Ask a pilot: What do pilots pack?
Pilots log more miles in the sky than anyone. So, we figured they’d know a thing or two about packing smart. We asked some of BA’s finest about their carry-on golden rules, clever space-saving tips and the non-negotiables worth their weight in cabin space, from the ultimate sleep mask to laundry detergent sheets
Interviews: Harriet Cooper
20/08/2026
Al Smith, Senior First Officer
Think sleep
I used to be that person who went away for the night with everything but the kitchen sink and I’d be thinking, “Why didn’t I just bring the sink?” Progress has been made and I’m finally finding ways to pack less – it’s only taken 20 years! I’ll always have my travel essentials: ear plugs and a Drowsy silk sleep mask, which is cushioned and brilliant at blocking out bright light. I also like a spritz of ThisWorks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray. Sleep hygiene is so important, especially when crossing those longitudinal lines of time and putting your body under extra stress.
Bare necessities
Discovering wireless charging stations has been a game-changer. Being able to use one travel adaptor to charge my phone, watch and AirPods all at once feels like a major step forward; I can also use it for my iPad. I’ll also have a toothbrush and toothpaste in my carry-on. No one wants furry teeth. Try and adjust your life in the air to what you would be doing on the ground (at your destination), whether that’s brushing your teeth or eating at normal times.
Have everything in place for an overnight stop (Lisha Riabinina); and don’t forget you own china teacup (Debby Hudson)
Comfort zone
I’ll take something comfortable to get changed into once I’m on the aircraft (when I’m a passenger). Let’s call it ‘pyjama-like casualwear’ that my personal sartorial standards probably wouldn’t allow me to wear once I’d landed. But when you’ve been sitting on a long-haul flight for a couple of hours, there’s nothing nicer or more relaxing than getting changed into something comfortable. I also think if it’s what you ordinarily might wear around bedtime, it tells your brain, “OK, now it’s time to sleep”.
Be regimented
If you start putting things into a suitcase a few days prior to going away, before you know it, you'll have a dozen T-shirts for a five-day holiday. My advice would be to lay all your clothes out beforehand to see exactly what you’ve got. And if you wear a T-shirt twice in a week, you’re the only one that will know – no one is judging you. Also, whatever you pack, remember that you’ve got to bring it back. I keep space for souvenirs, such as katsu curry powder from Japan.
Time for tea
Sometimes, I get the weather wrong. For example, if you’re going to New York in March or April, you might think, “Oh, it’ll be quite mild. I’ll be fine.” Then you get there and the wind chill down the streets is unbelievable. So, take a light jacket. I am from the North anyway – I don’t go far without a waterproof! I’m a Yorkshireman, so life is tea. I travel with my own china mug. It fits the cup holder in the flight deck, which means I can have a proper-sized brew.
Keeley Smith, Captain
Bean counter
I’ll always travel with a jar of coffee. I’ve been flying for 26 years and it’s my comfort. As glamorous as a hotel might be, it’s not the same as being at home and nipping downstairs to make a hot drink. If I’m in America, for example, I am often awake at 4am and there’s nowhere open for a cup of coffee or, if there is, you must get showered and dressed beforehand. I’ll also pack plasters – you don’t need them often, but it’s annoying when you don’t have any.
Best practice
I used to pack extra on top of extra, but I’ve reassessed. I don’t take all my own toiletries, for example – I use the shampoo, conditioner and shower gel that the hotel provides. And think of outfits that all work in unison. Tops that work with shorts, jeans or a skirt; one pair of shoes that goes with everything. Just take the minimum you need, with one spare outfit. I pre-date having a mobile phone, so I used to pack an iPod for music, a camera, a book. These days, it’s more streamlined.
Workout kit for the gym is a non-negotiable for some
Pack it in
If I’m travelling for a holiday, I’ll either put complete outfits together in a packing cube or I’ll put T-shirts in one, shorts in another, so I don’t have to unpack my whole suitcase every five minutes. It’s much easier to manage. Whenever I’m repacking, I make sure that I refold my used clothes before putting them into my laundry bag. If I put them in the case all scrunched up, they’re bulkier and don’t fit in very well.
Keep it clean
Laundry sheets are useful if you want to wash something in your hotel room. They’re flat and light. You just tear a segment off, put it in the water and it foams up. It means I don’t have to bother taking detergent or buying it out there, and I’m not relying on the hotel laundry service. Plus it means there’s no worry about a spillage in your bag and it keeps the weight down.
On the move
I’ll pack my workout kit for the gym, where I’ll do a routine and stretch because I’m in a seat for quite a few hours when I fly. Or I’ll do a little yoga in my room. Everyone finds their own sleep pattern. For me, I accept that I will sleep at a time that feels appropriate to my body clock, even if that isn't classed as ‘nighttime’ in the location I’m in. You need to try not to get stressed about it, otherwise it’s counterproductive.
James Boyce, Senior First Officer
Routine is everything
Every item has a home in my carry-on, and I always put it back in the same place. So, when I’m packing, each pocket is where something specifically belongs. That way, when I check that I haven’t left anything behind before I leave the airplane or a hotel room, it only takes 30 seconds because I know where everything should be. I also leave the zips open if I’ve taken something out – it’s a simple visual reminder that something is missing.
Back to basics
Toothpaste and toiletries, chargers, sunglasses and a spare pair of glasses are non-negotiables in my carry-on. Then, if plans change or I end up on an unexpected overnight stop, I have everything I need. I’ve actually started packing more now than I used to, but with a purpose. It’s all about removing decisions. I have shirts, I have a pair of jeans – every eventuality is covered, whether I’m going to Stockholm in the winter or Cairo in the summer.
Sunnies? Check (Na Sen); pad and pen? Check (Jess Bailey)
Keep on moving
I fly short haul and one of the reasons I enjoy it is that there’s no jet lag. But if I am on a long-haul flight, I stay well hydrated with electrolyte tablets that dissolve in water. I do yoga when I’m downroute – it doesn’t have to be a long session but it’s important to move when I’m sitting for long periods. I’ll also do box breathing to relax – it’s a calming technique that involves four-second intervals of inhaling, holding and exhaling. It was developed by the Navy SEALs, so if it’s good enough for them, it’s good for me.
Write direction
I’ve got around a dozen pens in the front pocket of my carry-on. I find sometimes it’s easier to write things down rather than make notes on my phone or get my iPad out. If your phone were to get lost or stolen, it’s not just your notes gone but your lifeline and your ability to contact people back home. It might sound a little archaic but sometimes it’s just a bit safer to pull out a pen and paper. I love a new notebook. I'll start it just for the sake of starting it.
Animal magic
I never travel without Deano the Dino, a little mascot that I keep in my suitcase. My girlfriend bought him for me and he comes on every trip. Often when I’m in a hotel, I leave the zip of my carry-on open with his head sticking out just so he can be involved. I’ve never forgotten him downroute, but I’ve left him at home sometimes – occasionally he just wants a bit of a rest from flying.
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