9 things you should pack in your hand luggage

Some people find travelling by air stressful. Right from travelling to the airport and finding parking at the airport to the check-in procedure and security screening and even the carry-on baggage allowance, all of them seem to be reasons for making air travel stressful. I love air travel though. It is one of my favourite modes of travel. With a little bit of research and planning your travel can be relatively stress-free.

Today I will share with you my top 9 hand luggage essentials that I always carry. A few of you might find carrying some of the listed items unnecessary but based on my experience these items make your journey (especially long-haul flights) a little more comfortable and less stressful.

9 things you should pack in your hand luggage


1. Eye mask and ear plugs: An eye mask is an absolute essential. I always try to get some rest on flights. If it is long flight then a good nap is a must to avoid jet lag. An eye mask that fully blocks light works well in such scenarios. Earplugs play a dual role - not only do they block the noise but also help keep the pressure in the ears even.

2. Headphones: Most airlines provide headphones but I normally carry my own pair. I do not like the earbud kind of small headphones. I like my headphones big and carry my JBL Synchros E50BT Bluetooth, around-ear wireless headphones. They are comfortable to wear and offer effective noise isolation - so you hear what you want to and the rest is blocked out (e.g. the roar of the engines or the very noisy passenger in front of you).

3. Medication: I always carry a small box with all the basic medicines - like the ones for a headache, nausea, stomach ailments etc. Even the most seasoned travellers can feel a bit queasy at times and it is better to be prepared. You should also carry any other prescribed medication that you take on a daily basis. Carry only what you need for the duration of the journey and pack the rest in the checked-in baggage.

4. Face Wipes: A pack of moisturising facial wipes is a must. The air in planes is not humid enough and results in dehydration - dry, flaky skin or itchy eyes. Aside from drinking plenty of water to keep skin hydrated, a moisturising face wipe will help soothe and restore suppleness to skin. The wipes also come in handy to remove any smudged makeup. I always find that my eye makeup gets a little smudged after I have had a nap on the plane. If you do not like using face wipes, you could carry a small bottle of lotion or cream to keep skin moist.

5. Water: On many low-cost airlines passengers have to pay for a bottle of water. On long-haul flights water is provided free. But in either case, it is good to have a bottle of water with you. As one cannot bring a big bottle of water through security, I always purchase a bottle of water once through the security check. This way I am prepared and don't have to depend on the flight attendants at least immediately after I board the flight.

6. Electronics: I never put anything valuable in my checked baggage - it could be lost, damaged or even stolen. I personally have never had anything stolen from my luggage ever but have heard of enough cases to deter me from putting anything very valuable in the checked luggage. So whether it is my IPad, laptop, camera or any other electronics, it goes into my carry-on luggage.

7. Power bank: Most airport departure lounges have free charging stations or power points but these tend to be always busy. So, I always carry a rechargeable power bank which stores enough power to charge all my electronic devices.

8. Emergency contact details: I have picked this habit from my dad who always carries contact information for family and/or close friends at home - even when on a short trip. I do the same. It is also advisable to carry your travel insurance information - the insuring company name, your policy number and the contact phone number in case of emergencies.

9. Gum/ Mints: I always carry a small pack of mints or gums.

So, that's it - my list of 9 items that I always pack in my carry-on luggage. I would love to know what are the must-pack items that you always pack in your carry-on luggage. Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

76 comments:

  1. Great tips I was just thinking the other day when I was traveling that I should have brought my headphones

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  2. Great only one I won't use is headphones always forget something so this is so handy to have

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  3. I pack most of this,but never a bottle of water x

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  4. Fab tips written them down so I won't forget.

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  5. great idea to carry contact info, i will write them down in case my phone doesn't work

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  6. THIS WOULD ENCOURAGE ME TO TAKE MORE EXERCISE

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  7. Very interesting. Some useful tips!

