag with travel-sized deodorant, mouthwash, toothbrush, toothpaste, tissues, pain relievers, stomach aids and, for women, tampons or liners. Be prepared, even if between cycles. Trust me.
- Reading material, puzzles, MP3 player, laptop—anything to keep you occupied during your flight.
- Snacks. Even though most international flights are pretty good about supplying food and beverages, you never know when you’ll get the munchies. I’m partial to the trail mix packages from Trader Joe’s. Nuts and raisins—what’s not to love.
- Moist towelettes. Great for cleaning up before and after a snack and for getting newspaper ink off your hands.
- Makeup. Not a lot. A simple face powder and lipstick will do. Nothing helps you look less like a zombie after 15 cramped hours in the air than a bit of color on your face and lips.
- A carry-on bag or purse with multiple pockets for organization of everything listed above, and easy access to your passport and boarding pass.
Well, that has me covered. What are your essential carry-on items?
I’m now going to pop a few of the over-priced Tylenol pills I snagged at the airport drugstore and hope to pass out until just before we land in Singapore. More to come on this island city-state next week.
On flights lasting 3 hours or more, I carry a Flight Pouch, consisting of:
In takeout pouch
Cell phone destination
ear plugs
emergency aspirin
Excedrin
eye mask
face mask
hand moisturizing
Lip balm
neck pillow
noise cancelling headset
pen
power bar
Sims
sleeping pills
splenda
toothbrush
warm socks
I call this ‘takeout’ because it is part of my carry-on, which I take out and drop in my seat, together with my Kindle and Noise Cancelling Headset, right before placing it on the overhead.
Each item has a good reason to be on that pouch, and it proven necessary time and again. They are part of my overall packing spreadsheet, which I check on each and every trip.
Cell phone (I can use) in destination country. This is an unlocked GSM phone in which I can insert a local SIM, avoiding the outrageous roaming charges. Recently I bought an undocked Iphone ($1,070.00 at Amazon) so I don’t have to switch phones. Before then (and as a spare now), I carry a Nokia E61 that allows also for calls, email and it is unlocked.
Ear plugs. Babies, chatting friends, snoring or very loud PA system, they all can make your trip uncomfortable and sleeping impossible. Even underneath noise cancelling headset, they are a good idea. I had offers to buy my extra sets from desperate passengers.
Emergency aspirin. 6 plus one Lipitor. I carry those in one of the little metal containers. After 50, anyone can have a heart attack, including the people seating next to you. Shove them in their mouth and down the throat, and initiate CPR or AED (all planes carry now Automatic External Defibrillator). Remember last time you heard on the PA “Is there a doctor on board?” That was not a drill.
Excedrin and Sleeping Pills go in the second metal container. On long trips, especially if I have to work right from the airport at arrival, I need to sleep. A headache can also make the trip miserable.
Eye mask: not all are created equal. The cheap ones they give you for free in first class, don’t quite do the job as light manages to sneak into your eyelids. I use the Brookstone one, made with Postupedic material. Is completely dark and comfortable. BTW, I also travel with their slippers so I don’t need to step on cold bathroom floors or dirty carpets in hotel rooms.
Face mask, the kind nurses use. Mostly as a defense against bad smell from food brought onboard by people with strange eating habits, or BO from your next seat companion. Even flying first class, you are not immune to it. If somebody around you is sneezing or coughing, it may prove handy as well.
Hand and Lip moisturizing. The best small containers are those given in Delta on first class, but any small container will do. Air in planes are very dry, in part because until the new Dreamliner made of carbon comes out, they are all made of metal which corrodes from moisture in the air.
Neck Pillow. Most are very uncomfortable because they also inflate on the back of your neck, pushing your head forward, which is exactly the opposite of the ideal resting position laying back. Design Go makes the only flat back inflatable neck pillow I know. Get them online.
Noise Cancelling Headset, together with ear plugs (even when watching a movie) are best to escape from all the surrounding noise, engine and wind humming. I like the Bose QC15.
Pen. Traveling abroad, you will be handled a customs and immigration form. Keep the pen ready and your passport if you don’t remember the number, issue and expiration dates by heart. I keep 2 pens, because it never fails: the person seating next to you will need one, and a third party will ask if they can use it after them, and so for. You will never see it again.
Power bar(s) depending on trip length. Bring them for 3 reasons: airplane food stinks; it makes you fat and the service will interrupt your sleep. By carrying your own food you are assured you have it when you are hungry, you eat healthy and you can sleep when you want to. Remember to buy a bottle of water past security.
SIMS: to load the one for the next country on your cell phone just on landing.
Sleeping pills, to make sure you are productive right when you hit the ground. Makes your trip a lot shorter.
Splenda if you avoid sugar, you may need in the plane and at the destination airport and city. It is very small and cheap (I buy the boxes that have the small pills).
Toothbrush, disposable, waterless. Colgate makes the Wisp minibrushes and yes, they don’t require water. You can use the remaining water in the bottle your brought on board to rinse, but don’t let anyone see you; just hand it over to the flight attendant collecting all the garbage (making you clean their plane). If you have people waiting for you on destination, they will appreciate you brushed after a long flight and sleep!
Warm socks. On long flights I wear Travelex long socks, which completely avoid the leg cramps and RLS (restless leg syndrome) that I invariable get on such trips. For me, that pain can be excruciating to the point that I can’t sleep or stay seated. Those socks completely eliminated such pain, but they are not warm. I put the fluffy socks they sell at Brookstone.
Before boarding, I go to Starbucks at the gate, buy a bottle of water, empty it, order a triple shoot tall latte, packs of Splenda and pour it into the water bottle. (I could just bring an empty bottle of water from home, but sometimes I forget.) That will be my morning coffee prior to arrival. I also buy at the same store an oatmeal breakfast, but I don’t let them put the water on it. I ask the flight attendant to put hot water on the container of the oatmeal when they serve tea prior to landing. I add the nuts and raisins, some Splenda and voila, I have my full healthy breakfast!
Pablo Vitaver
CEO
Vitaver & Associates, Inc. (Bringing you the people that make you succeed, since 1993)
I agree with the above post. Personally I cannot understand why you would not want to make an effort in this regard anyway. Only the other day, at work we had exactly the same conversation and came to a similar closing