If You Wanna Travel Like A Pro, Flight Attendants Adore These 25 Things

If anyone knows the best travel hacks, it's the professionals that fly for a living.
Open Image Modal
Amazon

Popular items from this list include:

  • simple luggage strap will hold your essentials like a travel pillow, jacket, personal item
  • A trifold travel wallet so all your important documents are in one place
  • portable door lock to attach to any regular old door for your hotel or vacation rental
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability are subject to change.
1
A simple luggage strap to hold your essentials
Promising review: "Definitely what I needed for my luggage as a flight attendant. Very heavy duty and perfect for me. Works great with my extra luggage and lunch bag to hang on my suitcase. Thank you so much. Will definitely buy again." — Mary
2
A trifold travel wallet
The wallet has a passport pocket, boarding pass compartment, three credit card slots, an ID slot, a slim card pouch, slim pocket, a ticket slot, a cellphone pouch, a coin zippered pocket, key holder, and pen holder.

Promising review: "OMG I totally love this! First of all, it’s such a pretty pastel pink color and pink is my favorite color. The quality is also so lovely with all the right amount of pockets to store my IDs and passport and other relevant documents. I’m a flight attendant so this is the perfect size of travel wallet for me. This definitely exceeded my expectations!" — Pravena Jay
3
An off-the-shoulder jumpsuit
FYI, if you have Amazon Prime, you can give this a spin before you buy it! Available in sizes S–3X and 31 colors/patterns.

Promising reviews: "It is a favorite among our flight attendant group when we are traveling. We call ourselves the sisterhood of the traveling jumpsuit! I absolutely love it, it’s comfortable, inexpensive, easy one piece, dress up or dress down. I add a belt and it’s perfect! I am planning to purchase more colors!" — Floridagirl0611
4
A portable door lock to attach to any regular door
Check it out in action on TikTok here!

Promising review: "My best guy friend bought this for me and I love it. I’m a flight attendant and am in hotels 4-5 nights a week. Sometimes the “locks” just don’t feel sturdy enough. This device gives me an extra layer of security and allows me to sleep at night. I keep it in my flight bag." — Emilia Duren
5
A resealable travel-size pack of antibacterial wipes
Promising review: "As a flight attendant I always need wipes. These small packs are great for putting in your purse and having on the go. The bundle pack is a great value. " —SJ1326
6
A TSA-friendly toiletries set
I own and love this set! it includes the zippered bag, four soft silicone bottles with leakproof caps, three compact jars, an two toothbrush caps. I've used this set on more than five trips and and for trips when I don't require body wash or shampoo (like to visit my parents) I use the extra room in the bag to shove in all my beauty products and daily contacts. Plus! It comes with labels that stay on the containers really well despite my thoroughly washing these containers between trips. I bought this set in spring 2019 and have, admittedly, lost a container or two. But the ones that I've held onto over dozens of trips have all held up well!

Promising review: "If it wasn’t for me forgetting them in the hotels, I wouldn’t have to buy more. This is my third set and I love these things! I’m a flight attendant and these are easy to fill, use, and pack!" — Raena Hill
7
Or if you're not in need of containers, a clear TSA-approved toiletry bag
Promising review: "I am a flight attendant and it's perfect for my international flights going through security. I love the handle, easy to pull out of my suitcase." — Kristi
8
Or! A snazzier clear toiletries case
Truffle is a woman-owned small business that specializes in bags and accessories that are TSA-approved or stadium-approved.

