No, I am not a flight attendant, but my mom is! She has given me a few tips that she has learned over her 35 years of working of things that she absolutely cannot survive without.
1. Hand sanitizer
The airport is a dirty and germy place. So many people touch things and move things around, so who knows what kinds of germs you could be picking up? I wouldn't necessarily say that I trust the airport bathroom soap.
2. A change of clothes
You never know what delays or cancellations will be thrown your way, so it's best to always pack a change of clothes. It is also smart in case their airline loses your luggage, but don't even get me started on that...
3. Headphones
These are helpful when you want to zone out on the plane. Flight attendants are required to tell you to keep all noise from an electronic device completely off during flight, so plan ahead and bring headphones.
4. A book
It may seem old-fashioned to carry around a soft cover book, but on long flights, I truly do not know what is better than pulling out a book and zoning out. Keep your eyes off of the screen for a little while and just get lost in what you're reading.
5. A small make-up bag with necessities
My parents met on a plane, and my mom was so very thankful when she remembered she had a small compact mirror and some powder in her carry on tote. What's the harm in throwing in some lip gloss, mascara, and powder? You never know who you could meet or who you'll be seeing.
6. Gum
Throwing some gum in your bag and popping some in your flight before take-off is a pure necessity for me. I cannot stand when my ears start to pop when I am on the plane, so therefore I cannot live without gum in my carry on.
7. Something for the sweet tooth
I don't know why, but I love to eat a little snack on the plane, and the airplane pretzels just don't cut it for me. I love pulling out a bag of trail mix or some raisins to keep my belly full and happy.
