I’ve Mastered Sitting Comfortably Through Long-Haul Flights With These 14 Travel Must-Haves

I believe in checking in a bag, in paying extra for additional luggage, and I don’t believe that one carry-on luggage is the only means of traveling. I am a maximalist packer—but for good reason. I want to feel prepared for any and every possible situation, and this packing lifestyle choice benefits me time and time again. Whether I’m on a quick 1-hour drive within the state or sitting on a plane for over 14 hours, I am stacked with travel gadgets and gizmos to keep me entertained, hydrated, and comfortable in my seat. 

My must-have travel essentials include slightly unexpected things, like anti-lost straps for AirPods and hydrocolloid bandages, and also tried-and-true favorites, like AirTags, hypochlorous acid sprays, and a leak-proof water bottle. It doesn’t have to cost you too much to have peace of mind, either, because my recommendations start at just $5. And even the pricier items are 100 percent worth it—you’ll get so much use out of them outside of just travel, too. 

Travel Essentials for Long-Haul Flights

• Twelve South AirFly SE Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter, $30 (was $35)
• Superband Hydrocolloid Waterproof Bandages, $21
• Strapsicle Hand Strap for Kindle, $21
• Mooyavia Magnetic Anti-Lost Straps, $5
• Holii Pill Organizer, $6
• Cabeau TNE S3 Travel Neck Pillow, $50
• Apple Airtags Pack of 4, $70 (was $99)
• Philips One by Sonicare Battery Toothbrush, $25
• SkinSmart Facial Spray, $18
• House of Dohwa Rice Bran Cleanser, $27 (was $29)

Twelve South AirFly SE Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter

Sitting in a metal container high up in the sky for long hours can’t be done without movies and shows, and this Bluetooth audio transmitter makes it possible to watch plane entertainment without being confined to your seat’s headphone jack. Just plug in the little device into the seat or screen, turn on the device, and it’ll seamlessly sync wireless headphones and earphones to the airplane’s media system. When fully charged (via a USB-C port), the transmitter will work for up to 20 hours—a perfect accessory for long-haul flights. 

Superband Hydrocolloid Waterproof Bandages

OK, hear me out. Having bandages on hand is a life hack that I will always live by. These hydrocolloid bandages come in a pack of three and can be easily cut to create a custom patch size. While parents might keep them around for cuts and scrapes, I personally use them to alleviate irritated and dry patches on my body. Given how dry the air is inside an airplane, sometimes reapplying lotion and cream isn’t enough. So I’ll moisturize, cut up a little bandage, and adhere it to my skin. It stays put (I’ve even showered with these on), and it really calms down the redness and irritation. Plus, having the patch on itself prevents me from subconsciously scratching the area. 

Strapsicle Hand Strap for Kindle

Does anyone else compete with the reading progress made on their Kindle? Well, I do, and it usually means my hand is cramping within a few hours because I’m having to grip the device for so long. The Strapsicle is an underrated game changer for your e-reading experience; the silicone straps go around the corners of your device, and you can just put your hands under the straps for an effortless hold—no more wrist discomfort. You’ll get two straps, but installing one alone is more than enough to lighten the load on your reading marathon. (No more dropping your Kindle on your face when reading lying down, either.) 

Mooyavia Magnetic Anti-Lost Straps

There’s no dread like when you open up your wireless earphones case to only see one earbud inside. And when seats are already tight, my introverted self isn’t the best at asking help from my seat neighbors. But for $5, I can avoid all of that—and I can doze off with my earbuds in without worrying about them disappearing mid slumber. These straps have loops that slip over the end of your Airpods, and then you just hang the strap around your neck. There are even small magnets inside the loops to keep the earphones attached to one another when they’re not being used. 

Other must-haves in my personal bag and carry-on include a pill organizer with ibuprofen, nausea medication, some vitamins; toothpaste tablets that don’t take up my TSA liquids limit; and a multi balm that I swipe onto my skin every few hours to ensure my skin is nicely moisturized. Find even more of my recommendations for a smoother flying experience below. 

Holii Pill Organizer

Cabeau TNE S3 Travel Neck Pillow

Apple Airtags Pack of 4

Philips One by Sonicare Battery Toothbrush

Nobs Toothpaste Tablets

SkinSmart Facial Spray

House of Dohwa Rice Bran Cleanser

Kahi Wrinkle Bounce Hydrating Multi Balm

Owala Smoothsip Slider

Popsockets MagSafe PowerPack