Best Flight Attendant-approved Black Friday Deals

As a travel writer who spends at least eight months of the year “gallivanting around the globe” — my mom’s words, not mine — I spend more time with flight attendants than I do with my family. But, don’t cry me a river. I learn so much from these fine folks who make flying the friendly, and not-so-friendly, skies as comfortable as possible. I take cues from them in times of turbulence. I heed their recommendations regarding which entrees I should order (pro tip: stay away from the pasta). And most importantly: I pay attention to what they wear and pack in their bags. They may not need a college degree to advance in their career, but when it comes to travel, flight attendants are the utmost experts. 

May 31 is International Flight Attendant Day, but like us plebeians, most flight attendants circle Black Friday on their calendars first. Whether you’re a Lufthansa loyalist or you’re naming your first daughter Delta, the week before Thanksgiving is the best time to stock up on travel essentials. Eager to get a jump start on my own shopping, I recently reached out to a few flight attendants to see if they’d share what was on their wish lists. 

In between trips they graciously revealed the deals they’re currently eyeing at Amazon during its Black Friday sale. Paying the favor forward, I’m now sharing them with you. See below for their top 15 picks, and don’t forget: the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allows passengers to give gifts to flight attendants. If you enjoy exemplary service, or regularly fly a specific route and are on a first-name basis with the cabin crew, consider gifting them something special this holiday season. 

Lovevook Laptop Backpack

“Cute and practical” is how my friend Shea Kepler, a Denver-based flight attendant I’ve known since high school, describes this stylish backpack with plenty of pockets (19 to be exact) and an impressive 4.7-star average rating. She told me her colleagues praise this bag, too. In a way, it’s almost become part of their uniform. “Because I’m a flight attendant, I will have to use the backpack more often than most, which will eventually cause wear/tear,” wrote one Amazon shopper. “However, the backpack is affordable so I don’t mind buying it again in the future if needed.”

PrettyGarden Women’s Off-shoulder Elastic-waist Jumpsuit

If flight attendants didn’t have a dress code, they’d probably show up rocking this comfy PrettyGarden jumpsuit with pockets. “You can wear this to the beach for a nice casual look or put on a belt, heels, blazer, and necklace to dress up for a night out,” wrote one flight attendant. Another flight attendant, who wore this with fellow cabin crew members, wrote: “We call ourselves the sisterhood of the traveling jumpsuit!” It has more than 36,000 five-star ratings and currently comes in 32 colors. I’m obviously not a flight attendant, but I bought one in navy blue in 2020 for a trip to Portugal. Four years later, I still get compliments when I wear it out. 

Covergirl Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm

Mallorie Hammond, an United Airlines flight attendant for the past 11 years, believes the best lip balms are dual-purpose. “I love when they tint as well as hydrate,” she told me. While Hammond is personally a fan of Kari Gran Lip Whip (regularly $25), this more affordable option from Covergirl is just $5 and has nearly 6,000 five-star ratings. “Gives you an oomph without having to deal with the sticky mess of a melting lipstick,” wrote one shopper who enjoyed wearing it on a trip to Spain and Morocco. 

Simplified Skin Rosewater Mist Toner

Hammond, who doesn’t get to the spa as often as she’d like because she has two babies at home, is also obsessed with this rose water from Simplified Skin. “It’s so nice and relaxing on long flights,” she told me. Shoppers of all skin types say the scent is subtle and the results are immediate. In fact, this spray is so popular that more than 4,000 were purchased in the last month alone. “I originally started using rosewater to take with me for refreshing my face during airline travel,” said one five-star review. “However, I enjoyed it so much that I now use it daily, even at home, to replace my facial toner.”

Bentgo Classic Adult Bento Box

Like Hammond, flight attendant Alex Linardos packs a lunch instead of buying airport food or airline snack boxes. His favorite container right now is the Bentgo Classic, which has nearly 34,000 five-star ratings and features three compartments, two of which are separated by an insulated layer for the included utensils. “This box is a travel hack,” he told me before explaining that it’s perfect for families, too. And it’s not just for flying. I recently purchased one for my dad for our upcoming Hurtigruten Northern Lights cruise. He has type 1 diabetes and needs healthy snacks within reach 24/7. 

Oral-B Pro 1000 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush 

Allison Uno — who followed in her mom’s heels and became a flight attendant in Hawaii — prides herself on her pearly whites. “I love Oral B’s electric toothbrushes, especially this one because it’s pink,” she told me. With more than 8,000 sold in the last month alone, the original Oral-B Pro 1000 is a top-seller on Amazon’s list of Best Sellers in Rotating Power Toothbrushes. The battery lasts about 10 to 12 days on a single charge. Personally, I don’t like to have to pack a charger, so I travel with the Suri Electric Toothbrush, which can go 40 days in between charges. Normally $116, it’s currently $87 at Amazon for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

Musicozy Sleep Headphones

Even though Uno has been a flight attendant for 16 years, she still has a hard time falling asleep when she’s away from home. Fortunately, she found a better alternative to counting sheep. “This sleeping mask with Bluetooth speakers is amazing for sleeping on the plane and in hotels,” she told me. It has more than 11,500 five-star ratings and offers up to 14 hours of listening time between charges and unlimited hours of total darkness. “I won’t travel without it,” wrote one shopper, who appreciates the recessed pockets that put zero pressure on their eyes and the breathable material that keeps their face from overheating.

