Carry-on bags for long flights

I'm just this minute having a quick coffee break whilst in the process of packing suitcases and our hand luggage...

My lap top, camera and big lens go in my husband's rucksack (he can carry the heavy bag ) and I have a shoulder bag containing all the vital paperwork, passports, money, sunglasses and a magazine (I can't settle into a book with people around me). A clear plastic make-up bag with my eyeliner, lipstick, travel tooth brush/paste and asthma inhaler.
Last time we flew I forgot to include my inhaler in the clear bag and got hauled out at security whilst the simple blue inhaler and all my hand luggage possessions were subjected to thorough drugs testing! The ironic thing was they never bothered with my husband's bag that had gone through the same scanner yet he had my spare inhaler in his bag... Duh?
I will add a bottle of water once we are airside as (I cannot go anywhere without having a bottle of water to hand since having a kidney removed) I daresay a bag of sweets will find their way into the bag as well.
Even though we never play cards at home I always include a pack of cards as they are easy to carry and once kept us sane during the most dire 13 hour flight.
If it's long haul to a hot country I include a tee shirt/shorts to change into before landing.
I never think to include spare pants...I'd just go knicker-less and hope I don't trip over until I find a shop to purchase some.
Right...coffee break over now back to my packing :-)

Apart from purse, passport, hairbrush, tissues, etc (handbag always goes in small-ish carry on - I hate a lot of hand luggage)

Warm jumper if I'm not actually wearing it - (I'm always cold on planes)
Socks for same reason if I wasn't wearing any to start with
Kindle with at least 2 unread books
Plus very likely a paperback picked up at the terminal
Plus very likely a packet of Murraymints also picked up at the terminal
All the under-100 ml bits of make-up and toiletries inc, moisturiser and hand cream - still in their plastic bag from security
A small book of codewords and 2 pens, to make a change from reading.
One spare pair of knickers, just in case suitcase goes astray. Has never happened, but I did once arrive in Prague for a family wedding and realise that I'd completely forgotten to pack any knickers!
Thank God for an M&S in the centre somewhere.
On any flight over about 8 hours I'd take toothbrush and paste, too.

I echo janeainsworth and wildswan16. Now I always assume my hold luggage won't arrive with me! Consequently, here's my comprehensive list (which I keep on computer):

Carry-on case list:

In a clear plastic bag (in a zip pocket on the front of the case):

Spare contact lenses & 100ml bottle of solution
Liquid makeup, decanted into a small bottle
Moisturiser, decanted into small jar
Toothpaste (small tube)
Shampoo
Sun lotion
Sanitiser
Lip salve
Lipstick
Mascara
-----
Toothbrush
Deodorant
Pants
Socks
Bra
T shirt
Lightweight trousers
Long sleeved blouse
Sandals
Swimming costume
Sun hat (fold up one from Decathlon)
Pashmina
Specs
Book
Puzzle book
Travel adaptor
Sketch book, pencils & watercolour travel paints

I make sure there's enough room to put in my shoulder bag too (I use a Kipling squashy material bag). Some airlines don't allow a carry-on case and a hand bag. In here I have:

Purse
Travel documents inc passport
Hair brush
Sunglasses
Emery board
Tissues
Make up bag
Phone & charger
Pen
Sugar-free mints
Face wipes (make up remover)

Believe it or not, it all goes in!

Ipad, iPhone and crucially, noise cancelling headphones. There are other bits and pieces, but my technology is my priority.

Over-ear headphones as I find the ones that go in my ears make my ears ache after a little while.

Wow I'm amazed at the things some people take. I always have medication and jewelry with me plus money passport and travel docs. Also spare pants, toothbrush, lipstick, tissues, phone, book. Don't wear much make up so no need for remover. Dont see the need for wipes. If the worst comes to the worst can probably buy the rest.

Having had my luggage mislaid on several occasions, I take a spare pair of sandals, complete set of clothes (summer ones) + my toiletries. Only do this on the way out, push everything into the case for the return, as in my youth I was without any change of clothes for a week but other girls were very generous in lending me their stuff. Then DH and I had our luggage stolen from the car on the way from Malaga airport to Seville so had nothing but my overpacked hand luggage. You really need an M&S when all your knickers have been nicked!

Take a fabric soft bag as carry on as it crumples to fit a small space, always a swimming costume and a sarong/wrap. If your hold luggage gets lost then you can lie by the pool, swim and as an earlier poster wrote double as a dress. Knickers and bra you can hand wash. Your soft bag will take your handbag, cards, passports, comb and a face moisturiser. SWIMMING COSSIE essential

I have arrived on many occasions to find my suitcase has not travelled with me (worst case a 7 day river cruise when the baggage arrived on day 7). My carry on baggage therefore includes 3 days of underwear, shorts, long trousers, 3 tops, 3 dresses, cardigan, nightie, sandals, socks, shoes, bikini, spare spectacles, sunglasses, scarf (to cover hair in Muslim countries and as a sarong poolside).
For immediate use handkerchiefs, toothpaste and toothbrush, moisturiser, lip balm, medication, comb, iPad, phone, books, pen, snacks or even a packed lunch if it's a cheapo airline. These go in a bag which I remove from my carry on luggage and place under my seat to use during the flight. I hate people rummaging in the overhead locker mid flight, so dangerous.

