As a girl on the go, I’ve become very regimented on my in-flight essentials. I’ve been on thousands of flights and racked up countless miles, in addition to flying solo quite frequently. You can say my check-in-counter to boarding gate journey is rather seamless. Do you hate having to take your shoes off and walking through the airport? Want to avoid long check-in lines? Follow my simple steps to make your airport experience hassle-free.
I know the large majority of us are all on lockdown right now, but if you’ve got the travel bug like I do, you’re already diligently planning out the trips that you’ll take as soon as the flight restrictions are lifted! So let’s take this extra time to make sure we are as prepared as possible, and when the time comes - we’ll be traveling like pros!
Pre-Flight:
If you travel frequently, then I highly suggest you take the following measures to make your travel days more efficient. And always be sure to check into your flight the day before! If you have a carry on, you can skip the counters at the front all together!
Interstate Traveler? TSA Pre-check is a must! Go to https://www.tsa.gov/precheck to apply and schedule an appointment at an airport near you. Always cutting it close to your departure time? Or do you hate taking your shoes and laptop out of your suitcase every time you go through security? 93% of TSA Pre-check travelers stand in line for 5 minutes or less. Keep everything neatly packed and save yourself the trouble of removing your shoes and walking through the dirty airport floors in your socks, or worse - barefoot!
This usually costs $85/year, but if you have a Chase Sapphire card like me then you’ll get reimbursed for your membership fee!
At your gate early? Another perk of being a Chase Sapphire Reserve member, is you can apply for a free Priority Pass! This gives you access to over 1,200 airport lounges across the globe and even dining credit at select restaurants. It’s such a nice perk to enjoy, especially if you have a long layover during connecting flights.
In-Flight:
Sky travel can be daunting for some people, but through my years of travel I have accumulated several items that make long flights a breeze! Here is a list of my in-flight essentials that I never fly without. For short flights I tend to only pack the first two items, as this list is primarily for those long 10+ hour journeys.
Will never go anywhere without hand wipes, especially on planes. The hypochondriac, germaphobe in me just cringes thinking about all the bacteria that's just lying on the surface of the chair, front seat pocket and tray. YIKES! As soon as I put my bags away, I wipe the entire area down. I love EOS wipes, because they are all natural and they kill 99.9% of germs. The lavender scent is a nice touch and it’s a USDA certified biobased product! WIN WIN
Now, If you’re the lucky 4 out of 10 like myself who experience sleep paralysis then please invest in a CALPAK neck pillow & sleep mask set! It will help keep your head supported and block out any unnecessary light that may affect your precious sleep. Not only that, but this silk set makes you feel like you’re in first class.
Once the plane takes off it's all smooth sailing. But HYDRATION is of the utmost importance! Long flights are incredibly dehydrating, so aside from drinking as much water as possible, do yourself a favor and put a sheet mask on. My favorite one is by Tatcha, because it's incredibly hydrating and the gel like material adheres to your face so it won't keep falling off. Now time for some entertainment.
Does the chilling shriek of infants and cries of children disturb you slumber? I wouldn’t know, because I never board a flight without my BOSE Quiet Comfort Headphones. They drown out all the noise and fit comfortably around your ears. Even when I’m not listening to anything, I like to keep them on. Yes, I am VERY anti-social on flights.
These are my four in flight essentials that I highly recommend. Other than that, I usually download a couple of shows or movies on Netflix pre-flight and pack a good book.
Return-Flight:
Worldwide Explorer? Aside, from all your in-flight essentials, getting through the airport can be quite a hassle. Global Entry is the international version of TSA Pre-check, but not every airport has Global Entry. I highly suggest downloading the Mobile Passport App. This is great for U.S. and Canadian citizens, allowing you expedited entry at most major U.S. Airports and cruise ports. This app basically asks for all the information that you have to enter at those large kiosks in customs. So skip the line, and fill out the form on the app as soon as you land. Who wants to wait in a long line after a long international flight home, right?
Now you know all my insider tips and tricks! Can’t wait to be back in the sky. Hope you are all staying safe and if you have any other suggestions, feel free to let me know in the comments below.
