Having taken countless flights in many countries, with durations ranging from 30 minutes to 17 hours, I’ve perfected which in-flight essentials I need to make my trips comfortable. Below are my tried and true essentials, along with an in-flight personal item packing list to help you pack for your next trip like a pro.
What is a personal item?
Depending on the airline and its policies, you’re usually able to check one large bag (usually for a fee), bring onboard one carry-on bag for the overhead compartment (sometimes also for a fee), and one personal item like a small backpack, purse, or tote bag. I’ve never encountered an airline that didn’t allow a free personal item, so I always bring one and make sure to keep it under the seat in front of me for easy access.
How to choose your personal item
Keep it simple
I like to keep things as easy and smooth as possible when traveling, so I frequently carry a small backpack as a purse. This will be my main bag on the trip, and it doubles as my personal item on the plane. I don’t enjoy having too many bags or having to transfer things between bags, so, for me, one central personal item is key.
Don’t make it too heavy
Whichever bag you choose, be sure not to pack it too heavy, as you will be lugging this personal item through airport security, through the terminals, and between connecting flights if you have any. Trust me, you will thank yourself later for packing your personal item smartly and not causing a strain on your arms and back. When browsing through my in-flight packing list below, be sure to choose only what you will reasonably be needing.
Choose a durable bag
When shopping for the bag that will be your personal item, consider the conditions it will have to endure. It’s going to go on the conveyor belt when going through airport security, on airport chairs while you wait for your flight, on the floor of the airplane, and most likely on the seat of a taxi on the way to your hotel. So be sure to pick a bag that is dark in color to not pick up stains too easily. Also, if choosing a tote bag, be sure it has a zipper or button closure so the contents don’t fall out when on it’s side on the floor of the plane.
Be Organized
The only thing worse than not having your essential items with you is having to rummage around in your bag every time you need something. I always separate everything into different mini-pouches. For example, put all your personal essentials in one pouch, your hydration essentials in another, etc. Small zippered cloth bags are great, or clear ones are even better for finding things quickly.
My recommendations for your personal item
Hydration Essentials
In all my flight experience, hydration essentials are absolutely key. They are the things I wish I had most when I didn’t pack correctly, and they are the things my friends and family most often want to borrow mid-flight. Below are my favorite hydration products for your in-flight personal item packing list.
- Hand lotion. Considering the amount of times you’ll likely be washing or sanitizing your hands on this journey, hand lotion is needed to prevent dry hands. We all have our favorites, but my personal go-to is this travel sized hand lotion from Aveeno.
- Chapstick. If you’re a chapstick lover like me, do not forget this. Maybe even bring a back up. The conditions are usually very dry in an airplane, and considering you’re probably not drinking as much water as you normally do on the ground, chapstick is a lifesaver in-flight.
- Lip sleeping mask. If you want to take it one step further, grab a travel sized lip mask. I absolutely love this lip sleep mask from Laneige. I bought it originally as part of my normal at-home sleeping beauty routine, and am so obsessed with it that I’ve added a travel size to my in-flight personal item packing list. Basically just put a tiny bit on before sleeping, and it locks in moisture for hours. You will thank me when you wake up from your in-flight slumber with wonderfully hydrated lips.
- Eye drops. With the dry conditions of an airplane, and considering you’re probably not getting as much shut eye as you normally do, eye drops are necessary for preventing dry and irritated eyes. I usually pack two types: one that is purely moisturizing, and one that includes redness relief. I learned from my optometrist that you’re not supposed to use the redness removing eye drops too frequently, so I use my moisturizing drops most often, and only use the redness removing drops when absolutely needed (like before entering customs or before meeting your welcome party).
- Face moisturizer. For those who aren’t wearing makeup, using a good face cleansing wipe and then a facial moisturizer is a giant tip for arriving at your destination with fresh dewy skin.
- Water bottle. Last but not least, bring your own water. Water is served on planes, but it’s not done very often, and when it is, it’s usually in those small plastic cups, which personally doesn’t feel like enough for someone like me who usually drinks a ton of water. You can certainly purchase a plastic water bottle after you pass security at your original gateway, but bringing your own empty reusable, collapsible water bottle is more sustainable. Remember not to bring a full water bottle from home or buy one before security, otherwise you will be forced to throw it away. Most airports have water fill stations these days, or you can ask a flight attendant to help fill your water bottle on the plane.
