Flight checklist: what to never forget

Technology and communication

The heart of the tech checklist consists of a few essentials: a charging cable, a power bank charged and a pair of noise-canceling headphones to isolate yourself during hours of flight. Those who need to work or stay reachable should also verify they have maps, documents, and useful contacts saved offline, in case the on-board Wi-Fi is not available or is paid.

Hygiene and physical comfort

An essential hygiene kit — travel toothbrush, refreshing wipes, and lip balm — helps counteract the dry cabin air, which typically drops to 10-20% relative humidity, much less than what skin tolerates without stress. A change of clothes and a clean shirt in your carry-on are a concrete safety net in case of delay in luggage delivery or a minor incident on board.

Basic medications — a painkiller, an antacid, and any chronic medications with their prescription — should always be kept within reach, not in checked baggage. To understand exactly how and where to store them, you might find it useful to consult the guide on where to put them in your luggage.

Documents and small tools

A ballpoint pen remains useful on several non-EU routes where arrival still involves filling out paper immigration or customs forms, even though an increasing number of countries have digitized them. On a long flight, an empty water bottle to be filled after security checks avoids dependence on just on-board service to stay hydrated.

The most effective way to use this list is to check it off physically the evening before, item by item, not while you are already ready to leave the house: it is in that moment, with still time to fix it, that an oversight transforms from a solvable problem into an emergency at the gate.