Many surveys have found that the number one item at the top of retirees’ bucket lists is travel. So, I found some cool travel gadgets that seniors (and anyone!) may consider acquiring before their next trip. But first, it may be important to cover some new regulations for carry-on suitcases and electronics.
CARRY-ON SUITCASE SIZE:
In 2025, some airlines have established uniform size standards for carry-on suitcases. Delta, Alaska, American and United, four of the carriers that fly out of Milwaukee’s Mitchell Airport, have established the size for carry-ons at 22x14x9 inches. Southwest Airlines and Frontier have a size restriction of 24x16x10. Spirit Airlines’ size restriction is 22x18x10. This includes wheels and handles, which is crummy because wheels and handles add many inches of unusable space. Some airlines also have size restrictions for your personal items – estimated to be 18x14x8 in the future. United currently states that your personal item should not measure no more than 17x10x9 in order to fit under the seat in front of you. There are rumblings that the next standard may be a weight restriction for carry-on suitcases next, but currently Frontier and Spirit are the only airlines who have a carry-on weight restriction – 35 pounds for Frontier and 40 pounds for Spirit.
ELECTRONICS
It’s important to have your electronics charged and functional as you go through security. There are security checkpoints in some airports where you could be asked to power on your laptop or tablet. If they don’t turn on, you may not be able to bring them with you.
And now for gadgets….! As a disclaimer, I am not sponsored by any of these items, nor am I endorsing any of them. There are many other similar brands and price points for similar products.
PORTABLE SCALE
Travel Inspira from Amazon $7.80
And if you are traveling internationally, you are probably going to check a bag and then the weight of the bag comes into play. Most airlines have a weight limit of 50 pounds, so a portable scale can be a great item to bring along with you on your trip. And, if you are notorious for buying a lot of souvenirs and may be in danger of going over your weight limit, this is a good gadget to have.
APPLE AIR TAGS
About $25 from Apple
On the same luggage theme, travelers have found that placing a tracking device in their checked luggage gives them peace of mind. A tracking device, such as an Apple Air Tag, has actually helped people in locating misplaced luggage.
TRANSLATOR PEN
Translator Pen 2.0 from Amazon $36
This cool little gadget can either scan print off a page, or you can talk into it and it gives you the translation. It speaks back to you so you can grasp the pronunciation of the phrase you need. I think I counted around 55 languages that you can choose from. I’ve been testing it and I know it is going to be very useful on my next international trip.
COMPRESSION SOCKS
A great suggestion is to invest in a pair of compression socks – especially for long flights. Compression socks:
- Promote better circulation.
- Reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other circulatory issues.
- Help prevent swelling in the legs.
- Lower the risk of blood clots.
- Reduce leg fatigue and fluid retention.
I remember on one international flight I took, I removed my shoes at the beginning of the flight, and when I went to put them back on when we landed, I could barely squeeze my feet into my shoes!
UMBRELLA
Davek about $100 at davekny.com
We all want to be prepared for any type of weather we may encounter on our trip, but that valuable real estate in your suitcase makes us be pretty choosy about what we pack. But it’s always smart to be ready for rain at your destination and this umbrella is wonderfully small and light.
TRAY TABLE COVER
Airplane Pockets from Amazon $30
We have all been advised to wipe down our airplane tray tables with a disinfectant cloth, but if you want to have peace of mind that your tray table is clean – this cloth tray table cover is reusable and also has storage pockets.
BENDABLE PHONE HOLDER
Flight Flap from Amazon $12.00
There are some new airplanes that have a little bracket that you can pull down from the seat in front of you where you can put your phone when you are watching a movie. Some do not, however, and you end up getting a cramp in your hand holding your phone in front of you for hours. There is this cool bendable phone holder that sticks into the tray table in the seat in front of you.
FOOT HAMMOCK
Basic Concepts Airplane Foot Hammock from Amazon $15
If we have a personal item that we have taken on board the aircraft and it takes up most of the space under the seat in front of you, we sometimes are at a loss of where to put our feet. There is such a thing as a foot hammock where you can comfortably put your feet during your flight.
WINDOW INSERT ORGANIZER
BevLedge window insert organizer from Amazon $20.00
For those who need more room for all your stuff at your window seat, you can take along this cool organizer that attaches to your window next to your window seat.
TRAVEL NECK PILLOW
Sarisun Travel Pillow with Eyemask from Amazon $19
I had never seen this style of pillow before, but it seems to take care of a bobblehead and also provides an eye mask.