The items in your hand luggage tend to be your essentials, so it is invaluable to have a list to check things off as you go. This hand luggage checklist assumes you are taking an international flight, but it adapts to any trip.
Hand luggage is for the things you cannot replace and the things you need in the air: documents, money, medication, chargers, something to read and, after two lost bags, a change of clothes. The full checklist is below and there is a printable version to take with you.
These should be at the top of any hand luggage list:
Obviously essential for international travel, but worth taking on domestic trips too in case proof of ID is required beyond a driving licence.
If required for your destination, make sure any pre-obtained visas are in or with your passport. For visa waivers such as Canada’s eTA or America’s ESTA, note the application numbers or print the confirmation emails.
In case you lose or cannot access your phone, a print-out of your key bookings (accommodation, car hire, activities) for reference. That can become a weighty document, so you might prefer to upload everything to Google Docs or similar. You can then share your itinerary, insurance and other details with family at home in case they need them in an emergency.
Cards and currency, with some small notes of local currency for tips. Split the money between the passengers in your group in case one bag goes missing.
Obviously needed if you are hiring a car, but also a good form of ID to carry if you would rather leave the passport in the hotel safe.
If, like me, you cannot read anything without them, these are essential. As are sunglasses, for summer or winter sun.
For most people, electronics make up a large chunk of the hand luggage list, a necessary and very useful evil these days:
Most of your bookings will be in apps on your phone, so charge it fully overnight before you travel and keep the charger to hand for topping up at the airport.
For long haul flights, especially with onward travel afterwards, a second source of power is handy. It must be in your hand luggage, not the hold.
Useful for downloading photos or researching your itinerary as you go. Not essential for many people; personal choice.
An emergency measure in case of delays after your flight, so you can charge your phone on arrival. And if the adaptor goes in the hold and your bag goes missing, you have no way to charge anything.
For those who still use a camera rather than a phone (like us), all three go in hand luggage. You could risk putting your camera in your suitcase, but leaving your batteries in your hand luggage – but we don’t trust it.
In case you cannot access in-flight entertainment, or would rather read. Cannot decide what to read? Our Travel Inspiration page has a novel for every destination we have visited.
To listen to your own music and playlists, and something to charge them with.
Good old-fashioned entertainment, and useful for landing cards.
Your hand luggage list is longer if you are flying long haul – unless you are flying Business or First, as a lot of these items are included within the welcome pack while boarding. If not, try some or all of the following:
A neck support for sleeping, or just for watching a film. Useful on long car journeys too.
If you’re flying with Emirates, they now have Economy Seats with travel pillows built into the head rest, although this is a recently announced feature and not yet implemented.
If you are serious about sleeping on a flight or a bus, block out as much noise and light as you can.
Brushing your teeth makes you feel refreshed and brighter at the end of a long haul flight. Electric toothbrushes have to be in hand luggage, not the hold.
The recycled air dries your skin, so pack small lip balm, hand cream and face moisturiser.
For freshening up before landing.
Not on our original list, but on our current one. Cheap, and worth it for anything over eight hours.
Your hand luggage should include any personal medication, plus a few items from your Travel First Aid Kit in case they are needed in transit:
Auto-injectors for anyone at risk of anaphylaxis, in the bag that stays with you and never in the hold. The same goes for medication for serious conditions such as heart problems. Do not leave home without them.
A pack of ibuprofen and paracetamol for headaches and aches while travelling.
We have used these on many trips. Some brands cause drowsiness, which can help you nod off on a flight, but take care if you will be driving after landing.
I have never used them on a flight, but a lot of people do. If that is you, they go in hand luggage.
For delays or sugar dips, some mints or sweets for a quick hit. Our family swear by a packet of Percy Pigs from M&S – the luxuries of being British!
Better for you than sugar and useful for energy on long travel days, but hard to find without nuts. I mention nuts because I travel with a son who has a severe nut allergy, and nut residue spreads easily on hands, tray tables and armrests, which is why other passengers’ snacks cause us anxiety. Our Airline Audit covers how we manage that.
Pack it empty, fill it after security. Most airports have water stations now, and a coffee shop will fill it on request if you cannot find one.
Our luggage has been delayed on arrival several times, so we now put a change of underwear and a t-shirt in each person’s hand luggage. Cheap insurance against a miserable first evening.
When you gather all of this together it looks like quite a big pile, so you will need a good bag for it, perhaps a cabin case on wheels, or a bag that sits on top of one. At least you will be well prepared. Then it is on to packing your suitcase.
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Your step-by-step framework for stress-free, unforgettable trips — from first idea to final itinerary.
Your step-by-step framework for stress-free, unforgettable trips — from first idea to final itinerary.
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