After 10 years of traveling around the world, I’ve learned a thing or two about airplane essentials. From what makes the flight more enjoyable to what makes sleep possible on a redeye flight, I’ve got more than a few tricks up my sleeve. And believe me when I say I’ve tried almost every product out there to make those long haul flights less painful! So with that, these are the best airplane essentials you need to buy before your next flight.
2L Water Bottle
One of the easiest ways to feel better after a long-haul flight is to ensure you don’t get dehydrated. Staying hydrated during a flight is essential to beating jetlag, so when it comes to water bottles more is more on this occasion! This 2L water bottle with daily prompts has totally changed the way I approach staying hydrated when I travel. And best of all, its super affordable!
Noise Canceling Headphones
As it turns out, you won’t reach a deep sleep on an airplane unless you are able to cancel out all of the background noise. Lucky for us, noise cancelling headphones were invented a few years ago and now, they’re more affordable than ever. Be sure to turn on the headphones to cancel out the background noise while you travel and achieve a deeper sleep while you fly.
Compression Socks
Another difficulty of flying is to combat circulation issues. The best way to ensure your blood keeps circulating is to wear a clinical grade of compression socks while you fly. These ones from Amazon are affordable and delivered right to your door.
Silk Sleep Mask
Sleeping on planes is a lot easier when you are able to block out sound and sight. And since you’ve already purchased a pair of noise cancelling headphones, the next item you’ll need is a sleep mask. This silk sleep mask is my preferred choice as silk prevents bacteria from attaching to the mask and also moisturises your skin while you sleep.
Memory Foam Travel Pillow
A staple of every traveler is the old and faithful neck pillow. For the best result (ergo the best sleep), a memory foam neck pillow is the best choice. The memory foam pillows give the most amount of support to ensure your neck stays upright while you sleep.
In-flight phone holder
If you fancy your own entertainment during the flight, consider investing in one of these in-flight phone holders that attaches seamlessly to the tray table in front of you. You’ll be able to watch all of your favourite shows and movies as long as they’re downloaded before the flight.
Roll-on Deodorant
The easiest way to feel fresh before your flight lands is to lather yourself in a fresh layer of deodorant. But since this is a flight and you’ll be in close proximity to other people, you’ll want to ditch the aerated can and replace it with a roll-on solution. This natural deodorant is paraben free and aluminium free, making it a great choice.
Cleansing Wipes
While i’m not a fan of single use anything, some products are almost essential when you travel as space is limited and you’ll want to take smaller portions of everything. These makeup remover wipes are a great way to arrive feeling fresh, cleansing your face before landing.
Travel Bottles
Speaking of simplifying your beauty routine, these reusable travel bottles are a great way to store your haircare routine, soap and body lotion. This will ensure you hydrate your skin from the outside and in and have all of your favourite products with you at all times.
Travel Fanny Pack
As far as travel bags go, I don’t believe you can get a better choice than the good old fanny pack. These bags are the easiest companion when you travel to keep your passport, documents, bank cards and money stored on your body at all times. This also makes it easier when you pass through customs and immigration as you’ll never have to sift through the bottom of your backpack!
Travel Journal
To pass the time on board, you might want to get a headstart on your travel journal and set yourself up for success in documenting your time abroad. A travel journal is a great way to document your thoughts before the trip, during and after you get home. Be sure to write down even the smallest of details like who you meet, what you spoke about, their accent and cultural differences you encountered. All of these pieces of information will bring back foreign memories for years to come.
Travel Backpack
And finally, how could I share my best airplane essentials without mentioning a carry-all backpack! For me, this is the most important item in my arsenal and if I can manage it, I will only ever travel with carry-on. This backpack from Amazon is under $50, fits an entire outfit, your laptop and tech accessories. What more could you want?
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, however each recommendation has been carefully handpicked and these are items I personally use when I travel. So you can rest assured a recommendation from me is a recommendation from a friend! Happy travels.
Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.
