11 Things to Always Pack in Your Carry-On Bag

Hey fellow travelers,

We’ve been traveling for over 30 years and know a thing or two about air travel. The second most asked question I got from random people who asked first what I was doing for a living was: What’s in your carry-on bag.

So, your carry-on needs the right stuff, doesn’t it? But what are the essentials, really? If your checked bag is late, lost, or taken by someone else, your carry-on is all you have. So pack it well.

From power banks to emergency outfits, we’ve got you covered.

My recommendations come from years of flying and hundreds of flights. It works best for people who check a bag, but it helps for any trip. Below you find the 11 things you should always carry on the plane with you.

1. Power Bank ⚡

I love power banks (yes, I am a tech nerd). In my opinion, a power bank is one of the best things you can carry. Airport plugs are often hard to find and almost always taken. With a power bank, you charge your phone any time, anywhere.

Important: The rules changed in 2026: A power bank must go in your carry-on. It is not allowed in checked bags. This is now a strict global rule, because lithium batteries can catch fire and the crew can only stop it inside the cabin.

A few more new rules you should know for 2026:

• Keep your power bank under 100Wh (about 27,000mAh). This is fine on almost all airlines with no approval needed.
• Most airlines now allow only 2 power banks per person.
• You can no longer store it in the overhead bin. Keep it within reach, like in the seat pocket.
• You may charge your phone from the power bank, but you may not recharge the power bank itself during the flight.

A 20,000mAh power bank is a good size. It is well under the limit and gives plenty of charge for a long travel day.

2. Travel Documents and Paperwork 📄

This seems boring, but it’s really so important! These days, everything is saved on our mobile phones, right? But for travel, please keep printed copies as well. Print your return flights, hotel bookings, tours, pre-booked transfers, and any e-visas. Keep them together with your passport and any vaccine records.

Why bother? You may stand in a customs line or a shuttle line with no Wi-Fi and no cell service. Then you can’t open the file on your phone. A printed paper always works.

Many people don’t know the following: some shuttles and pre-booked transfers require a printed copy of your booking. They take the paper and keep it. So print it at home! Please, don’t forget that!

Also, pack a pen. You need one to fill out forms on the plane or at customs, so you don’t have to borrow one.

Another important thing I always hear people who don’t do it: never keep personal documents in your checked bag. Sometimes a bag gets lost. Sometimes another person takes your bag by mistake. It happens. Keep your important papers with you.

 

3. Charging Cords and Plugs 🔌

It is so easy to throw all your cords and chargers in the checked bag to save space. I don’t do it and you shouldn’t as well! The reason: If your bag is late or lost, your phone, laptop, and camera are useless once the first charge runs out.

Keep every cord, charger, and plug for the devices you carry on. Pack them with you, not in the checked bag.

 

4. Electronics 💻

Never put your electronics in the checked bag. They are expensive, so they are a target for theft. They are also fragile, and baggage handling can be rough. They can break.

By the way: The biggest reason is indeed safety. The lithium batteries inside phones, laptops, and tablets can catch fire. In the cabin the crew might deal with it fast. In the cargo hold, it is much harder to stop.

Tip: bring a book or an e-reader. On budget airlines there are often no screens. And download the airline app before you board, because some airlines run their entertainment through the app. If you wait until you are on the plane, you may have no Wi-Fi to download it.

5. Headphones and Earplugs 🎧

If you are like us and fly a lot, get a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. BTW: I recommend them anyway. If there is one thing I would miss the most during the day, then I would say: My Apple Air Pods!

Haven’t used them on a flight so far? The difference is huge, trust me. Flying is so much nicer with them. They cost more and take up space, but for a long travel day they are worth it.

Earplugs are the other option. They are tiny and easy to pack. Planes are loud, with speakers and noisy people, so it is good to have a set with you. They help a lot if you want to sleep.

6. Comfort Items 😴

A good neck pillow makes a big difference on any flight longer than 5 hours. Only bring one if you know you will use it, because it is a big item to carry.

Pack an eye mask for red-eye and overnight flights. And bring a light sweater. Planes are always cold. Always.

7. Personal Medication 💊

Pack any prescriptions you take. They can be hard and slow to replace when you are overseas. A travel pill case keeps it all in one place. An unmarked case is usually fine, but if you feel safer, bring the full bottles.

Also pack your supplements and some headache medicine. Travel can give you headaches, so it is good to have something for that.

8. Empty Water Bottle 💧

This is what I’ve done for years now: I bring my empty water bottle through security. Then I fill it up before boarding. Almost all airports have refill stations, often near the washrooms or in random spots. Just walk around, and you will find one.. or ask!

The big advantage: You don’t need the small plastic cups on the plane, and you don’t pay around $5 for a bottle after security. If you are short on space, a foldable bottle packs down flat.

9. Moisturizers and Lip Balm 🧴

Plane air is very dry. For comfort, bring a small hand and face moisturizer, some lip balm, and eye drops. This matters even more now that we use hand sanitizer all the time. Put them all in your clear plastic bag for security.

10. Sunglasses 🕶️

You might not think to carry sunglasses, but you should. Like electronics, they are fragile and can be expensive, so keep them with you.

They are also useful when you step off a red-eye flight and the airport feels too bright. Or when you have a long layover and want to leave the airport and explore on a nice day.

11. An Emergency Kit (If Your Bag Gets Lost) 🧳

If you travel a lot, a lost bag will happen to you at some point. So get ready for it. Baggage handling is still slow and messy at many airports, so it is smart to pack a few basics to get you through a day or two without your checked bag.

Good things to pack:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant
• A little makeup, if you want
• A spare pair of underwear and clothes (’emergency outfits’)

How much you bring is up to you. It depends on how long you are happy to manage without your main bag.

My Last Tip

I always pack my carry-on as if my checked bag might not show up, get lost, etc. Keep all of your documents, medicine, electronics, and chargers with you at all times. Do that, and even a lost bag won’t ruin your trip as much as it would usually do.

Have a safe flight! ✈️