Promising review: "I adore my clarity jetset case! I’m a flight attendant so travel organization is KEY. It was actually recommended to me by my flight attendant best friend! Love how tidy it keeps me. Now I’m off to buy the jumbo version!" — Aimee M.
9
An electronics organizer
Promising review: "I am a flight attendant and I LOVE this organizer! I keep my iPad, passport, cords, paperwork, and hand sanitizer in here. It keeps me organized! Definitely recommend to anyone who travels and needs to keep organized." — amazonislife
10
A bendy travel pillow
Promising review: "I’m a flight attendant and I travel with this pillow all the time! In hotel rooms I use it to support my neck, on the plane I use it to support my lumbar area. When I drive it helps my lower back. I love that it has a liner that can be removed to wash. I bought my boyfriend one too and it goes everywhere we do!" — Debbie
11
Or an alternate Trtl travel pillow
Ciera Velarde, an editor here at BuzzFeed, also loves this! She says: "I've used this for the past few years and swear by it! Before this, I always found traditional neck pillows uncomfortable and would end up ditching them halfway through the flight and getting frustrated. The Trtl pillow is adjustable — you wrap the pillow around your neck and secure it with Velcro, and if you find it's too loose, just make it a bit tighter! I've truly never slept better on a plane than with this pillow."

Promising review: "As a flight attendant I travel all the time this makes getting stuck in a middle seat palatable. I’ve used this in cars, planes, trains, etc. It is great. My sister was so jealous on our last trip to Italy that she kept trying to steal it off me. Ordered her one for Christmas." — Amazon customer
12
A lightweight, compact, and high-speed portable charger
This highly rated slim option holds about 2.25 charges for iPhone 12, 1.6 charges for Galaxy S20, and 1.2 charges for iPad Mini 5 and comes with a Micro USB cable (to charge the charger) and a travel pouch.

Promising review: "Very handy! I’m a flight attendant and travel a lot. This has come in handy on the airplane and in the airport. Perfect size and light weight." — Rae
13
A weighted sleep mask
Promising review: "I am a flight attendant and have a wacky work schedule. I frequently have to sleep during the day. These are SO comfortable and cool as well. I have ordered and tried out at least 10 eye-masks off of Amazon and have found these to be the best. They are SO comfortable and do not have velcro on the straps, for which I am thankful, because I usually sleep on my back and am sensitive to the thickness of eyemasks which have the Velcro straps." — SW
14
A set of Sea Bands
Promising review: "FLIGHT ATTENDANT APPROVED! They work. 100% of the time." — Jessica
15
A soft faux-leather tote
Promising review: "Bought this bag last minute for a uniform compliance as a flight attendant, and it’s sturdy and a great bag. For the material and the price, it’s a great purchase. I’ve had it over four months." — Amber
16
A portable safe
Like most people (I hope?), I’m always a little iffy about taking a dip in the water at the beach and leaving my wallet and phone on the beach. So when I booked a 2.5-week Europe trip with LOTS of beaching involved, I bought one of these Master Lock safes that I’ve put in multiple stories. It was a bit bulky in my suitcase, but I left it unlocked and put some stuff in there so it wasn’t just dead space. It came in handy at multiple beach clubs, where my friend and I stashed our credit cards, cash, and case-less phones while we frolicked in the sea. Despite lots of people milling about our umbrella while we had our fun, we felt our stuff was completely safe and could concentrate on just having fun.

Promising review: "I'm a flight attendant and really recommend this! It's amazing to keep your things safe!" — Britany G
17
Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed
A pocket-sized, refillable travel perfume atomizer
This is a picture of me pumping my signature perfume into one of these travel atomizers I've been using for about a year. As the reviewer down below mentions, it's great to just throw in your purse on the reg for a fragrance re-up throughout the day. As you can see, it's about the size of my thumb and therefore takes up very little room. Plus! It's smaller than most rollerball travel fragrances you can pick up. This first one is working so well, that I just have the other three in storage. But if this one bites the dust this summer during travels, I'll be OK about digging into my stores to use one of the remaining three...especially at this price point.

Promising review: "Perfect scent options for a flight attendant! These are perfect for travel and putting in your purse. You can put different scents and the little bottles hold up well. You don’t need the tiny funnel. Just remember which scent you put where! Definitely recommend." — Britney
18
A mini lightweight flat iron
It also comes with a heat-resistant pouch for easy carrying!

Promising review: "This fits perfectly in my toiletries travel bag that I take with me as a flight attendant. Anything that comes in a small size and still works well is perfect for me." — Kathy S
19
A mini-steamer
For more on why this particular one's great, read a BuzzFeed editor's mini steamer review. TL;DR: This steamer's incredibly useful: it heats up in about 90 seconds, steams about five garments before needing refilled, and is all around perfect for anyone who doesn't want to wait too long or work too hard to get the wrinkles out.

