Priority checklist for a stress-free departure

Documents and boarding pass: absolute priority

Without a valid identity document and boarding pass (digital or paper), no other check makes sense, because without these two elements boarding itself is impossible. To determine whether a national ID card is sufficient or if you need a passport depending on your destination, check which documents you need based on your flight type.

Payment methods and essential medications

Your wallet with working cards and a minimum of cash comes right after: they cover any unexpected expense, from a last-minute taxi to a meal missed due to delays. Essential medications carry the same urgency as documents: they are among the few exceptions to the 100 ml limit for liquids in carry-on baggage, but only if accompanied by a medical prescription, as explained in where to pack them in your baggage.

Everything else is replaceable

Phone chargers, comfort accessories, and items forgotten by absent-mindedness can almost always be bought or recovered at your destination: keeping this in mind as you rush toward the exit helps you not treat a minor oversight as an emergency.

Practical advice: keep documents, boarding pass, and essential medications in a single outer pocket of your bag, so a quick check verifies your entire absolute priority all at once.