In-Flight Essentials
What to keep on-hand when onboard
As the husband of someone in the airline industry, I have been on quite a few plane rides in the last seven-ish years. From cramped middle seats to lie-flat suites, I’ve been seated nearly everywhere on an airplane except sandwiched between the two pilots (not something I’d say no to, btw). On each one of these trips, I’ve found having a handful of select items close by makes the trip more comfortable and more enjoyable. Each trip has helped me refine and perfect this list of in-flight essentials, a list I’m excited to share with you, my dear readers.
Please note: none of these items are sponsored, affiliated, or monetized in any way, but if any brands are reading this and want to send some products my way to review/test/love, hit me up.
Travel Organizer
Go Bag
Arguably the most important, having a good “go bag” for your in-flight essentials keeps everything easily accessible for your flight without having to dig through your personal item under the seat in front of you or (god forbid) your carry-on roller bag in the overhead compartment. This go bag should fit anything you may need during the flight and be small enough to stuff into the seat-back pocket. My go-to go bag for the last few years has been the Travel Organizer by Brandless. The front mesh pocket is good for small items you need to easily see. The large main pocket fits everything from glasses to travel-sized toiletries. The small zipper pocket inside the main pocket keeps smaller items from getting lost in the shuffle.
AirPods Pro 2
When I’m on a plane, I’m usually sitting with my AirPods in listening to music. It helps calm me down after the chaos of getting to the airport, getting through security, finding the gate, and dealing with the general public. The AirPods Pro 2 are my favorite for travel (and daily life) because they’re compact, connect seamlessly to iPhone, and the noise cancellation is phenomenal. Oddly, I am able to clearly hear announcements on the plane through the noise cancellation which actually gives me some peace of mind.
Experience 2 Plus
Earplugs
While I love having the noise cancellation on the AirPods Pro 2 and love listening to music, sometimes I need to destress in silence and without the physical pressure of noise cancelling headphones. This is where a good pair of earplugs comes in clutch. I am a person who gets overstimulated with lots of competing sounds, so I bring earplugs almost everywhere. Using them on the plane has helped me get needed mental recovery and has also helped with sleep. The Loop Experience 2 Plus earplugs have been a lifesaver. They fit comfortably and really dampen the sounds around you. They also come in a small case that’s easy to tuck into pockets or bags.
Wired Headphones
Yes, this is a lot of sound/ear-related content so far, bear with me. Since Apple decided to make the headphone jack passé, we now must resort to other wired headphones when traveling by plane. Keeping a pair of cheaper headphones in your go bag means you never need to ask a flight attendant for their crappy tinny-sounding ones that hurt your ears. I’ve used the same type of Panasonic ErgoFit Wired Earbuds for years and keep a pair in my go bag, work bag, and on my desk.
Sleep Mask
Sleep Mask
If you’re boarding an overnight flight, the airline may provide you with a flimsy sleep mask and wish you the best on getting any sleep. By bringing your own, you can be sure that little bit of sleep will be more comfortable and provide adequate darkness. The Manta Sleep Mask is my preferred sleep mask. What I like most are the adjustable cups which surround your eyes so you don’t get the pressure on your eyes caused by typical flat masks. The cups also seal out any light and provide total darkness, creating much better sleep conditions.
Water Bottle
It’s hard to come up with one singular water bottle to recommend for air travel because it a lot of it comes down to personal preference: straw vs. no straw, size, color, lid style, metal vs. plastic vs. glass, etc. My basic recommendation is this: make sure you have a reusable water bottle with you, make sure it’s empty when you go through security, and fill it before you board. Additionally, if your water bottle is vacuum sealed, make sure you open it just slightly to depressurize it when you’re in the air or hold it open while you climb. Otherwise it will spray everywhere and you will get wet (said from multiple personal experiences). I have cycled through many different types of water bottles: single-use plastic ones from Hudson News, giant Nalgene, HydroFlask, Stanley, Yeti. My preference is a medium-sized metal bottle that can be easily shoved into my carry-on bag or personal item, fits in the seat-back pocket, and holds enough water to get me through the flight. The Owala 30 oz FreeSip Sway has been my go-to recently for both travel and daily use because it fits in cup holders, holds a good amount of water, and I love the straw-or-chug option.
Charging Cord/Block
Most planes haven’t caught up to the USB-C craze, so having a charging cord and a block in your go bag ensures you can at least plug it into a standard outlet if available at your seat. If your phone is has a USB-C port, it’s also worth finding a USB-A to USB-C charging cord so you can plug it into the seat-back plug as well.
Miscellaneous Helpful Items
It’s helpful to keep a few essentials always tucked into your go bag, because you never know how you’re going to feel getting on that plane or who may be around you.
Pain relievers (multiple)
Small tube of Aquaphor
Tums
Hand lotion
Lip balm
Bandages
Cough drops
Pen (it’s literally always helpful to have a pen)
Nail clipper
While this list is not exhaustive, it should give you a good start on how to make your in-flight experience a little more comfortable and a little more accessible.
Any other recommendations for in-flight essentials? Let me know in the comments.
And text me when you land!
