Before getting married, Kemper and I were in a long-distance relationship from Texas to Georgia. Over five years, I spent a lot of time on airplanes. I quickly became an expert at packing, and mastered the perfect airplane bag. After getting married and 2020 halting travel, it had been a while since I had to pack a bag for the plane. But, our flight to Las Vegas required me to flex that muscle. The good news? It was like riding a bike.

Before we dive in, I should note a few things for reference. Most of the flights I take are domestic, non-stop, and within the 3-4 hour mark. I also hate to check a bag, so I almost always carry on my rolling suitcase as well.

On every flight I carry these three things: My airplane bag (backpack), my suitcase, and a jacket or sweater. Today we’ll dive into the airplane bag.

My Bag of Choice

If you’ve watched my old YouTube video ‘What’s In My Airplane Bag‘ from 2016, you know that I used to carry a Kavu bag on the plane. For a year or two I switched to this North Face backpack, and now I use the Lyra Backpack from Kamrette. If I didn’t travel with my camera, the North Face backpack would still be my go-to.

What’s In My Airplane Bag

The key to packing a good airplane back is to ensure you have the essentials without overpacking or bringing unnecessary items. Here’s what I have in my bag:

Tech + Entertainment

• Phone charger
• Headphones (both bluetooth and plug-in)
• Computer
• Computer charger
• Hard drive
• Camera + gear (batteries, cards, card reader, battery charger)

Snacks + Personal

• Water bottle (empty)
• Gum
• Snack (or two… I like both sweet + salty)
• Hand sanitizer
• Mask
• Tissues
• My purse (wallet, chapstick, feminine supplies)

The last few items on the tech list are specific to me because of the work I do, but I know many of you travel with your work necessities as well! I like to bring both types of headphones in case the plane has screens with movie options or my bluetooth pair die. I also take an empty water bottle and fill it up once I am through security. It’s better for the environment and saves money!

Flying is therapeutic to me, and once I’m in my seat I enjoy the ride. A well-packed bag makes the whole experience that much easier!

Yes, that’s really all that I bring

Going on a flight is stressful enough. The last thing I want to worry about is not being able to find something I need. By keeping my bag simple, I always have the essentials on hand without the extra clutter.

Tell me, is there something that you always pack that I missed?! Let me know in the comments below!

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