When your job description includes identifying the top dining spots and hotels for food lovers in cities all around the world, you spend a lot of time on the road—sometimes for weeks at a time. (I think I can count the number of times I saw culture director Joseph Hernandez in the NYC office between March and May on one hand, he was so busy zigzagging across the country to scout for BA’s 2026 Best New Restaurants list.)
Over the years, the BA team has racked up an impressive number of travel hacks and tips along with their frequent flyer miles. Here, we share the trousers one staffer relies on to look fresh when heading straight from the plane to a restaurant reservation, the best tool for brewing a great shot of espresso on the go, essentials to make your flights a bit more comfortable, and more travel items BA editors never leave home without.
Sturdy and stylish carry-on luggage
On a trip to Amsterdam many moons ago, my luggage got stuck in Moscow for four days. After an emergency trip to H&M to buy T-shirts and underwear, I swore to only check a bag in the future if it was completely unavoidable. But in order to live a carry-on-only life, you need gear that (1) fits a lot of stuff and (2) is easy to navigate through the airport. I’ve mixed and matched roller suitcases, backpacks, and small duffles for years, but the duo I currently turn to are from Portland Gear’s Cascade collection. The suitcase is incredibly lightweight, and the backpack opens from the top for easy access to your essentials. —Abbey Stone, shopping and reviews lead
Versatile (and small!) workout gear
Whether I’m traveling for business or for pleasure, my itinerary is basically a string of restaurant reservations. And after a couple multicourse tasting menus, I need to move by body. Balance, right? But when I’m traveling with just a carry-on (see above), luggage space is precious, so I choose workout apparel that does double duty. Sleek sneakers look cute when walking around town but also work in the gym, and my favorite Left On Friday bike shorts fold up super tiny in my suitcase. —A.S.
A wireless headphone adaptor for the plane
The AirFly Pro 2 seamlessly connects wireless headphones (or earbuds) to the in-flight entertainment system without glitching or cutting out. Plus, it’s got a decently long battery life and is small enough to pack right inside my headphone case, so I never forget it. No more fighting with tangled cords when I lower the tray table to eat my in-flight meal or attempt to extricate myself from the window seat to pace the aisles in my compression socks. —Kelsey Youngman, senior cooking editor
The only good neck pillow
The Trtl Neck Pillow genuinely changed the way I fly. I can actually sleep on planes now. It holds my head securely in place (no more jolting awake mid-bob) and offers real support without feeling bulky. The soft fabric adds a bit of warmth on colder flights, and it packs down flat, making it easy to slip into a carry-on. —Ali Inglese, senior director of video
Sunglasses
You know that part of the plane ride where the flight attendants decide it’s daytime and turn on all the lights? How does that inevitably happen just as you were drifting off to Snoozeland? While a sleep mask is a necessity for overnight travel, I now also wear my sunnies for the majority of the flight in order to keep the vibe mellow and relaxed—even through meal service. —A.S.
One plug adaptor to rule them all
The Epicka Universal Travel Adapter has four different built-in plugs that work in over 200 countries, plus four USB-A ports and a USB-C port, so you can charge six devices at once. It’s easy to use, compact, and reliable. I toss it in my bag whenever I’m heading out of the country and love that it not only works as an adapter, but also like a mini-power strip, giving me access to so many more charging ports that most hotel nightstands (or airport baggage claims) have on offer. —K.Y.
An AeroPress for espresso on demand
Don’t leave coffee to chance, whether you’re staying at a hotel, Airbnb, or even your relatives’ house. No matter where I travel, I sleep easier when I know exactly where my first cup of coffee is coming from. —Chris Morocco, food director
TSA-friendly flavored seltzer
There’s something about flying that makes me crave seltzer (a drink I don’t really enjoy on land!). An especially bubbly, cold drink just feels rejuvenating when all I can hear is the din of the engines, my mouth is dry, and my taste buds are numb. The airplane beverage cart rather reliably stocks plain sparkling water, but my individual True Lime packets—“One Packet = the Taste of One wedge”—provide the acidic punch I’m looking for without necessitating a sneaky jaunt into first class for a real lime (I assume they get garnishes up there?). The packets are filled with powdered, crystalized lime and taste like a fresh squeeze. —K.Y.
The Goldilocks of weekender bags
Every plane trip I take, I opt for the same carry-on luggage duo: the Tumi suitcase I’ve had forever and ever and this Dagne Dover weekender bag. It slides over the suitcase handle and fits my laptop, snacks, and any items I need easy access to. It’s also just the right size for a weekend trip, where I’ll pull out the strap for easy carrying. —Kate Kassin, restaurant scout and edit operations manager
The perfect plane pants
I used to be an athleisure-on-the-plane kind of girl, but recently I’ve preferred clothes that are both comfortable and acceptable to wear to a restaurant meal straight from the plane. That’s where these linen pants come in. The fabric gives them an elevated look, but don’t be fooled—the drawstring waist and just-soft-enough fabric mean they’re as comfy on a three-hour flight right into a three-hour meal. Consider these my official on-the-road eating pants. —K.K.
A zippered snack pouch
I use this pouch for all my edible travel essentials—snacks, electrolyte gummies, single-serving packets of matcha and collagen (it keeps me young, maybe), and my beloved Dosey flower-shaped pill box. The zipper on the top keeps all the contents tidy, and it’s even chic enough to double as a clutch when I’m traveling light. —K.K.
A crunchy snack
I wouldn’t dare risk eating a yogurt on the road without granola in it. But I’m also particular about my granola, which means that, yes, I’m packing my very favorite: this cardamom crunch granola (in a mini size, of course) from Simple Trail. It’s crunchy and chewy and packed with nutrients (buckwheat groats! seeds of all kinds!), plus it tastes like sugar and spice thanks to organic vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, and organic maple syrup for sweetness. —K.K.
Powdered matcha packets
The more I travel, the more I realize how much I enjoy the matcha I make myself at home. So for the mornings when I can’t get out to a coffee shop with decent matcha, these Pique single-serving packets do the trick. The powder is preportioned and dissolves relatively easily, which means you’re only as far from good matcha as you are from a hot water source. —K.K.
Electrolyte gummies
It’s no secret that one of the worst parts of plane travel is how dehydrating it can be. But rather than travel with sachets of electrolyte powder, I opt to throw a bag of these WonderHydrate gummies in my bag. I love the subtle lychee flavor and having two of these while continuing to drink water in the air means I wake up the next day without a headache and with less puffiness. —K.K.
Secret weapon against angry skin
My skin and travel are not a match made in heaven. The plane’s dry air and circulating bacteria inevitably cause me to break out. This hypochlorous acid spray is pretty much the only remedy—a few spritzes after a flight or during a long travel day revive my decrepit skin. Not to mention, a cool mist just feels nice. —K.K.
Space-saving toiletries
I find packing toiletries to be the most daunting part of my pretravel routine. I end up having a giant ziplock filled to the brim with liquids, but my newest hack for reducing the space those take up are these mini aluminum-free natural deodorants from Salt & Stone. They take up a fraction of the space of a regular-size deodorant, and I love alternating between the scents, but the Bergamot & Hinoki will always be my go-to. —K.K.