The Best Travel Products, According to Flight Attendants
Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.
I consider myself a frequent flyer, but even as an aspiring jet setter with a solid collection of airline miles to my name, I can’t say I love air travel. I don’t love the stale airport smell, TSA gives me anxiety (will all of my beauty products make it through?), and I don’t love having to pay $30 for a subpar airport sandwich that will probably require a double dose of emergency Pepto Bismol once the seatbelt sign turns on. Plus, I always book economy flights, which means I usually have to strategically hide my prohibited second personal item under an oversized trench coat to avoid shelling out an extra $50 for overhead space (it’s both an art and science, and while I thought I had it mastered, I was recently busted pre-boarding.)
Then there’s the actual flight—the dry air, the awkwardness of waking up your too-close-for-comfort ‘neighbor’ to pee when you’re in the middle seat, etc. I always marvel at how most flight attendants manage to be so pleasant while dealing with rude passengers, sleepless nights, and endless delays (which I assume are equally as frustrating for them). How do they look so fresh and put together when all I can think about is whether or not I’m too old to lay my head down on the tray table to sleep? I am too old to be doing that, by the way.
After a particularly trying flight out of Hell (LAX) recently, I decided I should just ask three flight attendants for their tips and product recommendations to stay fresh in the less-than-fresh air of America’s airlines and airports. After all, their jobs are serving people in the air while battling lack of sleep, jet lag, dry skin, and dehydration while making it look glamorous—or at least enjoyable. So, I asked three flight attendants for their favorite travel products and tips to level up your next flight. From electrolyte-powered hydration boosters to melatonin sprays for combatting jet lag, scroll through below to check out their essentials.
Sheyla Cotera
Follow Sheyla on Instagram here.
Natrol 10mg Melatonin Gummies
“[These] are your best friend for jet lag. I don’t usually use them, but whenever I need a little extra help getting to sleep, I take one or two. I also love using melatonin pillow sprays.”
Buy Natrol 10mg Melatonin Gummies at Amazon, $10
Buy Natrol 10mg Melatonin Gummies at Walmart, $10
La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Sunscreen
“I always wear sunscreen no matter what. In the plane, we are so close to UV rays and the sun, so I always protect my skin. I like this tinted sunscreen because it also has a little bit of color, so I don’t need to wear foundation [over it.]”
Buy La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Sunscreen at La Roche Posay, $38
Buy La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Sunscreen at Amazon, $38
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream for Dark Circles and Puffiness
“I usually do night flights or have to wake up really early, so this eye cream helps a lot with dark circles.”
Buy CeraVe Eye Repair Cream for Dark Circles and Puffiness at Amazon, $20
Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Spring Water
“This Thermal Water Spray helps keep my skin hydrated all day. On airplanes, we deal with a very, very dry environment, and this face spray really helps. Trust me!”
Buy Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Spring Water at Amazon, $23
Sebastian Velasquez
Follow Sebastian on Instagram here.
WACACO Minipresso GR, Portable Espresso Machine
“This one is my all-time favorite product by far! It’s essential for this job and it’s so easy to use and pack. It’s a must-have as a flight attendant since we run on caffeine with our crazy schedules.”
Buy WACACO Minipresso GR, Portable Espresso Machine at Amazon, $54
Samsonite Silhouette 17 Backpack
“This is my favorite travel bag I’ve ever owned! It has compartments for just about anything, even one to keep all your chargers organized.”
Buy Samsonite Silhouette 17 Backpack at Samsonite, $200
OnMyWhey Protein Powder and Supplement Funnel Keychain
“This is also another must-have item if you like to work out regularly. It makes traveling with protein powder so much easier! There’s absolutely no mess with these little guys.”
Buy OnMyWhey Protein Powder and Supplement Funnel Keychain at Amazon, $18
Lifewit Large Cooler Bag Insulated Lunch Bag
“The best price-friendly lunch box! I can fit enough meals for up to four days in here.”
Buy Lifewit Large Cooler Bag Insulated Lunch Bag at Amazon, $32
Bucked Up Energy Drinks
“These [energy drinks] are easy to pack and ready to go.”
Buy Bucked Up Energy Drinks at Amazon, $27
Serena Leah
Follow Serena on Instagram here.
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Electrolyte Powder Packs
“We love to keep these in our totes and lunch boxes. Some days, we work one flight, and others, we work four; it gets busy, and sometimes, we forget to hydrate as much as we should. These packets help us make up for it, and they help with jet lag.”
Buy Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Electrolyte Powder Packs at Liquid I.V., $25
Buy Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Electrolyte Powder Packs at Amazon, $25
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
“This is my absolute favorite skincare line, and I always keep this moisturizer and their sunscreen in my bag. It’s important to hydrate the skin when flying because it’s so dry and to wear sunscreen because there’s a lot of radiation exposure above the clouds. Also, keep the window shade closed to protect yourself.”
Buy La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer at La Roche Posay, $23
Buy La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer at Amazon, $23
Twelve South AirFly Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter
“One of the number one things customers forget is their headphones for in-flight entertainment. I always get asked if our TVs do Bluetooth, and sadly, the aircrafts don’t keep up with the times. If your favorite headphones are Bluetooth, I highly recommend this little device.”
Buy Twelve South AirFly Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter at Amazon, $35
MORE FROM SCOUTED:
11 Hacky Travel Upgrades to Level Up Economy Flights
These Products Will Help You Keep Your Sanity While Traveling With Kids
It’s Wave Season: Here Are the Best Cruise Deals of 2024
Don’t forget to check out our coupon site to find more deals, including Nordstrom Rack coupons, Macy’s coupons, Overstock coupons, and adidas coupons.
Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.
Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
