What to put in hand luggage for a 26hr flight

[CaulkheadNorth]

Flying Heathrow - Kisumu (Kenya), with two stop overs and three hours driving either side.

So far I've got knitting, toothbrush, facewipes, deodorant, book, phone charger, spare vest top.

What have I missed?

Knitting? With knitting needles? These will be removed at security I suspect. Sharp pointy things are usually not allowed! Make sure deodorant is the permitted size or it will get dumped at the airport too. Ditto sun lotion.

Phone! Toothpaste! Fleece. The aircraft cabin gets chilly. Change of socks! Hairbrush. Your own headphones. Moisturising lotion, small size. Glasses if you need them and sunglssses. Any medication you may need. Spare pants

• if you get delayed! Make up. I take a spare set of clothes just in case my luggage doesn't turn up! Camera and iPad. Anything valuable, jewellery, money, credit cards etc. Insurance details.

Tic Tacs, chewing gum or just some treats like jelly babies or fruit pastille a.

What route are you doing? Do you have two changes of aircraft in Kenya? Check hold allowance on domestic flights in Kenya. They may be less than international hold allowance.

Earplugs, eye mask, chewing gum, warm socks.

One change at Nairobi.

Knitting needles are fine, I use wooden to be on the safe side but never had an issue.

Didn't think of sweets, excellent. I'll probably go with a bit more clothes than first thought in case my bag doesn't get to me.

Anything else?

(Also change at Dubai)

Knickers, eye mask, kindle

Yes! Kindle. Easier than a book.

I always carry emergency leggings and vest top in my hand luggage.

Earphones. Make sure you have a USB lead for your phone as often there are USB sockets on long haul.

Excellent, thanks. I didn't know about the phone charger.
Haven't googled yet but imagining I can use Sterling in Dubai airport?

Socks & spare warm clothes (they pump plane full of cold air after that long), baby wipes, moisturiser, eye mask, ear plugs, neck pillow (life saver), book/kindle, mouthwash, paracetamol, spray/perfume, puzzles/magazines, pen, paper. Cash.

Flight socks. I tooko my trainers off on a flight to dubai once and couldn't get them back on!

Buy a large bottle of water when you get through security as there isn't always loads on flights.

I don't think sterling is accepted in dubai airport but this may have changed in the last couple of years.

Immodium tablets! (Nothing worse than needing them and not being able to get them)

Even that you are just in transit in dubai be careful taking any medication in your luggage. UAE is very strict about what they allow in.

Eye drops. My eyes get very dry in planes.

What kind of eye drops iam? That would be useful

Any for dry eyes. There is a wide choice available these days.

Why are you not going on a direct flight to Nairobi? That's about 8 hours and not so expensive with Kenya Airways. This seems like a massive expedition to Kenya!

I would check the knitting needles okay at Dubai. Am presently on flight from there to Auckland and security was very tight. They were pulling lots of people over for searching and I was taken off into a room because there was a problem with my passport not reading properly.

Valium

Facial sunscreen for when you arrive - though that's a really epic routing for Kenya: I hope it's because your return flight is only £200!

Also clean knickers, comb/hairbrush, noise cancelling headphones and facial oil. (I've got combination skin, but it suffers even so with flying and sleep deprivation)

Why are you not going on a direct flight to Nairobi? That's about 8 hours and not so expensive with Kenya Airways. This seems like a massive expedition to Kenya!

Im sure the OP has her reasons but I thought exactly the same as you. However, when you break it all up its not a 26 hour flight, its a medium haul to Dubai and a 5 hour flight to Nairobi then a wee hop to Kisumu. When you take the hanging around time out of it it makes a big difference to the actual length of the flight.

Someone mentioned the luggage allowance on internal flight in Kenya and its something you should read up on. I did an internal flight with Kenyan Airways just last week and was ok for luggage as I was travelling very light and I was flying business class but there were people who, like me, had come off international flights and they were repacking.

Dubai airport is a case of anything goes so yes, you can use sterling. You can also buy admittance to a premier lounge if youre not flying in a cabin that provides one automatically, it means you could freshen up before your next flight.

Kenyan airports are very poor and again you buy entry to a premier lounge that really is quite shameful but its at least better than sitting in departures, and again you can freshen up.

I dont know what to advise you re packing because I think they're such short flights they're not really worth the worry of what to pack. However, I would have one of those neck pillows for your 3 hour ground journey as the roads can be terrible and you don't have bounce around - snoozing would be uncomfortable.

"because I think they're such short flights they're not really worth the worry of what to pack."

Isn't UK to Dubai about 8 hours? I wouldn't class that as a short flight.

Kindle
Earplugs
Eye mask
Spare undies
Light blanket
Lip balm
Warm socks
Face mist
Rehydration sachets
Snacks
Rescue remedy

Knitting needles are permitted now as you say, OP. Like you I used wooden or bamboo ones to be on the safe side, or go for crochet.

I took a cashmere wrap to use as a blanket, but wished I'd had a scarf to keep my neck warm, planes are always either too hot or too cold.

I wanted my bag to be better organised, I discovered - it contained stuff like a change of clothes that I knew I wasn't going to need en route, and then the actual stuff for the flight. Wish I had used some of my Specter packing cubes to hive off all the stuff I didn't actually want.

Love being able to get a shower at stopovers and change of clothes.