I Took 40+ Flights in 2025-These 15 Essentials Kept Me Comfortable on Every Single One

"I've centered my entire adult life around travel, even making a career out of it. Whether I'm traveling for work or just going on an adventure for the fun of it, I find myself on a plane more often than not. Something I've learned from traveling often is that, although flying will always have an impact on your body, there are plenty of things you can do to make it much more comfortable -and even fun."

"A good flight experience starts with a reliable carry-on. I've had too many cheap carry-ons with stuck handles and wheels that break easily to know that you should always invest in a high-quality suitcase. I'm a huge fan of Travelpro's durable and spacious suitcases, and actually own multiple ones in different sizes. The 21-inch carry-on option is great for trips where you want to pack as much as possible without checking a bag (I've done several two-month trips with mine)."

"For trips when I want to travel light, I use the 18-inch carry-on, which can still hold a surprising amount of stuff. This summer, I used it for a multi-destination trip to mountainous Wyoming and beachy Baja California Sur, Mexico. Despite needing very different outfits for each leg of the trip, I still had enough space left over to bring home gifts and souvenirs."

A travel-centered adult life involves frequent flying and building a career around travel. Flying affects the body, but deliberate routines and chosen gear can greatly increase comfort and even enjoyment. Experience and mishaps led to a refined plane routine used across 42 flights in 2025 to destinations in the U.S., Latin America, Europe, and the Caribbean. The routine relies on 15 must-have in-flight essentials that increase convenience and sleep quality. Durable carry-ons such as Travelpro Maxlite Air V2 in 21-inch and 18-inch sizes enable packing flexibility for both long, multiweek trips and light, multi-destination travel.

Read at Travel + Leisure