How to Survive a Long-Haul Flight

One question I get a lot is, “How do you survive all those long flights?” Before we delve into this question, I do have an admission to make. I have never flown first-class…I’m too cheap, er, frugal. I consider the price of the first-class seat as money better spent toward a future adventure. I know sitting with the masses is not for everybody but I just wanted full disclosure that my tips are geared toward folks seated in the economy section like me where we need all the help we can get. 😊

I tell people I don’t really focus on the length of the flight but there are three things I always do no matter how long the flight is: I focus on my destination and allow my excitement to take over, I prepare my mind and body before I get to the airport and I board the plane with a plan to keep myself occupied for the majority of the time I am in the air. Still need help surviving those long-haul flights? Here are my 13 tips.

Choose Your Seat
Where you sit can make all the difference. For long-haul flights, I always select an aisle seat as I want to have the flexibility to get up and move around at leisure without disturbing others. Every few hours, I get up and stretch, head to the bathroom or just stand in the aisle to keep the blood flowing through my extremities.

Get Your Body Ready
The day before my flight I spend some time being active – walking, hitting the gym, practicing yoga or stretching in preparation for spending the majority of the next 24 hours in a seated position. I also make sure I’m well-rested, too, or at least not overly tired as being exhausted and then expecting to catch up on sleep on the plane can easily backfire.

Plan Your Flight Time
This tip is huge and helps me immensely. I mentally prepare myself by visualizing the time I will be in the air. I break the time into eight-hour increments to simulate my workday – once I get over the first eight hours, the rest comes much easier. I plan activities to keep me occupied for at least five of the eight hours – I design jewelry so I always have my sketchbook and colored pencils to work on new designs, I bring along itineraries for my upcoming trips, I have my tablet loaded with books I have been planning to tuck into, I watch a movie or two or draft articles for my blog. I try to make the best of the “downtime” I have while in transit to my destination and find I’m way busier and more productive at 30,000 feet than I can ever be on the ground.

Power Up
I fully charge all my devices before I leave home and I pack all my chargers and USB cables and even my overseas power adapters in my carry-on so my devices never run out of juice. I always travel with an external charging device as a backup just in case the plane has no power ports or my assigned ones are not working.

Bring Back-Up Entertainment
I download any music, books or movies I intend to watch onto my computer, tablet or phone before leaving home just in case I’m not impressed with the onboard options. I never assume I’ll have WIFI at the airport or on the plane. “Pray for the best but prepare for the worse” is my mantra. Further tip: For those who suffer from headaches or eyestrain instead of relying on electronic devices for reading material, a paperback book is a good option to give your eyes a break from excessive amounts of screen time.

Get Comfy
Wearing anything constricting is a bad option for a long-haul flight. I favor loose-fitting joggers and long-sleeved tees or sweatshirts with a camisole or short-sleeved tee underneath. I want to be as comfortable as possible without looking like I’m literally ready for bed. Wearing layers also helps as it can get chilly on the plane.

Have a Decent Meal Before Boarding and Always Bring Snacks
Meals are always available on long flights but they don’t always satisfy my inner gourmet. In addition, they may not be served when I’m feeling “peckish”, so, I always make sure I eat something so I’m not totally famished when I board and always pack mixed nuts, dried fruit and popcorn in my carry-on. Trust me, even if the meals are horrible, I will never starve on a long flight.

Always Bring a Jacket, Scarf or Shawl
There is nothing worse than being cold for extended periods with no ability to really move around enough to warm up.

Pack a Neck Pillow
It’s hard to master mid-air, upright sleep when your head is rolling around like one big marble. If you’re like me you’re also deathly afraid of being “that” passenger who ends up with their head nestled on the shoulder of their seatmate. A travel neck pillow will solve all of this and ensure you don’t arrive at your destination with a stiff neck…or thoroughly embarrassed.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
The difference between stumbling off the plane feeling like death warmed over and stepping off the flight ready to explore a destination can often come down to something as simple as hydration. Average cabin humidity hovers somewhere around 20% (drier than many deserts) or about half the level at which most people feel comfortable. This low humidity is chiefly a by-product of cruising at high altitudes, where moisture content is somewhere between minuscule and nonexistent.

At these lower humidity points, skin and mucous membranes dry out, and flu viruses are both easier to catch and, generally, last longer. Additionally, when you’re dehydrated, your mood, energy levels and cognitive function all suffer. To combat this, I begin hydrating 24 hours before a flight and drink water throughout the flight – even if I don’t feel like I need it. It is recommended that you drink eight ounces of water for every hour that you’re on the flight and limit alcohol consumption, as alcohol is a natural diuretic and will exacerbate any dehydration your body is experiencing from the low humidity in the cabin.

See No Evil, Hear No Evil
All it took was one screaming baby on a flight from New York to the UK for me to invest in a pair of noise-canceling headphones. For some reason, I can drift off on a moving subway or fall into a dead asleep with every light in the house on and the TV blaring but staying asleep on a plane is like mission impossible. From crying babies to snorers to chatterboxes I have encountered them all – sometimes all three simultaneously on one flight! Noise-canceling headphones give me the quiet I need to get the rest I deserve. Thankfully, I’m not overly sensitive to light while sleeping – if you are your best bet is to pack an eye mask.

Stretch it out
It is extremely important to move around every few hours on a long-haul flight. Deep vein thrombosis is a thing, as are swollen ankles, lower back pain and stiffness. The last thing you want is to arrive at your destination and be forced to take a few days to recover from the flight. Compression socks can only do so much and I make sure I wear them on long flights but I also walk around the cabin throughout the flight to keep the blood circulating in my extremities. I even do runner’s stretches and ragdoll pose (see picture below) in the lavatory area to prevent my body from tightening up.

Freshen Up
Splashing water on your face, brushing your teeth or applying a layer of moisturizer does wonders for your mental state on long flights. I also find baby wipes make me feel “brand new” when I’ve been stuck in the same clothes for 24 hours with only dreams of taking a nice, hot shower to keep me going. Note: it is not recommended that you brush your teeth with the water flowing from the airplane lavatories – unless you have a penchant for consuming various forms of bacteria. Only use bottled water – consider yourself warned.

Up Next: Conquering that Beast Called Jetlag

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