A little bit of planning when when deciding on your essentials for long haul flights as well as the expected or unexpected long layovers is huge in ensuring your comfort and enjoyment while traveling.
With each long haul flight, you become a little more travel savvy as well as determined to make your long journeys as enjoyable as possible.
Travel Essentials for Women and Men for Planned or Unplanned Long Layovers
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If you have ever experienced a travel layover, particularly an unplanned layover, you may identify with these titles: “How to Survive the Airport Layover from Hell”, “Surviving your Nightmare Airport Layover”, or “Surviving THE Longest Layover Ever!”
However you choose to describe your experience, a little bit of preplanning can go a long way in helping you to pass the time on your trip.
What you really need to do is be prepared for the possibility of a layover with the most essential of travel accessories: your phone, water bottle, toiletries, snacks, etc.
>> Related: 30 Things You Can Do To Survive an Airport Layover
10 Essentials for Long Haul Flights or Long Layovers
As travel enthusiasts and frequent flyers, Chris and I have both experienced the dreaded long layovers. Layovers that seem to go on and on forever with delay after delay. We’ve also booked our share of long haul flights that also seem to go on forever and ever.
To ensure that you arrive at your destination with your sanity in tact, consider packing these 10 travel essentials for women and men.
1. Phone
In my opinion, a smart phone and a portable charger are of equal importance when planning essentials for long haul flights or when you are stuck on long layovers at the airport.
Smart phones are travel essentials for men and women—a must have if you will—that you don’t want to leave home without. You can use your smart phone on long haul flights or long layover to:
- set an alarm if you want to sleep
- receive flight updates
- touch base with home
- listen to music or podcasts
- watch a movie or TV show
- surf the internet
- post to social media
Many options are available for smart phones so choose what best fits your personal preference.
If you are still in the camp of not owning a smart phone, get one!
2. Portable Charger
I recommend that you always travel with a portable charger for charging your electronic devices (especially your phone).
A travel charger is one of the essentials for long haul flights that I ALWAYS pack.
If you are using your devices during an airport layover, you may not always have easy access to charging outlets in the airport. The INIU Portable Charger works like a charm and is one of the travel essentials for women and men for keeping your phone charged to receive important travel updates.
These chargers are perfect for your day-to-day travel needs as well. If you are using your phone to take pictures, navigate, or search for tours, you will need to keep your phone charged all day long.
3. Cables & A Cable Organizer
Don’t forget to pack your cables in your backpack, personal travel bag, or carry on luggage. Having cables in your “checked” luggage won’t do you any good if you need to charge your devices during a long haul flight or on a long layover.
Invest in a cable organizer to keep everything categorized. Get in the habit of double checking your organizer for cables you may have forgotten to unplug and pack. Many organizers with clear pockets can help you tell in a glance if you forgotten something.
4. iPad and Keyboard
As a travel blogger, having access to my iPad and a keyboard is essential. Sure, you could use the on screen keyboard on your iPad to type blog posts, but I have done that before when I forgot to bring a keyboard and it is neither fun nor easy.
If you need to catch up on work, text with family or friends, or even post to social media, having both your tablet and a keyboard is optimal.
5. Water Bottle
Yes, you can buy a water bottle at the airport, but having a reusable water bottle is not only earth friendly but also less expensive. Fill and refill your water bottle as needed. Staying hydrated on your long layovers is important too.
6. Backpack or Personal Travel Bag
I love my The North Face travel backpack designed especially for women and picked it for a variety of reasons. It is definitely one of my travel essentials for women.
There is also a standard size The North Face Backpack that is perfect if you are looking for travel essentials for men. Chris LOVES his.
If you are looking for a travel bag, do a little research and make a list of your must-haves.
Not sure exactly what your must-haves should be? Here are a few features to look for:
- a travel bag or backpack that is designed specifically for men or women
- a padded laptop section
- a large middle section for a camera insert
- lots of interior and exterior pockets
- expandable side pockets for a water bottle, easily accessible hand sanitizer, and Blistex
- a mesh front pocket
- a sternum strap
- a waist belt
You’ll find that your travel backpack is often your home away from home with all of your essential travel accessories close at hand.
I also love the Travelon Crossbody Bag (in addition to my backpack). I carry this and my backpack and love the convenience of having essentials close at hand.
This bag is my new favorite crossbody bag for travel.
7. Noise Canceling Headphones
Whether you opt for a corded or a bluetooth set of noise canceling headphones, you’ll enjoy peace and quiet in the midst of travel noise and chaos.
The Bose QuietComfort 20 Acoustic Noise Canceling Headphones are some of Chris’ favorites.
8. Toiletries
Fill a TSA approved bag with toiletry essentials:
- 1-2 days of your prescriptions*
- Face mask
- Eye drops
- Lotion
- Fingernail clippers
- Toothbrush and paste
- Comb, pick, hairspray and hair tie
- Hand sanitizer
9. Snacks
There are times when you don’t have the opportunity to purchase a meal or last-minute snacks when you encounter a travel layover or long haul flight. For instance, your flight is held at the gate and not allowed to come or go due to a mechanical error, staffing issues, weather, etc. In this case, you will want to have snacks readily available.
Built.com offers my go-to protein bar or granola bar. They are filling, tasty, high in protein, and don’t take a lot of space in my travel bag.
10. Scarf
A scarf as one of your travel accessories can be used for fashion and function. Find one that is stylish as well as big enough that it can double as a travel blanket when necessary.
As a bonus, a chic scarf makes a great gift for the adventure seeker in your life.
>> Related: Great Gift Ideas for Adventure Seeking Women
Click “Take a Look! to discover all of my Travel Gear Essentials and Favorites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is considered a long haul flight?
Anything over six hours is classified as a long haul flight, but if you are traveling internationally, you may regularly encounter flights that are ten hours long and longer.
What are 3 tips for surviving a long flight?
1. Drink lots of water
2. Window or aisle? Be sure to choose the seat that works best for you
3. Bring back up entertainment
What are the best clothes to wear on a long haul flight?
Even if the temperature of your final destination will be warm, the temperature on the airplane will often vary greatly. The best advice is to dress in layers that can be easily taken on and off. Be sure to bring a cardigan, hoodie or light jacket.
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Final Thoughts on the 10 Best Travel Essentials for Long Haul Flights and Long Layovers
We don’t always consider the downsides of travel, but having a long travel layover can certainly bring on the blues. Especially if it is unplanned and seems to go on and on and on.
Even long haul flights can seem endless.
A little advance preparation and planning goes a long way in making your travel more enjoyable. Packing the essential travel accessories, if nothing else, will help to pass the time.
This is super helpful! I always bring some fresh clothes also in case of delays or missing suitcases. That way I can always change into something new ?
That is a great idea too.
Great tips! I really need to get a portable charger like the one you mentioned. Sometimes even at the airport, it’s hard to find a charger that works or is available. Thanks so much for the recommendations!
It is time to click the link and buy that charger!
Portable chargers are absolute nonnegotiable! I pack two in case of one of them dies on my
A second one is great, especially if you travel with kids who might use up all of their battery too.
These are great ideas. I’ve been stuck in an airport without a charging cord for my phone. I felt so disconnected!
Ugh, I can identify. You feel so lost. “What am I supposed to do now?!”
I have everything on this list EXCEPT a cable organizer. I really need to get one of those! Great post!
Time to click on the link then!
Going back to my parent’s home country is a 17 hour flight from where I am! Definitely all must have essentials