The Ultimate Packing List for Long-haul Flights

Long gone are the days of dressing up to fly. Now, especially under no-frills coach-class conditions, comfort is the name of the game. Dress for relaxation, warmth, and versatility on and off the plane. Layers are key for unpredictable temperature changes mid-flight, too. 

Best Lounge Set

Spanx AirEssentials Crew

View on Spanx $118 at Bloomingdales

While comfort is a top priority when traveling for hours in the air, who says you can't look cute, too? With this Spanx crewneck and matching wide-leg pant set, you can have the best of both worlds thanks to the sleek, airbrushed fabric and effortlessly stylish loose-fit design. There are tons of different muted and bold colors that can be mixed and matched with other tops or bottoms from the AirEssentials Collection.

Best Leggings

Elastique Athletics L'original leggings

View on Elastiqueathletics.com

These might look like a typical pair of leggings, but the interior fabric has a beaded lining designed to promote circulation and stimulate the lymphatic system (which can often cause swelling after sitting on an airplane for a while.) The brand's MicroPerle beads compress and massage the skin, so these are ideal for post-flight recovery or after a workout, too.

Best Cozy Socks

Comrad Knee-High Compression Socks

$26 at Amazon $28 at Nordstrom View on Comradsocks.com

To combat swelling during a flight, a pair of compression socks from Comrad will do the trick. Besides the benefits of compression socks, this pair is far more stylish than a typical set you would find at the drugstore thanks to the colorful striped pattern that comes in small to extra-large size options for an optimal fit.

Best Slip-ons

Naturalizer Marianne Slip-on Loafer

$80 at Amazon $80 at Nordstrom $129 at Walmart

Travel + Leisure editors have tested a lot of slip-on shoes, and this pair from Naturalizer is easy to dress up or down. They're perfect for going through security worry-free, and they offer plenty of support and cushioning when you're on your feet. When you arrive at your destination, the shoes can be paired with jeans or a dress, offering superior versatility.

Best Slippers

Bearpaw Super Shorty

View on Bearpaw.com View on Dsw.com

Whether or not you think it's acceptable to take off your shoes on a flight, bringing a pair of slippers is probably the best solution. Once you're up in the air, you can slip off your shoes and slide into this pair of plush booties from Bearpaw. Made with a thick sole, these slippers can also be worn off the plane as a regular pair of shoes if needed.

Best Wearable Wrap

White+Warren Cashmere Travel Wrap

$350 at shopbop.com View on Tnuck.com $95 at Saks Fifth Avenue

Travel blanket, scarf, or shawl are just a few of the ways to style this gorgeous cashmere wrap from White + Warren. When you're on the plane, the wrap is ideal for keeping you warm and cozy while getting some shut-eye, but it's also nice enough to wear as a shawl on a chilly night out. Opt for a muted color like sand and camel or go bold with fondant pink and bright tangerine color options.

Sleeping on long-haul flights requires preparation. Dress comfortably, in layers, and bring along gear that supports the pursuit: a travel blanket, pillow, ear plugs, and an eye mask. Avoid caffeine and choose a window seat, if it’s feasible, to avoid neighbors tapping to wake you up when they need to use the loo.

Best Travel Pillow

Cabeau TNE S3 Travel Pillow

$50 at Amazon View on Cabeau.com

Make your coach-class seat more tolerable for a long-haul flight with a neck pillow to support your head for shuteye. This ergonomic memory-foam one even attaches to the back of the seat for added in-flight comfort, and features a compression carrying bag and fully washable cover for afterwards, too. We tested this pillow on a long international trip and found that, despite its size, it was quite easy to roll it up into its compact carrying case for easy transport.

Best Ear Plugs

Loop Quiet Earplugs

$27 at Amazon $25 at loopearplugs.com

After testing a slew of earplugs, this pair from Loop were the best option for travelers looking for a stylish and reusable set of plugs. To get the most comfortable fit for each individual, the plugs come with various ear tip sizes ranging from extra small to large.

Best Sleep Mask

Manta Sleep Mask Pro

$69 at mantasleep.com

A sleep mask is a must to facilitate shuteye on a long-haul flight. And this one is next-level: it provides true blackout light protection and it’s fully customizable to fit your head and face. The carved out c-shaped eye cups also put no pressure on lids or lashes (so you can, say, keep that new set of lash extensions looking flawless throughout your trip). The mask comes with a case and wash bag; it’s also fully machine washable.

