Carry on essentials I pack for every flight

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I’m a frequent flyer.

So much so in fact, I’m currently a Silver member of the British Airways Executive Club*, and was briefly a Silver member of Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club* at the same time.

I take dozens of flights for work each year, and many of these are long haul. Some, like those to Australia, mean I’m in the air for upwards of 20 hours a day.

So trust me when I say I know how to get comfortable on a flight – or at least as comfortable as you can be without being in business or first class.

I also prefer to travel light – even though I usually take my laptop and camera – which means I’m all about minimising what else I take onboard.

With that in mind, here’s the whittled down list of carry on essentials I take on every single flight to maximise comfort.

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Comfortable tops and compression leggings

While common sense might tell you to wear loose-fitting clothes for a long haul flight, the reality is that it might not be the best thing for you.

Flying increases your risk of developing deep vein thrombosis, especially if you’re predisposed to it, which is one reason why experts recommend getting up and moving around regularly.

Compression socks are often recommended too, as they help to improve circulation.

These work by restricting your veins – the additional pressure from narrowing veins then forces your blood to flow faster.

The problem is most people only wear compression socks for the duration of the flight. To be truly effective, they should be worn for at least an hour after landing.

The alternative, and my go-to, is compression leggings.

They’re usually designed for the gym as compression can help with sports recovery. Some are also suitable for recovery after surgery.

Because of this, they are super comfortable to wear, don’t restrict your movement, and are easy to put on and take off. And they’re available for men and women.

A huge selection is available from specialists like TLC Sports*, and high street retailers like Adidas* and Under Armour*.

I always get a plain black one with side pockets that I can stuff my phone into, like the TLC ones pictured above (they’re TLC’s lightweight, strong compression, tummy control leggings*).

Then I just wear a long, loose-fitting top over it that won’t ride up during the flight, and a pair of trainers that are easy to slip off.

Depending on the season, I will also take my Uniqlo ultra light down jacket*.

It packs down small enough to stuff into my backpack, and seems to offer just the right amount of warmth for autumn, winter and spring.

For long haul flights I’ll pack a change of underwear too, just in case of delays and to feel a bit fresher.

Refillable water bottle

As I get dehydrated easily, I always take a big refillable water bottle with me on every trip.

Many airports have water fountains where you can refill before a flight. I use the crowd-sourced Water At Airports website to check locations if I can’t spot one straightaway.

A 750ml one like the Camelbak Chute Mag insulated bottle* (pictured above) is ideal. It’s not too big or bulky, but it carries enough liquid for a couple of hours.

The handle on the lid means I can clip it to my bag and not worry about it falling out.

And as the bottle is stainless steel, I can clean it with boiling water if I need to.

Painkillers and inhaler

Dehydration can also give me headaches so I usually take a pack of painkillers with me on the flight rather than in my checked luggage.

I carry my inhaler too, just in case any allergens set off my seasonal asthma.

Basically you should take any medications you need for the flight, and any backups in case your luggage gets waylaid.

Neck pillow

My BCOZZY neck pillow* follows me on all my long journeys. I’ve tried a few travel pillows for reviews in the past and this one was my favourite.

The fabric is fleece-soft, and the two ends overlap so I can adjust its position easily depending on how I’m resting.

It also clips onto my backpack when I’m not using it.

When I get home, I can pop it straight into the washing machine so it’s clean and fresh for my next trip.

Eye masks

An eye mask is essential for those overnight flights.

Even if I can’t actually get to sleep, I find it’s a good way to rest my eyes after staring into the glare of the inflight entertainment system.

Oversized is always best, as is cotton for the cover. Leave the silk ones at home – you don’t want to worry about how many times you’re washing it or whether it’s done by hand.

I now have a few picked up from various flights but Desmond & Dempsey* has a huge collection for men and women if you want to get yours.

Ear plugs

For the longest time I would just pop on noise-cancelling headphones to go to sleep.

But they’re actually quite heavy, which means I can sometimes wake up with a sore neck.

So I bought a pair of cheap ear plugs from Temu* (the ones pictured above), and they turned out to be a great investment.

They’re noise muffling rather than cancelling, so I can zone out the noise around me to work or nap but be alert enough to any announcements.

Lip balm and hand cream

The only toiletries I take onboard with me are lip balm and hand cream.

I don’t have brand loyalty for a lip balm, but Neutrogena’s Norwegian Formula Lip Care* was the last one I bought and it’s served me well. It also contains SPF 20 sun protection.

As for hand cream, I’m currently using Dr. Hauschka hydrating hand cream*, which doubles as a face cream if I need it.

Depending on what airline and how long the flight is, I might also take a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Colgate’s portable toothbrush* folds down into its own protective case and the bristle is decent enough that you’d want to use with regularity.

Wipes

Depending on where I’m travelling to, and how organised I am, I’ll take two types of wipes.

One is an anti-viral hand wipe, which I’ll use to clean down any surface I might touch when I get to my seat.

Because judging by the crumbs and smears I usually encounter, planes are rarely as clean as airlines make them out to be.

I usually get Boots’ own-brand anti-viral hand wipes* because I can pick them up after security checks.

On long flights, I’ll take some face wipes too.

I use Simple’s Kind To Skin biodegradable cleansing wipes*. It’s nice to refresh the skin in the morning, and the unscented version is great for sensitive skin.