What's In My Carry On
Packing the perfect carry on bag is an art form. You want to have everything you need in transit, in flight, and immediately afterwards all within arms reach. Honestly, I keep it pretty simple. While my carry on inevitably ends up being where I stash any “leftovers” that didn’t make it into the suitcase, here’s what I always make sure to pack:
1. Neck pillow: I’m a big fan of the J-pillow for window sleeping on long haul flights (more here). I’ve also had decent luck with the Trtl pillow (they have a cult-like following) and a standard U-shaped neck pillow (I like this memory foam version.)
2. Eye mask: I like this pressure-free eye mask with a velcro close.
3. Headphones: So, I’m not a huge snob when it comes to headphones. I’d love to splurge on a pair of fancy noise cancelling headphones in the future, but for now I pack three pairs: my Airpods, Apple headphones with the mini USB plug, and Apple headphones with the traditional headphone jack. It might seem like overkill, but here’s why I bring them:
Airpods — for everyday use while I’m traveling
“New” corded headphones — I like to use these when I sleep on the plane. I don’t want to risk losing an Airpod on the plane while I’m sleeping, and if you plug directly into the airplane media system you risk being woken up by a captain’s announcement. I’ve downloaded “Floating Through Space” and “Ambient Relaxation” from Spotify; I crank these up on my phone to help me sleep.
“Old” corded headphones — Ah, the old standby. If you actually do want to plug into the airplane media system, headphones with the “old school” jack are the only ones that will work.
5. Medicine: It should go without saying, but let me preface this by saying I am not a doctor and you should always seek out advice from a medical professional if you have questions. I have a Xanax prescription specifically to help me relax and sleep on long haul flights. I have long been a nervous flyer (less so in recent years) and have never been able to sleep on planes. I take anywhere from one to three .5 milligrams of Xanax (depending on the length of the flight) to help me sleep.
6. Hygiene: I like to keep a small bag with a the essentials like a toothbrush/toothpaste, contact solution, and my glasses along with refreshing coconut water face wipes, these delicious smelling soap and water hand wipes, mini vaseline, mini Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask (easily score this for free at Sephora), and Summer Friday’s Jet Lag Mask to stay fresh and hydrated.
7. Chargers: I prefer to keep all my electronic chargers and adapters in my carry on. Though I rarely travel with my Macbook pro these days, I have this Apple international charger set. I also have this charger for UK/Ireland/some Asia and this charger for most other European/some South America — I love that you can use a standard iPhone USB charger with both.
8. Currency: I always try to change my currency before I depart, I’ve found a local currency exchange in Washington DC that charges a flat $5 rate and this has worked well for me (shoutout Treasure Trove Foreign Currency Exchange). Think about where you’re going and the likelihood credit cards will be widely accepted to determine how much cash to bring. Also, stick a $10 USD bill in your bag just in case! (I once waited 30 minutes for the metro bus from Dulles Airport to downtown, only to realize my farecard was empty, they didn’t accept credit cards, I had no cash, and there was no ATM nearby.)
9. Travel Journal: I love my lined moleskin journal; I use it as a scrapbook for my travels and a place to keep mementos. Jenni Bick Custom Journals in DC has the best collection of journals and stationery!
10. Extra clothes: If I have a long haul followed by a connection, I love to grab a quick shower in the lounge so I pack an extra set of undergarments to change into. Separately, If there is a chance I may have to check my carry on (usually for a smaller, regional airline or flight originating in Europe) I try to stick an extra set of clothes in as well….just in case.
Other items in my carry on:
I always pack my makeup and bath products in my carryon for easy access during security screenings
I pack my sunglasses in here so I can grab them when I land
Assorted medicine like Advil and Tums