I take a very large handbag but have never thought of packing spare pants. I will now! I carry a book, specs, medication, tissues, wet wipes, purse, a bottle of water, lip balm, sunglasses (for the journey to the hotel), sweets, and a pen.

As we often travel 13+ hours followed by another flight with a few hours in transit, I take quite a lot, in fact probably all of what other posters have said they take.
Using a soft fabric bag isn't possible if you have 7 hours in transit so I use a 4 wheel trolley case which is easy to push around plus a handbag.

Every time I say that I must try to travel lighter but it never seems to be possible.

They do provide showers and toiletries in the transit lounges at the airport, but I like to take my own small bottles.

It does depend where you are going and what type of holiday!Swimming costume would have been no help on some of mine!

Can't help feeling a bit cross with people who board with mini suitcases and proceed to fill up the overhead lockers so others can't use them.
I've rarely seen anyone with less than a hand-luggage size suitcase or bag on a long haul flight!
And there always seems to be plenty of room in the overhead lockers for them.

Not on Ryan Air though - lock your hand luggage as they may put it in the hold.

I have to take friendly and polite exception to Nanny27’s comments about people with “mini suitcases” in the overhead compartments. That’s what those compartments are for. We’re each allowed one and I use that allowance fairly.
I am a photojournalist. And I am always traveling alone. My “mini suitcase” contains my cameras, lenses, audio equipment, computer, drives, chargers, etc. That “mini suitcase” carries my life’s savings and my livelihood. It’s my office-away-from-home. It never leaves my sight! No way could it go through regular baggage. It also includes a folder with copies of flight and travel documents, some spare underwear, tiny hairbrush, toothpaste and brush (well wrapped)
My carry-on purse then contains a phone, RX meds, ibuprofen, minty gum, Kindle, notebook, another set of travel docs, totemic pics of the grandbabies, good water bottle (filled at airport fountain) a sandwich and some snacks.
Also, because I am an optimist and wilderness first responder, I always carry a good compass, a loud dog whistle, small mag light, and a magnesium fire starter just in case the plane goes down and we somehow survive and I have to lead a bunch of video obsessed couch people to safety through the wilderness.

On a flight from Auckland to Hong Kong, I was amazed at passengers carrying on cartons containing wide-screen TV sets as hand luggage. Air New Zealand was evidently very accommodating!

I always travel with just hand luggage for every holiday/ visiting my children abroad. Delta allow a cabin suitcase and a handbag so that’s plenty for a week to ten days. I can’t travel without my knitting or crochet projects though, especially on a long flight.
Since my boys were little I have always had a packing trick. When I replace underwear, I always keep the old sets, use them on holiday and throw them away. Also if it is a casual holiday I take t shirts that can be ditched as well.
Used to save me washing a large number of pants etc when on holiday with 3 boys!
I also keep my last bits of make up when I’m getting near the ends of bottles and tubes, then use them up on holiday and throw the empties away.

Certainly didn't mean to offend anyone with my 'mini suitcases comment, Grannyfirstlight and folk like you with specialist equipment must of course be able to take it as cabin baggage. However, there is not enough overhead space for all passengers to do this and the travellers I was referring to were the ones who use small cases to top up their baggage allowance.

Having just returned home after a 6.5 hour flight, I would also add 'DVT flight socks'. Mine were brilliant! I chose a jigsaw pattern for a bit of fun

I take everything everyone said. And chocolates as gift for family member.

Useful packing tips here, thanks. I also take most of what has been already mentioned but also have the foreign currency money in a separate purse so I am not faffing about trying to find it when we arrive. I've never packed my travel adapter though but it makes sense to include it. I keep small toiletry bottles topped with cleanser, sun lotion (useful to have in handbag instead of a heavy one) etc. Often when at the dentist you can ask for a trial size tube of toothpaste - which also goes in.

I like those Lewie - much nicer than the boring black ones!!
The trial tubes of toothpaste are very good because the ones the airlines give you are scarcely enough for a good clean.

Most frequently left behind on aircraft is wallets (assumable men who take it out and put it in the pocket of the seat in front of them) --
However, ladies please be wary, even on a plane you can have someone lift your passport and wallet - off you go to the WC and you have no idea who can pick up something from your bag -- always put your passport into a passport holder on your body!

Having spent 20 years of my life taking long haul flights, 16 of them with children, I would recommend a minimum of clean undies and possibly a t-shirt. If you get stuck in a hotel overnight there are normally toiletries available so perhaps only moisturiser of choice. If travelling with the children I took far more, spare clothes, nappies, snacks and so on.

I also take any valuable items in my carry on bag - jewellery, iPad, Kindle - plus a hand bag. I have a reasonable sized tote bag for all that, don't get me started on those small, rolling suitcases.....!!!!

so perhaps only moisturiser of choice.
I would add toothpaste and deodorant, as hotels, airport lounges don't usually provide those and the tubes of toothpaste given on the plane are enough for one clean!