The general rule of thumb is to pack it with anything that you need quickly and can’t live without. However, this isn’t always intuitive and it is easy to put things in the wrong bag. Next time you’re about to take a trip, refer to the list below to make packing your personal item a breeze.
1. Gum
This one is a non-negotiable for me and not just because you’re sitting very close to people. With the change in air pressure, particularly during take-off and landing, chewing gum is excellent for helping your ears adjust. In fact, one time I got comfortable as I was flying a lot and didn’t pack any, thinking I wouldn’t need it. Boy was I wrong! My ears were in so much pain that I thought they would explode and I vowed to myself to never go without it again.
2. Earphones
For obvious reasons, earphones are great so that you can watch/listen to whatever your heart desires without getting death stares from the passenger that are trying to sleep. If that sleeping person is you, a pair of noise cancelling headphones or ear plugs might do the trick. For longer flights, do your research to find out if your seat back will have a tv. If it does, you may need the old aux headphones or a dongle adaptor to plug in.
3. Hand Sanitizer/Antibacterial Wipes
Ahh, a sign of the times. While hand sanitizer has always been a good idea, it’s basically an essential nowadays. Do yourself a favor and throw a mini into your bag- Bath and Body Works has great carrying cases- and grab a pack of Wet Ones from the travel section of your local Walmart or Target. Yes, airlines are supposed to be wiping down your tray tables, but are they really? Give yourself some peace of mind and take the matters that you can control into your own hands.
4. Anything You Can’t Live Without
Although not super common (thankfully), it is possible for your checked luggage to get delayed or even lost. For this reason, you should always pack the things that you can’t live without in your personal item. For me, a great example is my contacts/glasses as I basically can’t function without them. Also, depending on the length of the flight, some contact-wearers may want to take them out if they are planning to sleep. Other great examples in this category would be any medicines you take daily and feminine products.
5. The Obvious But Most Important
You know the trifecta- wallet, phone, keys. However, when flying, this also could mean your passport. In this day and age, an extra face mask is always smart and sunglasses are great too.
6. Empty Bottle
You can’t take a full water bottle through security, but you can take an empty one. I like to keep an empty water bottle in my personal item and then fill it up once I’m through security. Contigo makes this great one that has Autoseal technology so it won’t spill in your bag. It’s stainless steel so it keeps your hot beverages hot and your ice cool. This is great if you want to get hot water and make chamomile tea to keep you calm on your flight.
7. Change of Clothes
While I am guilty of not doing this, it’s always a good idea to bring a change of clothes in case your luggage does get lost. You may not always be in the position to buy clothes right away so a well-thought-out spare is one of those things that you will be so grateful for in that near worst-case scenario.
8. Entertainment
This one is critical for passing the time, especially for those long flights. Get work done, listen to a podcast or music, or watch a movie with your favorite combination of a book/Kindle, iPad, and/or laptop. Crossword puzzles and Sudoku are also options. If you need additional ideas, my post about coping with flight anxiety gives some great ones.
9. Chargers
Some flights have outlets, but even if not, it’s good to bring them in case your device dies or is low on power after keeping you busy the whole flight. If need be, you can always give your phone a quick charge in the airport before using it to grab an Uber or pull up directions.
10. Snacks
You know me, I’m all about the snacks… but really, who isn’t? Unless you’re on a budget airline (yes Spirit, I’m talking about you), you’ll likely at least be given cookies or pretzels. However, it’s never a good idea to get on a flight hungry thinking you can eat when the flight is scheduled to land. I’ve had plenty of instances where I held off on eating and was left starving with no in-flight service due to turbulence, circling in sky because of bad winds, or being stuck on the tarmac. Do your future self a favor and assume you’ll need a snack.
What are some things you keep in your personal item? Let me know in the comments below!
