21 Products To Make The Airport Not A Total Hellscape

Oct 08, 2023

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

These'll ensure your time in travel purgatory goes as smoothly as possible.

BuzzFeed Staff

Reviewers say it's ideal for a suitcase that can roll on four wheels! If you have a suitcase that has to tilt while it rolls, just be careful if the drinks are open at the top.

Promising review: "This cup holder is perfect! It helps me a lot! Last time I took a plane with a suitcase and a cup of coffee, when it’s my turn to check my passport and ticket, the coffee cup fell to the ground and coffee sprinkled. It was a nightmare! This time I bought this cup holder, and it did do me a favor! I don't have to worry about where my cup and phone are! I can free my hands to do other things. I love it so much! Hope you love it too." —Philip

Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in 28 colors and other styles).

The set includes a zippered bag, four soft silicone bottles with leakproof caps, three compact jars, and two toothbrush caps.

BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly owns and loves this set. She writes: "I've used this set on more than five trips and and for trips when I don't require body wash or shampoo (like to visit my parents) I use the extra room in the bag to shove in all my beauty products and daily contacts. Plus! It comes with labels that stay on the containers really well despite my thoroughly washing these containers between trips. I bought this set in spring 2019 and have, admittedly, lost a container or two. But the ones that I've held onto over dozens of trips have all held up well!"

Promising review: "If it wasn’t for me forgetting them in the hotels, I wouldn’t have to buy more. This is my third set and I love these things! I’m a flight attendant and these are easy to fill, use, and pack!" —Raena Hill

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 14 variations).

Check out a TikTok of the portable charger in action.

Promising review: "iPhone users rejoice. This was the only portable charger I could find on the market that did not require a lightening adapter to charge an Apple product! I bought this for my fiancé since he spends long days on movie sets. This has been a lifesaver. It charges fast and you get more than one charge out of it. This would be great for travel, long work days, bad service areas (eats up battery faster), or older phones whose battery isn’t that great (this worked on his iPhone 7 and my iPhone XR). It may require you to remove your phone case, but that’s an easy accommodation. Highly recommend!" —Kelly Schuetz

iWalk is a small business whose tech accessories aim to make travel easier.

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in six colors).

The charger can be used in Europe, the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Russia, Asia, Central America, South America, and the Middle East.

Promising review: "If you travel a lot, especially internationally, this is a must-have because you have every kind of adapter on one plug and don’t have to worry about constantly buying a certain adapter every time you travel to a different country. This has it all." —Abby Santiago

Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in four colors).

When an item's misplaced, the app will make the attached AirTag beep until it's found. You can also attach it to your wallet, keys, pets, and more.

Promising review: "These are definitely worth the money. I put one in my flight attendant bag whenever I have to check it. I put one on my dog and the other on my keys. I was very impressed and surprised by how easy they were to set up. I would definitely invest in these if you have a child. There are keychains you can put them in and put them on their backpacks. 10/10 from me for these!" —Micky D

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $89.99.

Just hook the scale to your luggage handle, lift up, and the LCD display will show the weight! You can also switch between pound and kilogram measurements.

Elizabeth tested this digital luggage scale out when she was packing for a trip to Iceland — check out her demo of how it works on TikTok!

Promising reviews: "Took this on multiple overseas trips in the first two months. I can't believe I used to hold my bags and weigh myself and the bag on scales — and then subtract my weight. It was so time consuming, especially when we were either close to the limit or over. This small device literally saved us hours of frustration and possible unpacking at the airport check-in line. We couldn't live without this item now. We bought another one as a backup. Wouldn't hesitate to buy this exact item again." —AB

"Took this for a 10-day trip overseas with lots of flights. Weighed the luggage as things were added to it/purchased, and when we weighed in at the airport it was perfectly accurate. Very important when the airline will charge $70 more for a suitcase that is too heavy or make you open the whole thing up and take stuff out in order to fly with it. Saved so much hassle." —B. M. O'Connor

Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in six colors as well as a two-pack).

This has a built-in USB port for easy charging! PS: It's also vouched for by musicians as a perfect gig bag.

