VapoRub, CBD roll-ons, Tide pen: 4 packing pros on how to up your carry-on game

It’s peak travel season, which means frozen margaritas, overcrowded flights, and of course, the tedious but mandatory task of packing. No matter how seasoned a flyer you are or how chic your airport look, we all eventually have to answer the same pressing question: What do I really need in my carry-on?

To find out, we asked four stylish frequent flyers—a meticulous stylist who packs a suitcase like he’s playing Tetris, a brand creative director who treats the plane ride as a personal reset pod, a musician with crime shows queued up, and an actor and podcast host who swears by Sudoku and theplas—to unpack their in-transit habits.

From the practical (portable skincare kits, AirTags, lint rollers) to the deeply personal (Vicks VapoRub, signature luggage ties, and trauma from rawdogging a flight), their answers are equal parts entertaining and enlightening. Below, a voyeuristic guide to how fashionable flyers really pack—and the surprisingly human habits they carry with them at 30,000 feet.

Prayag Menon, stylist and creative director

Where are you travelling this summer?

I’m heading to Bogotá in late summer!

What kind of bag do you carry?

My usual carry-on is a tote: the Louis Vuitton Keepall 55 Bandoulière in Damier Ebene canvas.

Methodical packing cubes or throw-it-all-in and go?

I’m a rigorously methodical, neat, and zero-chaos packer.

Do you have a travel styling kit that always goes with you?

Even on leisure trips, I carry a mini styling kit (lint roller, clamps, double-sided tape)—always handy if something needs fixing before a quick vacay photo-op.

What are some personal non-negotiables you must pack in your carry-on for a plane ride? Anything kooky?

Dry snacks, bag clips, hand sanitiser, travel-size face moisturiser, sunstick, all-over fragrance balm, lip balm, keys, phone charger with power bank, a Tide pen, Advil, a book, vitamin case, camera, AirTag, earbuds, sunglasses, and a change of clothes. (Kooky? Maybe how obsessive I am about the list.)

Are you a duty-free shopper?

I’m more of a window-shopper, but I do love hunting down a good deal! I’m currently keeping an eye out for a great bag.

What’s a travel tip you’d like to share with others?

Travel with someone (in my case, my supremely talented husband) who treats packing like Tetris and takes incredible pictures during the trip.

Khushi Shah, creative director, Shanti Banaras

Where are you travelling this summer?

I’m spending some time in the south of France and then taking a short trip to Italy for a bit of culture and indulgence.

What kind of carry-on do you use?

A roomy tote for the essentials, and a sleek carry-on that glides. I like to travel light but never unprepared.

Methodical packing cubes or throw-it-all-in and go?

Methodical. Borderline OCD but in a streamlined Type-A-but-make-it-efficient kind of way.

What are some non-negotiables for a plane ride?

A comb—always! I have a weird thing about my hair. My survival kit includes lip balm, gloss, keys, and a stash of chewing gum. And there’s always a pack of chocolate somewhere in the mix…for emergencies.

How do you like to kill time on a long flight?

I treat long flights as a moving reset, a time to clear the backlog: emails, old messages, unfinished thoughts. Once the mind is decluttered, I turn to film and music to recalibrate.

What’s a travel tip you’d like to share with others?

Over the years, I’ve made it a habit to bring back something that belongs to the place I’m visiting—be it craft, a cultural item, or a small detail that carries meaning. When I went to Japan with my friends, we picked up furoshiki cloth. From Sri Lanka, it was local tea. These little pieces add up, not just to a wardrobe or a home but to a life consciously built through travel.

Naina Bhan, actor and podcast host

Where are you travelling this summer?

My summer plans have fully derailed, but I’ve been managing to sneak in bits and bobs. A quintessential Goa trip and a wallet-rotting Dubai trip. But I am heading to Paris in August—I’m drooling over the idea.

What kind of packer are you?

I’m a Type B personality, so nothing is ever organised. It’s a zipless tote that digs into my shoulder and gives my partner anxiety about my laptop, passport, and cash.

What are your non-negotiables for a plane ride?

VapoRub, headphones, Kindle, acne patches, and a Sudoku book.

Have you ever tried rawdogging a flight?

Hell yes, not by choice. I never charge my devices. I have to say it was quite meditative once I made it past the anxiety.

Are you a duty-free shopper?

No, I absolutely detest it. It’s such a sterile shopping experience.

What’s a packing tip or hack you’d like to share with others?

Since my work involves a lot of dressing up, I generally look like a potato on vacation. I pack a lot of black in different silhouettes and textures so I can mix and match with a capsule wardrobe. But my main tip would be: just remember to carry your passport. Everything else is replaceable. Also, theplas always come to good use.

Kavya Trehan, musician and actor

Where are you travelling this summer?

I’m really trying to go to Hampi this year, but that’s because I love mixing holiday with work. Guilty!

What kind of carry-on do you use?

Always a Daily Objects water-resistant backpack that can slide onto the handle of a carry-on hard-case rolling suitcase.

Methodical packing cubes or throw-it-all-in and go?

I’m exceptionally neat, and all things are categorised—rolled shirts, compartments for tech, swimsuits, and toiletries. And I love companies that have bags to support my needs.

What are your non-negotiables for a plane ride?

Mint, earphones, downloaded crime shows on Netflix, CBD menthol roll-on for my migraines, hand cream, and a mini kit for skincare—rose water, tinted balm, concealer, and perfume.

How do you like to kill time on a long flight?

If I’m not making music on flights, I’m chatting with my neighbours. If they don’t meet me halfway, I always have a book or some show to finish.

Do you have a pet who travels with you?

Whenever we’re travelling with our dogs, we take the train and book a coupe for ourselves. They are super low-maintenance, so we only carry their towels, treats, and doggy poop bags in a Nappa Dori tote.

What’s a packing tip or hack you’d like to share with others?

Always keep an extra tote, and don’t forget to add your signature tie to the handles of your check-in luggage. Trust me, they always come in handy, and you’ll never pick up another person’s luggage from the belt.

Below, see the travel essentials you might want to slip into your bag: