15 Carry-on Essentials For Long Flights (How to Survive a Long Flight in 2025)
Wondering what to pack on a long flight to keep calm and comfortable?
Well in this article I share some of the carry on essentials for long flights.
Flying can be fun, but for long flights, you’re going to need to carry some essentials to better your experience.
Flights are of much importance in our lives especially when traveling long distances.
They connect us to places and people who live or work far away from us.
They are the most preferred type of transport more so when it comes to inter-country journeys.
Flights are also a common means of transport in relatively large countries like the USA, Canada, the UK, Russia, Brazil, Australia, Egypt, and many others for inter-city journeys.
They are also used by merchants for business trips and many use flights for luxurious or rather touristy escapades.
A flight can be categorized as either short-haul, medium-haul, long haul or ultra-long-haul depending on the number of hours you’ll take on board.
A short-haul flight lasts below 3 hours, a medium-haul flight lasts between 3 to 6 hours, a long flight lasts 7 to 12 hours and an ultra-long flight lasts over 12 hours.
For short and medium flights, less is needed since the period one takes on the plane is short-lived.
When it comes to long and ultra-long flights, however, you must start the journey equipped to the brim to avoid inconveniences and unnecessary discomfort.
Here are some of the essentials one might need while on a long flight;
1. An empty reusable water bottle
For any long-haul flight, hydration is key. Taking an empty reusable water bottle on board not only ensures you’ll stay hydrated (which is also a key step in the battle against jet lag), but you’ll also be helping the planet while you are at it.
Instead of constantly asking for individual cups of water, you’ll reduce your single-user plastic consumption while also preventing the potential crazy jet lags that come with enduring a long-haul flight.
Be mindful not to pack a bottle full of water but rather an empty one.
2. Personally preferred snacks
Yes, solid food is allowed on a flight and can be carried in either carry-on or checked bags.
As most of us tend to expect only luxurious experiences before our first flights (regardless of which class we are traveling), we often tend to forget that hierarchy is key in a plane.
The truth is, while seated in the economy class, your hopes of being served a wholesome edible meal should never rage high otherwise you may be disappointed.
A passenger must therefore carry some snacks in their hand luggage so that they can ably access them during the flight.
Depending on your preference, you can opt to pack fresh fruits like orange, banana, or cucumber, healthy low-sugar cereal bars, chocolate, protein bars, and lots more.
The list is endless but do not pack too much as you may end up leaving them for the security guards at the checkpoint.
3. Headphones
Headphones and headsets are best for light sleepers since they are good at keeping out all the outside noise from reaching your ears.
They can also be used for relaxing or soothing the body in case you fail to rest yet you still have a long journey ahead of you.
Failure to rest can result in frustration and exhaustion which you definitely would not want to experience onboard. Do not on any flight occasion forget your headphones!
4. Spare clothes and comfy shoes
Having a few fresh clothes in your hand luggage is perfect if you are to remain sane all through your long-haul flight.
Always freshen up and change into clean clothes as often as you can to avoid feeling uneasy; this will help relax your nerves and make you feel fresh and at ease. No one wants to soak and stink in the same clothes for, say, 39 hours.
Endeavor to put on loosely fitting clothes while on the flight for additional comfort plus free shoes (most preferably comfortable sandals which you could as well accompany with fluffy compression socks) to avoid leg swellings that happen sometimes due to changes in pressure caused by altitude variations.
5. Toiletries
One of the proven ways to remain sane on a flight is to maintain the aspect of freshness. Pack yourself some toothpaste, toothbrushes, lip balm, antiseptic wipes, skin moisturizer, and some deodorants.
No one desires to sit next to a person with a smelly mouth or armpit; you would not want to be a turn-off to yourself as well as your neighbors.
Cleaning up is an excellent way of keeping yourself feeling clean, fresh, and responsible more so while in economy class.
6. Hand sanitizer
Long-haul and ultra-long flights can be damaging to your body. The exhaustion, drying conditions coupled with the fact that planes are not the cleanest places is not ideal for your health.
For this reason, it’s ideal that you carry a bottle of hand sanitizer as a solution to keeping germs away as well as infections they bring.
Just MAKE SURE your bottle contains under 100ml of hand sanitizer, otherwise, you may have to bid farewell to your tiny savior at the security checkpoint.
7. Something to keep you warm.
Planes can get a wee bit chilly (and you know it’s cold if a Brit is saying it’s cold!). So, bring a hoodie, scarf, shawl, or jacket to keep you warm and comfy.
Plus, being comfortable will make it a lot easier to get some sleep. You can as well have a small blanket in case you need to cover from head to toe.
8. Eye mask
Now, this item is a lifesaver. Sleeping whilst in an upright position can prove to be a challenge since during the day there is light in almost every direction inside the plane.
An eye mask is a handy tool that can make this challenge slightly easier. Do not forget earplugs as well!
9. Entertainment
Just as in buses and taxis; in-flight entertainment is sometimes wondrous and satisfactory but it is not always a similar case all the time.
