If you’re a budget traveler like me, you never fly first or business class, where airlines provide passengers with amenity kits to make their journey more enjoyable. They’re usually full of luxurious bath products, eye masks, ear plugs, socks and toothbrushes.
Some kits even come with pajamas for you to wear.
But you don’t have to miss out on the fun, as you can create your own amenity kit catered to your needs. It’s also a great thing to have pre-packed at all times, so you’re always ready for an impromptu trip.
The Bag
First, you’ll want to choose a small zippered cosmetics bag. Vinyl works best, as they don’t get stained easily, but any will do. You probably have a handful of these from makeup counter giveaways.
I bought this one from Typo in Sydney, but the Tom Bihn Organizer Cube is another great one. If you’re not picky, a ziploc bag will also work, as will a pencil case from the school and office supplies section.
The Basics
There are a handful of items you’ll want for every trip, no matter the flight length. These include an eye mask, ear plugs, lotion, hand sanitizer and toothbrush and toothpaste (or Wisps). I love my Dream Essentials eye mask that I received in my Travelbox and use foam earplugs.
Tissues are also a great addition to your kit, as the air conditioning can give you the sniffles. When you’re looking for travel sized items to go in your kit, use the bottles you’ve taken from hotels, comb the aisles of your local store or ask the makeup counter for a free sample to test out.
Extras
This is where you’ll want to cater your kit for your needs. I like to have healthy snacks like Clif bars and tea sachets for when I’m low on energy. And since I wear contacts, it’s important for me to have eye drops or contact solution.
I like bringing a comfy pair of socks and a water bottle to refill. My amenity kit also includes any medications I might need in flight, namely Pepto Bismol and Ambien, as well as a tub of Nivea creme and Vaseline Lip Care.
Electronics
Most airlines hand out headphones for your trip, but they tend to be lower quality if you’re not in upper classes. I always bring my own headphones, specifically my Beats by Dr. Dre, as well as my beaten up iPod shuffle. If you know your airline doesn’t have in-flight entertainment, bring an e-reader or your laptop to watch movies.
What would you add to your diy flight amenity kit?
thanks for reminding about tissues, i cry during movies. i also bring a mini flashlight to find things on the floor or in my bag.
That’s a good idea about the flashlight. I use my iPhone for things like that (on airplane mode, of course).
I also bring Echinacea and Emergen-C packets to keep my immune system strong. And an inflatable Gertie ball for my lower back – much better than those wimpy pillows they hand out!
Given I am constantly on a long distance flight, my very very basic has to be toothbrush, toothpaste, ear plugs, eye mask and lip balm!
A lot of those things have to go in the liquids bag. If I had them in a neat kit like this, I’d forget to pull them out and lose the lot! Good list though, and I love the little Jif peanut butters as a snack – wish they did those in Europe.
Blotting papers, because I have oily skin. Even though planes usually dry me out, I usually keep blotting papers handy on long haul flights. Slipper socks, the kind with rubber nubs on the bottom. If I take my shoes off, I want something nonslip on my feet. Bare feet on planes are gross.
I like to take hand sanitizer wipes instead because they are also good for wiping down tray tables – and don’t have to go in the liquids bag.