What cabin crew always pack

Interviews: Tamara Hinson

Beat the bloat

Peppermint capsules! I take one after meals during flights and it helps with any bloating. Oh, and the Trtl travel pillow. Paired with an eye mask and noise-cancelling headphones, this pillow once helped me sleep all the way from London to Singapore. 
Hannah Davies, cabin crew 

Pack the PJs

My favourite items to bring on board in preparation for a long flight are my pyjamas and my Apple EarPods. It’s very comforting to change out of my uniform for a few hours and jump into bed in our crew rest area. They are a godsend for drowning out aircraft noise and watching catch-up TV. I’d be lost if I forgot to bring them to work.
Shaw Milligan, cabin crew 

Be a bookworm

I always bring a book with me on flights. It’s a luxury to be able to take the time to read during rest periods (if I’m not asleep!) and allows the mind the chance to switch off. And if it’s a humorous book, it can really lift your mood, too!
Zoe Reigate, senior first officer

Make memories

As someone who loves capturing moments down route, I really love bringing my Instax camera. This is especially true on turnarounds with my lovely colleagues. I love to keep some memories on my shelf to remind me of how passionate I am about this job, wherever it leads me in the future.
Elvie Orosco, BA Euroflyer cabin crew 

On the case

I always travel with my own pillowcase. Nothing beats the comfort and familiar scent of your own bedding when you’re drifting off at 35,000 feet.
Timothy Baxter, cabin crew

Embrace ANR

ANR (Active Noise Reduction) headphones are a great way of filtering out unwanted sounds, enabling you to concentrate on relaxing or focusing on controlling your breathing. It’s also worth remembering that we have guidance to help you overcome your anxiety with the Flying with Confidence video on the in-flight entertainment system on long-haul flights.
Nigel Willing, captain

Treat yourself to some screen time

I always take a book and an iPad loaded with television shows for short-haul flights. Having familiar, engaging content can help customers stay occupied and creates a comforting ‘bubble’ around them, which can make flights feel more manageable and less stressful.
Suzanne Morgan, captain and Flying with Confidence team member 

Eyes, ears and H20

As a passenger I always take ear plugs, an eye mask and plenty of water. For nervous flyers, a copy of the Flying with Confidence course is a must. Oh, and flight socks!
Captain Steve Allright, director of British Airways’ Flying with Confidence courses 

Go green

Whether travelling as a customer or as crew, the items I always ensure I have with me are something healthy to eat and water with electrolytes, or a healthy green drink such as the ones made by Revival or Bloom.
Alexandra Flint, cabin crew

Pillow talk

I never travel without a pillow. Filling that space between your lower back and the seat allows your body to properly relax into the seat, making sleep so much easier once you recline. I also always carry a hoodie – I wear it back to front and pull the hood gently over my face. Cabin air can be a little dry, and breathing in your own moisture helps to prevent a dry nose and throat. It’s also worth noting that eye masks don’t work with long lashes!
Nadine Thierry, cabin crew 

Got a question you’d like to ask cabin crew? Email theclub@cedarcom.co.uk and we’ll try to answer it in a future column