There are pros and cons to traveling, and one of the biggest cons is flying. No one actually LIKES the act of flying – they like the act of GOING somewhere. I mean, recycled air, long lines, tiny (and probably dirty) bathrooms, delays, overpriced food, and poor airline etiquette is enough to make anyone grumpy. Put all that together with a long flight and you may start your vacation on a bad foot.
I’ve taken a number of long hauls and long flights – both good and bad. My longest direct flight was 16 1/2 hours from JFK airport in New York City to Johannesburg, South Africa (which was then followed by another flight to Cape Town). My longest travel time was 34 hours due to delays in the flight and changes in airplanes.
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Here are my tips for long-haul flights.
1. Prepare before hand
Sleeping on a plane is not comfortable no matter what pillow or blanket you have. My key in succeeding to sleep on a plane is basic psychology- some classical conditioning – of myself. I’ll get to how I sleep on a plane in a little bit- but before the trip, you want to start preparing yourself. Start sleeping with an eye mask and earplugs about a week before the trip. This will give your body a chance to get used to sleeping with it. If you can’t sleep with something on your face in your own bed, then you won’t be able to do it on a plane. If you put the mask on right before bed, you’ll condition your body to know it’s time for sleep when the mask goes on.
2. Shower before the flight
It’s a long day or two, and you’re going to be surrounded by germs all day. If you’re lucky you won’t sweat, but statistically speaking it’s hot on an airplane before they turn the air on. You do not want to be already dirty on arrival to the airport, so take a shower and at least start with a clean slate.
3. Choose a preferred seat (aisle, in my opinion, but to each their own)
Nowadays you may have to pay a little more for the ability to choose your own seat, but on an overnight flight (6+ hours or longer) you should pick a seat you like. I know a lot of people prefer window seats because of space and the ability to rest your head on the window – however you won’t be looking at the window most of the flight. Also, you’d have to deal with bothering two people (who may be sleeping) to get up for the bathroom. I prefer the aisle because of the space available and the ability to get up and walk around whenever I want. This is important for anyone with knee, back, or hip pain. It can also help prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or blood clots from staying still too long. (Compression socks can also help prevent clots and from feet swelling.)
*Tip: Don’t sit at the very front or very back of the plane. Typically young kids sit at the front or the back of the plane.
4. Wear comfortable clothes.
This may be a no-brainer, but every time I fly I see outfits that make me cringe. Up-do’s and high heels are not conducive to a long flight. Since I try to carry on for most of my trips, I wear my heaviest items on the plane – sneakers, jeans, a shirt, and a sweatshirt. I know, I’m weird because I sleep in jeans – but they take up a lot of space in a small carry-on! If you’re not carrying on, feel free to wear whatever is more comfortable.
5. Pack your personal item for the plane, not the trip.
You know those people who take forever to sit in their seats during boarding? Typically, they are taking stuff out of their carry-on and putting it on their seat, before they put the carry-on away, and then move everything from the seat into the pocket before sitting down. Learn how not to be them. Pack your personal item for the flight. This means any tablets, chargers, earbuds, headphones, sleep mask, food, and anything else should be in this bag. That way it’s all easily accessible and at your feet. You don’t have to worry about getting up and disrupting passengers or not being able to find something. Side note, I don’t usually use chapstick, but I use it religiously on a plane.
*Tip: Pack sanitizing wipes and wipe down the headrest, tray table and armrests. Studies have shown these are the dirtiest parts of the plane*
6. Plan for sleep
I told you we would return back to this. Now you’ve gotten to the airport, you planned ahead of time, in comfortable clothing, ready to get some shut-eye. Sleeping on a plane will help you combat jet lag and help the time go faster on the plane. I pretty much have my routine down for the flight at this point. While in line for boarding or just upon boarding the plane I take two Tylenol/Motrin/Advil PM/ZzzQuil (whatever I have at home). These take anywhere from 30-60 min to kick in for me (each person is different). Also, I don’t take these medicines if the flight is less than 7 hours due to grogginess. If you prefer not to take pills, you can try the ZzzQuil or melatonin to help you fall asleep.
Then it’s time for the headphones, earplugs/buds and sleep mask. Remember, you prepared for this! Hopefully, now you’ll be able to get some shut-eye.
7. Waking up plan
Yes, you should have a plan for when you wake up. Whether it’s an eight-hour flight or a sixteen-hour flight, you don’t want morning breath. Pack a travel toothpaste and brush or mouthwash or gum. Drink water. The air on the plane is dry and water will help you feel refreshed. It will also help with jet lag. A long-haul flight is just that – REALLY REALLY LONG!
8. Stock up on entertainment
Even if your flight says they have entertainment, plan as if it doesn’t. You never know if your seat won’t have power (yes, this has happened), or a technology issue where the whole system has to be reset or turned off (also happened). Download at least two different types of movies or shows. You don’t know what you’ll be in the mood for on the plane (drama, comedy, etc.). If you have more than one device, split the show between them to allow for charging. I’ll typically do an episode on my phone before I go to sleep. The next episode would be on a tablet, so the phone can charge.
*Pack a real book – one with pages that you flip. Whether it’s a novel, short stories, crossword or a word search. The harsh screens hurt our eyes, and your eyes may need a break for a time.