Best Travel Blanket

Away The Travel Blanket

$95 at awaytravel.com View on Tuft & Needle

Gone are the days when you could depend on an airline-issued blanket in coach. Bring your own to cozy up and get some sleep on a long-haul flight. This one from Away is lightweight and made for travel, with an interior kangaroo pocket for keeping essentials safe, as well as a foot pocket for comfort and warmth.

Customize your toiletry and grooming kit for a long-haul flight: Think hand sanitizing spray and/or wipes, pain killer, lip balm, moisturizing cream, and hair ties. If looking fresh-faced directly upon arrival is a concern, a lightweight tinted moisturizer makes a great alternative to foundation. Don’t forget a toothbrush and paste to brush up after a long night in flight. A few bottles carrying key skin care products can help maintain a sense of self-care. While not essential per se, additions like hydrating eye masks and refreshing facial mist can feel downright luxurious after a night in the air.

Best Lip Balm

Eos Organic Lip Balm 4-Pack

View on Amazon View on Evolutionofsmooth.com

Flying can be super dehydrating, so be sure to pack a few sticks of lip balm to keep your lips moisturized throughout a trip. Made with natural ingredients and finished with a mint flavor, this lip balm will leave your lips feeling relieved and refreshed. This pack of four lip balms from Eos is the best way to get a bang for your buck at a little over $3 each, and you can have a backup or two in case one gets lost in transit.

Best Under-eye Mask

RéVive Instant De-puffing Gel Eye Mask

$30 at Amazon $100 at Nordstrom $100 at bluemercury.com

Designed to de-puff and brighten the eyes in 15 minutes, this cooling gel mask from RéVive is the perfect way to make your long-haul flight a little more luxurious. Made with ingredients like brown seaweed and an anti-oxidant fruit blend, the mask targets puffiness, wrinkles, and dehydration. After you take off the eye mask, all you have to do is rub in the remaining gel and throw away the mask for a hassle-free spa treatment en route to your destination.

Best Hand Cream

Weleda Ultra-Rich Cream

$16 at Amazon $19 at Target $20 at Dermstore

The air on planes can be so drying — as can the repeated hand washing and sanitizing that goes along with travel-day vigilance. Use this fan-favorite, ultra-hydrating cream from century-old company Weleda not just on hands, but on elbows, feet, and even faces, too. The 2.5-ounce size is fully TSA compliant.

Best Dental Kit

Kulusion Dental Travel Kit

$14 at Amazon

It’s hard enough to shake off a long-haul flight and move into the world with any sense of alertness; it’s even harder when you can’t brush your teeth because you didn’t think about bringing a toothbrush in your carry-on. Handle your business with this travel set, which comes with two foldable travel toothbrushes, each with a built-in, refillable toothpaste container.

Best Hand Sanitizer

Touchland Power Mist Hand Sanitizer

$30 at Amazon $10 at Target $10 at Sephora

Hand sanitizer is essential for keeping your hands clean (and for your peace of mind) on a long-haul flight. This mist version comes in mood-boosting scents, like lemon-lime spritz, frosted mint, and citrus grove. Each bottle contains 500 sprays in a moisturizing aloe vera formula.

Best Facial Mist

Mario Badescu Facial Spray Collection

$22 at Amazon

A facial spray is a great way not just to hydrate the skin but to refresh when you’re feeling bleary. This travel-sized set of four two-ounce sprays comes with one of each calming or invigorating fragrance: aloe, herbs and rose water; cucumber and green tea; chamomile and lavender; and sage and orange blossom.

You’ll need a range of gear from analog (a pen for filling out customs documents) to high-tech (devices, headphones, and chargers). Don’t forget snacks and a water bottle to stay hydrated and nourished, especially if you’re traveling overnight without consistent food and drink service.

Best Portable Charger

Anker Slim 10000 Portable Charger

$20 at Amazon View on Anker $40 at Lowe's

Hell is finding yourself on an interminably long flight with a dead battery separating you from your movies, podcasts, or audiobooks, which is why you need to pack a portable charger, especially for international trips. Stay charged up in flight with a portable charger like this slim and lightweight 10,000mAh version.

