Flight Attendants Never Pack This Travel Gear

If you’ve ever seen a flight attendant give you a serious eye roll, it’s because you didn’t pack any of their stuff. You know, like “carry-on” that isn’t quite there, or smelly food like salmon or broccoli that can stink up the whole plane. Hopefully, you are well aware of what not to wear on a plane. Still, there are plenty of other things that flight attendants, and travel writers like me, have learned over the years not to bother bringing on board.

For example, you never make me try to fit a full-sized pillow on my beloved period, even if it’s my favorite. Alternatively, I pack one of these Travel Editor-approved travel pillows that take up a third of the space and don’t infringe on my neighbor’s personal space. I also don’t pack all my credit cards and money in my carry-on and personal item. If I forget my carry-on on board or lose a personal item, I want to make sure I have a means of paying for the items in my checked bag. But enough about me!

The pros I spoke to—namely, a few flight attendants and a travel writer friend—were happy to share what they don’t pack, and more importantly, what they pack instead. Read on for 14 ingenious solutions to common packing mistakes.

Mistake: Packing cheap, plastic toiletry containers

Package it instead: Cadence Containers

Ricardo Wagner, a flight attendant based in Europe, loves his Cadence containers for carrying liquids in his carry-on. “They are much better than the cheap ones in the travel section,” he said. “They fit a lot better and are better at keeping things from leaking.” He also likes how sleek they are. They are also customizable. And because they’re magnetic, they’re hard to lose in a big bag. Not to mention, they prevent spills that you might experience with your average plastic container.

Mistake: Bringing an extra bag that doesn’t fit down

Pack it instead: Dakin’ a duffel bag

Every savvy traveler knows to pack a spare bag in case you run out of things to buy on your trip. But Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant Shannon Ichiyoda doesn’t recommend packing an extra bag unless it’s down. That’s why he swears by his dakine a duffel. When he is not using it, he simply folds it into its end pocket and puts it in his main bag. “Convenient to take with you if you need an extra bag during your trip!”

Mistake: Wearing jeans for a long-haul flight

Pack this instead: the Ibex Nomadic Jogger

While there are travel-friendly jeans out there, like my favorite stretch jeans from Dwyer, joggers are by far the most comfortable travel pants for flights longer than six hours. For my upcoming 14-hour flight to Dubai, I’ll be sporting a nomadic jogger from Ibex. It’s great for traveling as it weighs half the weight of cotton joggers. It has pockets, an adjustable waistband, and made of moisture-wicking merino terry, it’s machine washable.

Mistake: Buying a $10 bottle of water at the airport

Pack this instead: Hydroflask water bottle

Jack, a 19-year-old New Jersey-based flight attendant, still can’t believe it when passengers show up at the airport with the precious water they bought. Most airports have water refill stations these days, so packing your own reusable bottle makes more sense. Although any old bottle will do, most flight attendants I know swear by Hydroflask, which has a new floor line inspired by the colors of Oregon. Their sleek-looking bottles are vacuum insulated, so they keep your water cold for hours and can even keep hot drinks hot.

Mistake: Packing a big, big jacket

Pack this instead: Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket

Jack also told me: “Never pack a big, bulky jacket that will take up a ton of space in the bulkhead or have to go on the floor.” He’s personally a fan of Uniqlo’s Ultralight Puffer, which comes with a carrying bag and packs down about the size of a water bottle. Meanwhile, I have the Patagonia Nano Puff Insulated Hoodie, which is made of high-quality materials and packs into its own chest pocket. When compressed, it can even double as a travel pillow!

Mistake: Bringing a portable battery pack with only 1 USB port

Pack this instead: Inker Power Bank with built-in USB-C cable

As a frequent flyer with status on multiple airlines, I know firsthand that it’s not uncommon for airplane outlets to not work. That’s why I always bring my portable charger. But according to Jack, I need to get one with more than one USB port. he said before directing me to the Anker portable battery pack which has multiple charging ports. It has two USB-C ports plus one traditional USB port, and it’s smaller than your wallet, so it’s easy to pack.

Mistake: Packing your entire skincare routine

Pack this instead: Biosense Plumping Serum and Squalene Oil Duo

Giovanna Caravita, A Travel + Leisure The California-based partner knows the hard way that it’s not a good idea to pack your skincare products in your checked bag. Not only does it have a large spillage capacity, but it also takes up a lot of space. In that case, why even check a bag if your trip is fairly short?

