For someone who cannot sleep on planes, long haul flights can be a drag. For those who can sleep on planes, I envy you! This post is all about how to survive a long haul flight and let those hours fly by, pun intended.
I used to make the mistake of bringing way too many things on the plane with me, making my bag unbearably heavy. I would then spending ages to then realise the thing I want to is right at the bottom of my rucksack.
But no more! I have gotten much better at packing and learning what I need, so I thought I would pass my wisdom onto you all. Also be sure to check out my post on packing for a rural trip and travel apps everyone needs.
So without further adieu, how can you survive a long haul flight?
So what are the essentials for a long haul flight?
- Headphones
- Music (although it is provided, your own is always better)
- Kindle (if you’re into reading! Although I love a physical book, it is way too heavy to keep one in your bag)
- Entertainment (puzzle books? iPad?)
- Toothbrush (for your own sanity, and for the others around you)
- Eyemask
- Travel pillow
- Painkillers (you never know when a headache may appear)
However! You need to do some forward planning in order to have a good journey.
Foreward Planning
- Book with the right company! Some companies are definitely better then others, so ensure you do your research. My personal favourite is Qatar airways.
- Reserve the best seat. Although the window seat is appealing for flying over numerous countries, you will need to pee at some point! Waking people up for a toilet break is always embarrassing.
- Don’t pack too much in your hand luggage
- Try not to use a rucksack! I made this mistake and everything was so hard to find. Get a bag with compartments!
- Bring your own food – airport food is always expensive. However, main meals are provided as part of the flight.
- Drink lots! (Relates directly to sitting in the aisle seat!)
- Go for a walk. Make sure you get the blood moving!
- Know where your luggage is! One problem I encountered was moving from an international to domestic flight, and I almost lost my luggage in Johannesburg. At check in, request for it to be transported from the start, all the way to the end.
- As obvious as it sounds, wear comfy clothes!
All of these are great tips to make the journey comfortable. I would definitely suggest making sure people bring moisturizer for the face & hand cream as the air is so drying on flights – or even a hydrating sheet mask if you don’t care;)
Ah, you just reminded me of the16+ hours flight I was supposed to take next week! I follow most of your advice and that really does make my journey much easier. However, I also face the same problem of bringing way too many things with me on the plane…
Great tips! I hate long haul flights.
These are great tips! I especially love the suggestion about getting an aisle seat. This is always a must for me so that I can feel free to get up and stretch or go to the restroom whenever I want! You are also spot on about bringing your own food!
So far, the longest flight I have been on has only been 5 and 1/2 hours so not too bad. I always get a window seat, but when traveling on a longer flight, I will definitely book an aisle seat to stretch out my legs. Great tip!
Drinking lots of water is key. I think it really helps with jet lag, plus there’s nothing worse than arriving at a new destination, and feeling too dehydrated and tired to explore. I’m also a fan on aisle seats. I hate that feeling of being trapped at the window. My other half always opts for the window seat, so we usually have a stranger sitting between us (who usually offers to swap) – instead, we just do long haul flights apart, and get back together on arrival! Works for us. 🙂
Love your tips for surviving a long flight! Noise-canceling headphones and my iPad are my absolute essentials – so glad we don’t have to lug heavy books anymore 🙂 I always try to get a window seat, though, and wedge my pillow against the wall. If I have the aisle, there’s a 100% chance I’ll end up falling asleep on my neighbor’s shoulder 😉
I am an aisle girl 100% for long-haul flights! I also tell people to practice with a sleep mask/ear plugs about a week before your trip in your own bed. So that way it’s one less thing your body has to get used to. 🙂
These are great tips! Long flights are a challenge for sure!
I am very lucky that I can easily sleep through long haul flights so I do not usually have to give much thought to carrying stuff with me. I do, however, like to have a book and my own music with me, just in case. I agree about booking the right flight, those with on-board entertainment are the best for long haul but I usually book budget to save money so I just treat myself to a glass of wine and then sleep! Works for me, haha
Such great tips. I actually enjoy long haul flights and do most of the things you suggested already!
The longest flight I’ve taken has been about 6 hours so the window seat was fine. I would have never thought to book an aisle seat for a long haul. Thanks for That!
I tend to use the local airline Emirates and they provide a lot of the items mentioned, including inflight drinks and snacks, headphones and even small blankets. I used to be able to sleep on flights but as I get older I don’t even try and end up watching movies and episodes of my favorite tv series (part of the inflight entertainment). I always carry a small cosmetic bag with any necessities like lip balm, anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine pills that I can put in the seat pocket in front of me.
Yes I’ve used Emirates a lot before but the inflight snacks are very expensive, and the headphones are very bad which is why I recommend to bring your own. Also, the inflight entertainment is good but feel like you need to stimulate your brain a little (via reading or crosswords etc) since it’s a long time in the air. The cosmetic bag is a very good idea though so thank you!