You can however save yourself the boredom the next time you plan for a flight.
Simply load up all your gadgets with plenty of films, TV series, games, podcasts, or music to keep you entertained all through.
Do not forget to pack a portable power bank and USB cable as well because no one wants their device running out of power at the climax of a thriller.
10. A book or magazine to read
This is a very good distraction from having to check your watch all the time.
An interesting book will keep you all occupied. You may realize that you are landing while still taken up with the comics, romance, fashion, or whatever!
It is also a good idea to get yourself a kindle. It offers you loads and loads of books which are also cheaper than their paper equivalent.
Just choose an interesting preferred genre and float through the clouds.
11. Sleeping aids
Since the flight is long, naturally the body is expected to get tired and therefore shut down. In this case, a person needs something like a pillow and blanket to help in providing a comfortable sleep.
We all know how hard it is to deal with neck cramps; you therefore might as well include a travel pillow for additional comfort as you put your brain to rest.
You may as well carry some sleeping pills just in case you fail to naturally drift away into dreamland.
12. Perfect-sized under-seat bag
This is a good idea for keeping all your immediate necessities for the flight together.
It helps to not keep inconveniencing fellow passengers by removing and checking your bags in the overhead luggage cabin each passing minute. You’ll instead have all your essentials right next to you.
13. Antiseptic wipes
Much as these are part of toiletries, wipes are an energy saver since it is very hard to avoid eating and drinking while on board.
These will help keep you neat and clean throughout the flight; you can use them to clean your hands, face, and mouth after eating. Ladies can as well use them to wipe off make-up and get that fresh look.
14. Cash from the country you are going
You do not want to be stranded with your home country’s cash in your pockets. Before you get on board, always make some time and have some of your money exchanged.
This way, you not only save time but also save yourself from having to exchange your money at exaggerated forex exchange rates.
Some people take advantage of desperate foreigners by exchanging their currencies at exorbitant prices all intending to get ambiguous profit.
15. You need a pen as well
Pens are unlikely essential and you might have not known that you needed one.
Long-haul destinations usually come with landing or immigration documentation to be filled by passengers before they land in their final country of destination.
Do yourself a favor and pack one to avoid inconveniencing other travelers. Having a pen with you adds a little credit and makes you look responsible.
Important Things To Take Note Of
- In whatever you do, always endeavor to remember that your passport must always be your number one priority. You would not want to ruin an entire trip because of a small thing like your passport. Be cautious of where you choose to keep it, but make sure it is easily accessible every other time.
- Always be in the know that the kind of essentials you will need during your flight. It is dependent on several factors like;
- The class in which you travel.
- Airline passengers in the economy and business classes are treated a little differently. The ones in business class are given extra care and attention and may not need to carry a bag full of essentials.
When in the economy class, however, the story is different. You need to get yourself fully equipped to prevent worse-case scenarios of incurring unnecessary costs for petty items that you may have forgotten.
Your status as a traveler
Similar to class, a traveler’s status is determined by the kind of ticket they purchase; if you are dripping money and wish to have a lavish red-carpet kind of treatment that comes with everything, the golden visa deals are perfect for you!
But if you are an illegal immigrant, the whole point of having travel essentials is practically pointless since you may end up having all your personal essential belongings confiscated on arrival.
Heads of state under normal circumstances also have additional essentials like trained bodyguards and armory for additional protection and security.
The kind of airplane you are to board
Different planes normally have pretty different ways of handling customers, based on the kind of organization and staff support available.
Public planes have air hostesses and other support staff while private jets also have trained staff that will ensure your comfort throughout.
The amount of money you are ready to part with
People travel for several reasons but may sometimes find themselves on a very tight budget; leaving them no other choice but to acquire only the most essential items.
If one’s budget is favorable, however, one can have as many essential items as possible.
Dos and Don’ts on an Airplane
Because you have patiently read until this point, you truly deserve a bonus guide for your next flight.
If there is anything you’ve been doing wrong, you will have to adjust a little and if this will be your first flight; you will have a clue about almost everything.
DOs
- Drink enough water to stay hydrated.
- Vacate the plane aisle after boarding to avoid colliding with other passengers
- Chew some gum to help de-pop your ears during flight and while landing
- Have your bag with you and make sure it has all your necessities
- Relax your muscles by moving around when you get the chance to (mostly for those on long flights)
DON’Ts
- Do not use strong perfumes while onboard
- Avoid trying to forcefully open airplane windows
- Do not eat or pack food with a strong aroma into the plane
- Do not take too much alcohol while on the plane
Final Thoughts
Flights are a very swift means of transport and have saved the globe the headache of having to travel by road or on ships for months and although they are frequently used; flights are still considered a luxurious means of transport more so in the developing countries thus relatively few people get the chance to explore the heights.
The essentials and tips listed above are a complete guide for both those who frequently use airplanes and first-time passengers.
So, as you plan to grow wings the next time, consider the guide above! I hope it helps.
Bon, voyage!
