10 tips on how to be a pro at long flights
I am hopping on another 8+ flight, and as much as I love traveling, I dont know if I am ever really prepared. I always of course forget something, or don't bring enough. Instead why dont you learn from my mistakes and use these tips and tricks? Enjoy!
Prepare your entertainment. Make sure to charge up all your devices. Download movies or even seasons of your favorite shows (Friends is my favorite, but laughing outloud in a quiet airplane made a few people turn their heads). Stock up on magazines and books on your iPad or Kindle, no need for the extra weight of real books. Buy a quality set of headphones. And don’t bother planning to get any work done on your laptop, there is no such thing as elbow room.
Get comfortable. Change into a comfortable outfit before you board. I love my stretchy leggings, a soft tank top, a long sleeve t-shirt, a light blazer or cardigan, and compression socks. I also carry an extra pair of socks for if my feet get cold (common for window seat afecionados) and a scarf to use as a blanket or hide your face if you are a sleep-with-your-mouth-wide-open person.
How to really get some sleep. Alcohol will only make your sleep worse on a long haul flight. Opt for chamomile tea instead which can actually prove quite helpful in lulling you to sleep. Use the airline provided pillow as a lower back support, your neck pillow to cradle your head, and because the skin under your eyes is so sensitive, try wrapping the warm steeped tea bags in tisues and laying them on your eyes under your eye mask.
Quench your thirst. Purchase the largest bottle of water available before boarding the flight or bring a empy brita bottle with you and fill it at a water fountain. Hydration is everything. Avoid alcohol, caffeine and fizzy drinks. Try to cut back on alcohol and caffeine consumption during the flight as it will only make you more dehydrated and make it more difficult to sleep. Fizzy drinks can make you bloated, so stick to water and fresh juices. Also try to avoid heavy foods in flight as well – remember you are not burning many calories by sitting around for hours. Pre-ordering the strict vegetarian or vegan option is important! As for snacks, bring along vegetable sticks, fresh fruit, and almonds (stay away from smelly or loud foods that can be annoying to others).
Stay healthy. Planes are incubators for viruses, but there are plenty of ways to stay healthy! Make sure to wipe down the arm rests, seat belt fasteners, tray table, window pull, and wall next to my seat with sanitizing towelettes. Add a vitiman C boost (emergenC or Airbourne) to your water bottle after waking up for an extra boost of vitamins. And ALWAYS use a paper towel to open the bathroom door from the inside as you are exiting.
Pre-pack THIS. An in-flight toiletry case with the basics (toothbrush and toothpaste, your eyeglasses, face wash and lotion, eye cream, facial spray, lip balm, hand cream, a spare set of contacts) is something you should have with you on any flight that is more than 5 hours long. You can use any small toiletry kit, or any waterproof-lined bag (or even a Ziploc baggie) will do. I’ll also throw some makeup (concealer, powder, eyeliner, and mascara) into it. This case, along with medicine, electronics and headphones, stay in the seatback pocket in front of me.
Pack it best. If you don’t read anything else, READ THIS. I keep a small foldable bag pre-packed in my travel bag. Prior to boarding, I’ll put everything I’ll need during the flight inside it – my iPad and Kindle, headphones, snacks, water, my in-flight toiletry kit, neck pillow, eyemask – and place the bag in the space in front of me. My other bags go in the overhead bin, thus yielding more leg room AND with everything easily accessible. To prevent items from falling out of the bag, tie it closed using your scarf. Also, lie a magazine flat at the bottom of the bag, to ensure it stays upright. There are few things worse than rummaging through your bag, looking for something lodged at the very bottom, while jabbing your neighbor. Being in the middle seat may be one of them.
Choose an exit row. Exit rows have a ton of extra space and are often available for an extra fee. This extra fee is well worth the price to ensure your legs aren't crushed by the person in front of you.
Move around. Sitting for long periods of time can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis. Larger planes usually have space in the back to stretch. Walk the length of the plane a few times, stretch and touch your toes, reach for the ceiling, and let the blood flow. If the plane is not fully booked, you may be able to grab two or three seats together and stretch out to sleep.
Set your watch to the timezone of your destination. Jetlag is a common annoyance when traveling to long-haul destinations, so it’s a good idea to set your watch to the timezone of your destination as soon as you board the aircraft. Try to adjust your sleep patterns a few days prior to the flight and you’ll have a better chance of beating it. Typically forcing yourself to stay awake till the appropriate "bed-time" of your destination helps fix your body clock.