This is a collaborative post.
If you’ve ever travelled by plane you’ll know that, whether you’re heading off a long-haul holiday or visiting another city for a short break or on business, it can be surprisingly stressful. From endless queues and strict security procedures, to being unable to stretch your legs out or stuck next to a stranger on the plane – not to mention the potential for jet lag when you eventually land – flying can make for an overwhelming experience!
Thankfully, however, if you plan ahead and prepare for your journey properly by packing all the essentials into your carry-on bag, you can make the flight experience a whole lot easier on yourself.
Most of us never leave the house without our headphones, our smart phones and perhaps even our laptops too, but it also pays to take something to nibble on in between meals, a bottle of water so you can stay hydrated (although you may need to buy these after you pass through security) and something clean and comfy to wear when you land. Many people also swear by travelling with a second spare outfit, just in case their luggage gets lost during transit.
Understandably, there are restrictions on which kinds of items can be packed into your carry-on when travelling by plane and the amount of personal belongings you can carry are also limited by weight. With a bit of careful planning, though, you should still be able to bring everything you’ll need for your journey.
So, let’s have a look at what you might want to consider packing into your carry-on bag in order to ensure a smooth and stress-free flight experience.
Travel documents/ID
The very first thing you’ll need to pack into your carry-on bag is your passport and, if applicable, your visa. After all, you’re going to need these in order to cross the border. Make sure your passport is within arm’s reach, since airport officers will definitely ask you to produce it at different points of your airport check-in process.
If you need to get a passport photo taken, but you’re not able to get to your local photo studio or passport photo booth, you can create your own ID photos at home using a passport photo app for PC or similar online passport size photo maker.
Headphones
I never leave phone without my headphones usually, yet it’s the one thing I forget to pack into my carry-on, whether I’m travelling short-haul or jetting off to a more far-flung destination. My headphones live in my handbag usually and as I don’t always travel with my bag, they end up getting left behind.
So, make a mental note – or a physical list, whatever works for you – to take your headphones with you when you travel. If you’ll be visiting the beach, chilling out by the pool or taking part any water sports while you’re on holiday, it really pays to consider taking some waterproof headphones with you.
Why I recommend MOBI earbuds
If you’re looking to invest in a new pair of waterproof headphones (one of the best things I ever did!), you might want to consider a pair of MOBI earbuds.
While your average pair of headphones might be a bit of a letdown when it comes to noise cancellation, MOBI’s Hybrid Active Noise cancellation is basically like sound-proofing for your earbuds; no one will know you’re actually listening to music, even with the volume cranked up.
Other highlights of these snazzy earbuds include AI-powered transparency mode, 100-hour battery life, 30m connectivity, sound-isolating dual beam-forming, Google and Siri compatibility, multi-touch controls and an ergonomically-optimised fit for maximum comfort.
Snacks
Waiting in line at the airport can make us all feel a little cranky, so it’s important for us to keep our blood-sugar levels topped up. Having a snack in your carry-on is a good idea because you never know how your flight might turn out. Even if you’ve paid for in-flight meals, there’s nothing to say you won’t end up stuck inside the plane for endless hours waiting for clearance, or you might start feeling peckish in between meals.
Snacks are especially crucial if you travel with kids; just try flying long-haul with a hungry toddler and telling them they have to wait their turn to get their dinner! Sweet treats and crisps can make for a handy way to keep kids happy on long flights.
Staying hydrated during your flight is absolutely essential. When we fly at high altitudes in compact cabins where oxygen flow can be limited, our skin can begin to look very weary and our eyes can dry out. Make sure you buy a bottle of water once you’ve passed through security at the airport, so you’ll be able to stay hydrated in-between mealtimes.
Eye mask
It goes without saying that you’ll need to wear a face mask when travelling during the pandemic, but have you thought about taking an eye mask?
Once you’ve tried wearing an eye mask during your flight, you’ll probably never want to go back. Even the dimmest of cabin lighting can prevent you from falling asleep, even if you’re absolutely exhausted. A decent eye mask will block out any light, allowing you to catch some much-needed shut-eye before you land.
Neck pillow
Transatlantic flights have a tendency to tire out our necks, especially if you’ve got a habit of resting your head on your shoulders to help you to sleep on a flight.
With this in mind, consider forking out for a cosy pillow to support your head in the correct position. If you don’t want to carry it around with you, you might be able to tie it to your carry-on bag or you could always invest in an inflatable pillow; these things are usually so small that they’ll fit into your pocket!
Power bank
We all depend on our electronic devices. Phones, laptops, tablets, earphones, smart watches… and the rest. But what do we do when the battery suddenly dies and we don’t have access to a power point?
If you know your flight will be a long one, it wouldn’t hurt to have a power bank packed in your carry-on. This could be really handy once you land too, enabling you to capture those all-important memories, pay for food, drink other incidentals and keep in touch with your loved ones back at home, without having to worry about your battery getting flat.
Travel-sized toiletries
One of my worst nightmares while travelling is that my bag could potentially get lost. While it hasn’t happened to me yet (touch wood), there’s nothing to say it won’t happen to me in the future.
For this reason, it really pays to pack a change of outfit and a small set of toiletries into your carry-on. Unless you want to spend the first few days in your destination wandering around in dirty clothes in the event of lost baggage, that is!
Medications
This is a no-brainer, but I’m going to say it anyway, as you’d be surprised at how often this gets overlooked. If you have a condition that requires you to take any form of medication, don’t forget to bring them on the plane with you. If you pack them into your hold luggage and it gets stolen, lost, or simply delayed, you’ll have a hard time finding a refill once you arrive.
Dependent on what medication you take and where you’ll be flying to, you might also need to carry a copy of your prescription with you too.
Entertainment
In this day and age, our phones are often the only distraction we need. However, if you won’t have WiFi access on your flight or you just don’t want to stare at a small screen for hours on end, you’ll probably want to take another form of entertainment with you too.
In-flight entertainment platforms usually offer a range of complimentary music, radio channels, movies and TV programmes to wile away the hours with, but it often pays to packing a good book, your favourite magazine, or your laptop or tablet too.
Valuables
No one likes the thought of anything going missing from our luggage but sadly, it can and does happen on a daily basis. If you’ll be travelling with any expensive valuables like jewellery, a laptop or camera equipment, pack it into your carry bag so you can keep an eye on it at all times.
Hopefully, the question of ‘What can I take on a plane with me?’ doesn’t bother you anymore; so next time you fly somewhere, make sure to take all these essential things with you aboard the plane and your trip will be a breeze! Oh, and don’t forget packing cubes — they help you to organise efficiently and maximize space in your carry on luggage Australia for stress‑free travel.
Can you think of any other essential items that are an absolute must for your carry-on bag? Share your recommendations with other readers by commenting below.
This is a collaborative post.