Promising review: "This is a great little bag! I bought this for my trip and I am not even back yet! Being able to pack all the essentials into a 'personal item only' size bag has always been a pain. I REFUSE to pay for luggage. If all I get is a 'personal item' then I will make it work. Normally I used a backpack but that has been a pain in itself. My backpack would get heavy and, if I am walking around big airports, it would feel heavier and more awkward the more I moved. Having this small bag that fits their ridiculous standards of luggage size on WHEELS is so much easier and less back breaking. Having a charging port is also a pleasant bonus." —SDC

Get it from Amazon for $59 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "I bought this nifty gadget about six months ago for a multi-leg, ultra-long-haul trip and it more than held up the entire duration. I was able to finagle it to fit the tray tables on different planes and like others, I find the height just nice when clamped onto a stowed tray table. It also works on my roller carry-on handle during layovers. However, I find myself using it a lot outside of travel, too! Work-wise, I've clamped it onto my office desk shelving to hold my phone at eye level beside my computer. At home, I simply clamped it to a deck of cards and it turns into a versatile stand that I can place on any flat surface. Heck, I've been using it to hold my phone comfortably at eye level while watching videos in bed. It's extremely well-built and I find myself fidgeting with it all the time. Thus far it still feels solid and I don't anticipate breaking it any time soon. Even if it does break, I'll be happy to buy another one or two of it!" —Earendil

Perilogics is a small biz that specializes in tech-oriented travel products and backpacks.

Get it from Amazon for $10.96 (available in three colors and in packs of two).

It has an adjustable warm light so it'll be easy on your eyes and won't keep you up when you read before bed. *Plus,* since it's waterproof, you can bring all your reading anywhere, including in the pool (!) or tub.

I recently bought a Kindle and it has, no exaggeration, revolutionized my life. I love mine for so many reasons — it's truly helped me incorporate my love of reading into my often hectic life, and all my titles literally live inside of this half-pound wonder gadget, so I can switch between books super easily. For traveling, this is a literal dream. I don't have to pick between titles and then regret the entire trip that I didn't bring the one I left at home — and, as any book lover knows, traveling with books is heavy as hell, and the Kindle literally completely eliminates that weight. Traveling will never be the same for me. BTW, I am also obsessed with the Libby app, which allows you to check out e-books from your local library on your Kindle!! My inner child is *screaming* with joy.

Promising review: "I LOVE reading and being able to access a book anywhere with this thing. It is easy to navigate, very easy to read and adjust the brightness or how warm the light is. I've read in bright sunlight to dark rooms, and it's always been so clear. You can adjust the font and use the library to search whatever books you want. Makes packing books for traveling very easy. Battery life lasts me two weeks if I'm reading every day for a few hours." —R@L0

Get it from Amazon for $139.99+ (available in 8GB and 16GB sizes, in three colors, and with or without lockscreen ads).

Promising review: "Definitely what I needed for my luggage as a flight attendant. Very heavy duty and perfect for me. Works great with my extra luggage and lunch bag to hang on my suitcase. Thank you so much. Will definitely buy again." —Mary

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in six colors and in packs of two).

Promising review: "This product works great and the three-pack is a good deal, whether you want to label each one for a specific use or share with members of the family. It is easy to use and doesn't take long to dry. I keep one in my purse and of course it is a must-have when traveling." —DeeNicole

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $7.88.

It's lead-, latex-, and BPA-free, dishwasher-safe, and can be used for hot or cold drinks.

Promising review: "Just what I was looking for! I’m a flight attendant and was looking for a collapsible water bottle that did not leak. I’ve had this for two weeks now and I love it! Easy to roll up, clean, and drink from." —Selene Marie

Get it from Amazon for $34.95 (available in eight colors).

These are waterproof and come with a wireless charging case that provides up to 45 hours of playtime when you're on the go — it'll fully recharge the earbuds in less than two hours. BTW, reviewers say they're an excellent alternative to shelling out for a pair of AirPods.

Elizabeth vouches for these: "I was able to wear mine comfortably under my bucket hat while I slept on a very rocky bus ride from the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland. And while I was out exploring, the charging case easily fit in my coat pocket. I also use these on the reg in my everyday life to listen to Spotify and podcasts, and even talk on the phone. I have to charge them about once a week and always keep them in my coat pocket."

