If you’ve ever traveled by plane, you know how vital your carry-on and personal bags are. Until you claim your luggage, these are the only items you’ll have access to, but you never know what situations you’ll run into in the meantime.
Your on-flight bags are particularly crucial when it comes to an international flight because so much can go wrong between your home airport and final destination. You need to be prepared for lost baggage emergencies, entertainment and sleeping options, and getting through customs as quickly as possible. Additionally, you don’t want to overpay for things you need in the airport, so it’s best to come prepared.
Items you may want to have with you include but are not limited to a change of clothes or undergarments, phone, money, ID, water, snacks, earplugs, headphones, a book, your laptop or tablet, and extra hygienic supplies.
When I was preparing for my first international flight, I found this article from Chasing the Donkey to be particularly helpful in determining what to pack. I modified it based on what items I knew I would/wouldn’t use and came out with a pretty good system.
Having been there, I know the whole process of international travel can be completely overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! And although thorough packing lists are beneficial, I did find certain items more helpful than others. So, in an effort to share that knowledge with you, here are 5 Amazon items that can make your international flight experience 10 times better.
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1. Collapsible Water Bottle
One thing I hate about airports is overpriced water. I’d skip it altogether, but flying be extremely dehydrating, so it’s essential to have water. The good news is that you can bring an empty water bottle with you through the checkpoint and fill it up at one of the airport drinking fountains.
However, a regular water bottle can take up a lot of your precious carry-on bag space, and few things are more annoying than the constant crinkle of an empty plastic bottle. If you’re trying to maximize your carry-on and personal bags, consider using a collapsible water bottle instead! Drink your fill, then collapse the water bottle based on how much water is left. When it’s empty, just fold it all the way up. This saves you from buying another one at the next airport and gives you more room to pack an emergency outfit in your bag.
This Hydrapak Stash water bottle is a favorite option for air travel because it collapses down to 1/4 of its full size. It comes in 750 ml and 1 L options and ranges from $18 to $26, respectively, on Amazon. You’ll get your money’s worth over airport water in just 5-6 uses. And Amazon reviewers give it a solid 4.3 stars for satisfaction. Even when you’re not traveling, this is a convenient choice for hiking or just carrying in your bag on the go.
2. TSA Approved Convenience Kit
One of my favorite essentials for international flights is a convenience kit.
If your luggage has ever been misplaced on a flight, you may know the struggle of being without your essentials. The frustration of buying items you already have is really quite annoying, but you know you have to have toothpaste, shower gel, deodorant, etc. And if you’re in a country you’ve never visited before, that frustration just escalates. It’s very important that you keep at least a minimum supply of hygienic essentials with you during your flight because you never know what’s going to happen.
Another good reason to have these essentials on hand is to freshen up before and after an overnight flight. After my trip to Paris, I was so glad that I could brush my teeth, fix my hair, and put on deodorant before going through TSA feeling disgusting. I was also thankful for somewhere safe to keep my contacts and solution overnight. For that alone, I would highly recommend getting a hygienic kit.
Here are a couple of really nice options from Amazon. They’re TSA-approved and come with a free bag and a large variety of essentials.
These aren’t just for women, I promise! My husband thoroughly appreciated his kit as well during the flight to Paris and the morning after. For men taking an international trip, I’d recommend something like this 15-count kit. It has 5 stars and contains many great brands like Barbasol, Old Spice, and Colgate.
While this kit is full of essentials, you may want to add or remove items based on your personal needs and preferences. I found that my bag had room for a few more things I wanted on hand like mascara, lip gloss, contact solution and a case, and hand sanitizer.
3. Passport Wallet
I honestly thought passport wallets were overrated until I bought one. I have rarely been as happy with a purchase as I am with my wallet! Instead of rummaging in 3 different places for my ID and credit cards, tickets, and passport, I kept everything in one convenient location for my entire trip. It was so easy to pull all my items out at once and have them organized and ready to go through customs.
But this extends beyond the airport. While traveling in a foreign country, it’s imperative to keep your passport with you at all times. Leaving it in a hotel room puts it at risk, and getting stopped by an enforcement officer without it puts you at risk in return. Additionally, If you’re in a country where pickpockets are a problem, a passport wallet makes it easier to secure one bundle instead of a wallet and passport separately.
I got my husband an older version of this simple, RFID-blocking travel wallet for our trip. It’s classy, looks like leather, and comes in several colors. Plus, it’s only $5 to $10, depending on your color choice. It also has excellent organizational options, with 2 credit card slots, a passport holder, a COVID-19 vaccine sleeve, and enough space for some cash. It’s also Amazon’s choice right now and has 4.7 stars out of over 1900 reviews.
If you prefer something a little more whimsical, consider these wallets from WALNEW. They include everything the other wallet does, plus slots for a pen and even an extra SIM card. The WALNEW brand averages around $12 per wallet and has lots of fun and colorful designs to choose from!
4. Inflatable Pillow
Not everyone needs a pillow to sleep on a flight, but for some of us, it’s a necessity. However, bringing a pillow on a plane poses its own set of problems. It either takes an unnecessary amount of bag space, or you’re stuck carrying it around on your neck or in your arms. However, if you’re facing an overnight international flight, you may want something more manageable than the doll-sized pillow most airlines provide.
For our trip, I purchased an inflatable neck pillow from Keemall, and it was one of the smartest decisions I’ve ever made. While I bought this specific pillow mainly for the price and fast shipping, I was very impressed with how great it was! These pillows are so convenient because they blow up in about 2-3 breaths and stay firm through use. When you’re done, the pillow quickly deflates and rolls up into a built-in pocket to create a small bundle about 5.5″ inches wide. The soft casing also comes off easily for cleaning, which I appreciated after the trip.
Obviously, there are many other options out there if you want something fancier, but for the price, I highly recommend this one from BestMaxs.
5. Multi-plug Battery Pack
Nowadays, pretty much everyone travels with a portable phone charger, but for an international flight, you might want to take it one step further. Depending on how much you’ll be using your phone, laptop, and tablet, a multi-plug battery pack could be an essential item for your bag.
Most international flights do provide entertainment screens and even USB charging ports for your phone. But between layovers and your preferred games, there’s a decent chance your electronics will take a big energy hit. Personally, I keep two battery packs with me on all my trips because I’m constantly on my phone and tablet.
If you decide you need a portable phone/laptop charger, it can be expensive, but it can also make your trip a whole lot easier. And it’s something you’ll have for every trip you take again, whether it’s a domestic flight or just a long road trip.
The overall pick on Amazon right now is the VEEKTOMX 100W Powerbank. It has multiple charging outlets and can charge your phone up to 4.5 times or a MacBook computer 1.1 times. This one generally costs $55, but right now, there’s a 15% coupon. It has 4.3 stars out of over 660 reviews and a 12-month product warranty.
Closing Thoughts on Essentials for International Flights
I hope this article was helpful for you as you plan your next international flight! Obviously, there are many other brands out there that do not sell on Amazon and have great products. But if you’re looking for convenience and easy access to reviews and returns, it’s hard to beat Amazon.
Please keep in mind that these are just my suggestions, and you should always do research to choose the best product for your travels. In some cases, the exact product I tried is no longer available because sellers switch out so frequently, so I’ve had to include something similar but not exact. So while I stand by my general recommendations, it’s up to you to make sure it aligns with what you need.
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