My 67-year-old Dad Just Flew Alone for the First Time — Here, 12 Items I Told Him to Pack for a Comfy Flight

As someone who has been to almost 60 countries, you’d think that my travel bug was genetic. But as it turns out, my nearly-70-year-old dad’s travel experience is entirely different from mine. Though he is a confident, reliable, curious, and always-up-for-it kind of chap, to my shock, he’s only just taken his first-ever solo flight this year; it was a four-hour journey from Birmingham, England, to Athens, Greece, to meet me for a cruise we took together.

Though I would be meeting him for the second leg of this exciting trip, I couldn’t help but think of my own solo flight experiences and the things I’d wish I’d known before takeoff — many of which I’m sure my dad was also pondering. His main areas of concern were safety and comfort, which I assured him could be solved with the proper gear and accessories, as well as some forward planning as insurance that everything would go smoothly.

To think that he’s never taken a trip in the skies alone is still mind-boggling to me, but I was more than happy to share the important takeaways from my short- and long-haul flights and the travel essentials that would ease his anxieties about flying alone so he’d feel comfortable, rested, and energized than ever for his much-deserved vacation.

iWalk Compact Portable Charger 

The frazzling nature of ticketing, documents, navigating airport layouts, and hauling luggage easily wears fliers down, and the absolute cherry on the cake is a dying phone or laptop, especially when you have your boarding pass and flight details on it. Learn from me: I once let my phone die on an eight-hour delay somewhere in South America; I set an alarm on my phone to wake me when it was time to find the new gate, but my phone died before my alarm went off, and I missed the flight.

 I recommended my dad bring this convenient two-pack of portable chargers so he’d have one in his carry-on bag at all times for extra backup. These tiny portable chargers are lightweight, compatible with several types of devices, and let you know when what you’re charging is at 100 percent.

Psier Wireless Bluetooth Headphones

Coaxing my dad into trying various travel gadgets wasn’t a challenge at all; he always takes an extra minute or two to peruse the offerings at tech shops when we’re out and about. I knew his in-flight entertainment plan wouldn’t be up to date, so I suggested he take a pair of these wireless headphones with him. The open-ear design ensures that you can hear your surroundings (and not miss important announcements from the flight crew) while the behind-the-head strap guarantees a secure fit (and that they won’t fall off when you’re on the move).

Eberlestock Bando Belt Bag

I’ve found that the easiest way to keep my belongings safe when traveling solo is to keep them stored in a practical bag. For me, that’s a belt bag, and I knew my dad would benefit from a similar-style bag. This travel-friendly version from Eberlestock is stocked with compartments and secure pockets to safely tote smartphones, cash, wallets, passports, and more, but it’s compact enough to stuff in the seatback pocket or wear on your person when you’re sitting in your seat or going to the bathroom.

Since it drapes close to the body and is lightweight, I don’t have to worry about my dad heaving around a heavy bag, getting the strap stuck on trolleys, or getting pickpocketed on busy European streets with an attention-grabbing bag. Instead, he can keep valuables tucked away neatly right on his front hip or strapped across his chest where no sticky fingers can reach.

Wohlbege Duffel Bag

This simple weekender bag has lots of pockets and compartments for all the Mary Poppins dealings of a middle-aged man who seems to need to carry more odds, ends, medicines, tissues, and random gizmos in his hand luggage than any other traveler I’ve seen. My dad needs to have his comforts; they are printed out extra copies of his boarding pass and trip itineraries — plus snacks and emergency medication, which I recently reminded him to pack in his carry-on bag and never in his checked luggage.

Here, the side pockets can house those travel documents and other vital items without needing to scramble through a heavy bag. The spacious main compartment is also excellent for anyone looking to avoid checking luggage; it can act as your personal item bag and be stowed under the seat in front of you.

Wrangler Smart Carry-on With Cup Holder

My dad’s generation was all about soft shell rollaboards, now he’s slowly graduating to sturdier, hardsided options. To make sure he was traveling with quality luggage ready for anything, I suggested he upgrade to this smart carry-on from Wrangler, which has a convenient cup holder for your water bottle, airport coffee, and other tiny essentials. I even encouraged him to opt for a bright color so he could easily spot it if it needed to be gate-checked to eliminate any fuss during the next leg of the trip.

