What's in our Flight Bag?

Between long-haul dryness, sudden turbulence boredom, and the general chaos of airport security, your flight bag has a harder job than any other bag you own. It needs to be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you and smart enough to solve every mid-air problem you didn't see coming.

Over the years (and more flights than we can count), we've whittled our flight bag down to a short list of items that actually earn their place. Nothing in here is for "just in case." Every single thing gets used, every single flight.

Here's exactly what's in our flight bag - and why:

Vaseline

Cabin air is famously dry, and dry cabin air means dry nasal passages, which means nosebleeds are far more common in flight than most people realise. Our fix is simple: a small pot of Vaseline, dabbed just inside each nostril before takeoff and topped up mid-flight. It keeps things comfortable and helps prevent that dreaded dry, cracked feeling that can lead to a nosebleed somewhere over the Atlantic.

Tea Tree Oil

This one surprises people, but it's become non-negotiable. A few drops of tea tree oil on a tissue, kept in a side pocket and sniffed periodically throughout the flight, is a brilliant way to feel a little more human in a recycled-air environment. It's also handy if you're seated near anything less than fragrant - which, on a long-haul flight, is really just a matter of time.

Tissues

Simple, unglamorous, and endlessly useful. Beyond the obvious, tissues are what your tea tree oil goes on, what catches a dry-air sneeze, and what saves you when the plane's supply has run out by hour four. Always pack more than you think you'll need.

Sunglasses

Whether you're touching down into blinding midday sun or just trying to nap without making eye contact with your row mate, sunglasses are a flight bag essential. They're also doing quiet work at the airport itself - a pair of sunglasses is the easiest way to look pulled together after an overnight flight, no effort required.

Lip Balm

Cabin air dries out lips just as fast as it dries out everything else, and there's nothing worse than realising somewhere over hour five that yours have started to crack. Keep one in an easy-to-reach pocket rather than buried in your bag - you'll want to reapply more often than you'd expect. A good balm with a bit of shea or beeswax works best; anything too minty can actually make dryness worse the more you use it.

A Hairbrush

Long-haul hair has a way of taking on a life of its own somewhere around hour six. A compact hairbrush means you can arrive looking like yourself, rather than someone who's just wrestled an airline pillow for eight hours.

Multi-Purpose Cream

One good cream for face, hands, elbows, and anywhere else that dries out at altitude is worth more than three separate products taking up space. Look for something fragrance-light and genuinely multi-purpose - it should work as a hand cream mid-flight and a light moisturiser once you land, without needing a dedicated toiletry bag of its own.

A Good Book

Screens get old fast, especially on longer flights, and a good book is still the best way to make time disappear. There's something about flight-mode reading, too - fewer interruptions, nowhere else to be - that makes it some of the most focused reading you'll do all year.

Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Non-negotiable for anyone who's ever sat near a crying baby, a chatty seatmate, or three hours of engine hum with nothing to drown it out. Beyond entertainment, noise-cancelling headphones are genuinely one of the best tools for arriving less frazzled.

A Silk Eye Mask

Cabin lighting has a way of staying on long after your body's ready for it to be off, especially on overnight or long-haul flights. A silk eye mask blocks it all out and, unlike the scratchy ones handed out on board, won't leave a crease across your face or tug at your lashes. It's a small addition that makes the difference between dozing on and off and actually arriving rested.

A Notepad and Pen

Flights are, unexpectedly, one of the best places to think. No wifi, no notifications, nowhere to be - just you and whatever's been sitting at the back of your mind. We always keep a small notepad and pen in the flight bag for jotting down trip plans, to-do lists, or the odd good idea that only ever seems to show up somewhere over the clouds.

Anti-Bac Wipes

Tray tables, armrests, seatbelt buckles - aeroplanes are not known for being spotless, and a small pack of anti-bac wipes means a quick wipe-down before you settle in. It's a small habit that makes a noticeable difference, especially in the run-up to a trip you don't want to spend feeling under the weather.

The Bag That Holds It All

None of this works without the right bag to keep it organised. Loose tissues, an open pot of Vaseline, and a leaking cream tube do not mix well at the bottom of a tote - so however you choose to pack it, give each item its own space. A little structure goes a long way, and it's the difference between a flight bag you can find things in and one you're rummaging through somewhere over the Atlantic.