Promising review: "This steamer is very compact, easy to use, and well-made. I am a flight attendant so this has helped my life tremendously. I never even pick up an iron anymore. It works extremely well on my uniform and also just to get wrinkles out of my clothes while on layovers. The best part is that it doesn't take up too much space in my bag. I hate ironing with a passion, so I am so glad that I found this product!" — Amazon customer
20
An airplane footrest
Promising review: "I’m a flight attendant and travel A LOT! This is a game changer! Folds up super small in the cute bag they provide and really makes a difference when on those long flights. The people in front of me had no idea I was using it. Thanks for the great product!!!" — sarah rubin
21
A set of affordable, highly popular wireless Bluetooth earbuds
These come with a wireless charging case that provides up to 14 hours of charge (with the earbuds able to play for four-plus hours with each full charge).

I also use these on the reg in my everyday life to listen to Spotify and podcasts, and even talk on the phone. I have to charge them about once a week and always keep them in my coat pocket.

Promising review: "I am a flight attendant and use this headset so much. Using FaceTime, making phone calls, listening to music, or watching a movie." — Ruben Mercado
22
Abby Kass / BuzzFeed
A waterproof Kindle
Promising review: "Love it so far ! I am a flight attendant and I love to read so it’s so much easier to have a kindle instead of carrying around multiple heavy books. The charge lasts what seems like an eternity. And I love that it’s waterproof because I leave to read while on the beach or by the pool." — Tiffany
23
A luggage-mounted cup caddy with a pocket
Promising review: "I’m a flight attendant and I love this one! I love the Velcro 'quick detachment.' It’s the best! I had one before without the Velcro opening that just stretched over the handle and it was a PAIN! This one is great! There’s room for two large drinks and a slim pocket for my phone or wallet. Many people see it and ask where I got my clever little caddy!" — Debra G
24
An on-the-go Gillette razor
It comes with one handle and one blade refill!

Promising review: "I am a flight attendant, space is limited in my bag. Great product for your travel bag." — Caitlin Hemphill
25
A handbag organizer with LOTS of pockets
Promising review: "I love this!! I bought it purely to organize my work tote. I’m a flight attendant and I have so much stuff that I need for work that I didn’t want to carry in my nice purse. So I bought a huge black tote but the biggest problem was the lack of organization. This organizer has plenty of places for all the things I need and helps me find things very quickly." — Jamie H

Before You Go

18 Highly-Rated Travel Products You Can Get On Amazon Prime
A pack of compression socks(01 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars

Compression socks can help improve blood flow through the veins and reduce swelling — something especially important when sitting for long hours on a plane. These socks offer a 15-20 mmHg mid-level of pressure and come in a pack of three pairs.

Promising review: "I bought these for a 12 hour flight to New Zealand. I have tried compression socks in the past and found them unbearably hard on my toes, to the point that I’d have to remove them after a couple of hours. These were so great I wore them every day because we did a lot of walking and they were amazingly comfortable and supportive. I’d wash them out in the evening and if they were slightly damp in the morning I used a hair dryer to finish the job. I highly recommend!" — Sheila
(credit:Amazon)
A set of mesh laundry bags(02 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars

There's nothing worse than accumulating a couple days' worth of laundry and having nowhere to store it on vacation. Luckily, these mesh bags are here to do the task. This set comes with five zippered mesh bags in different sizes.

Promising review: "I bring these on every trip, and they are great. I put my dirty laundry in them and when I get home, I just dump my dirty laundry right out of the bag and into the wash. So easy. Love them." — Allison Calamusa
(credit:Amazon)
A pair of affordable noise-cancelling headphones(03 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

With active noise cancellation, high quality sound, strong bass and a whopping 40-hour playtime on a single charge, these Soundcore Anker headphones are a great budget option for wireless listening on the plane or in the airport. They come in blue, black and silver.

