Personal item packing list for Women

I pack so that I could go 3 days without my checked bag in case the bag gets lost.

1) a change of clothes plus extra socks and underwear
2) nightshirt
3) toothbrush and small toothpaste plus any toiletries that wouldn’t be available at hotel
4) meds
5) electronics (e.g., phone, ipad, chargers)
6) cash, credit cards, etc.
7) outerwear (I usually wear jacket on plane)

My list would be similar to the one above, but I wouldn't bother with a change of clothes. Underwear and socks, yes, but not pants/shirt etc. I would make sure to have at least 3 pair of underwear. This summer my husbands bag was delayed for 5 days, so that one extra pair he had was not enough.

Depending on where you destination is, I would take a jacket/hat/gloves with me and wear the jacket onto the plane. Some airports the planes are parked out on the tarmac and are not connected to the terminal, and it can get quite cold.

And, in addition to Laura's excellent list, make sure your KEYS are in your personal item on board with you !

I have a small personal item that fits under the seat in front even if there is obstruction under that seat. My priorities are:
1. Financials and passport
2. RX Meds and regular eye drops; tiny container of sample OTC meds
3. Electronics: phone, portable battery, kindle and related cords, small camera if joining me.
4. Good bra
5. 2 unders and 2 socks, 1 merino wool tee
6. Small plastic or reusable bag to put my jacket in once onboard so it’s not touching the floor.

With this I could go for days, until my jeans needed to be washed. LOL And even then I can wash and dry my light jeans overnight in most weather.

Edit: and ditto to keys as Kim indicates…my key is with my financials.

Essential for a personal item will be any medications you take, any valuable items such as jewelry or electronics, and of course make sure that if you have a battery pack, you put it in your personal item and not in your checked bag.

Other items that I put in my personal item and to me are non-negotiable are:

A change of underwear, an extra top and usually a pair of leggings that I can wear either as pants or as pajama bottoms if I am forced to check my carry on bag and it gets lost

My essential toiletry items (deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, chapstick, lipstick, BB cream)

Electronics, including my Bose headphones

A hoodie or other light jacket

Important documents such as hotel reservations, car rental agreements, insurance info (if traveling internationally)

Snacks for the plane

An empty water bottle to fill up at the airport, along with a couple of electrolyte packs

My phone with the Kindle app as well as downloaded videos for entertainment if I get bored with the seatback offerings, if any

Chewing gum in case my ears get plugged

A small flashlight

Antibacterial wipes and/or gel

An eye mask and a face mask (in case there are people coughing near me)

I can carry all of that and easily put it in a personal item under my seat. I have gotten carried away a time or two and overstuffed my backpack with additional items which made it difficult to place all the way under the seat.

For ladies who still need them: feminine hygiene products.

Basically, I put in anything that I can't afford to lose and anything that I need/want while I'm on the plane.

In your case, I would definitely pack one change of clothes, including undergarments. I do that only if I check a bag. Otherwise I just pack my toiletries, meds, electronics (including my Kindle), notebooks, snacks, guidebook (if not e-books), important docs (passport, etc) and personal items.

My personal item contains about the same as others including my keys, lol. I don’t pack an outfit but do have a spare pair of undies.

I also have my pocket binoculars and this last time I packed a small travel kit of art supplies.

Hygiene stuff - pocket kleenex, couple of individually wrapped Wet ones, packet of Cottonelles, small amount of OTC meds.

I do suggest you do some trial packs of both your suitcase and your personal item. Even experienced I sometimes change from a tote to a day pack.

Make sure you have room for any kind of small purse you have. The last 2 trips I had to stow my very small crossbody before I could go down the jetway.

I agree that the extra bottom should be leggings that can also be slept in or layered under pants if the weather is cold. Leggings also don't take up much space.

In addition to things already mentioned, a small travel umbrella, a couple granola bars, and a magazine/guidebook (yes, paper versions) along with my reading glasses!

From my packing list for a recent trip:

Medications
Water bottle
Extra outfit (if not carrying on a bag)
Snacks
Sunglasses

Airplane essentials (all of these go in a little pouch that I can put in the seat pocket):
- AirPods
- AirFly
- Charging cable & brick
- Battery pack
- Chapstick
- Tylenol
- Dramamine
- Tums
- Pen
- Hand wipes
- Lipstick
- Foldable fan
- Werther’s candies
- Candy bar
- Eye drops (after security)
- Magnetic phone stand
- Hydration packet

I often travel from one climate to a completely different climate. So, I like to make sure to have the opposite type of clothes in my carry on, than what I'm wearing. So if I'm wearing leggings, long sleeves and a jacket/sweater, I'll pack a dress or skirt and short sleeves. Definitely, raincoat, documents, charging cord and back up battery, phone, ipad, medications and change of underwear and socks. Additionally, I wear a comfortable bra for long flights, and I bring a "normal" bra in my carry on in case my checked bag gets lost/delayed.

My list is much the same as everybody else. Because I travel long-haul, I sometimes have a sleeping mask and a TRTL (a neck support that is used in place of a pillow). But if you are saving space, you can often get a sleeping mask if you ask cabin crew, and a neck support or travel pillow is not really necessary, just nice to have.

