It’s hard to beat the feeling of stepping foot into an airport knowing you’ll be on your way to a new destination. Unless you’re lucky enough or have the means to fly on a charter plane or be in the comfort of sitting in first class, then I can only imagine that the excitement increases tenfold!
In 2023, 52% of the UK population went on holiday abroad and that’s predicted to increase by 12% this year, according a report conducted by ABTA. That’s a lot of people, in this country alone, taking outbound flights.
The actual being on a flight can be exciting yet daunting, but ensuring a comfortable flight experience, whether short journey or long haul, is the key to arriving at your destination refreshed and fighting the jet lag.
I’d love to say that I’m one of those people who just casually throws their money, passport, phone and boarding pass into a bag 5 minutes before leaving the house and then let everyone else take charge, but a travel princess I am not.
The reality is that I’m a nervous flyer, and I put just as much effort in organising what travel essentials I put into my hand luggage as I do packing my big suitcase. Throughout the years, I have learned that having travel essentials with me during a flight will give me the reassurance of having a comfortable flight experience (especially if you’re an anxious passenger like me).
Packing the right items in your carry-on can make all the difference for a relaxing journey and in this guide, I have collated a list of travel essentials that you might find useful for an elevated in-flight experience too, no matter the duration.
So, before you buckle up and prepare for take-off, make sure you have these travel essential items in your hand luggage to ensure a smooth and enjoyable flight.
Loop earplugs
I first discovered Loop earplugs last year and now I can’t go anywhere without them. Loud, sharp and continuous noise really affects me, I cannot filter them out – I start off irritated, then I go in to a low mood and then I feel drained and begin to think that something bad is about to happen. Not exactly what you want when you’re on a flight! To me, Loop earplugs are life changing and it helps a lot in reducing that sense of anxiety around loud sounds, especially with the loudness of a jet engine and the general chatter of people inside an aircraft cabin.
Headphones
I think most people will have either earbuds or headphones but sometimes I wear my Loops and then put headphones on with my favourite music blasting out of them to drown out the outside noise. I have started to do this recently when travelling on the train and I find myself in a more relaxed state, so I’m sure I’ll do the same next time I’m on a flight, or I may invest in noise cancelling headphones one day!
Sleeping mask
A soft and comfortable sleeping mask is a must-have for long haul flights or flights that take off in the early hours of the morning or a red-eye flight. To avoid actually having red eyes and getting quality sleep, a sleeping mask ensures you’re not distracted with people walking past and block out bright lights and screens, allowing you to doze off.
Travel pillow
There are a lot of options available when it comes to travel pillows. A search on Amazon will bring up various designs, made with all kinds of material. The bulky ones don’t do it for me, I find them uncomfortable, and they take up a lot of space. If you travel a lot, you might be interested in the trtl pillows which wrap around your neck for comfort, are lightweight and compact.
Travel sized beauty
These are a permanent fixture in my handbag anyway – but travel-sized hand lotion, face cream, lip balm, hand sanitiser, wipes, small vials of perfumes or a miniature bottle of body spray are just some of the beauty products I take everywhere with me …all stored in a clear zip-lock bag, of course!
Travel toothbrush
I recently discovered Colgate Wisp, which are tiny toothbrushes you can use on the go, with no water or rinsing required, so you can brush away at your seat to freshen up just before the plane is set to land.
Blanket
When your next destination is somewhere hot, you’d be forgiven for not wearing something that will keep you warm on the flight. I often forget that the cabin is quite cold and I’ve been caught out many times without a jacket or sweater to keep me warm whilst in the air, and I always regret it. Go one step better and pack a small, soft, lightweight blanket for comfort – one you can easily fold up and put in your bag or hang luggage.
Neom Calming Pen
If you’re not familiar with Neom, they are a wellbeing & lifestyle brand and they sell a wonderful products called Calming Pen which they describe as ‘A power-in-your-pocket rollerball to help you de-stress”. I have a 5ml version of this in the De-Stress scent made with lavender and chamomile oils, it creates a sense of calm. From an independent blind study that they conducted, 77% of people said they felt more relaxed after just one use and 81% said It helped create a self-calming ritual.
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Where are you travelling to this summer and what are your travel essentials for a more comfortable flight experience?
