HOW TO SURVIVE A LONG HAUL FLIGHT | What's In My Hand Luggage

Hey guys! Next weekend I'll be jetting off to the beautiful Cancun in Mexico (which I am SUPER excited for) and getting on an 11 hour flight from Manchester. At first, being a complete newbie to long-haul flying, panic started to set in and of course there was that frantic 'bring absolutely everything' moment, where I found myself packing things in my hand luggage that I simply didn't need all that much. Therefore, I figured it was only right for me to share all the things that I value as a complete essential for a long-haul flight, and also share some tips and tricks that I have picked up from other fellow bloggers- I found Amelia Liana's youtube video linked HERE  particularly useful. So without further ado, here's all the things I will be bringing with me on my flight. 

• Backpack- This has always been and always will be my go-to bag for travel. Its super spacious inside & has lots of little hidden pockets, which makes this bag perfect for storing all your flight essentials. For me backpacks are the best bags to go for when you're travelling, as I'd hate lugging around a big handbag through the airport, so backpacks are a much more convenient option. Sadly this backpack was bought a while ago from Primark, however I've linked a similar one HERE. 

• Book(s)- I always like to buy a brand new book before a flight, as that way I'm a lot more excited to start reading it while on board. My book of choice this time is 'The Night Circus' by Erin Morgenstern, which I have heard great things about (let me know if you've read it in the comments!). I say book(s) because I'll usually also buy a book while at the airport, as I tend to switch between the two mid-flight or save one for the holiday. Rambling aside, a book is a great way to stay entertained for a long period of time. 

• Snacks- As I'm not the biggest fan of airplane food, snacks are a must have for flights, especially long haul ones. I'm also a massive sweet tooth, so anything like mints (spearmint are my faves) and Starburst are definitely going in my bag. I also generally buy a few bits while in the airport too, like crisps or fruit to snack on throughout the flight. 

One of my all time fave things to do is bring some skincare bits to use on a long flight, as not only does it give you something to do, it also means your skin will be glowing for the gods as soon when your off the flight. As I already have super dry skin, its really important to keep hydrated on a flight that can be especially drying for your skin. 

• Perfume- A little travel friendly bottle of perfume is such an essential for me, as a nice scent always makes me feel a lot more fresh and presentable on a flight. Plus, any excuse to carry around my gorgeous Jo Malone perfumes with me while on the go- my scent of choice is Wild Bluebell, which made a feature in my latest post 'My Top 4 Summer Fragrance Must-Haves'. 

• Makeup Remover- Even if I'm not planning on wearing any makeup on the flight, a makeup remover can also act as a cleanser, so I love bringing my mini Garnier Miceller Cleansing Water with me to cleanse and freshen up my skin mid-flight. An alternative option which works just the same and maybe in a more handbag friendly and portable way are makeup wipes- my faves are the Nivea 3 in 1 Cleansing Wipes.  

• Hand Cream- This is the one that if I could only pack one thing for a flight (other than my passport of course), I would instantly grab a hand cream. My hands already get SO dry, so I just know that my hands are going to be especially dry on a long-haul flight. Plus, taking a hand cream means you can have a bit of pamper and look after your skin in the process- A win-win situation if you ask me. 

• Lip balm- Again, similar to a hand cream, lip balms are so important for a long flight as you're lips can also get very dry (I know mine do!), so its important to keep them soft and hydrated. My lip balm of choice is Vaseline as they come in little travel friendly pots and smell divine. 

• Face Mask- Totally optional depending on how adventurous you're feeling, but I really love the Garnier peel-off ones for a bit of hydration for your face. There will always be part of me that feels like a bit of a weirdo because everyone around you always looks at you like you have two heads, but why should I care when my skins this soft and hydrated hey! ;) 

• USB Cable- This is always something I'll have in my bag for emergencies, 'just in case'. 

• Headphones- Another must-have for me and probably for a lot of people, for films/music etc. At the minute I love my Apple AirPods, so they will definitely be coming with me on the flight. 

• Medication- I always take headache tablets with me on any form of transport, again for the 'just in case' scenarios. 

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