The Essentials You Need for an Overnight Flight in Coach
If you fly coach on an overnight or any long-haul flight, these essentials will make your trip a little more comfortable. Today, I’m sharing a few of my must-have travel items for Sunday favorites with Cindy and Mary Ann, especially if you fly Coach.
But no matter how you travel, starting off de-stressed is the best way to begin a long trip. And for us, that means arriving at the airport very early. For an international flight, I like arriving four hours before my flight boards. I know this is a personal preference, but for us, it just takes the stress level way down. We live an hour from the airport, but since it’s NYC, that can easily mean two or even three hours in traffic to get to the airport.
Airport lounges
Arriving at the airport early means we can check into an airport lounge, relax, have a nice meal, get some work done, or read a good book. Before we leave for the airport, we make sure we have access to several lounges in case one is full. Zachary Burr Abel on social media, has excellent tips on the best credit card for travel and perks like lounge access. He also has tips on upgrading from economy class to business class or even first class with points.
I love to travel, but I also love to be home
Two things can be true at the same time. I love to travel, but I love home, too. So, when I travel, I want to make it as comfortable as possible on an overnight flight (in coach). We travel to Europe often and almost always in Coach. We upgrade to “extra leg space” when available, but flying coach has no frills. So we bring a few of those things with us!
Prepare to travel
Even before I leave, I drink a lot of water. I always drink a lot of water, but I drink even more when traveling. Cabins are kept in low humidity, so I drink water during the flight and bring a few Bigelow Decaf Green Tea bags in case I want a hot drink to relax. I avoid alcohol and caffeine on all overnight flights.
A great travel bag
This Longchamp Travel Tote is a great bag with plenty of room, pockets, and a zipper. When I plan to sleep on a flight, I want to know that everything in my bag is safe and nothing will fall out. I have been using this bag for a few years and have found it’s very durable.
A cashmere wrap or sweater
Cashmere is soft and not scratchy like other wools. It is warm, but it breathes, so it’s not too warm. I can’t say enough good things about Quince’s $50 cashmere sweaters. I wear this Quince Cashmere Hoodie on flights, and I sized it up to a large so that it’s oversized, and I can wear a T-shirt under it.
A cashmere wrap can also be cozy on an overnight flight or as a throw-in hotel room if it’s a bit chilly. This Garnet Hill Cashmere Wrap/Scarf is perfect for traveling. I also like this J.Crew Cashmere Wrap. I love that cashmere can be washed in the machine to freshen it up when you return home. I keep mine in my travel bag, always ready for the next trip!
A travel pillow and an eye mask
It took me a while to find a travel pillow that I thought was worth using and taking up space in my bag. I was reluctant to bring the kind so big it doesn’t fit inside your carry-on. I saw this one on TikTok and immediately ordered it. It folds small and stores inside a soft case. I like that with little effort you can attach it to the headrest for support.
I never used to use an eye mask when we traveled with our kids I always had one eye open. But now, it’s the only way I have any chance of actually sleeping on international flights.
Traveling from New York City to Paris takes only about seven hours. Not a lot of time to sleep. It is the best thing about living here, but jet lag after only a seven-hour flight can be challenging. We often book a hotel room for the day we arrive. We can usually be at the hotel by 9 am in Paris, and we can have breakfast at the hotel, check-in, take a swim if it’s in the summer, or shower and then power through the day. We NEVER take a nap. Taking a nap extends the recovery time to at least a few days.
Carry-on essentials for an overnight flight in coach that everyone needs
My travel essentials packing list has proven to be exactly what I need to make it the best possible overnight flight. Everyone’s long flight essentials list will vary depending on their personal needs and preferences, but these are mine and those in my family.
- A reusable water bottle (however, I still get water from the flight attendants when offered, saving the water in my bottle, just in case). For traveling, we swap out our insulated water bottles for this Yeti Lightweight Water Bottle that is 100% leakproof and comes in four different sizes. It’s super lightweight and really makes a difference.
- Lip balm – the lack of humidity on long flights always dries out my lips, so I always travel with and extra Lip Balm or two.
- Eye drops
- Pack of tissues or a few Cotton Handkerchiefs are a must for every flight – just in case of small emergencies.
- Cough drops
- Ear plugs noise-canceling headphones, or AirPods. My husband uses these Bose Quiet Comfort Wireless Headphones. Personally, I prefer my Apple Airpods. We both use this Airplane Bluetooth Adapter so that we don’t have to worry about cords hanging from the seat back and tray table.
- Sleep mask/eye mask and a pillow. I just used the sleep mask I get from the airlines, but I always bring this cozy Cabeau Travel Pillow.
- Socks – I always wear compression socks, even on the first day after travel. They make a big difference. Even if you prefer not to wear compression socks, always bring a pair of warm socks for comfort. I wear these Comrad Compression Socks. Use my link to get 25% off.
- A cashmere wrap or large scarf (I like this one from Garnet Hill too)
- A change of clothes (Even though I try to bring carry-on luggage, occasionally the airline will insist that it be checked at the gate. A change of clothes, is overly cautious, but better to be prepared). I usually pack a pair of athletic pants and a shirt that roll up very small in my carry-on bag.
- A lightweight crossbody bag – I like to keep my travel documents, a few personal items that I’ll need, and cell phone in a bag that I can keep close to me at all times. I don’t want to have to be searching for something in my bag that is stored under the seat while people are at least attempting to sleep. I bought this Uniqlo Crossbody Bag a year ago and have used it on my last several trips.
Everyone has their own way of traveling, but I hope these are helpful tips for your next long flight in Coach!