Best Airplane Footrest

Everlasting Comfort Airplane Footrest

$27 at Amazon $27 at Walmart View on Everlastingcomfort.net

You know the inner scream you emit when you walk past all those lie-flat business class seats on your way to coach for a long-haul flight? Mitigate the pain by bringing your own footrest. This hammock-style memory foam rest installs over the tray table in front of you and rolls into a travel pouch when not in use.

Best Headphones

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones

$349 at Amazon $379 at Walmart View on Hsn.com

Noise-canceling headphones can make all the difference both for sleep and entertainment on a long flight. This top-quality, editor-loved pair has a lightweight and compact stainless steel headband. Get up to 20 hours of Bluetooth listening on a single charge — that’s enough to cover any single long-haul flight and then some.

Best Phone Mount

Perilogics Universal In-flight Plane Holder Mount

$14 at Walmart

Use this universal clip to clamp your phone to the tray table to watch hours of your preferred movies or shows on your own device. Dual joints rotate 360 degrees so you can watch horizontally or vertically at just the right angle for comfort.

Best eReader

Kobo Libra 2 eReader

$275 at Amazon View on Kobobooks.com

The Kobo Libra 2 is the easiest way to bring a library of books while traveling without having to schlep heavy hardcovers through an airport. This eReader saves you space in luggage and provides access to thousands of audio and ebooks so you can start another book right away. Plus, it's glare-proof and has a dark mode to read at your designed brightness and color background.

Best Reusable Water Bottle

Thermoflask Stainless Steel Water Bottle

$23 at Amazon $30 at Target View on Mythermoflask.com

Stay hydrated (and environmentally conscious) by traveling with your own refillable water bottle. This one is easy to carry, keeps water cold for hours, and has a truly leak-proof lid.

You’ll want to have what you need nearby during a long-haul flight; that is, your most frequently used essentials should be stowed right at your seat. Consider traveling with an underseat tote or backpack, as well as a smaller pouch — like a waist pack — to compartmentalize your most valuable essentials and keep them close. 

Best Carry-on

July Carry On

View on July.com

T+L editors are big fans of July luggage after testing the brand's most popular bags in the lab. The July carry-on proved to be the best cabin-friendly bag for storing essentials you wouldn't want to place in a checked bag in case it gets lost. Lightweight, spacious, and easy to maneuver, what more could we ask for in a carry-on?

Best Underseat Bag

Calpak Luka Duffel Bag

$128 at Nordstrom View on Calpaktravel.com $128 at The Container Store

If you do opt to check a bag or can bring a personal item on the flight, the Calpak Luka Duffel is the perfect carry-all bag for in-flight must-haves. It can easily fit an extra pair of clothes, toiletry bag, pill or jewelry case, tech organizer, or any other item you want to have at your disposal during a long flight. Plus, the puffer material is stylish and protective.

Best Backpack

Everlane ReNew Transit Backpack

$95 at everlane.com

Keep everything handy and organized for a long-haul flight with a thoughtfully designed stylish travel backpack. This one has a 15-inch laptop pocket on the outside for easy TSA access, zip pockets for essentials like passports, an interior slip pocket, two water bottle holders, a magnetic closure, and a trolley strap for rolling luggage. It’s also made from 100-percent recycled polyester.

Best Tote

MZ Wallace Deluxe Tote

$275 at Nordstrom $275 at Neiman Marcus View on Maisonette.com

A tote bag is a versatile piece of luggage to bring on a trip, especially a stylish one like this MZ Medium Deluxe Tote. It's large enough to store carry-on essentials, but it can also be used as a laptop bag for business trips or to carry everyday items you'll need for sightseeing like water bottles, snacks, or an extra jacket. We found this bag to be incredibly lightweight during travel, and loved the added convenience of the trolley sleeve which made toting it around the airport a breeze.

Best Fanny Pack

Dagne Dover Ace Fanny Pack

$90 at Nordstrom View on Babylist.com $95 at dagnedover.com

Like the brand’s other travel luggage staples, this Dagne Dover fanny pack is brilliantly designed for maximum function. Neoprene gives it water resistance plus a sleek look, and four pockets keep everything tidy and well-organized. Plus, it’s made from recycled polyester derived from 100-percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.