Promising review: "Wore these for about 38 hours worth of flying and only charged it once for about 1 hour. They worked flawlessly with the aux import on the flight and the noise cancelling was great too. 5/5" — Bryce
(credit:Amazon)
A pack of space-saving vacuum storage bags (and a pump!)(04 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars

Spacesaver's vacuum-seal bags come in six-packs of small, medium, large and jumbo bags, as well as a six-pack of multi-sized bags. They create up to 80% more storage space to help you efficiently pack your suitcase thanks to their unique double-zip seal and triple-seal turbo valve. The bags also come with a small hand pump.

Promising review: "I bought these since I needed suitcase room on a long term trip to Spain. I liked how the small ones easily accommodate a large suitcase and give me lots more room without being bulky. The hand pump thing is convenient for travel, but I also used the large bags to store blankets and winter clothes I wouldn't need. No problems with the bags coming open or leaking." — Sharla Whittekiend
(credit:Amazon)
A TSA-approved clear toiletries kit(05 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

Not only does this kit come with TSA-approved travel bottles for storing toiletries, but it also includes pre-printed labels so you know what's in each and a clear carrying case for storing them.

Promising review: "I had to purchase these for a last-minute trip and was very happy with the quality of the bottles. None of them leaked and it is nice that they come with labels so I don't have to guess or handwrite what is in them. I have nothing bad to say about this travel set and will continue to use it in the future." — Elly
(credit:Amazon)
A hardside spinner(06 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

If you forgot you do indeed need luggage for your trip or yours has seen better days, this hardside spinner from the Amazon Basics collection boasts over 29,000 five-star reviews and comes in four colors: orange, black, light blue and navy blue. It's available in 21 inches, 26 inches, 30 inches and in a three-piece set.

Promising review: "Last year I bought this for a last minute trip and am so glad I did. Glides really well, is protective and was a good price. Would buy again and have used multiple times since purchase and it's been flawless." — Charlotte
(credit:Amazon)
A pair of noise-canceling Apple AirPod Pros(07 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars

These Apple essentials have active noise canceling to let you enjoy your favorite songs or podcasts. Plus, they're sweat- and water-resistant so you don't have to worry if it starts to rain on your trip.

Promising review: "Love these! Wore them for an entire 4-hour flight - very comfortable, and the batteries didn't die. Good sound-cancellation, so I didn't have to hear annoying conversations around me." — Vince In LA
(credit:Amazon)
A travel neck pillow(08 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars

Get better z's on the plane with this Napfun neck pillow. It provides chin and neck support and is made of premium memory foam to keep you comfortable throughout your entire flight. It comes in multiple colors, including gray, pink, blue, teal and red.

Promising review: "I went on a few flights from Texas to New Zealand with long layovers in the airport between flights. I have literally never slept so well on an airplane! I was able to arrive without jet lag. And it folds up pretty well to go into a backpack." — Elizabeth Ostick
(credit:Amazon)
A travel-friendly pill organizer(09 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Keep your supplements and pills organized with this case that has compartments for each day of the week. It comes in numerous colors, including black, blue, green and white.

Promising review: "Happy with this. No problems. Easy to use and the locking system is great for traveling. I don’t have to worry that everything will spill. I still keep it right side up and close by just in case it opens, but it’s been reliable." — Shifra Tebs
(credit:Amazon)
An electric travel toothbrush(10 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Skip the hassle of removing your at-home electric toothbrush from its spot on your bathroom counter and nab this Philips rechargeable toothbrush instead. It comes with a convenient storage case.

Promising review: "I took this toothbrush on a 3 week trip and it was perfect. I loved that it didn’t take up much room and the charge lasted the whole trip. It works great—I’m glad I got it." — NRV
(credit:Amazon)
Or a pack of folding manual toothbrushes(11 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

If you always lose your toothbrush protector cap when you go on a trip, this pack of folding toothbrushes completely eliminates that problem. It comes with six manual soft toothbrushes that fold down into a travel-friendly size to keep the brush heads covered.

