Travel shouldn’t be stressful, yet inevitably it can be, especially for anyone who isn’t a frequent flier. But do you know who always appears calm, cool, and collected during travel? Flight attendants and pilots. This is because they’re professional travelers: spending consecutive days on the go and taking back-to-back trips make them the experts you aspire to be.

When it comes to making travel easier, we turn to these pros and their knowledge of the latest gear and travel tech to elevate and simplify travel — including things that even the most frequent adventurer may not know about. To help you make your 2025 journeys smoother than ever, we turned to five flight crew members to see what items are on their must-pack lists for the year. From genius finds like a portable air purifier to combat allergies to useful travel accessories like an eye mask and neck pillow combo, here are 11 essentials flight attendants and pilots are packing this year.

Portable Air Purifier

After discovering a severe hay fever allergy, flight attendant Saraih Taylor experienced a “dramatic change” in her symptoms by buying an air purifier for her home. “My next purchase will be a portable one,” she says. “As the weather is constantly changing in each state, I find I’m affected anywhere… I know a portable one will make a difference.” This portable air purifier weighs less than a pound and is under 3 inches tall and 9 inches wide, making it compact enough to easily pack. It also holds a charge for up to 12 hours, has three fan speeds, and can circulate up to 6 square feet of air in 12 minutes.

Sleep Mask/Travel Pillow Combo

To state the obvious: “It’s difficult to get comfortable sleeping in an airplane seat,” shares flight attendant Courtney Acree. “This combo provides proper neck support by keeping your head in place while you rest.” The design offers 360-degree neck support, which prevents the most common issues of head bobbing and side-to-side movements that jolt you awake, all while providing comfort for the neck.

Travel Iron 

Not all hotel rooms or rental apartments are equipped with an iron — even when they are, they aren’t always in optimal condition so they can damage your clothing (I can confirm from experience!). For this reason, Acree says a travel iron is on her wishlist. “This is small and compact, weighing about one pound,” she says about this model that’s perfect for keeping outfits pressed while on the road.

Reversible Satin Sleeping Bonnet

“I have very curly hair, that’s hard to work with at each hotel I stay in as there might not be appropriate hair products or hairdryers available,” says Taylor. For this reason, she loves packing this inexpensive silk hair bonnet that’s a “game-changer” for when it comes to keeping her hair tame in between blowouts. “I know a lot of people I work with swear by silk pillowcases, but I struggle to keep my head on the pillow without slipping,” she says. This bonnet is adjustable, so it will fit most head sizes and the double layers ensure a solid grip that keeps hair in place during a full night’s sleep. “And, it’s so easy to chuck in my suitcase,” Taylor adds.

Sony Noise-cancelling Headphones

Pilot David Shapiro says these Sony headphones have been on his radar for a while due to glowing reviews. “They’d be perfect for unwinding on layovers and blocking out noise during commutes,” he shares. Acree agrees, citing these on her travel wishlist as well: “In addition to the great noise cancellation and sound, they cup your ears and have speak-to-chat [capabilities], plus several other great features.” They can also hold a charge for 30 hours, so you can go long stretches of time before the battery dies.

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25

“High-altitude travel can be harsh on the skin,” says Shapiro, who says he’s always looking for ways to stay hydrated in the air. “This lip balm comes highly recommended for combating dryness.” The natural mint flavor provides a cooling sensation and the shea butter infusion provides hydration to prevent chapped, cracked lips while flying.

Passport Holder

Flight attendant Jason Beaumont is on the hunt for a new passport holder this year, much like this leather case because it “has room for my different identification cards.” The minimalist leather design offers four compartments to organize your passport, ID, credit cards, and even bigger documents like visas. There are multiple colors available, including brown, black, blue, and more.

3-in-1 Charging Station 

There are simply never enough electrical outlets at airports and airport lounges. The same goes for hotel rooms — for some reason, outlets are few and far between or hidden by furniture that’s challenging to move. That’s why Beaumont is also in the market for a 3-in-1 charging station to more seamlessly juice up his electronics at once, including his cellphone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. This wireless charging station is perfect as it only requires one outlet to quickly charge multiple devices. 

USB Pocket Fan

A portable rechargeable pocket fan is on Beaumont’s list as a solution “for those days the aircraft air conditioning isn’t working,” he says. It would also be ideal for any time that the plane becomes swelteringly hot, like in warm destinations when there’s a runway delay and you’re baking on the tarmac. This small but mighty fan is powerful, with two cooling speeds and a maximum run time of 22 hours, which is great for back-to-back or long-haul flights.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Ultra Light Sunscreen

Deep Westacott, a former long-haul flight attendant for Cathay Pacific, stresses the importance of effective skincare at altitude due to dehydration and high UV levels. Westacott follows a multi-step routine to protect her skin on long-haul flights that includes the La Roche-Posay Anthelios broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen which is packed with antioxidants. “It’s all about creating a comfortable, healthy environment during extended hours in the air,” she says about this sunscreen that she can never get enough of, so it’ll certainly be on her packing list this year.

Eco by Sonya Driver Glory Oil

Travel days also call for reinforcement with replenishing products that lock in moisture for your skin. Taylor discovered this hydrating oil last year and is keeping it on her packing list for 2025. “It’s super important to me to stick to natural products on my skin and stay hydrated as much as possible,” she says of the omega-rich cold-pressed nourishing blend of super seeds like acai and pumpkin. “It comes in a 100-ml bottle so it’s great for carry-on and can be used on the entire body.”

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.