So you’ve got a trip coming up and you want to make sure that you’re covered with your carry on packing list. Chances are, you’re dreading a long flight or have had bad experiences in the past and want to do all you can to minimize the struggle. Let me just say – I hear you. As a frequent flyer, and as a human – I hear you.

Unless you’re riding in one of those crazy 1st class seats – you know, the ones that turn into beds, and have the personal TV and the steak with a side of champagne – airplanes are the most uncomfortable structures known to mankind. Seriously, why are all the seats shaped so you have to sit like a grumpy hunchback the whole time?!

Aside from the cruel, sick conspiracy to make us poor folk suffer for buying the cheap seats, I digress. After way too many painful red-eye flights (I’m looking at you, Spirit), I’ve finally found a few things that make the ride at least a little more bearable. Ready to stop dreading your flights? Keep scrolling to learn all the tricks of the trade to the ultimate carry on packing list!

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What to Pack in your Carry On to Stay Comfy

Travel Pillow

First on the list of absolute essentials, is a great travel pillow. And I do mean a great travel pillow. I’m sure it’s on a million other lists, but hear me out! I’ve learned the hard way that there is a huge difference between just a typical travel pillow and a really good one. This is one thing I’ve found it isn’t worth skimping on when I really need to get some sleep on the plane. I’ve tried the $10 ones, and they just go flat or get really hot and in the end are just a waste of money.

To have any hope of getting some real sleep while sitting on a cramped airplane you need support. I personally use Cabeau Evolution Memory Foam Travel Pillow and it’s been a life saver. The raised sides with memory foam hold you snug and support your neck while still giving that cushy pillow feeling. When the flight is over, it rolls up small to fit back in a small pouch that fits easily in your carry on bag or clips to the outside. Here’s the link to give it a try.

My husband on the other hand prefers his Trtl Pillow. Its essentially a scarf with velcro and a supportive piece sewn inside. You wrap it around your neck and it creates a soft platform to comfortably rest your head. Here’s the link to check it out.

While everyone has their own pillow preference, these two brands are widely considered the best you can get on the market.

Layers

In my experience, airplanes are either ice cold, or a smelly humid jungle climate – each being their own special kind of hell. This means that clothes need to be both comfortable and functional. Pick your coziest sweater, jacket, or sweatshirt to pack in your carry on. Be sure to wear a comfy tee underneath so you can easily peel off layers!

Scarfs can also be one of the most useful items to pack in your carry on. You can wear it (obvs), use it as a blanket, or roll it up as an extra pillow or cushion. One of my absolute favorite travel hacks is to roll up the scarf and place it behind my back. It helps combat that grumpy hunchback airplane seat design by adding a little lumbar support. You’d be surprised by the difference it makes!

Compression socks

This is a travel tip I wanted to hate – but then I tried it. If it sounds like a grandpa tip, well then that’s because it is. Regardless, IT WORKS!

Ever find that your legs and knees get achy from sitting a long time? Or that your feet get swollen and uncomfortable? Compression socks help keep the blood flowing properly and keep you feeling more comfortable on an airplane. There are lots of options on Amazon or other shops. Here’s a link to the ones I use at about $16.

Carry On Packing List to Stay Healthy

It’s no secret that planes are full of germs. They’re rarely (I’m actually guessing never) truly cleaned, so you can bet that any one surface has been touched by at least a thousand other people and all their bacteria. While I would suggest the best thing you can do is just try not to think about it, there are a couple things you can add to your carry on packing list to help take the edge off sitting in a nasty cage of germs for a couple hours.

Hand Sanitizer

This one’s obvious, but easily forgotten while packing. Even if you’re not the type to keep it in your bag on the regular, toss a (small TSA-approved size) bottle in your bag. Sure, you can kind of wash your hands in the airplane bathroom. But how sure are you that the last hundred people washed their hands after they used that restroom? And how many of them had to touch the bathroom door or handle on the way out? You get the idea.

Sanitizing Wipes

A potentially less-known tip is to bring a small package of wipes. It sounds a little crazy and I usually don’t bother unless it’s a longer flight. But if I’m in for a 5+ hour flight I’ve found it gives me at least a little peace of mind to wipe the sticky-from-I-don’t-want-to-know-what tray table and arm rests down.

Carry On Packing to Fight Boredom

You don’t have a lot of space in your bag, but you definitely have a lot of time on your hands! For this reason, it’s important to try and consolidate. This means bringing 1 thing that provides many activities. For me, this means a tablet. It’s bigger than my phone screen so I can watch movies more comfortably, but still slim and easy to tuck in a bag.

