What Do You HAVE to Bring On a Plane?

iPod

Unless I’m flying on Virgin (every seat comes equipped with its own TV and an awesome selection of games, movies, and music), I have to bring my iPod with me. Lord knows I need something to drown out the sound of screaming children.

Gum

My ears pop like crazy on a plane, so I absolutely need a stick gum (or 4), when I fly.

Facial Spray by Mario Badescu

This stuff is essential for me. Plane air is gross and drying, so a spritz of this on your face every hour or so is a lifesaver and so refreshing!

Journal and your favorite pen or pencil!

For all of the writers, this is an invaluable thing to have while on your flight, especially for the transatlantic ones. Who knows when inspiration will strike? You could write a thrilling short story about the plane ride, or several smaller anecdotes about: your drooling neighbor, the guy in front of you with the bad hair piece, the child that runs up and down the aisles (WHERE are his parents??), or anything else that inspires you.

If you’re a doodler, a sketch diary is a fabulous thing to have. You can make caricatures of the people around you, or just capture those things that only come from the recesses of your imagination.

Klonopin > Dramamine

There is nothing like flying to Europe and sleeping the entire way.

Dramamine

What’s great about this stuff is that not only does it bar against any kind of nausea, but it makes you sleepy!!! Which in my book, is the greatest possible gift you can get while you’re flying.

GOSSIP RAGS!!

I like to ingest as much junk as possible during a flight…which also includes; gummy candis, corn nuts, and gingerale.

Blood Clot Prevention Socks

My mom, the nurse, scared me into wearing these on all my flights!

Bose Headphones

You have to get some sound canceling headphones. These are the best on the plane – once you fly with them you can’t fly w/o them.

Claritin!

Yes, it’s an allergy medication, but my sister and I have problems with our ears popping, and have found this to be a wonderful solution to that problem. For an option that will add drowsiness if your flight is long, use Benadryl.

Yarny Yarn

I was never ever afraid of flying until bad health threatened my life—since then, I have a slight fear of dying in a plane crash, or any other one-in-a-million scenario because goshdarnit, I have to work hard to be alive and well! Sooooo, now I pretty much have to have a knitting/crochet project with me on every plane ride in order to calm my nerves. I still grasp the arm rests when it gets bumpy though.