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  8. Love the article - love travel - 2016 is my bucket list travel year

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  9. Great tips - definately bookmarking this for my next holiday!

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  10. Great tips...I a.ways take a carrier bag too!

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  11. I have three kids so I always have a little pack of crayons and colouring in an attempt to keep them entertained, they also had a travel game of guess who last year which kept the bigger two entertained!

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  12. Lovely article and great tips. I always take some fruits with me. I don't eat food from airlines. lip balm is essential to me as I get very dry lips.

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  13. Thanks for such great tips xx

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  14. Really great ideas, thanks for the informative post! Katherine De Riera

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  15. Really helpful tips! Thank you!

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  16. Fab! As a long haul regular traveller I've become an expert at packing. My travel pillow is also essential!

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  17. wipes, a phone ,a spare plastic bag , money, a bottle of water ,a mirror, paracetamol, powerbank, spare t shirts and shorts for the kids.

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  18. keep saying I need to buy a power bank, even handy for when stuck in the snow when travelling in your daily routine

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  19. For long haul I also like to have a mini deodorant and toothbrush with toothpaste. 8 hours later I need a little freshmen up before landing!

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  20. I don't leave the house without my powerbank - funny when you consider we knew nothing about them 5 years ago ;-)

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  21. Some great advice! Thank you :)

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  22. Great list, I always have my Kindle, a pack of cards and a notebook and pen too.

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  23. great list, similar to mine although i don't pack headphones. I usually pack earplugs for the hotels but good idea for the flights for ear popping!

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  24. I also always pack an eyeshade and earplugs. I prefer the silicon earplugs to the squishy foam ones as silicon seems to mould better to my ear and to keep out more noise. In addition, I always carry hand sanitiser. As well as for cleaning my hands I use the sanitiser to clean the arm rests, tray table and buttons for the in-flight entertainment - these harbour lots of bacteria from previous passengers. My other must-have is hand cream, to use after washing or sanitising my hands as they also get dry.

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  25. I also carry anti-bac hand gel, Ultradex spray and a lightweight scarf/shawl as often find planes quite chilly

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  26. This was such a good and interesting read. Definetly book marking this

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  27. Lots of helpfull tips here thankyou ☺

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  28. Amazing giveaway prize x thanks for the chance to win x

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  29. I take all of the above and more! Not sure how I fit any clothes in the suitcase!

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  30. Great tips! I haven't been on a plane in 16 years so would not have a clue what to take in my hand luggage if we go away.

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  31. I always pack eye gel and moisturiser after freshening up it helps to rehydrate my skin especially after a long flight.

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  32. fantastic post i will be refering back to it in the spring thankyoux

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  33. I've always been given eye masks and ear plugs on the plane!

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  34. Headphones. I always forget them! I need to make a note of these tips so I never forget things again

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  35. I always take a small pack of biscuits (you might have to throw them away before entry to some countries) because you never know when unexpected delays may occur leaving you incredibly peckish!

    Hazel Rea - @beachrambler

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  36. Great tips, thank you :-) I'm off to Australia in November and dreading the long flight so this will be a great help :-)

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  37. Very useful tips - thank you :)

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  38. I haven't flown anywhere since I was 10, but isn't so very different from planning a long car journey.

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  39. What a great list. My husband & eldest daughter are going to Iceland in a few months & I'll most certainly be referring back to your list. Thank you

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  40. So helpful - I'm such a disorganised packer!

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  41. My essentials are a good book, puzzle book, pen, bottle of water, paracetamol, healthy snacks and tissues.

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  42. great tips & blog post

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  43. Helpful to see all the information organised into different sections.

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  44. A few things there I hadn't thought of.

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  45. Saved the list for future travels

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  46. Thanks for the tips and advice. Something to think about next time I'm traveling.

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  47. Lots f helpfull tips thank you :)

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  48. always take water and babywipes as i have kids

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  49. I always take my MP3 player, a good magazine and a toothbrush & toothpaste :)

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