Traveling soon? You’ve probably already checked that you have your passport, clothes and toiletries on hand. And that’s all you need to have a fabulous trip anywhere in the world, right? Wrong. For a truly comfortable and stress-free trip, we highly recommend investing in some top-notch travel technology. Whether you’re flying or traveling, these pieces come highly recommended by seasoned travelers and travel industry experts.
Whether it’s noise-cancelling headphones or a battery to juice up your phone, packing some tech accessories for troubleshooting is always a good idea. And who better to recommend travel technology than the flight crew who have made frequent travel their profession? We spoke to a flight attendant and scoured the internet for flight crew-recommended products, and here are our findings.
Apple AirTags are great for not only keeping track of your keys and wallet, but also making sure your luggage doesn’t get lost!
Most frequent travelers will tell you that the easiest way to avoid losing luggage is to take it as carry-on luggage, but that’s not realistic for everyone. To help ensure your luggage doesn’t get lost, try using an Apple AirTag. “I put one in my flight attendant bag whenever I need to check it in.” said one five-star reviewer. “They are super easy to use and definitely worth the money.”
Tired of arriving at your destination with dry, papery skin? Here is a solution.
Simon Wu, a Cathay Pacific flight attendant for six years, told Yahoo Life that a humidifier is a must after a long flight. “I absolutely need a humidifier for my skin after a long plane ride,” he says. He recommends this specific brand and model because of its size. “This little one makes packing so easy.” It works via USB, comes with two spray modes and has an LED night light.
An alternative to Apple’s AirPods, these noise-canceling headphones achieve up to 31 hours of battery life with the charging case.
While Apple AirPods are popular, Wu prefers Google Pixel Buds Pro. “Pixel Buds are essential when I’m taking a nap during my shift break,” he said. They are compact, have excellent battery life and use Active Noise Cancellation to greatly reduce external sound. Plus, you can ask Google for directions, answer calls, and control your music, all while keeping it hands-free.
Never worry about your phone battery running out again with this handy Anker portable charger.
You will probably use your phone a lot while traveling, which will certainly drain the battery. A power bank is a must. This is a favorite of Amazon reviewers, some of them crew members. “As a flight attendant, I always need energy on the move,” said one. “I bought this to replace an old Anker power bank that I left on a plane. This battery is perfect for me. … This battery charges my phone incredibly fast and holds about four full charges for my iPhone X. My only complaint is the shape. I wish it was a little thinner… when I hold it against my phone, it sticks out on the sides, making it hard to hold. Otherwise, it’s a great battery, fast and easy to pack for travel!
Travel abroad? Keep in mind that points of sale vary by country. This will keep you connected from Stockholm to Shanghai and all points in between.
A universal travel adapter helps you continue to charge your electronics such as your phone, tablet or laptop. This multifunctional model includes four USB-A and one USB-C connectors. “I bought it for our nephew who is preparing for his first trip to Europe!” he said a travel professional. “This travel adapter is one piece and very sturdy; I’m buying a pair for my husband and I since we are flight attendants! Not having to worry about missing parts is great!”
Do you have more robust electronic needs? This universal travel adapter comes with a 110 to 220V converter, which is useful for appliances like curlers and fans.
If you plan to bring appliances like hair dryers and electric toothbrushes, you may want to purchase a universal travel adapter with a voltage converter. “As a retired international flight attendant, I’ve had all sorts of converters for traveling abroad,” he said. this reviewer. “The Bestek converter was the best I’ve ever purchased. With phones, iPads, hair curlers, computers, etc., the converter makes it very easy to charge everything at once. I had a mini curling iron that I thought wouldn’t work with the converter, but it warmed up perfectly!
Not all hotel rooms have microwaves, which is a pain if you want to heat up leftovers or breakfast. Enter the Hot Logic Portable Mini Oven: an electric food-warming bag that’s become something of a cult hit among flight crew folks.
A five-star reviewer said it’s a must-have for flight crew: “I absolutely love my Hot Logic. I’ve been a flight attendant for a long time and this is my second. … I mostly do shifts (day trips), but even in these I take it with me in case we don’t get home and have to spend the night somewhere… Outside of North America, it’s almost impossible to find microwaves in hotels. a converter.”
Wandering cords and plugs can make an already chaotic (travel) experience even more chaotic, but corralling your accessories like this makes packing at least a breeze. And it’s waterproof!
While it’s not exactly a tech gadget, an electronics organizer like this one from Bubm is essential travel tech because it helps keep all your cords and plugs in one place. “I love this bag,” he wrote a flight crew member on a review. “I’m a flight attendant and I carry three iDevices, two chargers (both cylindrical) and wireless headphones. Obviously I need a lot of cables and plugs, for charging and recharging, and this carries them all in an organized manner, with room for spares. “
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The revisions cited above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.