Charmking Compression Socks 3-pair 

Uno never boards a long flight without wearing compression socks, and personally, she’s loyal to Charmking. The brand is beloved by flight attendants, and its popular three-pack boasts more than 52,000 five-star ratings and is ranked No. 1 on Amazon’s list of Best Sellers in Women’s Compression Knee-high Socks. They currently come in 40 different color combos and offer 15-20 mmHg of pressure — that’s enough to prevent swelling caused by sitting for hours on end at cruising altitude. Of course, these socks are also made for movement and come recommended by athletic trainers whose clients need to boost their circulation to prevent sore legs and feet. One traveler called them a “must” for 10,000-step days. 

Dearfoams Women’s Memory Foam Slippers

As a flight attendant, Valerie Fraser has seen more hotels in a year than most people see in a lifetime. That said, she tries not to look too closely at their floors. “They can be littered with dirt and grime, so I always bring a pair of slippers,” she told me. She loves these because the memory foam feels “luxurious.” If you’re willing to go up a bit in price for more support and warmth, I personally travel with Bear Paw slippers. They have several styles up to 50 percent off at Amazon right now. 

Biodance Bio-collagen Real Deep Mask

After putting on her slippers, the first thing Fraser does when she gets to her room is pamper herself. “Planes are infamous for drying out your skin, so I love having a hydrating mask on hand to do at the hotel,” she said. This Black Friday, Fraser is stocking up on these hydrogel masks that can brighten, moisturize, and minimize pore size — overnight. They’re so popular that more than 100,000 were sold in the last month. “I recently went on a trip overseas and after all that flying my skin was suffering,” wrote one shopper in their five-star review. “I wore this overnight and my skin was so hydrated! It’s now a staple in my routine.”

Epicka Universal Travel Adapter

Fraser also always travels overseas with a universal travel adapter that lets her plug in multiple devices simultaneously. With an impressive 4.7-star average rating, this adapter from Epicka features three USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and a traditional plug-in that’s compatible with pretty much every type of plug in the world (it works in more than 200 countries). “No other adapter/converter should even cross your mind. After taking a worldwide trip with this, I am sure that this is the best adapter on the market,” stated a review titled “Rate it six stars if I could.” 

Charmast Portable 10,000 mAh Charger With Built-in Cables

In addition to collecting passport stamps, Fraser collects power banks. “I can never have enough,” she told me before adding, “This one is amazing because all the cords you need are attached.” You don’t need to pack a single cord. Even the input cable is attached. This TSA-approved power bank charges up to six devices at a time, is about the size of a phone, and weighs next to nothing. Nearly 80 percent of its 6,500-plus ratings have earned five stars, many left by frequent fliers. “I took this charger on a three week trip that put it to the test: boat rides, plane rides, hiking, camping in the snow, etc.,” recalled one shopper. “It held up to everything!” 

Mophie 20,000 mAh Powerstation XL Power Bank

If you need enough power to charge a tablet or laptop, consider this 20,000 mAh TSA-approved portable power station. “Mophie is my favorite brand,” said Linardos, who relies on this power bank when he’s on planes without working outlets. This particular model can charge three devices at once and comes with a two-year warranty. “I had it for almost one year and it still works like new!” said one rave review. “I can charge my phone from about 20 percent to 100 percent four times in one charge.” 

Apple AirTag

Just because Linardos works for an airline, doesn’t mean his bags don’t get lost. He knows this all too well, and that’s why he refers to Apple AirTags as “a travel accessory must-have.” Simply stash one in your checked bag, or carry-on, and download Apple’s Find My app. Within seconds, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with being able to locate your precious belongings (some travelers make their kids wear them). One shopper who unknowingly dropped their wallet on a trip said the Apple AirTag they used to find it “saved” their vacation. 

Riemot Luggage Travel Cup Holder

This flight attendant-approved luggage cup holder helps free your hands when you’re traveling through a busy airport. Keep coffee at the ready for those early flights without needing to juggle it while trying to fish your passport out of your bag. “As a flight attendant, I purchased this for myself and as a gift for someone else. We both have received many compliments walking throughout airports,” one person said. “They hold bottles small and fairly large, as well as place your phone in the other compartment. I highly recommend if you travel frequently. It’s been a nice addition to my travels and making it hands-free to not carry my coffee and phone. I find it fairly sturdy.”

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