On an impulse, Scott and I bought a Fire HD 8 Tablet from Amazon before a long flight to France and NO REGRETS! It’s much cheaper than tablets from names like Apple. While the features are a little more basic than some other tablet models out there, it’s just the useless fluff that didn’t make the cut. The best feature is that if you already have an Amazon Prime account (and who doesn’t at this point?) tons of movies, shows, books, and games are included.

If you don’t already have an Amazon Prime account, I’ll hook you up! You can use my link here to try it FOR FREE for 30 days! This will get you access to the entire Prime library of streaming movies and shows for your trip – plus all the other Prime benefits. If you don’t see yourself using it after the 30 days, you can just cancel before the renewal date and you won’t pay a dime. That’s 30 days of free travel entertainment!

The Best Carry On Snacks

While flights typically all offer a small snack, airlines are getting skimpy with food offerings. Even purchased in-flight meals and snacks leave much to be desired at a hefty cost. As a serial hangry person, I always recommend planning for some snacks in your carry on packing list. There have been far too many times where after-boarding delays keep you waiting for the plane to take off for hours where there is no beverage or food service. Be prepared!

I’ve found the perfect snack trifecta to be the following:

• Something with lots of protein to stay full
• Sweet snacks
• Salty snacks

Space is limited, so you definitely can’t bring the whole fridge to stay satisfied for a long flight. I always try to bring something that’s protein-rich as it keeps me feeling satisfied longer. For this, I typically throw some almonds or RXBARs in my bag. I like RXBARs for really any day because they don’t have a bunch of sugar, and are free of fillers, preservatives, and all the other nauseating junk you typically find in breakfast or protein bars. They taste great, and use just a few simple, no-BS ingredients. IMO the Chocolate Sea Salt is everything, but here’s a link to pick up the RXBAR variety pack so you can do a thorough trial of all the flavors.

Carry On Essentials to Stay Hydrated

Airplane air is so dry! Without a doubt, every single time I board an airplane I can count on stepping off feeling dried out. My eyes feel stuck inside my eyelids, hands turn to fragile sandpaper (thanks in part to the cheap soap in airport bathrooms), and lips are painfully chapped. Over time, I’ve developed a tried and true hydration set. Add these items to your own carry on packing list to keep the dryness at bay!

Chapstick

Chapstick always makes it on my carry on packing list – even for short flights. And let me tell you – this chapstick is the best stuff out there. It’s not new or expensive; it’s not a designer brand. But I’ve been using Blistex Medicated Lip Balm since I was a kid and it always works wonders. I’ve tried other brands – Burt’s Bees, eos, ChapStick Total Hydration, Vaseline, whatever. Blistex Medicated is still the best, and it’s crazy cheap. With this link, you can pick up 3 for less than $3.

Lotion

I used to always skip the lotion on trips because it seemed a little “extra” and waste of precious bag space. I was blind, but now I see the light. With a long-haul flight, after cheap airline bathroom soap, hand sanitizer, and dry air, a good lotion will feel like a trip to the spa. Treat yourself! As a fan of the tried and trusted brands that minimize harmful chemicals, I love Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Hand Creme above any other lotion I’ve ever tried. It works great, smells great, and has no parabens, sulfates, phthalates, mineral oil, or dyes.

Water Bottle

Drinking plenty of water is key anytime, but when you’re away from home and your routine it’s rarely top of mind. Add a ride in the ultimate moisture-sucking machine (airplane), and you’re in for trouble. A good step is to make sure you ask for water anytime the beverage cart comes by. Bringing a refillable water bottle along is an even better step. What’s your favorite water bottle for on the go? Share your tips in the comments!

The Carry On Bag to Hold Everything on Your List

Now that you’ve got your carry on packing list, you’ll need something to… well.. pack it in! I’ve been using my Eagle Creek Companion backpack for a while now and think it’s pretty slick. It zips all the way open like a suitcase so it’s easy to pack and has about a million pockets, zips, and straps to hold all my stuff.

If you’re trying to travel light – this is THE backpack. I’ve traveled all over with only this backpack in tow because 1. it’s sooo much cheaper than checking a bag and 2. it’s way easier to get around with a backpack than a huge suitcase. Check out my article How to Travel with Only a Personal Item for all the tricks of the trade to traveling light.

And there you have it – all the essentials for your carry on packing list! I’d love to hear if these items make the trip a little more bearable for you – share your results in comments below!

Anything you think I missed on this list? I’d love to hear about that too! Let me know your thoughts in the comments!