11 amazing gifts that every frequent flyer secretly wants
Keen to elevate life at 35,000 feet and beyond? Craig Grannell shares smart, stylish ideas for the frequent flyer in your life – or for upgrading your own carry-on game
19/11/2025
Whether you’re jet-setting for work or escaping on a well-earned getaway, these smart, style-conscious finds promise to make every journey smoother and your carry-on infinitely cooler. From sleep tech that silences the world to great ideas that squeeze genius into the tiniest of spaces, these are the gifts you’ll actually want to give (and receive).
HydraPak Mountain Stow
You don’t have to be in the wilderness refilling from a mountain stream to justify this bottle – but the vibe fits. However, even in the most concrete jungle, it delivers hydration on the go in fine style, with its gorgeous mountain design, flip-top cap and spill-proof valve. And for portability, it’s the best, weighing in at a barely perceptible 45g and collapsing almost flat when empty. £18
Loop Quiet 2 earplugs
For frequent flyers who just need a moment of peace, these Loop earplugs do the job without fuss. With 24dB of noise reduction, they block engine hum, talkative neighbours or hotel corridor chatter–perfect for when you want to simply zone out mid-flight, have a moment of calm (read: nap) or need to focus on that book you’re intent on finishing. Sleek, comfy and reusable, they slip in effortlessly, letting your ears enjoy some well-earned quiet. £19.95
Polaroid Now+
Digital snaps are easy to scroll past, but a physical photo is a memory that sticks. This instant camera is more than an exercise in nostalgia, though. The gorgeous retro shell is twinned with fantastic features such as a timer and double exposure. Pair with the companion app and you can add remote shooting, long exposures, manual mode and, for the best of both worlds, digital scanning. £139.99
Ola alphabet initial jewellery box
When you need to pack light, even travel jewellery boxes tend to stay at home. Not this one from Oliver Bonas. It’s small enough to slip into any carry-on, all the while keeping your treasures safe, organised and tangle-free. Inside are two compartments and a ring-holder strip. Outside, the pop of blue is impossible to miss when packing, and the bold initial ensures everyone knows exactly whose box it is. £14.50
Urbanista Phoenix hybrid ANC headphones
If the move to wireless headphones fills you with anxiety about battery life, you needn’t move back to wires and dongles. Instead, these earbuds feed off the sun. More specifically, their (admittedly chunky) case gulps down the sun’s rays to charge your buds, making for the rather surreal situation that they’ve often got more – not less – charge than when you last set them down. £139
Tinned Goods travel playing cards
You probably already own several decks of cards, but none like this one. This Oliver Bonas set comes in a uniquely cool, colourful and durable metal box. The cards are just as striking, each suit smacking your retinas with bold colours that mean nobody’s going to confuse a nine of hearts with a nine of diamonds. And with designs this vivid, it’s trivially easy to spot a sneaky ace up someone’s sleeve. £15
Backbone One
This controller snaps on to your smartphone, transforming it into a handheld gaming powerhouse. With a full set of tactile controls and lag-free play, you’ll be ready for anything, from retro classics to modern AAA epics. It draws power directly from your phone when you’re on the move, but pass-through charging means marathon sit-down sessions are only limited by your skill, not your battery. £99.99
TRTL Pillow Plus
Conventional travel pillows often can’t cope with the brutal ergonomics of long-haul travel. But the TRTL lets you tailor a comfy scaffold for better neck and head alignment and more restful sleep. Combined with a SnoozeBand, you’ll be able to nod off just about anywhere. And because the TRTL collapses down to the size of a book, you won’t lose sleep worrying about carry-on space, either. £79.99
SnoozeBand 2.0
When you need to totally shut out the world, SnoozeBand wraps your head in cool, breathable comfort, gently covering your eyes and ears with its light blocking design. Its ultra-thin speakers stream your favourite tunes (or the free SnoozeBand app’s calming loops) straight into your ears, creating the ultimate cocoon. Battery life stretches to 12 hours of playback on a single charge – enough for a long-haul flight, overnight hotels stays and to beat jet lag in style. £44.99
Hightide Paper Soap
The humble bottle of hand soap is a poor travel companion, prone to leaks and reliant on single-use plastic. This alternative is smarter. Each colourful package houses 40 wafer-thin sheets that foam easily when wet, providing just the right amount of soap to leave your hands refreshed. Various fragrances (and one fragrance-free option) are available, each of which has its own charming design. £7.99
MOFT snap-on stand & wallet
This sliver of MagSafe-compatible vegan leather is, first, a minimalist snap-on wallet for your three most essential cards. But its true genius lies in origami-inspired engineering that lets you transform the wallet into a versatile kickstand for propping up your phone when on a call or watching videos. It’s a deceptively simple fix for your phone’s biggest ergonomic flaw: the fact you have to hold it. £29.99
Looking for even more reasons to fly to Europe this winter? With 100-plus destinations to choose from, complimentary refreshments on board and Avios to collect, British Airways’ travel essentials make your journey that much more enjoyable. Learn more here