Sleeping Essentials
I’ve spent years trying to perfect the art of sleeping comfortably in an economy airplane seat, and I’m happy to report I’m the closest I’ve ever been. Some travelers have no issue at all sleeping on planes, so if you’re one of those, feel free to skip ahead. But for those weary souls like me who need all the help they can get, be sure to add these sleeping essentials to your in-flight personal item packing list.
- Inflatable sleeping pillow. I’m going to start with the funniest, but most helpful item on the list. I’m one who simply falls forward when sleeping on a plane. The seat doesn’t go back far enough to keep me from slumping forward, or to the side and then forward. A standard neck pillow to me is completely useless, as I just fall forward while wearing it. Is there anyone else out there like me? (I’d love some validation in the comments!) I’ve tried many other sleeping solutions, a few of which I’ll post below in case they are helpful, but for me, this inflatable sleeping pillow is the ultimate plane sleeping hack. Tip: The pillow folds down and has a small carrying pouch, but if it’s too large to fit into our personal item, feel free to clip it on to the outside of your bag. I always keep these small carabiners handy when traveling for instances like this.
- Neck pillow. This is your standard neck pillow that I see most travelers carrying (or wearing, lol) around the airport. They also sell inflatable versions for those wanting to save space.
- Trtl neck pillow. I invested in a Trtl neck pillow with really high hopes that it would solve my falling-forward problem when sleeping on planes, but I’m sad to say it didn’t. I simply fell forward whilst wearing the Trtl pillow. Nevertheless, I think it’s a genius design to keep your next straight, and it may be an awesome solution to those of you looking for something in between the standard neck pillow and the funny giant inflatable one.
- Eye mask. A comfortable eye mask should be on everyone’s in-flight personal item packing list. It doesn’t take up much room, and blocks out the light on the plane (i’s also a great way to non-verbally say “don’t bother me” to those around you).
- Earplugs. These are essential. Planes are noisy places, from people talking and coughing to kids playing and crying. Always be sure to keep some fresh ear plugs handy in your personal item.
- Noise-canceling headphones. If you don’t mind wearing headphones while you sleep, these are a lifesaver. Pair it with some relaxing music or a white noise app, and you’ve got yourself some in-flight gold.
- Blanket. This one isn’t super necessary, as most flights provide blankets, but if you’re someone who gets cold easily, this is a great idea. It takes up a big portion of your personal item, so I’ve chosen one that folds into a travel pillow case and can easily be clipped onto the outside of your bag. I personally just choose to carry a coat onto the plane, which saves room in my luggage and doubles as an extra pillow or blanket.
- Comfy socks. I stumbled upon this tip by accident one time when I wore sandals on a particularly icy flight. I was so cold that I stopped at an airport gift shop on my connection in Dallas to look for socks. All they had were obnoxiously fuzzy Dallas Cowboys socks, and I happily bought them. To this day, I still pack those lovely warm socks in my personal item. I will forever be an in-flight Dallas Cowboys fan.
- Compression socks. These are probably the smarter choice of socks, as maintaining blood circulation is important on long haul flights. If you’re a window seat dweller like me, chances are you’re not getting up to stand or walk around mid-flight as much as you would like. Heck, you could even combine your compression socks with some comfy socks if you choose. The only one judging your in-seat style choices may be the passenger next to you.
Personal Essentials
Everyone’s personal essentials are going to look a bit different, but you can use most of the items below to customize this section of your in-flight personal item packing list. Generally this section consists of sanitation and medical products.
- Hand sanitizer. Make sure to pick a travel sized one that holds 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters or less. Anything larger will get tossed out at security. The one I have linked here is a hydrating sanitizer that has a convenient shape that is easy to pack in your personal item.
- Sanitizing wipes. On the topic of cleanliness, I read a study somewhere that the dirtiest part of a plane is the tray table. We all know the seats and tray tables don’t get cleaned as thoroughly as they should between flights, so if you’re looking for an extra level of cleanliness, be sure to bring some travel sized cleaning wipes. I’ve encountered a good number of airlines lately that have passed out sanitizing wipes as I entered the plane, so I’m sure if you don’t bring these and find that you need them, a flight attendant should be able to provide you with one or something similar.
- Tissues. A small travel pack of tissues is always useful to include in your personal item. From having a runny nose, to cleaning up a quick spill, to wiping tears during your 4th sappy in-flight rom-com, tissues always come in handy.
