Adapting, Ep. 8: In-Flight

This post is fashionably late, thanks to travel—so it only feels right to chat about… well, travel.

Despite how often I fly, I’ve never enjoyed it. As a (very) nervous flyer, I do my best to make the experience as stress-free as possible—staying organized, packing all the essentials, and finding go-to spots to enjoy the pre-flight moments instead of spiraling into panic.

The first step is to ensure you have TSA Pre (seriously). After that…

1. I have a ridiculous number of toiletry bags I’ve collected over the years, and none seem to fit exactly how much I need them to. DUNE Suncare sent me their sunscreen to try a few months back and included it in their waterproof carryall, “The Rubber Bag.” It’s the perfect size, cute, and easy to clean.

2. I was gifted an Away bag back in 2018/2019 when they were all the rage, and I still use it every time I fly. I have “The Bigger Carry-On.” It’s scuffed up but has held up very well over the years and has seen a lot of use. I have also managed to fit an incredible amount in it for a carry-on. Has anyone tried their other travel bags? I haven’t yet and am curious. 

3. Along with my daily medications, I take my vitamin routine very seriously and don’t like to let days slip when I fly. I use this one from Amazon. I love that it is separated by morning, afternoon, and night. You can also remove days of the week, which is perfect for shorter trips where you only want to bring, for example, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

4. I have had a few Dagne Dover products over the years and have found them very helpful for travel. I don’t like having many things flying around in my bag, so their “Organziner Bags” are a huge help. One of my favorites is their “Arlo Tech Organizer".

5. I got this Dagne Dover backpack as a gift in 2019 and instantly loved it for both work and travel. Regarding backpacks, it felt a little less uncool than most—and it fits a ton. Unfortunately, I ruined it (tip: never let Azo UTI pills get crushed in your bag… they will stain everything beyond repair). On flights, I switched to totes as my 'personal item,' which mostly meant my stuff was falling out and flying around under my seat. Before a big trip where I was also concerned about pickpocketing, I asked for a replacement for Christmas—and now I’m back to feeling secure. I have a 13” MacBook, so use the Medium size.

6. In my experience, more often than not lately, flight attendants don’t bring headphones around until the flight has already taken off. As a nervous flyer, I like to watch something on the TV to be distracted, and since I can’t have my laptop out during takeoff, I have been keeping and packing a pair of airplane headphones so I can use them during takeoff.

7. I included my MacBook because I like to download movies before the flight in case the airline’s movie offerings aren’t what I am interested in. I also prefer to watch movies throughout the flight with my (I will skip to #12 here) AirPods because their noise cancellation makes for a much more enjoyable flight. My parents gave me these for Christmas and added a little cat emoji on them; how cute!!

8. My skin and lips get so uncomfortably dry during flights, so I make sure I have easy access to my Aquafor lip repair sticks.

9. L’Occitane hand cream has remained a favorite over the years. I don’t love strongly scented products and this hydrates without an overwhelming smell.

10. I know they’re more expensive, but the Touchland hand sanitizer is easy to pack spray, and the scent doesn’t give me a headache. It’s self-explanatory why I like to have hand sanitizer on me during travel!

11. I never travel without a book. I am currently reading “Kitchen Confidential” by Anthony Bourdain (<3). I started it last summer and found the beginning slow, but I recently picked it back up and am glad I did. p.s. Support your local bookstore :)

12. Airpods, above (#7)

13. I have a go-to SPF, so I hadn’t tried the DUNE Suncare face SPF, “The Mug Gaurd,” they sent me until recently. I needed an SPF under 2.4oz, and I am so glad I did because I love it. It blends and disappears seamlessly into the skin and doesn’t feel sticky at all. It also works well under makeup. It's a new favorite. 

14. It is crucial to have dry shampoo on the road, and I’ve been using IGK’s “First Class” charcoal detox dry shampoo recently. They had a travel size on Amazon, so I got that! So far, so good. It seems to work well; it isn’t as white as other dry shampoos and has no real smell.

15. I have sensitive teeth, so I like to continue using Sensodyne on the road. I found mini sizes on Amazon that I can pack. 