Promising review: "This is my second time purchasing these toothbrushes to travel, I love them. No need for the toothbrush protector that I usually always lose. It’s compact and every trip I’m buying these. I highly recommend" — Lisa Lawson
(credit:Amazon)
A portable digital baggage scale(12 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

Avoiding overweight baggage is easier than ever with this handy luggage scale. The scale has a 110-pound weight capacity and the ability to measure room temperature, too, thanks to the built-in thermometer. The scale will alert you if your bag is over the maximum weight limit and when the built-in battery is low.

Promising review:
"Got this last minute when I found out airline I was using charged for bags over 40 lbs…geeesh!!! It came in two days as promised, was easy to use, accurate and easy to tuck away in carry on bag. Saved me a ton of money for overweight luggage fees. I will probably buy a few of these for stocking stuffers for my family who travels to visit us for the holidays." — Donna Stewart
(credit:Amazon)
A portable jewelry organizer(13 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Say goodbye to knotted necklaces, lost rings and misplaced accessories when traveling thanks to this sleek jewelry case. It comes in pink, black and white.

Promising review: "Wish I would have found sooner! Never know what to do with my jewelry when I travel. This is the perfect little organizer to keep my jewelry organized and untangled." — Sarah
(credit:Amazon)
A pair of comfortable ear plugs(14 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars

These reusable and washable earplugs can reduce noise up to 27 decibels and come with ear tips in 4 sizes so you can find your perfect fit. Color options include black, blue, pink, green and red.

Promising review: "I travel on flights pretty often and I am a very light sleeper and those who’ve been on a plane knows how loud the engine can be especially when it’s a long distance 12+ hour flight. These are a lot more comfortable than traditional ear plugs and they do a good job blocking out noise." — Callie Lin
(credit:Amazon)
An all-purpose first aid kit(15 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

This 298-piece first aid kit has over 58,000 five-star ratings on Amazon and can be a great place to start when building your own emergency kits at home. It has everything from a disposable thermometer to trauma pads for more severe wounds to moleskin that prevents blister formation on burns. This essentials kit is also a compact size, making it great for travel and easy storage.

Promising review: "I bought this kit as a last minute purchase before a camping trip and I am soooo glad that I did. We were in a relatively remote area and a friend got a nasty cut on the first day there. With this kit we were able to keep his cut clean and disinfected. I really liked all of the individual packets of antiseptic wipes, ointment and the variety of bandages included. He had the injury in a weird spot on his pinky and the bandages did their job very well. He was able to enjoy the trip and redress his wound for all 6 days we were there and the trip wasn't ruined. I can't say I have ever been more thankful to have made a purchase." — M
(credit:Amazon)
A slim portable charger(16 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

This wildly popular charger is incredibly slim and lightweight compared to other options and is compatible with most smartphones and devices.

Promising review: "The best last minute purchase before an international trip. The battery charged my phone quickly when the phone was 15%. It also had juice for my air buds. I liked the three output options - USB, USB-C, & USB mini. I would used two at the same time and the charge was good. I highly recommend recharging it every night or so just to ensure max charging. It's the perfect size for my day backpack, and even fit in my fanny pack as it was charging my phone." — Anna
(credit:Amazon)
A sleep eye mask(17 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars

If you struggle to sleep on planes, you may find that using an eye mask helps you wind down and get some rest. This mask comes with a handy traveling case and is molded around the eyes for extra comfort.

Promising review: "I bought this for my wife for her 15 hour flight to Melbourne on the way to Tasmania. She has never used eye masks before and has had a hard time sleeping on planes for as long as I've known her. She texted me when she landed that she watched one movie and then slept for 8 straight hours!!!!! she is in love with this mask. this is a must for anyone who wants to sleep on a plane." — Jonathan Greenfield
(credit:Amazon)
A travel size bottle of Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go spray(18 of18)
Open Image Modal
Amazon rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

If you're share a bathroom with other people, you need this non-toxic toilet spray. All you have to do is spritz the bowl before you go and the funk will be replaced with a clean, citrus scent.

Promising review: "Perfect size for travel bags. I brought this on a weekend girls trip where we were all sharing one hotel room and it came in handy. I'd definitely recommend this product!" — Ashley Johnson
(credit:Amazon)

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

MORE IN SHOPPING