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Long flights are sometimes unavoidable, but there are a few ways to make them more bearable! While I never truly get good sleep on a long flight, arriving to my destination early enough to do some exploring is definitely a plus.

Check out the 7 things I always pack to get me through a red-eye or long flight.

Comfortable Pull-Over Hoodie or Sweater

Airplanes are notoriously cold. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a flight where I didn’t need a sweater. I always make sure to bring a sweater with a hood so I can pull it up to keep my ears warm. Personally, I can’t sleep if I’m freezing cold, so having a sweater definitely helps me get as cozy as possible on a long flight.

Black - out Eye Mask

I got into the habit of wearing an eye mask to sleep about a year ago and it made a HUGE difference in my regular sleep patterns. Naturally, I’ve been bringing my sleep mask with me everywhere, including plane rides. Nothing is more satisfying on a crowded plane than being able to slip on an eye mask to block out the outside world. While I can’t promise the best sleep of your life on a red-eye flight, a black-out eye mask is definitely a step in the right direction. I recently lost my sleep mask, so I’ve been looking for a better quality mask that does a better job at blocking out light. While my old mask did a good enough job, I could always see a small flash of light just below my eyes because the mask didn’t contour to my face. There are a few different options on the market, including eye masks that also have built-in bluetooth earbuds.

Headphones

Since we’re on the topic of blocking out the world, headphones are a must! Any headphones with noise-cancelling features should work well. Wireless headphones are a lot easier to come by for a reasonable price and quality construction these days too. My sister swears by her AirPods, but my off-brand wireless headphones from Amazon do a great job of providing a quality surround sound experience. I’ve had my headphones for over two years and I love them. I have relatively small ears, so most standard earbuds hurt my ears and become really uncomfortable after a while. The moldable earbuds on these don’t bother my ears at all and they stay put through even my toughest workouts.

Blanket Scarf

Sometimes sweaters aren’t enough and the flimsy blankets that airlines hand out are definitely not enough. I love packing a foldable blanket scarf to warm my legs on extra cold flights. Blanket scarves are also super on-trend now, so it’ll work double duty as a fashion staple and an extra layer on the plane! I got mine from the Forever21 Winter Collection, but I don’t think it’s in stock anymore, so I found a pretty good Amazon dupe here!

Neck Pillow

While nothing can replace the comfort of your own bed, a neck pillow can at least help you get in a comfortable position. I made the mistake of ordering an expensive memory foam neck pillow before my trip to Paris. It was so thick that I felt like I was wearing a heavy duty cervical cast. I picked up a cheap neck pillow from TJ Maxx for my trip to Disney and it was 100% much more comfortable. Neck pillows are definitely not a go big or go home product!

Portable Phone Battery

Whether you rely on your phone for music, in-flight online shopping, or simply directions to the taxi stand once you get off the plane, you definitely want to make sure you have a way to charge it. I absolutely LOVE my Jackery phone charger. I’ve had it for 4 years and it has never let me down. I have the Giant + portable charger with two ports, so I can charge more than one device at a time. Usually, a single full charge of the Giant + takes a few hours, but will recharge my phone from dead to 100% up to 5 times. I highly me recommend the Jackery power bank products. I’ve owned two of their portable chargers and both worked incredibly well.

Comfortable Shoes

Your choice of footwear can make or break your trip. From taking them off on the security line to running through the airport to the right gate, comfortable shoes are a must! I personally prefer to wear sneakers or slip on shoes on the plane to minimize the possibility of getting cold. If I get lucky and score a seat in an empty row, I can easily slip off my sneakers and stretch out in socks.

There you have it: 7 essential items to survive a red eye or long flight. Packing for a vacation can be a pain, but the key is simply paring down to the essentials. Now that you have the basics covered for your carry on, hop on over to my Caribbean Vacation Style Guide for some fashion inspiration for your final summer getaway!

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by | 5 Comments

5 Comments on 7 Things to Pack For a Long Flight

  1. Pingback: Travel Essentials You Need - Caitlin Inspired to Create

  2. Thanks for share this article it is very helpful to me.

    King regards,
    Boswell Zacho

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