Whether it’s a month spent backpacking through South America or a fortnight whiled away on the beach at an all-inclusive hotel, holidays are amazing! Unfortunately, they almost always start with hurtling through the air in a giant tin can with limited legroom and questionable bathroom facilities. Today I’m sharing some of my favourite travel tips for how to survive a long flight in (relative) comfort.
Time it Right
Night flights aren’t usually desirable, but when it comes to international travel, they might be the better option. If you’re going to be up in the air for seven hours or more then flying through the night means you don’t eat into any of your holiday time. Sleeping on a plane isn’t easy, but it’s possible. There are meditation apps you can download that help you drift off or you can bring along some ear plugs to block out the noise of the plane.
Jet lag can be difficult to avoid, but setting your watch to the time at your final destination can help you plan the best time to get some shut eye on the plane.
Get Comfy
Flying isn’t exactly a comfortable experience, particularly if you’re flying in economy class. But there are some things you can do to ensure you’ll be comfortable on a long haul flight.
To start, wear something stretchy. Yes, we’d all love to be the image of glamour and sophistication at the airport, but a pair of leggings and an oversized jumper are far more practical for long haul travel.
Top fashion tips for long haul travel:
- Wear leggings
- A bra without underwriting is your best friend
- Take an extra layer in case it’s cold
- Pack sleep socks
- Don’t even bother with makeup
- Look like a complete troll if necessary. Just make sure you’re comfortable.
Don’t forget your flight pillow and try to pick your seat ahead of time. You can usually do this for free if you check-in online 24 hours before your flight departs.
Avoid Feeling Gross
A long flight is always going to leave you feeling kind of grimy, but if you’re well-prepared you can easily manage your personal hygiene during a long haul flight. A change of clothes can help you feel a little fresher when you step off the plane. At the very least have a change of underwear with you. Trust me!
Carry some hand-luggage friendly toiletries like deodorant, a toothbrush and some toothpaste so you can spruce yourself up before the plane lands.
Make Food a Priority
Being stuck thousands of feet above the Earth with nothing to eat would be a complete nightmare for me. I get hangry pretty quickly. Pack an array of snacks. Requesting a special meal ahead of time ensures you’ll get your in-flight meal first. Even if you’re not a vegetarian, it’s worth forgoing meat for once to ensure you get served quicker. Do you really want to eat pre-packaged airplane meat anyway?
It’s easy to get dehydrated during a long flight so it’s essential to drink plenty of water. It’s worth taking an empty water bottle on the plane with you and asking a flight attendant to fill it up for you. That way you won’t have to ask for a dozen of those tiny little cups they have.
Keep Yourself Entertained
Keeping yourself entertained is an essential part of surviving a long haul flight. Make sure you pack a book, earphones, crossword puzzles or anything else that will help you while away the time. Some airlines don’t have a fantastic selection of in-flight films so if you have a tablet it’s worth downloading some films on the Netflix app before your flight.
Sure, long haul flights are kind of the devil (just saying), but hopefully these tips on how to survive a long flight can make your international travel a little more comfortable. And who knows? There’s always that chance that you’ll be bumped up to business class. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for that one!
Check out some of my favourite travel destinations right here on the blog for some extra travel inspiration!
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