Let’s be real for a minute. Not all of us can afford luxury travel on an international flight (or even domestic!). I could save up and pay the extra money for a nice seat, but I have decided that it is more worth it on a budget to pay for economy and use the extra money for another trip.

So for all my budget fliers who are braving international flights in economy with me, here are 8 must-haves to make your long flight less painful.   

Note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may receive compensation at no additional cost to you. As always, I only recommend products I trust! You can read my full disclosure by clicking here.

1. The travel pillow.

There are many styles of this product and I have used the regular circular one for my flight to Germany, as well as the TRTL pillow for my flight to Italy. The trtl pillow is my new favorite. It straps onto your bag easily, and provides great neck support so your head isn’t kinked forward and you end up drooling on your neighbor.

2.  Headphones.

Whatever brand you love is fine, just make sure to pack the connecting cords if they are bluetooth and a dongle if you plan to connect to your iPhone. Music is my way of relaxing and getting centered when I am anxious or dealing with any emotions. Crank up those tunes and breathe! You will be there soon!

3.  Face wipes.

Let’s be honest. International flights are flipping long. The end result = magical destinations, so it is worth the time. But your skin is gonna need a refresher. Make sure you are prepared and can clean your face so you don’t end up with a breakout.

4.  Clorox wipes to go.

Maybe this is just the paranoid woman in me, but I have seen and heard way too many horror stories about airplanes. My parents traveled home with a man who had been in a drunken accident and was covered in oozing wounds and dried blood. Gross, but all I’m saying is you have NO IDEA what was in your chair before you. Wipe everything down when you first sit down! (Tray table, seat buckle, arm rests, all of it)

5.  A sweater or jacket.

Even when I am flying to a tropical destination I always pack something warm with me on the plane. They generally keep the temperatures a bit lower for ventilation and to keep the smell of hundreds of humans down. It is much easier to relax and even get some sleep when you are warm and cozy.

6. Snacks.

Enough said. Yo girl is always hungry, and also mostly terrified of in-flight foods of questionable identities. Make sure to pack some treats but also something of substance (protein-based) + grab a sealed beverage in the airport so that you are not dehydrated.

7. Compression Socks

My flight to Rome was the first time I have tested this theory out, and I am literally sold now. I had purchased a pair of compression socks for a Spartan Race I participated in during the summer, so when I heard that they may help with long flights, I had to try it out. Obviously most people know that these socks are good for keeping you from getting blood clots – but why??

Due to the pressure on your legs, they actually help keep blood flowing more smoothly!! Since you are stuck in a chair with no room to move around on a long flight, this is PERFECT for keeping your legs from falling asleep, getting restless and itchy, and avoiding sedentary pain. I arrived without any soreness in my legs, which was huge for me – and then I forgot to pack them in the right bag on my flight home, so when I landed back in LAX, my legs were like Jello 🙂

8. International plug adapter.

I didn’t even realize how lucky I was to have included this as part of my carry-on stash. Obviously on most international flights, there will be a USB-port for you to connect and charge your phone in, so that solves a bit of the problem. But when you are stuck in a foreign airport for a layover or even just arriving to your new hotel for the evening, it is so handy to have it easily accessible so that you can charge your phone/laptop and stay connected. This adapter actually works world-wide, so it is perfect and affordable, too!

Just because you are going international, doesn’t mean you have to go dark and not talk to anyone the whole trip! (Unless you want to, then seriously – you do you! I definitely enjoyed not having a WiFi connection 24/7 and only chatted with family and friends in the mornings and evenings when I was at my hotel or AirBnB)

I’d love to hear from you if you have other recommendations for surviving an international flight. Comment below with suggestions!

Safe flight gorgeous babes! 

xo – Heath