To maintain an efficient and effective in-flight beauty routine, Caravita always packs Biosense Plumping Serum and Squalene Oil, previously sold as a travel set. These travel-friendly products—a peptide plumping serum and squalene oil—invigorate your skin after a long day in the sky.

Mistake: Bringing a full-sized towel

Pack this instead: Euphoria Microfiber Travel Towel

Even if you’re going to a beach resort, leave your beach towel at home. This is advice I get from my friend and flight attendant Shay Kepler, who has experience working for both regional and mainline airlines. “They take up a lot of space in your bag and odds are, they’ll have them where you’re going,” he said. Instead, if you want to pack a towel, pack a lightweight option like the quick-drying Youphoria Microfiber Travel Towel. Because it’s made of microfiber, it takes up a fraction of the space a full-sized towel would. It also comes with a handy carrying case.

Mistake: Packing a personal item that doesn’t close

Pack this instead: loveook laptop bag

Kepler, who says airplane floors are “rebellious,” always recommends making sure your small carry-on bag, or personal item, is able to be locked up. “You don’t want your stuff to fall all over the floor,” he said. “Personally, I love my Lovevook laptop bag.” It has more than 26,100 perfect five-star ratings, and even Kepler colleagues swear by it. “I’m a flight attendant and use this as my tote bag,” wrote one Amazon shopper. “Tons of room and easy to travel with.”

Mistake: Arriving hungry

Pack it instead: Kind bars

Kepler also doesn’t recommend relying on an airline to feed you. “Many factors, including turbulence and catering errors, can prevent flight attendants from being able to serve meals,” he explained. “That’s why I always have at least a couple of bars in my bag as an emergency snack.” (Not to mention, if you buy them at the airport, they’re usually three times more expensive than buying them at Amazon.)

I asked Kepler if it matters if there are nuts in your packed snacks, and he said no. “Severe nut allergies are not something we have to deal with very often.” In fact, it’s only happened once in the four years she’s been a flight attendant.

Mistake: Using a top-loading bag as a carry-on

Pack this instead: Thule Chisum bag

The majority of backpacks are top loading, but it can be frustrating if you need to grab something during your flight and it gets moved to the bottom of your bag. I hate emptying everything at the top to get what I want. For easy access to the important compartment, I like the Kohl’s Escape 20 canvas bag. It has a clamshell design so you can see everything at once and a quick-access compartment for your laptop or tablet. But for an even more affordable—and water-resistant—option, there’s also the Thule Chisum Bag, which has a capacity of 26 liters and an impressive 4.6-star rating on Amazon.

Mistake: Carrying a hardshell without an external pocket

Pack this instead: Monos Carry On Pro Plus

I love hardshell carry-on suitcases because they can take a beating, but I can’t resist them when they don’t have an exterior pocket. Often times, once we reach the height of travel, I need something, like my laptop. I don’t want to have to drag my entire suitcase out of the overhead compartment and have to find a place to unzip the main compartment just to get to it. This Monos Carry-on Pro Plus is perfect because it has an outer padded laptop sleeve.

Mistake: Packing a disposable heating pack

Pack this instead: the Sunbeam Portable Heating Pad

Katie Stark, a 10-year flight attendant with Southwest, recommends packing a cordless heating pad. She likes that these heating pads take up less room and are easily charged by a removable battery. Stark works on every trip, both work and personal, and uses it not only on airplanes, but also in hotels and cars.

Mistake: Bringing liquid shampoo and conditioner

Pack this instead: Very Shampoo Bar

Stark also recommends switching out your liquid hair shampoo and conditioner for those in solid form. “They’re better for the environment,” he said. “Plus they won’t get tossed by TSA if you’re over the 3-ounce limit.”

Amazon’s best-selling Very Shampoo Bar, now available in lavender, is made with all-natural ingredients, including essential oils, and has more than 9,400 five-star ratings.

Last but not least, the advice we can offer is this: “A thank-you gift for the flight crew goes a long way,” says flight attendant Kepler, when passengers show their appreciation with cash tips, coffee shop gift cards, snacks, or even just nice notes. “The odds are, if you’ve given us something, we’ll give you something in return, like a free gourmet breakfast, a complimentary alcoholic beverage, or a dessert from first class!”

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