In-Flight Essentials – Comfort, Convenience, and Well-Being for Your Journey

Traveling by air, especially on long flights, can be exhausting and uncomfortable without the right essentials. In-flight essentials are items that help make your time in the air more comfortable, convenient, and stress-free. From keeping you relaxed to ensuring you have everything you need within arm’s reach, these must-have items enhance your flying experience, whether you're embarking on a short haul or a long international flight.

Check out the Fly Comfortable, Arrive Fresh Blog!

If you decide to purchase any of these items, please do so through my affiliate links by clicking on the item photo. This helps you and me. Amazon extends a small percentage to me with no cost to you. And, you get vetted products without having to take the time do the research. Thank you for your support.

CLICK ITEM PHOTO FOR PRODUCT LINK

Tech & Electronics

EAR BUDS

Since I only use these for flying, I did not want to spend the kind of money for Airpods. I tried a few off-brands and found these. They are comfortable and the sound is great for listening to music and watching movies while in-flight.

POWER BANK

20,000 mAh! I like this one because it is so powerful that I can charge my iPhone, iPad and iWatch all at the same time. It does however take a bit to charge once it is low.

AirFly

AirFly is a Bluetooth adapter that plugs into a plane's audio jack. I wanted to be able to use my ear buds when using the in-flight entertainment. Plus, many airlines now charge for earphones. AirFly works great connecting to my earbuds and plugging into the airplane's system. ln full disclosure, I always take a set of traditional earphones just in case I am unable to get the earbuds and AirFly to work properly. I have only had do this once but the alternative of being on a long flight without entertainment is a no-go for me.

ELECTRONICS ORGANIZER

This organizer works great and is compact. I put all my cords one one side and the other side has the power bank, AirFly and 2 charging cubes.

DUAL CHARGING CABLE

Charge your iWatch and iPhone with one cord!

UNIVERSAL TRAVEL ADAPTOR

This adaptor had the most ports and works in 160 countries. It is compact, weighs next to nothing and comes with a zippered traveling case that protects it from dirt.

POWER BANK WHILE SIGHTSEEING

World’s Thinnest and Lightest Magnetic Portable Phone Charger......attaches to your phone and has built-in lightning cable.

Comfort

NECK PILLOW W/REMOVABLE COVER

See my write-up on why this is a game changer for carry-on only travel.

SLEEP MASK

I tried 4 different kinds of eye masks. This particular one keeps out any light, does not bend my eyelashes, maintains eye make-up (if you fly with it on) and is soft on my face.

FOOTREST

Having a footrest raises your legs and relieves pressure off the lower back. If your legs are shorter or you are on a long flight, footrests make flying so much more enjoyable. I tried the hack of using a beachball, but it just rolled everywhere. This blow-up footrest compresses down to nothing and is lightweight. After removing the air, simply use a rubber band to keep it rolled up. Because airplane floors can be dirty, the footrest can be cleaned with a damp cloth and then sprayed with disinfectant.

PERSONAL FAN

If you tend to run hot, a personal fan is great for travel. This particular fan is powerful, stands alone, weighs the least and is compact.

COMPRESSION SOCKS

Before I knew about compression socks, my ankles and feet would always be swollen when I got to my destination. Compression socks come in different levels of compression. You will have to find a level that works for you.

COLLAPSIBLE WATER BOTTLE

Hydration is so important when flying and the cost of water after going through airport security is outrageous. Many airports have water filling stations after security. This bottle was the best option for me because the quantity of water it can hold, size, weight and packability. Check out the water bottle comparison blog.

FLATWARE

Having a cutlery set comes in very handy, maybe not on the plane but when traveling on a budget. If you are buying groceries and eating on the go, flatware is a must. Hotel rooms usually do not have any utensils. Why I settled on this set was the size and weight. And some utensil sets tend to have odd shapes. To date, I have not had a problem going through airport security, domestically or internationally.

COLLAPSIBLE CUP

I do not consider this an in-flight essential but wanted to add it since it works great for hot beverages. I used this for hot cocoa and coffee when on the ship's balcony passing by the glaciers in Alaska. I tried many different brands of the same style and this was the only one that did not leak when tipped over or dropped.

SEAT CUSHION

I don't know about you but my butt always falls asleep in those airline seats. This seat cushion is inflatable, lightweight, packs small, non-slip and durable - a great option for long flights when you don't have a lot of space.