16. I don’t use makeup-removing wipes at home because I try not to tug on my skin very much. However, occasionally is okay, and it’s so much easier to use wipes on the road. So, I have a bag of these minis and take one for each day I’ll be gone.

17. Electric toothbrushes do the trick better, but I don’t want to pack a big toothbrush situation when I travel, so I found these great battery-powered toothbrushes. I just throw on a toothbrush travel cap and put it in my toiletry bag with everything else.

18. I use Billie razors at home, but I find having a mini razor in a full case is easier on the road, so I use this Gilette razor when I travel.

19. I have a long-ish skincare routine, and making space for it or finding travel-size versions of some of the products is a pain. So, I use travel as an opportunity to try the Sephora skincare samples I hoard.

20. It’s all about comfortable layers on flights with their inconsistent temperatures. My go-to Zara tees are usually the base layer.

21. A cashmere sweater makes every chill better, so it's my cozy layer. Most of my sweaters are from Everlane, and they don’t miss in that department. 

22. The final layer is a light jacket. If it’s freezing out and I can’t fit my winter coat into my carry-on, I will have to wear it instead, but it’s a recipe for overheating. My preferred method is a light jacket, which is easy to carry and take on and off while warming you up when the plane is freezing. My favorite light jacket has been my denim jacket from Interior. I think it’s a perfect jacket in design and comfort. It was a gift (you’ll see it’s pricey), but it is currently on sale. I wear a size L for an ultra-oversized look.

23. Blood flow can be rough on planes, especially for longer flights when you can’t stand much. If you’re taking the birth control pill like me, blood flow is even worse, so your legs can really swell up. Thankfully, I started wearing compression socks every time I fly (this is 29?), which has solved that issue for the most part. I’ve tried a few, but in seemingly every sock situation, Bombas is the best option.

24. As basic as ever, I can’t help but keep returning to Lulu Lemon yoga pants as my go-to comfortable lounge pants (going on 16 years...) I have a few pairs and wear them almost every time I fly.

25. Another staple that’s been with me for 16+ years is Birkenstocks. Especially when my feet swell on flights, I like to be able to slip my shoes off for a minute, and Birkenstocks make that easy. Before I had TSA Pre, they also made the security process of removing shoes easier. 

26. The TWA Flight Center is located at JFK’s Terminal 5. It was designed by architect Eero Saarinen and completed in 1962. However, it was closed in 2001 when TWA shuttered. The incredible building was made a landmark, so it couldn’t be destroyed, but it remained unused until it reopened in 2019 as the TWA Hotel.

    I LOVE this place. When you walk in, it feels like you stepped into a 1960s time capsule. It represents how travel used to be, an experience as opposed to just a way to get from point A to point B. As someone who fears flying, spending time at TWA before almost every flight has given me something to look forward to about going to the airport. Even if I am not flying out of Terminal 5, I will stop there first for drinks and food before taking a quick car to whatever terminal is my final destination.

    The restaurant, The Paris Café, is Jean Georges, so of course the cocktails and food are a treat. Walk around to read the history of the space and then head outside to the bar in a little airplane. There’s also a pool on the roof where you can watch planes take off…one day before an early flight, I want to do a staycation there and try it out.

27. This is pretty niche, but Re:Vive Bar in Terminal 5 pours a strong, delicious drink.

28. As a vegan, it’s very difficult to eat well at the airport. Fortunately, Farmer’s Fridge has been popping up at different airports with salads, oats, and other helpful snacks.

29. I eat Playa Bowls at home all the time, so I was thrilled to see that they are now in Terminal A at Newark Airport. I hope they open at JFK as well.

30. Just, mimosas. At the end of the day, I’ll sit wherever at the airport that I can get fries and a mimosa.

31. Whenever I feel like fries and a beer, though, there’s an Irish Pub at JFK Terminal 4 called Tigin Irish Pub, where I’ve spent some good time. There is also a Mexican Restaurant where I’ve spent too many hours at JFK Terminal 4, but it’s really so terrible I can’t recommend it (and yet, I’ll likely return for many margaritas to come).

That’s all for now. Thank you so much for reading, safe travels!

xx Erin