9 Carry-On Items You Must Travel With

By Christine Ascher on August 26, 2018

Flying can be a strenuous experience, especially if you’re not properly prepared. The contents of your carry-on bag will determine your experience during your flight, so it’s worth taking some time to make sure you have everything that you’ll need. To make sure that you don’t forget anything essential, check out this list of must-have carry-on items for your next trip.

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Image via https://pixabay.com

1. Your Glasses

If you wear contacts, it’s a good idea to bring along your glasses in your carry-on bag in case you need them during your flight. Especially on longer flights, your eyes can become dried out which will make your contacts uncomfortable, so you’ll want to have the option of switching to your glasses if that becomes the case. If you have reading glasses, make sure you bring those as well, as you may want to do some reading to pass the time on your flight.

2. A Good Book

Flights are the perfect time to catch up on your reading and to finally get into that book you’ve been meaning to read forever, so make sure you bring along some reading material to keep you entertained. A book is a must-have item especially if you’re going on a long flight, as magazines may not last you as long.

3. A Water Bottle

While you can water during your flight, it tends to be easier to bring your own water bottle in your carry-on. This way, you’ll have more water available during your flight, and you won’t have to worry about catching the flight attendant when you need to rehydrate. Just make sure that you empty it out before going through security so that you don’t have to throw it out!

4. Headphones

Another essential carry-on item to bring on your next flight is headphones. Whether you want to watch the movie being played on the flight (and don’t want to pay for the airline’s headphones) or you want to listen to your own music or movie, headphones will go a long way in keeping you entertained during your flight. Make sure that, if you’re planning to watch the airline’s in-flight entertainment, you bring along the right headphones, as the ones used for an iPhone may not fit.

5. A Phone Charger

While not all flights will have outlets where you can charge your phone, it’s still a good idea to bring a phone charger along just in case. If you’re going to be watching Netflix or playing games on your phone during the flight, you might run down your battery, which can be a problem if you need to meet up with someone once you land, or if you’re planning to take an Uber when you reach your destination. Even if you aren’t able to recharge your phone during your flight, it’ll be a big help having it on hand in your carry-on bag, rather than tucked away in a suitcase, if you want to charge your phone at the airport.

6. A Neck Pillow

If you’re planning on doing a little bit of napping on your flight, make sure you bring along a neck pillow to help you rest comfortably. While you can buy them at the airport if you forget one, they might be more expensive than you could find elsewhere, so it’s a good idea to purchase one before your trip. Make sure you try it out a bit to see if it’s comfortable for you before you get on your flight, as not everyone will find the same kind of pillow good for sleeping, and you won’t want to be unable to sleep on your flight because you can’t get comfortable!

7. An Eye Mask

Another essential if you’re planning to nap on your flight is an eye mask to block out any light on the plane or, if you’re seated near an open window, any bright sunlight that might keep you awake. Even if you just want to rest, an eye mask is a great thing to have to help you relax while in the air. It will also keep any chatty neighbors at bay, as it will signal to them that you’re trying to rest.

8. Gum

If your ears tend to pop when you fly, don’t forget to pack some gum in your carry-on bag to help you combat the effects of the changing air pressure. Having your ears pop can be very uncomfortable, and it’s annoying to have to sit through your flight without being able to fix them, so bringing along some gum will prove to be a huge help.

9. Snacks

Purchasing food on a flight tends to be expensive, so if you want to save some money make sure that you pack your own snacks in your carry-on bag. Especially if you’re going on a longer flight of flying during a meal time, you’ll want to have something that you can snack on to tide you over until you land.

While not everyone enjoys flying, if you’re properly prepared you can make it as pleasurable an experience as possible—and you’ll definitely be less stressed!

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