12 Tips For What to Pack in a Carry-On on an Overnight Flight
Exactly what you need to know about what to pack and what to wear for an overnight flight.
I like to pack a lot in on my trips and I like to make use of every minute of my vacation time. So I hit the ground running once I land and I’ve been known to go from Logan to my office when I get home. Whenever possible I take at least one overnight flight. I’ve taken dozens of overnight flights in my adult life, so I have my system down to a science.
You might be wondering if planning what you’ll pack in your carry-on on an overnight flight is really worth the time or effort. IT IS. Although planning what you’ll pack is important, equally, if not more, important is the question of what to wear on an overnight flight. Even if you’re just heading to your hotel from the airport after you land, if nothing else you want to be comfortable. Bonus points if you can sleep and feel somewhat normal after you land.
For my entire adult life I’ve been able to sleep on planes. To the point that Norah sometimes gets annoyed with how easily I could fall asleep and stay asleep. I’ve noticed in the last couple of years that I can’t fall asleep (or stay asleep) quite as easily. So I started putting together a list of things that helped (or that I wished I had) and that now I make sure I pack in my carry-on for all my overnight flights. Here are the top 12 (I tried to get it down to 10, but they’re all too important):
Warm Socks
Cold feet drive me crazy! I always have a pair of warm socks in my personal item. And when I say warm socks, I mean on every flight, even in the height of summer, I pack my thickest wool socks. I never actually wear them to the airport, because I can’t fit them in any shoes, so I have no problem slipping them on after I board and taking off my shoes. (Note: please, please, please don’t take off your shoes if foot odor is a problem. That just isn’t fair to your fellow passengers. And never, never go barefoot). No more cold feet keep me awake!
Sweater or Sweatshirt
Sensing a theme yet? It’s true, I like being warm. I prefer a zip-up hoodie to layer over something lighter, especially on warm days. Bonus if it has deep pockets to shove my hands in while I sleep.
E-Reader
I currently use an iPad mini, but I've used a Kindle and loved it. My eyes are a little too old to read on my iPhone (I have a tiny iPhone) on a plane for hours. Plus with the iPad it’s so easy to adjust the lighting, the background color, and the text size for whatever works while you’re flying.
Toiletries
When thinking about what to pack for an overnight flight, I keep in mind the following day. To stick with my usual skincare routine, I always bring my products in travel-size containers. I used to buy whatever CVS or Target had in travel-size, but when I hit 40 I decided I was an adult and could bring my own stuff with me. I mean, at 40 I also finally decided that I should invest in decent skincare products. And I spoiled myself with the Cadence capsules and I’m never going back. I find it helpful to stick to my bedtime routine after I board a plane, because it helps my chances of falling asleep during the flight. If I don't anticipate having dinner on the flight, I usually brush my teeth and wash my face before getting on. And before we land, I make sure to also brush my teeth when I wake up.
A Change of Clothes
I like to change clothes after an overnight flight, so I pack a fresh set of clothes in a packing cube inside my personal item bag. After passing immigration and customs, I go to the airport restroom to change my clothes and do any skincare routine that I missed before landing.
A Sleep Aid
I use melatonin (this is not medical advice! check with your doctor!) and take a small dose, no more than 3mg. A word of caution, don't take it until you're boarding and sure you’re taking off. I took it right when a flight was about to board, only to have it delayed. Lesson learned, and now I wait until I'm on the plane.
Airplane Footrest
I'm constantly squirming around, trying to get comfortable when I'm not in JetBlue Mint (which is, let me be honest, always). I bought this Airplane Footrest for my most recent flight to London, and I loved it! I bought it because it was $20, and it kept popping up on the internet (thank you cookies?). To be honest, I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. It comes with a carrying pouch and didn't take up too much room in my luggage. I used it on the seven-hour flight home, and what a difference it made. Usually, I spend most of a flight fidgeting, trying to find a comfortable position. The Airplane Footrest lets you elevate your feet, and you can either use it as a footrest or rest your legs on it to boost your feet. This will live in my personal carryon (at least after I get it back from Norah. UPDATE: I got it back from Norah but not until after flying roundtrip from the East to West Coast. Especially on the overnight flight back - where I was not in Mint - I woke up several times wishing I had it).
Noise-cancelling Earbuds
In the debate or earbuds or over the ear headphones, I’m on the earbuds side. I like that I can slip just one in if I want to stay aware of my surroundings and they don’t bother me if I manage to lay my head down. I recently bought the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, and was surprised at how much better they were than my old wired headphones. You could always hear the louder noises with the wired QuietComfort, but they sounded a little tinny and distant. With the QuietComfort Earbuds II, I heard nothing.
Twelve South Airfly Duo
One of the reasons I tried so hard to hang on to my wired headphones is being able to watch tv. When I finally gave up finding wired headphones, I found the Twelve South AirFly Duo. It's straightforward to use, but I suggest linking it to your phone before you plug it in, or you may end up trying to contort yourself to push the right button (it can get awkward if you have a seat neighbor).
Portable Battery Charger
I wouldn't say I like having to depend on a plug at my seat and hoping it plug works. And, when I land, I want a full battery for the rest of the day. I just use the portable charger that came with my Away suitcase, although I wish it had a USB-C connection.
A Water Bottle
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! If you follow us on social media you’ll see numerous Instagram posts in which I emphasize the need to hydrate before a long or overnight flight. Staying hydrated is key to avoiding jetlag. To avoid piling up the mini water bottles most airlines hand out (of course I’ve been that passenger), I bring my own water bottle to fill up before and during the flight.
The Right Bag
Finally, every traveler needs to consider which carry-on to use for the ever-important packing for the overnight flight. It would be best if you had something big enough to carry the essentials (like a change of clothes for when you get to your destination), but that will also actually fit under the seat (so you don't have to give up any precious leg space). My favorite is the Pacsafe Citysafe CX backpack (I have it in black). It's the perfect size to carry a water bottle, a change of clothes, anything else you might want access to without opening your suitcase, and anything you might want to use during the flight. As a bonus, I wear it while traveling without worrying that my valuables will be stolen because of all the anti-theft features. It's on the expensive side for a backpack, but well worth the money. In fact I’ve recommended it to more than a few friends and family members. I usually stuff this pretty full for the flight and then attach it to my rolling suitcase at the airport. I like using my sling bag to hold my phone and passport, so I don't have to dig through anything and have easy access while still walking with the rest of my stuff.
Have any other "must haves" for overnight flights do you have, leave a comment below!
