How to fly
My carbon footprint is shameful; here's what I've learned across those many miles
Disclaimers, before I say anything else
I do not have children. I am aware that my bag and its contents would likely look markedly different if I did.
I check my suitcase in. Even short-haul. I cannot be arsed to decant skincare and shampoo. So this is about flying in comfort, not how to do a 2-week holiday with only hand luggage1.
Ok, in we go.
What I wear
Short haul - anything less than 4 hours, I’m probably wearing something pretty.
Long haul - I’ve flirted with pretty much every version of this and have settled on: yoga pants2, white top3 and then an oversized hoodie with a front pocket that my moisturiser and lip balm can live in during the flight. Something like this is ideal. Trainers, socks. If you’re not going to get airline socks, remember to stick an extra pair in your bag.
Cashmere socks are always a treat. These are almost impossibly cheap in the sale.
I don’t take my own blanket or anything. What am I going to do with it at the other end? I do typically pack a denim or leather jacket - often to save space in my suitcase :)
The bag
So my personal item is also the bag I take to the beach.
It’s surprisingly capacious4 with a ton of pockets and it’s very comfortable on the shoulders.
Contents
Electricals
Laptop - mine goes pretty much everywhere with me and I often watch my own stuff rather than what’s on the plane.
Laptop case - if you have someone sitting next to you and you don’t know them, I strongly suggest wedging your laptop case vertically in between your seat and the armrest to avoid Rogue Elbow from your fellow passenger. You lose a tiny amount of seat real estate, but I think it’s worth it5.
Noise-cancelling headphones - I like Bose and I do not travel long-haul without them. I have twice bought a pair at the airport6. You can plug these into the armrest of the plane even without the adapter.
Airpods - because wherever I’m going, I will want Airpods.
Charger - this one is currently in my Amazon basket
Adapter - if it’s in your hand luggage, you won’t get to your destination and realise you forgot to pack it. This one is spendy, but it’s 70W, so fast charges and all the outlet types are integrated, you don’t have to slot anything on.
Charging cables
Kindle - virtually all airlines and jurisdictions now let you use these during takeoff and landing.
A pen - obviously I’m not going to recommend a pen. Although you should totally buy this one.
Beauty
I have flown hundreds of thousands of miles in the last 4 years.
Trust me: I now only take 2 products to use in-flight7.
I apply both when I’m first settled in my seat and then reapply as needed.
The gel is non-sticky and leaves my skin dewy, plump and hydrated8. I also rub some over my hands and to my lower legs, if needed.
The lip balm is creamy without being sticky and doesn’t have a discernible taste.
As above, I keep these in the front pocket of a hoodie during the flight, but I also have one of these zip-up bags9 containing these:
Magnifying mirror - don’t be the dickhead that prevents everyone else from using the loos by doing your makeup in there. I always travel with a magnifying mirror in any case. If you’re travelling business, there’s probably one in your seat set-up somewhere
Tweezers - Hell is being on a long-haul flight with a rogue sprouting eyebrow hair that you can’t remove until you land.
Bamboo hairband - this is very, very soft, so won’t give you Helmet Hair. I have this on for the duration of the flight to stop my hair from getting sticky from product.
Travelo - the best travel perfume decanter. Obviously, spray this directly onto skin from now more than 1mm away, rather than wafting all over the place.
I apply these before landing
Tinted moisturiser - this should slip right on over your moisturiser
Eyebrow powder with this brush
Beauty blender - pack it damp. And I buy the cheapo version.
I prefer to use pre-glued lashes for a flight, so I’m not dealing with smudged or cakey mascara after 8 hours in the air.
My life-changing tip
Ok, you’re going to take:
Your beauty zip-up bag
Your headphone cable
Airpods
Charger
Cables
Adapter
Mirror
Hairband
Kindle
And you’re packing them in this bigger transparent zip-up bag
This will fit in the pouch in front of you (or down the side of your seat if you’re in the window seat) and you have all your flight stuff easily accessible in one place and you can see where everything is.
(You’ll still need to take the smaller bag containing liquids out when you go through security.)
Phone is in your hoodie front pocket, where the moisturiser and lip balm will join it later.
Your headphones go around your neck. You are now SET.
A note on water
More and more airports now have water fountains and BA lounges seem to have actively stopped providing bottled/canned water in the lounges10.
And water can be slow to arrive on a flight.
So you might want to get in the habit of flying with a water bottle. Hydration is key at 30,000ft.
Travel beautifully x
I admire you people. But I think you’re mental.
Lululemon are my brand of choice. I prefer the Align short ones. BUT, I bought about 15 pairs during lockdown and gather that the quality has gone downhill since.
For some reason, I really enjoy the high-risk approach of travelling in white.
I am autistic AF and one of the (seemingly infinite 🙄) ways it shows up for me is that I tolerate unexpected touch extremely poorly.
Then I sell the old ones on eBay when I get back. I’m bougie, but I’m not *that* bougie.
No prizes for guessing the brand.
I know, I hate these words too, but this is The Literal Truth.
It’s airport security compliant
Fuckers
I did not anticipate how many of you would be into the pens 😂