Apple AirTag 4-pack

While prepping my dad for his first solo flight, I wanted to make sure that he’d have an extra eye on his belongings should there be any airport mishaps. Enter: Apple AirTags. These valuable gadgets provide real-time location tracking on the items they’re fastened to, so you always know where your checked bag, passport, and other important belongings are. They also gave me peace of mind to track my dad as he made his way through the major flight checkpoints.

FunLake Inflatable Airplane Foot Hammock and Footrest

On long economy flights, I am particularly aggrieved if trapped in the window seat with people who seemingly sleep like angels and do not need to use the bathroom for 14 hours. I’ve perfected the art of an impish hop, skip, and jump over sleeping strangers now, but my dad’s not so agile or cheeky. Being able to raise your feet whilst lowering the seat back is tantamount to pretending you’re in a highly stacked bed of pillows. This was a genius find for me, and I know it’ll be a game-changer for my dad, too, who claims to have never slept a wink on a flight.

HealTek Eye Massager Eye Mask

The catch of this little baby is reeling in my dad’s interest because of its Bluetooth connectivity (it connects to your phone and can play your music, or you can opt for the built-in white noise machine feature). But I urged him to pick these up so he wouldn’t be bothered by any overhead lights during his flight. The massage feature helps alleviate pressure, which is great for travelers who are prone to headaches, and you can use the separate cooling eye mask to reduce puffy under-eyes.

Asics Men’s Gel-Venture 9 Running Shoes

The golden age of dressing in a suit and shoes for a flight is not over, but my dad has never been a suit guy. Instead, he prioritizes comfort, which is the best thing one can do for a long-haul flight. Supportive shoes like Asics’ Gel-Venture 9 Running Shoes are essential for keeping your feet comfortable when you’re walking more than usual, plus they’re easy to slip on and off at TSA security and when you’ve made it to your seat. They can also be worn on several activities on your trip, making them a smart packing list pick.

I have this same pair, so I thought it would be cute to match with my dad. In fact, the only time I was upgraded on a flight was when I wore a tracksuit and these magic shoes, so I blessed him and sent him on his merry way with a new set of Gel-Venture 9s and a spring in his step.

Brill UV-C Toothbrush Sanitizer Cover

Everyone is prone to an upset tummy on flights, and my dad is known to suffer from a sensitive stomach on his travels. In the event that he gets sick (or just wants to be extra cautious about germs), I made sure he was prepared with this fun little find. The sanitizing case protects your toothbrush from picking up germs in your toiletry bag or the airplane sink. I know he’ll enjoy its UV-light nerdery whilst freshening up mid-flight.

Jack & Rose Travel Clothes Steamer

I’ve never known someone so meticulous about ironing as my dad. He is militant about even ironing a scrappy T-shirt for a day or night out, and so having a travel steamer is a no-brainer travel essential for him. Beyond saving the day from post-flight wrinkles and creases, this portable steamer is great to have handy for business travelers and international fliers since it automatically adapts to the global voltage; I’ve found it handy when arriving somewhere with a 10-minute turnaround before meeting clients or hosts on some of my travels.

I also recommend it for anyone who will be doing laundry on their trip. When I went on a Botswana safari, because of the sweat and dirt, I took advantage of my lodge’s same-day laundry service. Once everything was clean, I really upped my game by pressing the clothes so they looked extra crisp.

Biotherm Force Supreme Blue Serum

It seems to me that once you introduce good skincare into your toiletry bag, travel just gets better. Though deeply unconcerned with his appearance in terms of vanity and being miffed at losing his hair, my dad thinks a budget bar of soap and one glass of water a day is sufficient skincare. He often complains about the bags under his eyes, so I recommended he travel with Biotherm’s sea mineral complex-rich serum. I’ve told him he’ll look 47 instead of 67 by the time he disembarks the aircraft after using this with its retinol-fortified and peptide-enriched anti-aging and hydrating formula.

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