- Mouthwash. I’ve learned that mints don’t always do the trick. To keep yourself minty fresh, pick up a travel sized mouthwash to keep in your personal item. Be sure the size is 3.4 ounces/100 milliliters or less to comply with airline regulations.
- Toothbrush and toothpaste. To feel even more fresh, pack a travel sized toothbrush and toothpaste. If you’re lucky enough to be flying business or first class, these are often provided in the complimentary travel amenity kit.
- Medications. This one feels like it should go without saying, but be sure to bring any necessary medications with you in your personal item, or at the very least, in your carry-on bag. Never leave your important medications in your checked bag in the off-chance that it gets lost by the airline. Be sure to pack other convenient medications for things like headaches, or anything else similar you may need to ensure your flight is comfortable. I’ve linked a cute multi-pill holder here that can be used both on the plane and to carry your meds for the trip.
Beauty Essentials
For those who could care less about their appearance when flying, feel free to skip this section. But for those wanting to improve on their natural beauty while remaining relatively low-key, this section is a great one to include on your in-flight personal item packing list. I’ve definitely been guilty of putting on a fresh face of full makeup before landing when needing to go straight from the plane to a meeting or photo worthy moment, but I try to avoid carrying a full makeup bag when flying simply to save the space in my personal item. Below are simple items to achieve a pleasant look without too much effort.
- Facial cleansing wipes. These come individually wrapped, and are perfect for achieving a fresh face within seconds. They are also great for removing any existing makeup you may have been wearing.
- Tinted facial moisturizer. This is a great product to keep your face moisturized and give it a bit of tone correction without putting in the effort of a full on concealer and foundation.
- Eyeshadow stick. This product is easy to pack and an easy way to brighten up your tired eyes.
- Tinted chapstick. Moisturizing those lips while bringing a bit of color is a great way to do wonders with minimal effort.
- Hairbrush. You may be surprised how many people forget to pack a hairbrush. Bring a light, travel sized one to save space. The only thing worse than bed-head is ten-hours-trying-to-sleep-in-economy head.
- Small travel mirror. Always a smart idea to pack on of these in your personal item, so you can fix yourself up at your seat and not have to hold up the line for the shared restroom.
Entertainment Essentials
One thing is that is absolutely needed on a long flight is keeping yourself entertained. Let’s hope that your flight has a touch screen with tons of movies and games. But in that chance that it doesn’t, or if you’d just like a variety of entertainment options, these items below are great to add to your in-flight personal item packing list.
- Book or e-reader. An e-reader is great for storing many reading options without risking the space in your bag.
- Headphones. I always bring my own pair of wired headphones not only to have on my trip, but also to be able to have my own pair to plug into the airline touch screen device. I tend to prefer my own over the free pairs that airlines give out. Noise canceling headphones are the ultimate bonus. If you prefer AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones, you can purchase one of these AirFly Bluetooth transmitters that allow you to pair them with the airline touch screen device.
- Back up power bank. This is an essential item for any trip, just in case your electronic devices need a charge. Some airlines have outlets or USB ports for charging, but I always bring my back up power bank just in case.
Fun Extras
These items are non-essential, but are fun to add to your in-flight personal item packing list if you have some room to spare.
- In-flight cocktail kit. For those who prefer a craft cocktail mid-flight, bring one of these kits along. Order a drink from the flight attendant, and impress those around you with your mixology skills.
- Airline seat back organizer. Depending on the space you have available between the seat and your knees, these seat back organizers are a great way to keep your in-flight essentials clean, organized, and within reach at all times.
- Word search books or adult coloring books. Don’t forget the pens and colored pencils! If you bring these with extras to spare with your seat mates, you will be the hero of your aisle.
- Playing cards. I always pack a deck playing cards on every trip. You can always play solitaire, but you never know who you may meet that wants to play.
Summary: In-flight personal item packing list
A well thought-out packing list and well prepared personal item can be the key to a smooth in-flight experience. The trick is to ensure everything you bring is travel sized to avoid making the bag too heavy. Leave all unnecessary items behind and pack only the essentials, that way the only thing you have to worry about on board is which movie to watch next. So sit back, make sure your tray tables are in the up-right position during takeoff, and enjoy your flight.
Pin it for Later: In-Flight Personal Item Packing List
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