25 Must-Have Long-Haul Flight Essentials for Your Carry-On (+ FREE Packing Checklist)

Planes can be ridiculously loud – with over 250 people chatting, moving about, and generally making a racket.

Unfortunately, there’s no volume control, so the best thing you can do is come prepared.

That’s where earplugs come in; silicone earplugs are the BEST. They mould perfectly to your ears to block out all that unwanted noise. I tried them a couple of years ago, and now I never travel without them – especially when I need some shut-eye on public transport! They’re also perfect for hostels.

A good travel pillow is an absolute must when you’re jetting off on a long-haul flight or taking any public transport – especially if you’re travelling economy.

Getting some decent shut-eye while travelling is essential! There’s nothing worse than waking up with a stiff neck because your head did that awkward nod-and-drop move mid-snooze.

Save yourself the discomfort and pack a comfy travel pillow – the Trtl travel pillow gives your neck the support it needs. You’ll thank yourself later!

Anyone with long hair will probably be able to relate, but it can be so annoying when your hair keeps getting in your face.

On a long-haul flight, the last thing you want is to be constantly brushing it away. You just want it out of your face so you can get comfy and enjoy the flight!

That’s where satin scrunchies come in. Not only do they keep your hair in place, but they’re also way gentler on your strands, helping to reduce breakage – which is especially important in the dry air of the plane.

Depending on how long your journey is, your phone (or any other gadgets) might not last the trip – especially if you’re using them for work, reading, or entertainment. That’s why packing this Anker power bank in your carry-on is an absolute must.

And let’s be real – the last thing you want when landing in a new country is a dead phone while trying to work out how to get to your accommodation, or just for general safety. To be even more prepared, sort out your eSIM in advance with a Yesim international electronic SIM. That way, as soon as you land, you can text, call, and use data as usual – without getting hit with ridiculous roaming charges!

Depending on how long your long-haul flight is, packing a spare pair of underwear is a solid move. Let’s be honest, being stuck in the air for hours, binge-watching movies, and not moving much can leave you feeling a bit minging. A quick change of underwear (and even your outfit) can help you feel way cleaner.

Plus, you never know how long you might be hanging around in the next airport waiting for a connection or transport to your accommodation. So, if you’ve changed, especially towards the end of the flight, at least you’ll land feeling a bit fresher!

On a long-haul flight, it’s easy to feel pretty groggy, especially after waking up from one of those disorientating naps where you’re not quite sure where you are and what time it is.

Heading to the bathroom to wash your face can work wonders to help you feel a bit more refreshed and awake. Plus, this face wash will help to combat the drying effects of flying.

Having a little skincare routine on a flight is such a nice treat for yourself! It’s a fab way to refresh and keep your skin from feeling completely zapped by the dry cabin air.

This e.l.f. hydration kit contains everything you could possibly need, including a cleanser, hydrating balm, moisturiser, eye cream, and night cream. Plus, all the bottles are travel-size approved, so no stress at security! The only thing you’ll need to remember is some cotton pads to apply and remove the products. Refreshing and perfect for that in-flight glow-up!

If you’re brave enough to pop on a face mask mid-flight, the Biodance Hydro Cera-nol Real Deep Mask is a total game-changer for rehydrating your skin — an absolute must on any long-haul flight!

Sometimes, you just don’t want to spend your whole flight glued to the screen, watching TV or movies – otherwise, you’ll step off the plane looking a bit like a zombie (hello, eye bags)! That’s where a Kindle comes in handy – it gives you a change of pace and offers a nice alternative. Whether you prefer a Kindle or a physical book, that’s down to personal preference. But let’s face it – books and magazines take up a lot of space, especially when you’re travelling.

The better option is a Kindle. Load it up with all your favourite reads, and you’ve got a whole library in one slim device. It’s the ultimate space-saving hack for book lovers. Even if you only use it for trips, you can always go back to your paperbacks when you’re home.

When flying, the air inside the plane is extremely dry. With such low humidity at high altitudes, your body loses moisture faster than normal.

As with many of the essentials on this list, it’s about taking preventative measures to maintain hydration in your skin and body. By popping one of these electrolytes into your water bottle, you’ll help your body retain water and regulate fluid balance. So you can land feeling a little less parched!

Your hands are just as exposed to that drying air on a plane as your face, so they definitely deserve a bit of attention too. We often forget about them when we’re focusing on our skincare routine, but after hours in the air, your hands can feel just as dehydrated and rough as your face.

To keep them from looking like sandpaper by the time you land, pack some rich, moisturising hand cream. It’ll keep your hands feeling soft and nourished throughout the flight!

Okay, so you can’t take water through security – but here’s the hack: you can bring an empty water bottle. Then, once you’re past security, most airports have water fountains where you can fill up. If you’re worried about space in your carry-on, you could go for a collapsible water bottle instead.

Trust me, from my long-haul experiences, they don’t hand out nearly enough water on flights. When you do ask for a drink of water, it usually comes in a tiny plastic or paper cup about one gulp full, leaving you dehydrated for the rest of the journey. And if you end up drinking alcohol or caffeine, it only makes things worse.

By bringing your own bottle, you can stay hydrated throughout the flight without having to keep asking the flight attendants for more water! Plus, if you’re heading to a destination where the tap water isn’t safe to drink, you could invest in a water bottle with a filter instead – so it’s useful throughout your trip, and it means you’re not just lugging a bottle around.

If you’ve ever struggled with circulation issues on a long-haul flight, then make sure you pack some compression socks into your carry-on. They gently apply pressure to your ankles, which helps reduce the risk of blood clots, swelling, and leg pain.

Another tip for surviving those long flights is to get up every couple of hours. Walk around, stretch your legs, and get the blood flowing. It’ll make a huge difference and help you feel less stiff by the time you land!

Long-haul flights often involve extra paperwork, especially when landing in a country where you’re not a citizen. When visiting Asia, the Americas, and parts of Africa, you’ll usually need to fill out an arrivals card with your personal information for immigration.

On the first long-haul flight I took, I never knew anything about this, so I didn’t have any pens packed. Cue me awkwardly asking fellow passengers for one (thankfully, most people are happy to lend a pen). To avoid the stress, just chuck a pen in your carry-on – it’ll save you a lot of hassle!