When your job is to travel almost half of the year, it should come as no surprise that flight attendants have packing down to a science. I chatted with one of my good friends, Megan Short, who has been a flight attendant for over six years, and she shared with me the travel essentials she takes on every trip.

“The first year or so was a bit of trial and error when it came to what products I liked best for traveling,” says Megan. “Over time, I’ve perfected my list of travel items so that I’m always flying with ease whether for work or a personal trip.”

Flight attendants know what will be the most useful while away from home, whether it’s spacious carry-on luggage or noise-canceling headphones that will last for years. Regardless of whether it’s for work or for pleasure, nobody wants to feel unprepared or uncomfortable on the move; after reading about these flight attendant-approved travel tips, you’ll be ready for your next trip, wherever it takes you.

Travelpro Crew Classic Carry-on Rollaboard

For flight attendants, there is arguably nothing more important than having a reliable suitcase, and Megan finds Travelpro’s Crew Classic Carry-on to be her best luggage so far. Travelpro is a highly-trusted luggage brand by many flight attendants as many of its products meet the bag size requirements set by airlines for plane crew; it’s also clear that the brand has thought through the smallest of details to make traveling easy. 

“I can be gone for days at a time so not only did I want something that would fit all of my belongings but a suitcase that keeps me organized too,” says Megan. This carry-on has a deep main compartment to pack all of your things, and it also includes a removable panel organizer to store smaller items. Plus, the panel can be used to compress everything in the main compartment to make more room; even if that’s not enough, the carry-on expands an extra 2 inches to give you that last bit of space you may need. 

Beats Studio Pro Premium Wireless Noise-canceling Headphones

When you spend a significant amount of time around other people, sometimes all you want is a moment to yourself. Megan has been using these Beats headphones for years, and she says it’s probably her number one recommendation for any type of trip, short or long. She loves to pull out her headphones if she has to stay in the airport between flights, and the noise-canceling feature helps block out some of the chaos that can be happening around her. 

With the Beats Studio Pro, you can easily switch between transparency mode or noise cancellation so you’ll never miss a beat around you. The headphones have Bluetooth capabilities to wirelessly pair to your phone, but they can also be connected to audio sources with the 3.5mm auxiliary cord that’s included — perfect for connecting to the plane monitors for in-flight entertainment. With the headphones almost half off on Amazon, you’ll want to grab them while you can at this price.

Holii Travel Pill Organizer

One of the first tips Megan got from veteran flight attendants was to bring a pill organizer on every trip. “There are days where you can be in the cabin for 12+ hours with no access to a drugstore of any kind,” she says. “Even if you’re not anticipating needing any medicine, it makes sense to have it with you just in case. It also prevents you from having to buy anything you may already have at home.” 

As a small case with multiple compartments, the Holii Travel Pill Organizer it’s a fantastic travel option for anyone in need of storing their medicine. It also comes with stickers with the days of the week, numbers, or blanks to make your own custom label to stay organized. 

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Spray

“By the end of flight attendant training, it was clear that I was going to need a very hydrating moisturizer for every trip,” says Short. “The air in the cabin is incredibly dry.” After trying various skin care serums and travel-sized moisturizers, she finally came across the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Spray and considers it a game changer. 

The hydrating spray comes in a carry-on friendly bottle, and since it’s designed to evenly mist your face, there’s no mess involved if you want to freshen up on the go. Megan shared that the active ingredient of Vitamin B5 has been a staple in keeping her skin hydrated during extensive travel legs, and she doesn’t see herself traveling without it anytime soon.

Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle

Along with a good moisturizer to keep her skin hydrated, Megan loves the Owala FreeSip to make sure she’s getting enough water. Even though she has unlimited access to ice on the plane, she raved about the fact that the stainless steel water bottle will keep her water cold all day long (plus, a lot of travelers steer clear of ice on the plane!). With a leak-proof lid, it’s the perfect bottle for someone always on the move. 

“It’s a must-have for any of my trips but especially for long-haul flights,” she says. “The 20-ounce bottle is great to throw in my bag that I use for exploring during a layover in another city.” The best part is that Amazon currently has three size options available and 18 colors starting at $28.

