Airplane Travel Essentials: 5 Things That Make Long International Flights Easier

International travel always sounds glamorous when you're planning the trip but somewhere around hour six of a long flight, when the cabin lights come on, your neck hurts, and your phone battery is hanging on by 5%, the excitement of international travel can start to feel a little… less glamorous.

We’ve taken quite a few long international flights over the years, and one thing we’ve learned is that a little preparation always goes a long way. Having the right airplane travel essentials in your carry-on and following a few simple strategies can make the difference between arriving exhausted and miserable, or landing ready to explore.

If you're planning an international trip, think of this as a simple airplane packing list of the things we always bring to make long flights much easier.

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1. A Comfortable Way to Sleep

Both me and Jay love a good night sleep and while sleeping on a plane sounds simple in theory, anyone who has tried to sleep sitting upright for eight hours knows it can be surprisingly difficult. Between cabin lights, narrow seats, and the constant hum of the engines, getting real rest on a long flight can feel almost impossible.

We’ve definitely had flights where we spent the entire night doing the classic head bob forward, head bob sideways, wake up confused routine and after a few of those experiences, we started bringing a few simple items that quickly became part of our long haul flight essentials.

A quality neck pillow can significantly enhance head support when sitting upright, particularly in a window seat. Combine it with reusable silicone earplugs or noise-canceling headphones and an eye mask to shield yourself from cabin lights, along with something warm like a travel blanket or large scarf.

Another small trick we’ve learned is to switch to destination time as soon as the flight begins. If it's nighttime where you're headed, we try to wind down early and treat the flight like our first night there. It doesn’t always work perfectly, but even a few hours of sleep can make arriving in a new country feel a lot better than stumbling off the plane like a zombie.

2. Entertainment That Doesn’t Depend on Wi-Fi

Most long-haul flights have entertainment systems, but they’re not always reliable.

We’ve had flights where the screen didn’t work, the movie selection was questionable at best, or the system mysteriously reset right as the movie was getting good.

And while many airlines now offer Wi-Fi, it can be slow, expensive, or completely unavailable for parts of the flight. That’s why we always make sure we bring our own entertainment backup — one of the most underrated things to bring on a plane.

Before embarking on a lengthy flight, we typically download several movies. We also enjoy downloading audiobooks in advance for these trips. Platforms such as Audible allow you to download books directly to your phone, providing hours of entertainment without needing Wi-Fi. Being prepared with entertainment helps those extended hours in the air fly by much quicker.

Noise-canceling headphones are also one of those travel items that once you try them, it’s hard to go back. They help block out the constant engine noise and make it much easier to focus on whatever you're watching or listening to.

Even bringing an actual book or a Kindle can be a nice break from screens during a long flight. Because at some point on a 10-hour flight, everyone eventually reaches the “how much longer do we have?” phase.

3. A Smart Carry-On Setup

One of the biggest mistakes we made early on with international travel was packing everything into the overhead bin. The problem with that strategy is that once the seatbelt sign comes on, you might not be able to get up for hours. And the one thing you suddenly need always seems to be buried in the bag above your head.

Now we try to keep our airplane bag essentials stored in our personal item so we can reach them easily during the flight. Things like snacks, lip balm, charging cables, headphones, and a small notebook stay within arm’s reach.

There’s nothing worse than realizing your headphones are in the overhead bin just as the person next to you falls asleep and the aisle fills up with the drink cart.

Using small organizers or packing cubes can make a big difference here. It keeps everything easy to find without having to unpack your entire bag mid-flight. For us, organizing our airport carry-on essentials this way has made long flights feel much more relaxed and a lot less chaotic.

4. An In-Flight Essentials Kit

One thing we’ve learned from experience is that small discomforts add up quickly during long flights. A headache, dry eyes, or a sticky tray table might seem minor, but after several hours in the air those little things can really start to bother you. That’s why we always bring a small in-flight essentials kit that stays in our personal bag during the flight.

Before every long international trip, we pack a few basics that make travel days easier.

Our kit usually includes things like pain relievers, motion sickness pills, prescription medications, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes for the tray table, lip balm, tissues, travel-sized tampons, and a few band-aids.

And, if you wear contacts, a travel size container of contact solution and a contact lens case are absolute must-haves. I learned that lesson the hard way on an overnight flight to Istanbul. Somewhere over the Atlantic I fell asleep with my contacts in, which seemed harmless at the time. Fast forward to landing the next morning, and my eyes felt like my contacts had basically glued themselves to my eyeballs. Not exactly the refreshed “ready to explore Istanbul” feeling I was hoping for.

Ever since that trip, a small bottle of contact solution and a case have lived permanently in our travel kit. It takes up almost no space, but it can make a huge difference on overnight flights.

We keep everything together in a small, clear pouch so it’s easy to grab during the flight instead of digging through a bag while everyone around us is trying to sleep.

✈️ This is where a simple checklist makes all the difference 👇

We put together a simple “Just In Case” Carry-On Kit list - a quick checklist of the exact items to keep in your personal item so you’re not stuck uncomfortable, unprepared, or left digging through your bag during the flight.

👉 Get the free checklist here.

5. A Plan for Staying Charged

Landing in a new country with a dead phone is never ideal.

Between airport time, boarding, and hours in the air, it’s surprisingly easy to run out of battery before you even reach your destination. And when you’re traveling internationally, your phone suddenly becomes your map, translator, boarding pass, and travel guide all in one.

We learned this lesson the stressful way after landing once with about 2% battery left while trying to figure out directions to our hotel. Since then, a portable power bank has become one of those airplane must-haves we never leave home without.

If your flight has USB ports or outlets, that’s great. But not every aircraft does, and sometimes those outlets don’t actually work. Having a backup power source means you’ll arrive with a fully charged phone ready to navigate the airport, call transportation, or find your hotel without that brief moment of panic when your screen suddenly goes black.

👉 Want to grab everything from this post in one place? We’ve linked all of our must-haves right here.

Quick Long Flight Hacks That Help

Over time we’ve also picked up a few small long flight hacks that make international travel easier. Some of our strategies include:

• Walking around and stretching every few hours

• Drinking plenty of water during the flight

• Avoiding too much caffeine or alcohol

• Dressing in layers so you can adjust to cabin temperature

• Keeping important items in your personal bag

None of these things are complicated, but together they can make long travel days feel a lot more comfortable. And the better you feel when you land, the sooner you can start enjoying the destination you just spent hours flying to.

Final Thoughts

International flights are often the first step toward some of the most exciting travel experiences. But they can also be the longest and most exhausting part of the journey.

A little preparation, a few smart airplane travel essentials, and a well-organized carry-on can make those long hours in the air much easier — and help you arrive ready to enjoy the destination you’ve been dreaming about.

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The Real Travel Essential: A System

We talk a lot about travel essentials — the right carry-on, packing cubes, adapters, sunscreen. But those aren’t what make or break a trip.

The real difference comes from the decisions you make before you pack — when to go, where to stay, what to book, and in what order. When those decisions are structured, you stop overpaying, stop second-guessing, and start traveling with confidence.

That’s exactly why we built a complete Travel Smarter System — a repeatable process that connects timing, destination choice, research, itinerary planning, and packing into one cohesive approach. If you want a smarter way to plan your next trip, you can explore it here.