Julie's Packing Essentials - 2026What I actually pack to make a 10-hour flight more comfortable
I’ve sent this list to so many Valley Sole customers over the years that I finally decided it needed a permanent home!
A 10-hour flight can feel like A LOT, and I’ve learned that I do much better when I have a plan.
I can’t control the delays, the cabin lights, the person sitting next to me or whether my checked bag makes it, but I can control a few things that help me stay comfortable and relaxed.
My goal is basically to take care of as many of my senses as I can, make that tiny airplane seat as comfortable as possible, and arrive feeling somewhat like a human being.
Here’s what has earned a permanent spot on my overseas flight list.
BEFORE I EVEN SIT DOWN
Hand sanitizer + Clorox wipes
These stay somewhere I can grab them immediately. Before I even sit down, I wipe down my space...the tray table, screen, armrests, seat belt buckle and anything else I know I’ll be touching.
I’ve been sick on enough vacations that this has become step ONE for me.
AirTags
I put one in my checked luggage AND one in my carry-on. If they make me gate-check my carry-on, I can still see where it is.
Change of clothes + pajamas + undergarments
These always go in my carry-on. If my checked luggage decides to take a different vacation than I do, I have what I need to get through that first night.
MY SEAT SETUP
A BIG reusable tote
This may be my favorite organization trick.
My backpack goes in the overhead bin, but before I put it up, I pull out everything I’ll need for that portion of the flight and put it in a big reusable tote by my seat.
I get my leg room back, I’m not getting into the overhead bin all night, and everything I need is right beside me.
Wander Neck Pillow
This one is well worth the money for me. It gives me enough support that I can actually sleep instead of constantly waking up trying to get comfortable.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZKV4CLH
Memory-Foam Camping Pillow
Random? Maybe. But I LOVE this thing.
I can put it behind my back for lumbar support or sit on it, which gives me another way to change positions during a long flight.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DW29L1R5
Oversized wool scarf
Mine is silk + wool, so it has a little weight without being too heavy. It becomes my blanket on the plane and then dresses up an outfit at night once we arrive.
Anything that does double duty gets bonus points in my suitcase.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR SENSES
This is something I’ve learned about myself over the years. The more comfortable I can make my little space, the easier it is for me to settle in.
3D Sleep Mask
It blocks the light without pressing against my eyes, so I can sleep whether the cabin lights are on or off.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YRX2F83
Essence Nasal Diffuser
I’m VERY sensitive to smells. If you are too, you understand why this little thing made the list.
AirFly Pro
This connects my Bluetooth headphones to the airplane’s seat-back entertainment system. I can use my own headphones instead of the airplane ones.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F3QD86TL
Sony noise-canceling headphones + earplugs
When I really want quiet, I put earplugs underneath my over-ear noise-canceling headphones. It helps shut out so much of that constant airplane noise.
Cough drops + mints
Always close enough that I can grab them without getting into my backpack.
Lip balm + GOOD lotion
Planes are DRY. These stay right beside me.
GIVE YOUR EYES A BREAK
I love watching a movie on a flight, but I don’t want to stare at a screen for ten straight hours.
So I always bring a real book.
There’s something about putting the screen away and reading for a while that helps me wind down.
Right now I’m reading Yesteryear and Promise Me Never.
And when I’m finally ready to sleep...
Heated disposable eye mask
This is one of my newest favorites. After hours of screen time, I put one on right before I want to sleep. The warmth feels SO good on tired eyes and helps me transition from watching movies to actually resting.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6VVBMJ6
MY NIGHTTIME ROUTINE
Another little system that makes a surprisingly big difference:
I use separate hanging toiletry bags.
Instead of putting every toiletry I brought into one giant bag, I have a nighttime bag with exactly what I need to get ready for bed.
When I’m ready to settle down, I grab ONE bag, take it into the airplane bathroom and hang it up.
No digging through my backpack. No standing in a tiny airplane bathroom trying to remember what I forgot.
I brush my teeth, floss, use mouthwash, brush my hair and freshen up. Then I come back to my seat ready for bed.
It gives my brain a little bit of the same signal as my routine at home:
Okay. We’re going to sleep now.
A NOTE ABOUT MAKEUP
I don’t wear makeup on an overseas flight.
I know some people do, but for me it’s not worth risking a breakout or itchy eyes after wearing it and trying to sleep in it for hours.
I start the flight with a clean face and let my skin have a break.
One less thing to worry about.
THE “I’VE BEEN ON A PLANE ALL NIGHT” KIT 😂
This may be the part nobody talks about, but I will.
If you’re taking an overnight flight to Europe, there’s a good chance you’ll land in the morning—but your hotel or Airbnb may not let you check in until 3:00.
That can mean HOURS before you get a real shower.
So I keep a little freshen-up kit ready with:
• Mini deodorant — ALWAYS
• Lume deodorant wipes
• Cottonelle wipes or WaterWipes
• Travel toothbrush + toothpaste
• Flossers
• Mouthwash
• Mini hairbrush
• Good lotion
• Lip balm
• Clean undergarments + a change of clothes
Before we land, I basically give myself the airplane version of a shower. 😂
I freshen up, brush my teeth and hair, put on deodorant, change clothes if I need to, add lotion and lip balm—and suddenly I feel SO much better.
I prefer doing this before we get off the plane.
Once you’re through customs, those bathrooms can be busy and very public, and at that point I’m usually ready to get OUT of the airport and start the trip.
If you land at 8 AM and can’t check in until 3:00, you’ll be very glad you packed this little bag.
WHY I DO ALL OF THIS
Written out, this probably sounds like I’m moving into the airplane. 😂
But I’m really not.
A long overnight flight can feel like a lot, and without a clear plan I can start feeling overwhelmed.
Having these little systems means I’m not spending ten hours wondering where something is, what I forgot or how I’m ever going to get comfortable.
I’ve taken care of the things I can control.
My space is clean.
My body is comfortable.
I have something to read.
I know where everything is.
I have a routine for sleep.
And I have what I need to freshen up before we land.
Then I can relax and get excited about where I’m going. ✈️🤍
NEXT UP: THE SHOES 👟
This summer, my husband, my daughters and I spent three weeks traveling through multiple countries in Europe.
We ALL wore the same sneakers.
Every. Single. Day.
So when Aly and I packed for our buying trip to Milan, there was absolutely no question which sneakers were going back in my suitcase.
I’ll share those next in Julie’s Travel Notes: Part Two.
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❤️ Julie
Valley Sole
Huntsville, Alabama