Packing For Long-Haul Flights for Women Over 50

Written by A.G. for Age Well Kit
Jun 11
5 min read

Updated: Sep 17

My Personal Packing List from Decades of International Travel

Age-well-kit illustration of a woman in her 50's standing confidently at the check in counter at the airport — Long-haul flight gets easier when you're prepared, especially after 50.

Personal Note

After traveling from California to Italy twice a year for decades, I’ve refined my long-haul packing list to focus on what actually makes a difference. I share more general flying tips in other posts, but this one is about exactly what I am packing for long flights. A quick-reference cheat sheet with the key points is available at the end of this article.

The Bags I Use When Flying

In addition to my checked suitcase, I always bring three pieces:

A small sling bag (worn on my body almost the entire time)
A medium backpack with trolley sleeve
A carry-on suitcase

Since airlines only allow one personal item bag plus a carry-on, I always make sure the backpack has enough room to store the sling bag inside it, in case I’m asked to consolidate, and also before going through security.

Right now I’m using a backpack from Tumi, but whichever personal bag you choose, make sure it has:

A trolley sleeve (so you don’t have to carry it through the airport)
A zip-top closure (to prevent things from falling out)
External pockets (for easy access)
A size that fits under the seat and meets airline restrictions

Inside the bag, I organize everything using internal compartments and different kinds of zippered pouches, so I can find what I need easily.

Sling Bag Content

This bag pretty much stays on my body from the time I leave home until I arrive at my destination, and it contains what I consider international flight essentials, not just for convenience, but also in case of an emergency evacuation. If I take it off during the flight, I place it into my locked backpack. Here I keep:

Passport + Global Entry card + boarding passes
Phone (which has a mini wallet for one ID + one card + 100 Dollar bill) and its lanyard
A separate thin wallet with health insurance, backup cards + 100 Euro bill
A one-page printed itinerary with emergency contacts and travel insurance
Tissues and a couple sanitizing wipes
Lip gloss, plus chewing gum (which helps with ear pressure during takeoff and landing)
One soft N95 mask from Korea. I wear it before boarding and keep it on until the engines start, then again after landing until I reach the terminal. If someone near me sounds sick, I wear it during the flight too. Even if I’m the only one wearing a mask, it doesn’t bother me, because by now I’ve adopted a better-safe-than-sorry attitude.

Backpack Content (Personal Item Bag)

I like using a Tumi backpack as my personal item bag because it’s lightweight and easier on my back and neck if I have to carry it at any point, and I can use it as a day bag at my destination. It has multiple exterior and interior pockets and a separate compartment for a tablet or laptop. The main compartment can be locked, which is a good thing when I travel alone and may leave it unattended by my seat.

Here’s what I pack in it:

Main wallet with cards and cash
Small pouch with jewelry plus home/car keys
One pill organizer with one week of daily meds
A second pill organizer with two days' worth of vitamins and supplements
Sunglasses in a protective sturdy case
iPad
A light packable puffer jacket, even in the summer
A scarf (lightweight in summer, warmer in winter)
A light beanie
An extra pair of socks
Small notebook and pen
A 12 Oz. Refillable water bottle
Extra N95 mask and hand sanitizing wipes in an outer pocket
A couple of thin, transparent plastic bags to protect the backpack from dirty floors (and my shoe soles) for when I place it under the seat, since I may be carrying it on my body later.

Electronics Pouch:

iPad/iPhone charger + Apple Watch charger & wires
Plug adapters for the countries I am going to
Power bank (TSA-compliant, under 100 watt-hours)
Headphones
Screen/lens wipes

Toiletry Pouch:

Toothbrush, floss, lip gloss
Enlarging mirror, comb, eye pencil, dry compact
Nail clipper, personal hygiene wipes, hand sanitizing wipes
Tissues

A note about freshening up in the airplane bathroom. I believe it's best to refrain from freshening up just before landing, do it earlier, when most people are still sleeping. Those bathrooms are limited, and many passengers just need to use the toilet. Chewing gum works well for me to freshen my breath until I reach an airport bathroom, where I can actually use running water to brush my teeth. (Don't use the one from the plane, it's nasty.)

Carry-On Suitcase Content

When it comes to my carry-on suitcase, I divide the contents by accessibility. Some items go in the external pocket so I can reach them easily. Others stay in the main compartment until I need them later.

External Pocket (Easy Access):

Flight Amenity Bag

(I remove it before sitting down and keep it in the seat pocket so I can easily access what I need during the flight.)

Sanitizing wipes + a small Ziploc bag for trash
Sleep mask and ear plugs
Cozy socks (I don’t wear compression socks, but I take an aspirin on flight days)
Snacks: sweet treats calm my nerves during turbulence, but I also pack a couple of protein bars in case I get hungry between meals

Liquids Bag

(TSA Compliant, ¼-gallon see-through bag)

Small toothpaste tube
Medications in liquid or cream form
Mosquito repellent + sunscreen (if traveling to warm weather)
Moisturizer, hand cream and eye drops

Main Compartment:

Pouch with small first aid kit and other meds (not liquids)
Ziplock bag with supplements and vitamins

Note: use original packaging for meds and supplements to avoid having them potentially taken away if your carry-on is inspected at security.

Backup iPad/phone charger and cable
Packing cube with a full outfit change: tank, tee, pants, socks, underwear, bra
Pajamas
Flip flops
Hair straightener with plug adapter
Lint roller
Large Ziploc bag for dirty laundry
A packable tote to keep medications or other essentials with me, in case I’m required to check in my carry-on on short connecting flights

Tips From Other Women Travelers

Here are a few things I’ve heard other travelers recommend packing for long flights for women over 50. You may want to try them:

Handheld Fan: good for stuffy cabins before the engines start or after landing
Bluetooth Adapter: lets you use wireless headphones with in-seat entertainment systems on most international flights
Compression Socks: they help with circulation on long-haul flights and may prevent blood clots. I can't tolerate them and prefer loose socks and aspirin.
Travel Blanket: they have feet pockets to keep you warm during flight. But personally, I prefer to use the airplane blanket on my legs and I wear my packable jacket. It’s more versatile and I can use it at my destination or if the plane is ever diverted somewhere unexpectedly cold.

The truth is, everyone travels differently, but hopefully you got some inspiration from learning what I bring with me.

If you are going to be traveling soon, you may also be interested in these other articles:

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