Portable Door Lock

Many flight attendants will tell you that travel safety is the number one priority when staying in a different city overnight, and this is no exception for Megan. Whether it’s a multi-day leg where she’ll be staying in a hotel or a personal trip, she always brings a set of portable door locks to give her an extra layer of security.

“Staying alone in a hotel as a woman can always make me a bit anxious regardless of how many times I’ve done it. Bringing the travel locks helps relieve any uneasiness.” This pack of two is available on Amazon for only $13 and is the ideal size to slip into your luggage.

Samply Hot Water Bottle With Knitted Cover

When talking about items to make traveling a little bit cozier, Megan surprised me when she said one of her favorites lately has been a hot water bottle. She revealed many flight attendants bring a pouch that holds hot water to keep them warm on the plane but also cozy in the hotel room.

“The bottle helps me warm up quickly if I have the chance to sit down in the back of the plane since I usually can’t wear anything over my uniform,” says Megan. “I always recommend a hot water bottle to my friends and family because it can also help with any discomfort you may get in your neck or back when traveling.”

Vegan Leather Slouchy Tote

“If there’s an opportunity to check out a new city while I’m in between flights, I love to do so,” says Short. “I like to bring a bag with me that I can throw all of my things into but also doesn’t make me look like a tourist.”

Lately, Megan has been loving this Banana Republic tote as a go-to bag that is large enough to fit all of her belongings and stylish enough to go with any outfit. The tote is made up of sturdy vegan leather and designed to withstand everyday use. It’s also an incredibly soft and flexible material which allows for it to be packed away nicely into your luggage.

FYY Travel Cable Organizer Pouch

When the airplane becomes your home away from home, you’re going to want all of your essentials with you no matter where you’re heading — including all of your charging cables. “I never want to lose anything when I’m moving from place to place, so organization became a big priority for me,” shares Megan.

When you’re carrying multiple devices that each need a different type of charging cord, a cable organizer can be a great hack for never losing or leaving your chargers behind. With two compartments and multiple pockets, Megan and many others have described the pouch as a “lifesaver.”

Ucomx 3-in-1 Charging Station

Another option to consider for charging all of your devices is a 3-in-1 charging station. In addition to having all her necessary charging blocks and cables, Megan travels with a magnetic charging station because there aren’t always enough outlets available on the plane or in the airport. “There have been plenty of times when I need to charge my phone and watch quickly before heading to my next flight, so it’s nice to have this as a backup.” She particularly loves this Ucomx charging station from Amazon because it packs down nicely to tuck into her bag, but it can also fold into a stand to prop her phone onto. 

Quince Ultra-form Kick Flare Jumpsuit

“I love having a go-to outfit to change into the moment I’m able to change out of my uniform,” says Megan. “Comfort is usually my number one priority, so I like to opt for athleisure.” She loves the flared jumpsuit from Quince, and it’s quickly becoming a key staple in her closet. It’s a simple yet versatile piece that can be paired with a sweater or jacket to dress the item up or down. She even has three pairs in different colors because they’re “great for both the hotel or exploring a city during a layover.”

O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Cream

To save her hands from the dry cabin air, Megan turns to a variety of hand creams and salves to help prevent dry skin. “On every flight, I’m constantly picking things up and down or taking gloves on and off,” she says. “Between the cold air and frequently washing my hands, I needed an intense moisturizer to apply often.” 

The O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Cream became her holy grail, and she’ll buy a few bottles from Amazon throughout the year to always be prepared. Whether you need the 1-ounce bottle or 3-ounce bottle, both sizes are TSA-friendly and currently available.

Béis The Ultimate Travel Duffle in Black

In search of a new duffel to upgrade her personal luggage collection, Megan came across the new Béis Ultimate Travel Duffel and immediately knew she had to grab it. The most appealing feature is the full-zip opening that allows the bag to open like a suitcase. “I had never seen a duffel bag that opened like that before, but now that I have it, it makes perfect sense.” 

Megan feels as if she’s able to keep all of her belongings organized in the two main compartments; the front pocket comes with a key leash, and the laptop sleeve in the middle allows for easy access to essentials. The bag has a trolley sleeve to slip onto your suitcase, but it’s also the perfect size to slip under the seat on the plane. She said it has easily become her top bag for personal travel.

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