The 7 Essentials Flight Attendants Can’t Travel Without

Nobody wants to spend their precious exploring time waiting for their checked bag to finally make an appearance at baggage claim—so you’ll want to pack smartly. For Tristin Mincey, that means taking his packing cubes “everywhere.” “They are great for organizing your bag and making the most of your space,” he shares. “You can get packing cubes anywhere but my favorite brand is Eagle Creek because they are known for quality products.” While he’s at it, Mincey also packs Eagle Creek’s shoe sac to keep his dirty or sandy shoes away from his clean clothes.

From translating a foreign language on the fly to taking photos of all your tourist attractions, there’s a good chance you’ll be relying on your devices a lot more than usual. Instead of packing a bunch of chargers and cables, Mincey keeps it simple with the UCOMX Nano 3 in 1 Wireless Charger. “The product is amazing because it charges all of my devices without making me bring so many cords,” he says. “Before this device charger, my devices were always dead but now I always have them fully charged. This also prevents me from losing or leaving any device cords.” Staying connected has never been so easy.

Whether you’re staying at a ritzy resort or a budget-friendly motel, it’s always a good idea to take a few safety precautions when settling into your temporary space. (You wouldn’t leave your apartment door unlocked or opened, so why should your vacation accommodations be any different?) Lea M., flight attendant and content creator behind a popular Instagram account called FlightAttendantBaeLee, turns her rooms into a fortress with a travel lock. “This is one of my top three because it provides me a sense of security while traveling and staying in hotels and Airbnbs,” she says of the HonesaLoc Portable Door Lock. This sliver of stainless steel slips nicely into the door jamb to offer some extra security. 

If you’re staying in a rental house, one portable door lock may not be enough. Don’t worry: Lea M. has you covered with Rosoenvi’s Store Door Stop Alarm.  “I love to have this when traveling and staying at Airbnbs or places that have multiple points of entry,” she says. “It’s a great deterrent and will alert you of any attempts to access your place.” (Bonus points: Since they come in quantities of one to four, you can buy as many or as few as you’ll need to feel safe.)

You never know where your next adventure will take you, but if shopping is on the itinerary, you’ll want to be prepared. “[It’s] always nice to have an extra bag for the way home if you find some good stuff to buy,” Rob Aguino shares. Not only are these duffel bags large enough to store everything from souvenirs to beach essentials—the zippered closure will keep your belongings from spilling out during a bout of turbulence—but they also fold up nicely so you can fit them in your luggage. You’ll have the peace of mind should you spot a particularly cool memento, but these won’t bulk up your suitcase if you don’t!

Since airplane cabins have notoriously low humidity levels, cruising at an altitude of 30,000 feet can result in some serious dehydration. That’s exactly why flight attendant Rachel Loporchio has a special way to keep her water bottle nearby at all times. “Using a giant carabiner is such a great way to attach my water bottle to my suitcase so I have less things to carry and helps me stay hydrated while flying,” she explains. “And maybe so I don’t accidentally leave it behind… again.” Loporchio prefers Black Diamond Equipment’s LiteForge Screwgate 3-Pack, a lightweight option that uses hot forged construction to keep her belongings safe and secure.

Speaking of staying hydrated, you’ll also want to give your skin the TLC it deserves. (After all, nobody wants to kick off their vacation with dry, chapped skin.) To help, flight attendant and instructor Jennel Nodland packs Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask, which uses ingredients like Vitamin C, coconut oil, and shea butter to nourish your pout. “I love this product as it’s so easy to get dehydrated skin while flying and changing cities,” she says. “This product keeps me from having to reach for my chapstick constantly.” Simply apply a coat before you go to bed and you’ll wake up with smoother lips.