After four+ years of business travel, I have become a complete travel snob. Middle seat? I don't think so. Paying extra to check a bag? Try again. So when TallGuy and I booked a redeye to Iceland on notorious no-frills-budget-airline WowAir, I was nervous. I didn't want jetlag to impact my ability to enjoy our already short trip, so I made sure I was over prepared. When it came to packing my carry on, I focused on comfort, health, and entertainment to guarantee an easy flight and minimize jetlag.
Check out the Perfect Carry On for Surviving Long Flights below.
Comfort
Since we were taking a short redeye, I wanted to ensure I got as much sleep as possible on the flight. I upgraded my old travel pillow to an adjustable travel pillow to allow for optimal comfort. To maximize my packing space, I opted for my trusty lululemon vinyasa scarf in lieu of a travel blanket. The versatile scarf can be unsnapped into a perfect airplane blanket, and upon landing, was re-snapped it back into an infinity scarf that I wore throughout the trip. In addition to a pillow and blanket, an eye mask and ear plugs are an absolute must.
Health
One of the keys to surviving a long flight is staying hydrated, which was hard to do on a flight that doesn't offer complimentary beverages. Instead of buying water on the plane, I brought a large, insulated water bottle that I filled at the airport that lasted the entire flight. I continued to refill the water bottle throughout the trip (including in a glacier stream, which was pretty stinkin' cool) to stay hydrated, save money and reduce my environmental impact. I made sure that I had plenty of healthy(ish) snacks, including granola bars, almonds, beef jerky, and my favorite gluten free pretzels (that come in a perfect packable size). I also stocked up on some not-so-healthy candy #balance. These snacks were a lifesaver on the flight and saved time and money once we were road tripping through Iceland. Personal hygiene is also critical for me to feel alert after a long flight. I always travel with hand sanitizer (because planes are gross), lip balm, gum, travel tissues, face wipes, and a toothbrush and toothpaste to help feel fresh after landing.
Entertainment
In the off chance that I couldn't sleep during the flight, I wanted to make sure I wasn't twiddling my thumbs for six hours. One of my favorite things to travel with is a travel book of my destination to help with some last minute planning. I also always make sure I have a pair of noise-canceling headphones, with a backup pair of earbuds just in case. However, my go to travel accessory is my portable charger. This charger has been everywhere with me, and lasts a minimum of 10 complete charges. It also easily fits in a pocket or purse for easy on-the-go charging. Finally, I always keep my photography equipment with me on the plane in case of lost luggage. My Bluetooth-enabled GoPro and SD card lightning adapter allow for easy photo transfer.
Long Flight Carry on Packing List
Neck pillow
Blanket
Eye mask
Ear plugs
Reusable water bottle
Healthy (and not-so healthy) snacks
Hand sanitizer
Lip balm
Gum
Travel tissues
Face wipes
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Book
Headphones
Portable charger
Sunglasses
Passport
Camera and accessories
Additional Things To Consider
I am #TeamWindowSeat, especially when trying to sleep on a flight. I hate being woken up because my seatmate has to go to the bathroom, again. TallGuy and I opted to pay to choose our seats to guarantee I had a window seat and TallGuy got some extra legroom. The seats we chose were approximately $140 per person roundtrip which drastically increased our fare, but we agreed that it was totally worth it when we arrived well-rested and ready to go. If your seat assignment has the potential to impact your trip, consider paying a little extra to seat select!