Hand luggae for flight - what are your essentials?

[RamblasTapas]

Flying to Barcelona on Monday, Ryanair. Main luggage is a hold case.
What are your hand luggage must-have items to make the trip easier other than passport/purse / tickets / kindle?

Hand cream, lip balm, water, extra jumper

Change of underwear and other relevant essentials just in case the hold bag doesn’t make it.

Well, passport and Kindle is about it. Can't think of anything else I'd consider "essential".

Sweets for the ear popping.

Actual book in case kindle suddenly dies.

Short haul

Change of clothes and meds incase luggage doesn’t turn up
snacks
pashmina as can be chilly on flights

Toothbrush and toothpaste ((After experiencing a flight delayed 24 hours, put up in a hotel and provided with a care kit but it didn’t contain those two essential items!)

Other than passports / tickets / money / phone / any medication, contact lenses etc:

Change of underwear, spare t shirt and a swimsuit.

For a short flight

enough toiletries if my hold luggage doesn’t make it, also change of pants, socks and t shirt

passport
phone
documents
my medication
hand cream
headphones
money and cards
book
ipad
sweets
emery board
painkillers

One change of clothes in case hold luggage goes astray

Medication
chargers
handcream
tissues and wet wipes

Had a suitcase go missing years ago so a bit paranoid. I always pack my favourite holiday sandals, swimsuit and dress which would be hard to replace, together with overnight stuff as others have mentioned, a book, phone charger and pashmina.

Yep, that sort of thing is what I’d consider one of the essentials worth considering.

I used to fly a fair bit and though it’s rare you can get stuck without access to previously checked in hold bags.

That’s not just due to your bag possibly getting lost but also due unscheduled nightstops, either at the departure airport (as you describe) or due to a diversion…and sometimes you can’t always get to shops to flash the credit card to buy stuff.

Divide hand luggage in to two - a bag or case that can remain in the overhead locker containing things like spare set of holiday clothes, swimsuit and flipflops plus essential meds and toiletries (in case main suitcase goes missing) plus smaller bag that I keep with me in the seat containing electricals (phone, kindle, charger), small snacks, bottle of water, tissues and wet wipes, lip balm, sleep eye mask and blow up pillow, purse. Small bag can go inside big bag for carrying through the airport.

Medication - that's essential.
Passport - that's essential
Cards and money - essential
Phone - that's essential
Charger and power bank - that's essential
House and car keys - essential.

To me, they are the must haves. There are lots of other things you COULD have, but they are not necessarily essential.

For a two hour flight I'd just take my handbag and add in headphones, water bottle and a snack.

Wow - some of you must travel with large hand luggage bags!
I don't have room for spare shoes or an extra jumper, but I will pack some undies and a toothbrush just in case.

ipad & earphones (with stuff downloaded on it to watch)
book
moisturiser and hand cream
medications
house keys (I know someone who put them in their checked bag coming home and it didn't get on the plane with them!)
phone charger in case your flight is delayed and you're left hanging around the airport
water bottle
tissues
sunglasses if you're going somewhere sunny and hot (nearly burnt my retinas stepping off the plane in Greece!)
if you're going to a hotel resort and arrive before you can access your room then I'd maybe put a pair of flipflops and swimming cossie in

Wow - some of you must travel with large hand luggage bags!

Not the point of your thread I know but, I only ever travel with the free, underseat hand luggage. No checked in bags.

Just back from 5 nights in Scandanavia and have previously done 2 weeks in various parts of the States. Off to Portugal for a week soon. Never had a problem fitting everything in a rucksack. Only time I've checked in luggage was going abroad for my daughter's wedding.

Nothing. It's a short flight. Chances of your main bag not turning up pretty remote. Book, passport, phone and headphones, purse. Done.

Flew back from a break yesterday.

Passport, tickets, tissues, book to read, hand wipes, water, snacks, mobile and charger or power pack, money, house keys. Knowing that we were flying back into UK which was 8c (went to Poland and it's been a lovely 18-23 evenings/day) , carried a hoodie and lightweight waterproof coat

Passport
Phone (no real need to take a purse as I'd take all but one of my cards out, my debit card is on my phone and actual card in the phone case)
Sweets

Erm....

Depending on the time of the flights I dress accordingly - eg, early, cold UK flight to hot country - layer up vest top under hoodie, pack shorts and flip flops and vice versa

For a short flight like that it would be literally valuables and anything I absolutely could not manage without if my case got lost. For longer flights probably add some moisturiser and a change of underwear/ tee shirt.

Echo the 2nd bag. I usually take a very small handbag or bumbag (worn crossbody) if I wear it under a jacket I can usually get on the plane with it on. The only place that I've ever been stopped is literally at the gate in stanstead.
In it I've my phone, loaded with kindle app, earbuds, cards and tissues.

Rest of bag is usually all my luggage. I hate waiting for suitcases

Just taking an underseat cabin bag. Have a small bag to wear through airport to hold passport purse and phone.....it fits in cabin bag if needed.
Main bag will have the rest.

Nope just a small (20 litre) backpack and small cross body bag