As a luxury travel advisor, I am always traveling somewhere, and today I’m sharing how I’ve mastered the art of a long-haul flight with my carry-on essentials. Preparation begins well before takeoff. Hydration is key, so I start increasing my water intake at least 24 hours in advance and adding electrolytes to ensure I board the plane feeling replenished. For carry-on essentials, my bag is always stocked with a few travel luxuries that make all the difference. I always bring under-eye patches, a rich moisturizer, and a nourishing lip balm to combat dry cabin air.
For sleeping, I bring my silk sleep mask, earplugs, and noise-cancelling headphones to create a cocoon of calm, no matter the seat assignment. I always wear an outfit comfortable enough to sleep in, like silk trousers or a cashmere cardigan.
Once I board, I settle in immediately, sanitizing my space, popping on my compression socks, and ensuring my water bottle is within reach. I follow the one litre per four-hour rule to maintain hydration and always opt for peppermint tea over caffeine to help fight jet lag. I also pre-order a low-sodium or light meal to avoid unnecessary bloating and discomfort. Airplane food is notoriously heavy on salt, which also amplifies dehydration at altitude. After dinner, I reapply my skincare, get myself comfortable, and try to get as much sleep as possible. Depending on the length of the flight, I’ll often take a sleep aid. My personal preference is magnesium because it helps with relaxation without leaving me feeling groggy.
Just before landing, I try to give myself a bit of a refresh and chug as much water as possible. Arriving at my destination, I do my best to prioritize movement, natural light, and continued hydration to signal to my body that it’s time to adjust to the new time zone.
Favorite Carry-On Essentials
For organization, I love these Away Packing Cubes, especially when a trip has multiple stops. I'll organize for what I need a few days at a time so I don't have to dig around or completely unpack my entire suitcase. I love this jumbo case for toiletries and this Jetset case (which is TSA approved for a liquids bag) to keep my toiletries (both checked and carry-on) organized. I'm taking more supplements these days and have been committing to keeping that routine on the road. I have two of these organizers (one for AM and one for PM) and love that they're high quality, sleek, and functional.
For entertainment, my Kindle is a no-brainer. I love that I can have an entire library with minimal space, and I love this new color, too! To keep hydrated, I pack my Memobottle. I love that these water bottles are flask-shaped: flat and easier to slide into your travel bag. They come in different sizes, but the A6 is a great small size that can fit into a cross-body purse. I pair that with Cure Hydration Electrolytes, especially this watermelon flavor. I drink these just about every day in the summer (sometimes 2x a day around days I'm flying). Clean ingredients, low cal, and great taste.
Even if I'm flying in the summer, I love to have a cashmere wrap on hand in my carry-on (airplane cabins and any indoor area with aircon can be cold, and this is an easy item to wrap up in anytime you need it). I LOVE this silk sleep mask. It keeps light out for any sleep environment and has raised areas around the eyes so they don’t squish your lashes. I curl up with my wrap and slip on the mask when I’m ready to get some shut-eye.
For skincare, I pack the LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask as I tend to be a bit dehydrated when traveling, and this makes all the difference on my dry lips. I love these hydrating under-eye patches. I'm prone to dark circles, which get worse with travel (lack of sleep and dehydration). I pop them on about 30 minutes before landing. I am late to the game on this, but I have noticed such a difference in facial puffiness when I use a gua sha to aid in lymphatic drainage. Flying, lack of sleep, and indulging in food/beverages can make my face feel puffy, and this simple tool is easy to pack and can help reduce that.
Flying long-haul doesn’t have to leave you feeling depleted. You should feel like an extension of the journey, not an obstacle. Try these tips for packing your carry-on essentials and thank me later!
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