These are the items that are my must-haves when it comes to flying anywhere, but they are especially my essentials for red-eye flights and long-haul flights. For me, that’s any flight that is overnight, over 6 hours or is one that I’ll need to sleep on if I want to be able to function once I arrive at my destination.
noise canceling headphones
First, an absolute must—noise canceling headphones. I’ve never been on a plane where there’s not a screaming baby, so these have been a lifesaver every time. Plus, the plane is loud in general so these help to create your own little pocket of peace on the plane.
These headphones are the best purchase I’ve ever made—I’m obsessed with them. Here’s a link to the exact ones I have.
neck pillow
There are not many feelings worse than when you’ve finally dozed off and—BAM—your head bobs to the side, waking you up. So, to prevent this I bought a neck pillow.
I put a lot of research into this because I wanted one that was just right—I can be pretty picky when it comes to my sleep. This one ended up being perfect because it was breathable, supportive, and could be fastened to the headrest so that it wouldn’t move while I was sleeping.
eye mask
It can be so nice to have an eye mask on the plane. I have a hard time keeping my eyes closed when I’m around lots of people and the plane isn’t completely pitch black, so this eye mask really helped me get some sleep before landing.
Here’s the eye mask I picked out. I spent hours researching because I wanted one that was soft, comfortable, and had space for me to blink. This one ended up being perfect, I love it.
earplugs
The next best thing after noise-canceling headphones—earplugs. My headphones were a little difficult to wear with my neck pillow, especially when I was trying to sleep, so I was really glad I had some earplugs.
I have a pair I’ve been reusing for a while, but here are some nearly identical ones to what I have.
blanket
Every airline I’ve been on has provided blankets for longer flights, but I’ve always been glad to have my own. Their blankets aren’t quite big enough for your whole body, so it’s nice to have two blankets—one for each half of your body.
I bought mine last minute at the airport, but here’s a close equivalent in size and price.
kindle
I adore my Kindle. I take her with me everywhere I go. Kindles are the best for long flights because their battery lasts forever and it can hold thousands of books at once so you’ll never be bored.
protein bars
I love packing protein bars on long flights. Airlines don’t always have the best plant-based options, so it’s nice to be able to wake up and have a semblance of breakfast before getting off the plane.
These are my favorite protein bars of all time—they’re the perfect amount of sweet and I love the texture. Pro tip: warm them in your hands or in the sun before eating to make them softer and to make the chocolate chips a little melty—so good.
water bottle
Ah, my emotional support water bottle. I take this thing with me everywhere I go. It’s the best water bottle I’ve ever owned in my life. It truly does live up to the hype.
Having a water bottle is one of the main essentials for red-eye flights. Those little cups of water they give you every two hours simply aren’t enough. That being said, here’s a link to the water bottle I have.
portable charger
This has been a lifesaver while traveling. There have been too many times where I can’t find a working plug or my adapters don’t work and this has given me a charge in a crunch.
I’ve had my Belkin charger for years and it’s held up so well. Everything charges super fast on it and it holds enough power for 3-4 full charges. Here’s a link to the portable charger I use.
happy travels
Well, those are my essentials for red-eye flights. These items have truly made flying much more comfortable and enjoyable for me—and I hope they do the same for you. Here’s to happy traveling!
If you need some help packing your carry-on, check out my post on how to pack light (+ the ultimate packing list).
