A guide to Airport Must Haves
I love the airport. As a kid I used to wish I could visit all the time because it marked the beginning of a new adventure. Now I am proud to say I am there fairly often. Enough to have a routine down packed and to know what exactly to wear and carry on my person in order to have the best experience while waiting for my plane. Below are some of my favorites. Many of which I also use in my day to day life. Of course everything is linked in the underlined headers and their are a few bonuses and alternatives linked in paragraphs.
Airport Basics
Fun fact: I own this “over-oversized” crew neck in about five or six different colors. In fact, I’m wearing one right now. I just bought a new one for my next trip because I’m obsessed. Which is why I know it’s perfect for the airport.
When flying anywhere, layering is key! Especially if you’re coming from somewhere cold to someplace warm or vise versa. Even if you aren’t, they keep the planes pretty chilly, so it’s nice to have something warm.
The best part about this crew, though, is the “over-oversized” cut. It’s just long enough that it isn’t a crop top on my 6-foot-tall frame, but it’s still cut close enough to allow for airflow if needed. It very much feels like a wearable blanket.
Comfortable, breathable, and cute? Yes please.
If you’re more of a hoodie person, click here for the same cut with a hood and pockets! I also own and love this variation.
Another favorite, perfect for storing your passport holder, wallet, and anything else you may need. I don’t just use this for the airport either. This Lululemon Belt Bag is amazing for keeping your room key and other essentials close while you’re enjoying your destination.
It keeps everything I need safe, secure, and well organized without being bulky or annoying to carry. There’s also a back pocket that I love using for cash so when I open the main front section, my money stays hidden and secure. It makes paying quick and easy without ever feeling awkward or unsafe.
Here’s a link to a second more budget friendly option. If you don’t like Lululemon
If you have ever gone through TSA then you know this is a must have. I remember the days pre-packing cubes. Every time TSA stopped me I was a little embarrassed. Everything felt disorganized in my luggage and I felt like my stuff was everywhere for everyone to see. Now I just open the one cube they want to see and I don’t feel like everyone now knows my life journey.
So this one was a bit of an internal debate for me and really depends on the destination. Sometimes I’m a slides to the airport girl because you might have to take your shoes off at TSA. Although I recently became part of the TSA Pre-Check club (thank you travel credit card perks!) so that is no longer an issue for me. Either way, the bulkier the shoe, the less legroom you have and no matter what the airline tells you about your seat you can never have enough leg room. So while I do believe in bringing shoes like these Hokas on every trip, I am not necessarily a fan on wearing them to the airport. Instead, I grab my Adidas Sambas.
I own so many of these portable chargers its insane. I always take at least 2-3 on every trip. One to charge in the room and the other goes in my bag. Between using your phone as a map and as a camera, your battery life is probably going to die much faster on trips and you defiantly don’t want a dead phone in the airport. My favorite travel hack is using my phone as my boarding pass and if I don’t print one then I can’t let my boarding pass die!
Don’t forget to bring charging cables also!
Now for the Non-Essentials That I Also Love
If you’re Traveling abroad this passport holder is essential, but if your not, don’t worry about it!
Traveling anywhere abroad means breaking out passports. If you can, I highly recommend having a holder like this one to keep your safe. Passports last almost a decade and you don’t want to have yours looking all torn up by the end of its days. This little case will protect it on its travels with you. Bonus points if you give them as a gift. I am currently using this Mr. and Mrs. passport holder my friends gifted my fiancé and I. It is so fun to use and they came with the cutest travel luggage tags!
For added safety, checkout this Passport holder with an air tag pocket! Don’t forget to buy air tags if you pick it up though!
Lets be clear, having a Kindle or any sort of e-reader will not make or break your airport experience. But if you are a reader like me, it will enhance it. I remember the first summer I spent in New York. I went to so many cute book stores and once a week I would buy a new book to read. At the rate I was going I probably should have gotten a library card. When it was time to go back I had to buy a second bag for my clothes because my suitcase was full of books! Of course I was stopped by TSA for a bottle of lotion and the agent looked at mee like I had ten heads when she opened the suitcase. Now I just carry a Kindle. Its simple, sleek, and fits in almost all of my bags. Plus now I have every book i want at the tip of my finger and I don’t need a book light to go with it.
I own both the Beats Studio Pro and a pair of wireless ear buds but I prefer over head for flights. Something about them makes me feel like I’m shutting the world out. Plus there is the added bonus of the personal screens on some newer planes. If you want to watch a TV show, movie, or anything else involving sound, you will need something with a headphone jack. Luckily these come with one! Don’t worry though, often you can ask the flight attendant for a pair of free wired earbuds if you forget to bring your own.
This eye mask is perfect for sleeping on the plane. While they often turn down the lights while in the air, it usually isn’t dark enough for me to fall asleep. Especially if some one nearby has a window open in order to enjoy the view. That’s where contour eye masks come in. Not only do the raised pillow edges protect your eyes and lashes, it also works to block out more light that a normal mask. Perfect for flights!
To be fair, these probably belong at the top of this list. They’re extremely useful, yet somehow they’re the only thing here I haven’t actually taken on a plane. Crazy, right? Don’t get me wrong… I love them and will absolutely be wearing them on my next flight (check back for a newsletter on that). I honestly don’t know how I’ve gone this long without them. I always regret it afterward. Once this article is published, I’m laying out a fresh pair right on top of my suitcase.
Compression socks help improve blood circulation in your legs, reduce swelling, and lower the risk of blood clots. Especially on long flights where you’re sitting for hours at a time. If you’ve ever landed with achy calves or puffy ankles, these will help. Moral of the story? Buy the socks. Wear the socks.
At the end of the day, airport essentials are really just about making travel a little easier, a little more comfortable, and a lot less stressful. These are the items I actually reach for every time I pack, and they’ve made a real difference in how I travel. The links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase (at no extra cost to you). It’s one of the ways I’m able to keep creating content like this and sharing travel tips I genuinely stand behind. Thanks for being here, and safe travels!