Promising review: "I’ve had these for 6+ months now and they are pretty awesome for $25. I’ve accidentally thrown these into the washer and dryer and they still work the same. I was gifted AirPods and honestly find myself reaching for the Tozo buds more often because they’re so much more comfortable in my ears. Definitely will buy another pair if these die on me." —Liubhard

Get them from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in five colors).

You can also use them for packing jewelry, hair ties, earbuds, and more.

I swear by these pill cases for keeping my meds secure while on the go. The cases are sturdy and, for pill holders, surprisingly fashionable — their discreet, minimalist design makes me feel confident carrying them around without feeling self conscious. Each compartment holds a *lot* of pills, so I feel prepared for basically anything with this in my bag. One of my best purchases this year.

Promising review: "These travel pill cases are totally worth it! We are always out and about traveling, and this case helps keep the travel pharmacy organized! No more clunky pill bottles. The pill case is very sturdy and has a clasp that stays tightly latched. The compartments on the inside are easy to open with plenty of storage for pills. I was able to fit about 10 larger pills into the smaller compartments. It’s nice to have the larger compartments too. You can fit wrapped cough drops or other medications in those. Highly recommend!!" —Sydney Harsh

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $9.47. (PS: If you only need one pill organizer, this is a great option.)

It also easily attaches to backpacks and luggage handles (see the photo on the right), weighs less than half a pound, and is machine-washable! You can also use it as a scarf.

Promising review: "This is the best travel pillow ever. As a flight attendant, I travel all the time. This makes getting stuck in a middle seat palatable. I’ve used this in cars, planes, trains, etc; it's great. In fact my sister was so jealous on our last trip to Italy that she kept trying to steal it off me. Ordered her one for Christmas." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in four colors).

Promising review: "As a flight attendant I always need wipes. These small packs are great for putting in your purse and having on the go. The bundle pack is a great value." —SJ1326

Get 20 packs of 10 wipes each from Amazon for $19.70.

I only use these now to remove my makeup, including heavy mascara, and they are great for my sensitive skin. I do follow up with a gentle cleanser to cleanse my skin once all my makeup is off. They're big and dry quickly so you can use the same towel multiple times before having to wash it or switch to another one.

Promising review: "These things are so soft! Great for taking off makeup. I was using the Makeup Eraser before, but these are 100x better. You just wet them, wipe off your makeup, rinse and hang out. I guess you could use a new one each day, but they are very big so you can get a few days out of one. Great value for the money!" —Shopforbargains

Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $13.95+ (available in 11 color combos and in packs of 30).

Promising review: "Best masks for the money. These are super comfortable and easy to breathe in. I recommend them for travel on mass transit and in airports and planes." —Amazon Customer

Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $17.99 (available in seven colors and in packs of 40, 60, and 120).

Promising review: "This hand sanitizer does not dry out my hands. I keep at work, home, and in car. Convenient to carry on the go." —Vernal Richardson

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $13.28.

Promising reviews: "OMG! I am a very picky shopper, this is one of the best pieces that I have purchased. It has a great weight without being too heavy, and pockets — love, love pockets. I am going to order every color." —jane carney

"It’s lightweight, fits and washes well. Great for travel days, too." —R. Copeland

Get it from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in women's sizes S–XXL and 20 colors).

It fits underneath an airplane seat, and when you wear it as a backpack, the zipper sits against your back so you won't need to worry about pickpockets. It also comes with a lifetime warranty!

Promising reviews: "This bag is amazing. Tons of space. It holds my laptop, snacks, chargers, paperwork, lunchbox, portable speaker, and a bunch of random teacher things. I love the protection of having the zipper against your back so there’s no wondering if someone is opening your bag behind you. Super sturdy, waterproof, oh, and the straps are SO COMFORTABLE! Like, for real, better than any backpacking backpack. 11/10." —Brianna M.

"My go-to bag for travel. As someone who is vehemently against checking in bags at the airport, this Go-Bag is the perfect item. Easy to transport and small enough to be taken as a carry-on, yet still spacious for all your essentials." —David C.

Get it from Baboon to the Moon for $169 (available in 11 colors). A larger 40L size is available here.