When she travels, Bilson needs a bag that can deliver — and that bag is called the Black Hole. It’s got two removable shoulder pads to be used like a backpack and a 40-liter capacity. “I’m a backpack hoarder — I have way too many backpacks,” she says. “I keep buying backpacks, but the one that never fails… is the Patagonia Black Hole. I’m telling you, that is the best carry-on I have ever experienced in all of my long years.”

Bilson leaves nothing to chance when dealing with germs. “I’m a crazy over-planner,” she says. “So even pre-pandemic, I was the person that had my Clorox wipes, Purell wipes, everything, to wipe down the whole area.”

While she brings an Apple iPad for her daughter, she doesn’t cheat herself out of it either. “I would always upload things to my iPad and binge shows because it’s the only time you have uninterrupted time to actually binge — and it’s wonderful,” Bilson says. “I do a little reality when I’m on an airplane, ‘Bachelor In Paradise’ being up there [as] one of my favorites.”

Bilson likes “a wire” when she brings her headphones on board. “I will not do Bluetooth — I’m anti-Bluetooth,” she says, opting for a lightweight over-ear model with a built-in microphone. Plus, they’re battery-free, so there’s no need to recharge them while you’re on the go. And, when it comes to playing in-flight entertainment, with cord headphones, there’s no need for a Bluetooth adapter in order to get the sound straight to your headphones. You can just plug in and listen.

For Bilson, comfort comes before anything else. And while others might jet around in heels, Bilson is quite happy with her snuggly footwear. “I am very old-fashioned. I like an actual book — if I’m going to read a book. I’m secretly 80 years old inside,” Bilson says. “I have my cozy socks and slippers in my carry-on. I do love Jenni Kayne’s slippers if you’re going higher end. They’re so comfortable.”

Along with her go-to slippers, Bilson is a big fan of keeping her feet on the comfortable side with a pair of cozy socks. “My cozy socks are from Target — I like to mix and match,” she says. “But I am a big advocate for comfy feet.” This pack of cozy socks comes complete with two pairs. They’re low-cut, so they’ll fit in most shoes, and they’re lightweight to avoid your feet getting overheated.

Bilson is a big believer in the healing powers of elastic waists and the forgiveness of stretchy fabric. “Sweatsuits are my uniform. Aviator Nation are the softest, coziest, dreamiest,” she says. “You need to be comfortable. Also, never fly in a jumper because you cannot pee, and like I said, I’m 80, so I pee about 10 times on a flight. I’m the person that is always getting up to use the bathroom.”

While Bilson is a fan of Aviator Nation products because of how they feel, her heart is with The Great when it comes style. “The Great are the cutest,” she says. This flower stamp cotton sweatshirt has a relaxed fit with a fun, dainty hand-stamped floral motif.

Like the professional traveler she is, Bilson makes sure her noggin has a place to rest. “I actually bring a real pillow, but I put two pillowcases on it because once I get to the place, I need to take off the dirty pillowcase that’s been on the airplane,” she says. This pillow from Coop Home Goods is customizable to your needs so you can get the right support for a good night’s sleep on any flight.

Bilson is super-retro when it comes to her airborne beauty. The Lip Smacker aficionado likes a particular flavor that’s actually hard to find. “What I always carry with me… is the Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker,” she says. “Because it moisturizes, but it’s also a little bit of color. So if you feel you need a little something, this is always in my bag,” she says.

Mask mandates may come and go, but Bilson is a permanent convert. “I’m never flying without a mask for the rest of my life,” she says. “I like the really heavy-duty masks, but I also like Kaze — they make comfortable KN95 masks. Kaze fits me the best and fits my daughter the best,” she says.