Are you planning on taking a long-haul flight soon and need tips for how to survive a long flight? It can be exhausting and uncomfortable on a long flight, and although it’s worth it to get to your destination, the flight doesn’t have to be miserable! As someone who has now been in several fights that are 8+ hours long (the longest being 14.5 hours!), I have figured out some helpful tips and tricks that I’m excited to share. My long flight tips for making the best of a long flight will help you fly stress-free and in comfort, regardless of whether you booked your seat in economy or first class!
Before the Flight
Before your long flight, I highly recommend doing these things to ensure you’re prepared and ready to sit on the plane for several hours. Before every long-haul flight, I recommend walking as much as you can; this will get your blood moving and help prevent you from feeling restless on the airplane. You also can get any extra energy out that will hopefully help you relax and sleep on the plane.
Also, make sure you grab snacks and hydrate as much as possible. While the airline will provide meals, they don’t always have snacks in between. Sometimes the meals just aren’t enough, and you might find yourself still feeling a bit hungry when you’re waiting for your next meal. This is why I always make sure to grab a snack in the airport if I didn’t bring any from home!
Hydration is key to feeling your best while on the airplane and when you land. It’s so easy to get dehydrated when flying, even easier when you’re on a long-haul flight. It may seem obvious, but it is worth noting to make sure to drink a good amount of water before you get on the plane so that you go on hydrated!
Where to Sit
If you’re picking your seat ahead of time, you need to consider what is important to you. Do you want to be closer to the front so you can get off quicker?
Do you want to be on the aisle so you can get up frequently to use the bathroom and walk around?
If you want to sleep, you may want to be in a window seat so you aren’t being bumped into or disturbed by people walking in the aisle. These are all important things to think about when you’re selecting your seat!
Additionally, you can also use a website like Aerolopa to get a better idea of which seat might be the best option on your flight.
What to Wear
For a long-haul flight, you want to dress comfortably in layers. I recommend wearing either leggings, sweatpants, or loose comfortable jeans. On top, you will want to wear a breathable shirt that you can add a cardigan or sweatshirt over in case the plane is cold.
Generally, on long-haul flights, the temperature is kept pretty cool, and it can get chilly! However, I have also been on long flights where I think they forgot to turn on the AC because it was incredibly hot and uncomfortable. This is why you should always wear layers, as the temperature of the plane can be unpredictable!
Additionally, always make sure you wear compression socks on long-haul flights. These help your blood circulation since you are sitting for such long periods of time and not moving too much.
You’ll also want to wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off for when you get out of your seat!
What to Do
I won’t point out the obvious two options that you can do on a long flight, which is sleep or watch a movie, but I will list out a few other ideas to help the time go by quicker!
- Download the airline app to access their benefits such as in-flight wifi or games
- Listen to music
- Listen to a podcast
- Read
- Do a craft (embroidery needles, small embroidery scissors, crochet hooks, and knitting needles are usually allowed on airplanes, just check the airport’s policies you’re flying out of!)
- Journal
- Go for a walk in the aisles
- Brush your teeth
- Do a crossword
- Drink water regularly
- Catch up on work
- Go through your photos on your phone and delete duplicates/photos you don’t want
What to Pack
When you’re packing your personal bag for a long-haul flight, here are the things I recommend you make sure to bring with you to have on the plane!
- Water bottle that you can fill up at the airport and have with you to drink on the airplane
- Snacks for if you get hungry inbetween meals
- Book to read when you get bored
- Wire headphones to plug in to watch movies (the free ones are always terrible)
- Eye mask to help you sleep
- Earplugs for when you sleep
- Phone charger, most airplanes now have an outlet where you can charge your phone
- Headphones for listening to music and podcasts
- Sweatshirt if you aren’t wearing it on the plane, to get cozy/warm if the plane is cold, or use as an extra pillow
- Toothbrush and toothpaste to brush your teeth
- Hand sanitizer
- Sanitizer wipes if you like to wipe down your seat/table
- Neck pillow
- Tissues
Related Article: What to Pack for a Long Haul Flight
Tips for Sleeping
Book a Window Seat
If you’re able to book a window seat on your flight, I highly recommend this if you plan to sleep. This will prevent anyone from waking you up to get up from their seat, and also you won’t get bumped by people passing by in the aisle. You also get a bit more room to yourself to curl up and relax to help you fall asleep quickly.
Noise Cancelling Headphones
Either bring noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs to help block out the noise of other passengers on the airplane. I prefer to use my AirPods with noise-canceling and playing white noise quietly since I’m a light sleeper. However, if you prefer, you can always just use foam earplugs as well, which help block out noise.
Bring an Eye Mask
If you plan to sleep on the plane a comfortable eye mask is essential! Even when they make the airplane dark for everyone to sleep, the lights from the kitchen where the flight attendants prepare the meals, as well as the bright screens of those who aren’t sleeping, can make it even more difficult for you to fall asleep. This is why packing an eye mask is very important if you plan to sleep on your flight!
Wake Up Early Before Your Flight
Don’t pull an all-nighter the night before your long flight. But do wake up a couple of hours early so that you’re a bit tired before your flight and can fall asleep more easily while on the plane!
If you pull an all-nighter, you’ll feel like a zombie, and you don’t want to mess up your body clock right before you get to your destination. This will likely make the jet lag even worse!
So, make sure to only cut out a couple of hours instead of several the night before your flight!
Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine
Usually, long-haul flights offer free beer and wine to all passengers. If you want to have an easier time falling and staying asleep, I recommend avoiding alcohol and caffeine. Alcohol raises your body temperature and also disrupts your sleep. You are also likely aware that caffeine also makes it difficult to fall asleep. It’s best to avoid these if you want a decent sleep on the plane!
Wrap Up
If you’re flying on a long-haul flight soon, I hope these long flight tips help you have the most comfortable and stress-free flight! From tips on what to do and how to get the best sleep, to choosing the best seat, we’ve covered it in this guide!
Flying doesn’t have to be a drag. When you’re prepared, especially with these long haul flight tips, it can be a nice break before you get to your destination! Happy travels!
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