Essential Carry On Items
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After one too many times of being mid-air on a flight and saying “Crap I forgot (fill in the blank), I started making a carry on check list for myself! I hope you can learn from my mistakes, and read on to discover the carry-on essentials for long flights that you always need!
Passport/ID & copy of your passport
Let's Face it. You won't get far without these! And if you’re feeling fancy, grab a passport holder you know you’ll love showing off. You won’t forget that!
Expensive Jewelry
Airports misplace or lose luggage all the time. Just in case it happens to you, you will have your nice things in your possession.
Cameras, Lens, and expensive electronics
Have you seen how rough TSA is with luggage? Suitcases get thrown around all the time. You don’t want to open your suitcase to find a cracked lens or broken camera. Also safe to have on your person in case your luggage gets searched or lost.
Essential Toiletries
We want to keep it fresh! I always pack a small bag with wipes, deodorant, hair ties, bobby pins, chapstick, hand sanitizer, travel toothbrush and toothpaste, tylenol, hand lotion, panty liner, tampons and extra pair of underwear just in case! Never know what can happen!
Headphones
A lot of Planes, especially international ones have tv’s for each seat. Avoid having to purchase the plane's headphones and bring your own. Also great for listening to music, audiobooks or podcasts.
Sleep Mask
If you’re trying to sleep on a plane and it’s not an overnight flight you might struggle with the lights turned on, it’s a good idea to pack a sleep mask so you can cover your eyes.
Phone Charger
Most newer planes have outlets or USB plugs to plug in your phone for a charge. No one wants to arrive in a new country after a long flight with 10% battery so be sure to bring your charger or pack a portable charger!
Snacks
My go to travel snack is the purple skittles and a big smart water! I know I know…
Snacks like granola bars, nuts, etc are a better option! They will keep you feeling nourished and avoid feeling hangry!
Long Jacket or Big Scarf
Flights keep their temperatures low. No one wants to be cold on a 8 hour flight!
Fuzzy Socks
First thing I do when I get on the place is take off my shoes and put my fuzzy socks on for extra comfort! Plus my feet are always freezing on planes!
Outfit Change
If you are travelling to a country with a different climate from the one you set off from, you may want to keep an outfit change in your carry-on so that you can change into more appropriate clothes Keep it light and simple.
Thanks for reading fam!
Dalijah Franklin
Dalijah Franklin is a Mother, Dancer, Lifestyle Blogger, Entrepreneur, and Obsessive Life Giver. She is the founder of Black Girls Pole, a global organization diversifying the pole dance industry by inspiring, empowering, and educating women of color through pole dancing. Check out Black Girls Pole’s website and Instagram here. Stay up to date with Dalijah here.