What’s in my bag (for long haul flights)? – Girly Juice

Remember when I used to do these “What’s in my bag” posts?! I haven’t done one of these in a while, but this week, as I laid out everything I packed in my carry-on for a 9-hour trip to Germany, I thought it was time to get back to the format.

The package itself

…is the Kate Spade Perry Medium Shoulder Bag in a bright yellow color called Daffodil. I chose a turquoise/green/yellow color scheme for my outfit for this trip and have always wanted a yellow bag, so I bought this specifically for this trip and I will definitely be carrying it a lot when I return.

It has two open compartments and a middle zippered compartment that is large enough to hold all of these items except for the travel pillow that needs to be strapped to the straps. I wish it had an outside pocket for my passport, but other than that it’s pretty much a perfect carry-on bag for my needs.

Sleep/Comfort

I was on an overnight flight and was hoping to get a good night’s sleep on the plane, although sleeping on a plane is always harder than expected… To make it as convenient as possible, I packed a memory foam travel pillow that supports my head and neck and has a tilted backrest that allows it to be flush with the seat back for more comfort on the spine. It came with some earplugs and a little bag to tuck the pillow into when not in use.

Next to it is my trusty Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask, the only one I have found that actually blocks out all light without causing any eye discomfort. Hopefully, with these accessories, I can get some much-needed rest during my flight!

Drugs, etc.

I perhaps I don’t get sick on planes, but you never know, so I bring chewable motion sickness pills and Pepto Bismol tablets. I also always bring a painkiller or two on planes because flying makes my fibromyalgia worse.

Then there’s the must-have mint gum, which I use to perk me up in the morning or to keep my ears from getting stuffy during takeoff and landing. I also bring lip balm (the air is very dry there), an iPhone/iPad/Apple Watch charger, and a few disinfecting wipes, which I use to clean my phone and other frequently touched items after my trip.

entertainment

Staying busy on a long flight can be a challenge, but I was prepared with the best tools: my Kindle, filled with countless e-books, my noise-canceling AirPods Pro (which came in a cute floral case) for all my audio needs, and my iPad mini, filled with TV shows, podcasts, and a few games. Normally I travel with my laptop, but on this trip, I wanted to unplug as much as possible.

After taking these photos, I also decided to add my reMarkable 2 to the mix; it’s thin and light enough to easily fit among other things, and it helps me get some writing done if inspiration strikes, which I can automatically transcribe and export to other devices later if needed.

This yellow iPhone-shaped thing is a portable battery pack that charges all my devices on the go. I’m so glad I got a yellow one to go with this bag, haha! It would give me so much peace of mind when traveling; no more searching for an empty power outlet in an airport terminal!

Glasses and wallet

Nothing too exciting here, but I have glasses, prescription sunglasses, and a microfiber cloth for cleaning lenses.

The Kate Spade heart shaped wallet is easily one of the cutest items I own and was a gift from my spouse. It has my payment cards, ID, etc. in it, as well as a printout of my COVID vaccination records, which really no one wants to look at now (woohoo), but I’m glad I have it anyway, just in case.

Miscellaneous

Don’t forget your passport! I also brought a travel-sized pack of Kleenex and a black KN95 mask (I had extra in my checked luggage).

I have a few different keychains attached to my house keys: one is a heart-eyes emoji from Aerie, another is an internal clitoris from sex toy brand Womanizer. My journal (where I write my packing list) is a (as always) large Moleskine hardcover, paired with a pink Retro 51 Tornado fountain pen.

that’s all! you Carrying on long-haul flights (or what meeting What did you bring?

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