I additionally carry 2 wallets. One is my regular one from home with my identification, normal credit cards and a small amount of cash. The other is my travel wallet, which has approximately €200,00 in it (I rarely spend it all and whatever I don't spend, I take with me on the next trip), and any cards, IDs, travel cards from the destination countries that I have accumulated in the past. I normally visit the same countries often, just my travel pattern, and so I usually have travel cards, for example, an Oyster Card (London), Mobib Card (Brussels). I also have a Wise card which I try to use for everything as then I have a record of what is spent. There is no need to take both wallets with you on your daily trips, but I always want the home wallet for the trips to and from the home airport and while in my home country, and sometimes use the credit cards while abroad. Again, if you are trying to save space, some judicious planning about what is really necessary in a wallet might do the trick. And if you put your credit card on your phone, which I choose not to do for reasons of security, that would also help save room too.

Lavandula

OMG, yes, reading glasses! I wouldn't even be able to board a plane without them, unfortunately.

Also, the suggestion of feminine products. Our first trip overseas I was caught unexpectedly with that issue. I still always have something with me, just in case! Pads also work well for first aid.

Agree with the lists here. I'd do only one change of underwear and socks, because those can easily be washed in a sink, if necessary.

I usually sleep in a tank top and underwear when I travel, so those don't take up much room, and the tank can be an extra layer, if it's chilly.

Depending on where you're going, I'd add a couple of insect repellent wipes and possibly sunscreen (although those can probably be purchased at the destination, if need be). The skin on my face is sensitive, though, so I'd bring sunscreen that I know doesn't bother my face, at least. A bathing suit, if my destination is a warm country and I know my accommodation will have a pool.

All that said, my previous carryon bag, which I used as my primary luggage, because I usually don't check luggage, was a "Samsonite Small Underseater," and I carried several changes of clothes in it, toiletries, and at least one extra pair of shoes.

Note: re electronics. I believe items with batteries must be carried on and not checked, so that's a given.

Not sure I can add much more here, but this was one of my recent "personal item" packing lists. I use a backpack as my personal items and fold up my empty crossbody bag (purse) inside. I usually do carry-on, but always pack my kit and extra underwear etc. because you never know when you might have to gate-check your suitcase. Some items change depending on destination/weather of course.

kit (meds, etc)

passport

wallet w ID

ipad mini

phone

pen/paper

tylenol/ibuprofen

kleenex

masks

wipes

sunglasses

chargers/power bank/adapters

ear buds & airfly (bluetooth adapter for movies and tour radio, etc)

sleep mask, ear plugs

toothbrush/paste

1 set underwear/shirt/socks/leggings

small foldable bag

cross body bag

snacks

waterbottle (sometimes)

ball cap

Always put your extra eyeglasses and your prescription sunglasses in your personal item. Wear your money belt and make sure there’s room in your personal item for your small crossbody bag as they might force you to put it inside the personal item. If you are a solo traveler the money belt can go in the crossbody bag and you can wear it to the lavatory so your iPhone, passport, Real ID, Global Entry card, cash and credit cards are always with you. My thought process is keep in the money belt and crossbody bag the really truly important items. Personal item contains the next level of importance but less likely to be stolen such as hotel reservations and museum tickets, something to read, extra undies, toothbrush, tooth paste, chapstick, water bottle, cords and chargers, all prescription drugs, any basic OTC meds I might need on the plane, wet wipes, Kleenex, and similar items others have listed. Keep it simple as you can buy everything you need in Europe. This is more for convenience than necessity so if your checked bag is delayed you can function for 24-48 hours and you have time to make a list and go shopping when you want to, not because you have a crisis. Consider the day of the week when you are arriving and will stores such as Monoprix in France or El Cortes Ingles in Spain be open. If your feet require orthotics or anything other than women’s B width put your second pair of shoes in the personal item. No need to take an umbrella as it’s easy to buy one if you need it. I use this strategy for packing even if not checking a bag because at the last minute they might force me to gate check my carry on bag and I do not want to repack while the plane is boarding. I pack my carry on as though it’s a checked bag and assume I’ll have no access to it during the flight.

"I pack my carry on as though it’s a checked bag and assume I’ll have no access to it during the flight."

I think this is a very useful mindset. EARLY on in my "packing light" career, hahaha, I had to check my RS convertible backpack at check in (too inexperienced to know there might be a weight limit for carry-ons) and had to scrabble thru my bag on the floor at the check in counter to pull out my Kindle, charger and a few other essential items. Nothing like experience to train you on better packing techniques!

I also agree with what Buffalo articulated - "My thought process is keep in the money belt and crossbody bag the really truly important items. Personal item contains the next level of importance but less likely to be stolen". As a solo traveler this is also what I do. As mentioned above I have had to stow the small crossbody to go down the jetway on the small planes from Spokane to Seattle and back but not on the International legs of my flight itinerary.

For the OP, depending on your ticket class/airline you may also be able to use the overhead bin in addition to the underseat space. (why does autocorrect keep wanting that to be undersea space, hahaha...no I am not traveling in a submarine!)

Do you have a bag you are going to use for your personal item or are you shopping for that too? Plenty of enablers on the forum who can assist with recommendations, hahaha!

Like Buffalo, I pack my carry on as though it's a checked bag. I do have a cube with essentials I can pull out of the bag and toss in my personal item if I have to gate check my bag.