7 Must-Have Items To Pack in Your Personal Item

Every time I know that I will soon be getting on a plane, I get really excited, especially with all the preparations that come with it! Yes, you heard me. I am one of those people who love packing and prepping for a trip.

Your personal item is SUPER important.

Think of it as a backup, specially if you don’t carry with you an extra carry-on bag. Your main luggage can be delayed, and unfortunately at times it doesn’t even make it to the destination, but your personal item will always be with you.

In order for you to feel 100% prepared I will show you my packing essentials!

 Let’s get to it, shall we?

Important Documents & Copies

Well, this is an obvious one!

You must always pack all the important documents and have them with you at all times. I’m talking passport and ID, your wallet, and I would definitely recommend you to have at least one or two copies of your passport with you. 

Normally I have with me a paper copy of our passports and I keep a scan or photo of those documents on my phone as a spare, in case we need it when out and about at our destination.

Comfortable Stuff

Make sure that you stay comfortable during the whole flight. Remember that it can get really chilly, so don’t forget to wear layers!

We always bring a jacket with us on the plane, regardless the destination or time of the year. During the summer we like bringing those foldable puffy jackets because they are light and don’t take up too much space in our pack.

For longer flights we love having a comfy blanket, but the ones we own are too big and heavy. Because of that we sometimes use a big scarf instead, especially when the airline does not provide blankets. Big comfy socks are a plus to help you keep nice and warm!

As for sleep accessories, we aren’t big fans of sleep masks, travel pillows or ear plugs. Many people can’t travel without them though, so if you think you might need them don’t forget to keep them in your personal item as well.

Food and Drinks

Keeping hydrated is one of the most important things when you fly.

According to The World Health Organisation (WHO) the humidity present in airplane cabins is usually less than 20%, and your body will definitely feel it. Because of that we recommend that you always bring a reusable water bottle with you. After passing the airport security, make sure that you refill it. 

When it comes to food, always bring snacks with you. Let’s be honest, airplane food is not the best. But you can easily bring your favourite granola bars, snacks or sandwiches on the plane!

Our go-to is to have a home-made sandwich, dry fruit and apples.    

Flight Entertainment

Want to watch your favourite series or that newly released movie on the plane?

Make sure that you download it before-hand and plan ahead to ensure that you have it available on your phone, tablet or laptop.

I personally enjoy bringing a notebook or a book with me on the plane. Ah, and don’t forget to always have a pen with you! It will be crucial to fill out custom forms, visa applications or just to simply take notes and plan out your travel itineraries.

For me, it is a must to download all my favourite music tracks to my phone and bring a pair of sound cancelling headphones.

Toiletry Essentials

Back to being hydrated, you should always remember that not only will you be thirsty, your skin will dry out faster than in any other environment.

Because of that there are definitely some essentials I like keeping on hand at all times: I am talking about moisturiser creams and lip balm.

That’s right! A good cream is going to be your best friend when on the plane, specially during long haul flights. Usually I prefer to pack a multi-purpose cream or sunscreen that I can apply to my face and hands, trying to limit myself to the basics so that I don’t overpack. 

Change of Clothes

This one is a game-changer!

When we go on trips, we generally avoid checking in our luggage to send in the cargo. We try our best to bring a carry-on luggage only, along with our personal item on the plane with us. But that is not always possible, specially when we slow travel and stay longer at a specific destination.

To avoid serious trouble with delays or lost luggage, we always pack a change of clothes each on both our personal items. By doing this, we know that if something happens we have everything under control (or most of it!) and that is such a relief, honestly!

Extra Goodies

Just until 2022, there were a few extra goodies we couldn't miss in our personal bag packing list: extra facial masks and hand sanitiser!

These aren't a must nowadays, but you might still want to have a few on you if you go to certain countries in Asia (some airlines might still have some mask rules that apply at the time you're reading this). If you need to bring extra facial masks with you, make sure to keep them in an accessible pouch so that you can quickly grab and change when needed.

The two extra goodies that I believe are essential for you to pack are tissues (or wet wipes if you prefer), and chewing gum. Tissues will come in handy in many situations, they are small and light so they won’t occupy any precious space in your pack. And, although I can’t say that I am the biggest fan of chewing gums, they can be of great help with changes in altitude, when your ears begin to pop, or if you just want that sense of freshness in your mouth before landing at your destination.

We definitely recommend that you store these items in a backpack, rather than choosing a purse or tote bag as your personal item.

You will be hands free, have a lot more organisation space and pouches, and your back will thank you for it! These are just my personal preferences, and what I believe to be the most convenient packing system that we always refer to before getting on a plane. 

What items do you find essential when travelling by plane?

𝘿𝙞𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚 ?

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 !

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