The international flight packing list
What to keep in your seat, what goes in the overhead bin, and what you need to start the trip on arrival.
A long international flight is two trips: the hours in your seat, and the day you land. Pack one small bag for the first so everything is within reach, and pack the second so you can start without a stop at a store.
Keep these on you
- Passport, plus a photo of its main page saved offline
- A second photo identification (ID), kept apart from the passport
- Boarding pass and booking confirmations, saved offline
- The address of your first night, written down in case your phone dies
- Medications in their original containers, with copies of the prescriptions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that some countries restrict certain medications, so check your destination first. Read the CDC's packing guidance.
In your seat
- Phone, headphones, a charging cable, and a power bank
- An eye mask, earplugs, and a light layer
- An empty water bottle to fill after the security checkpoint
- Snacks you can eat without a table
- A change of clothes and a few toiletries, in case a checked bag arrives late
Liquids and batteries
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) limits liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, and pastes in carry-on bags to containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less, packed in a quart-sized bag. Larger containers go in checked bags, and medications are among the listed exceptions. Read the TSA's liquids rule.
TSA also says portable chargers and power banks with a lithium ion battery must be packed in carry-on bags, never checked bags. Read the TSA's power bank page.
These are the rules for flights leaving the United States. Other countries have their own, so check every airport on your itinerary, including connections. We checked the TSA and CDC pages in October 2026.
Help your body
The CDC advises moving your legs frequently on long trips and exercising your calf muscles to improve blood flow. Read the CDC's travel guidance. An aisle seat makes it easier to get up.
For landing
- A plug adapter for your destination. Check the label on each charger for the voltage it accepts.
- A phone plan that works on arrival. See our eSIM basics.
- A light first day. See how to pace a trip.
Check before you go
Entry rules for passports, visas, and arrival registration differ by country. See our travel document checklist, and check the destination government's official site before you book.
Put it into practice
Tick Crossing a border in the planner, and the packing list adds your passport, a second ID, a plug adapter, and an eSIM step. The booking timeline adds a passport expiry check and an entry requirements check, counted back from your first day.