Surviving a long-haul flight in economy class can be challenging, to say the least. If you’re lucky, you might be like one of my best friends, who always tells me that long-haul flights are a dream for her: free food brought straight to your table, unlimited movies, and nobody can bother you because your phone is on flight mode. I try to channel this energy every time I take a long-haul flight, but I have not yet mastered the art. For me, long haul flights are still very much about surviving to the end. Any enjoyment is an unexpected bonus!
I generally try to avoid flying, both because I hate it and because it’s bad for the environment, but sometimes it cannot be helped. As you might have noticed, from the fact that I have a travel blog, I love to travel, and sometimes long haul flights are an inevitable side effect of that.
This year I went travelling in South America, which obviously consisted of two long-haul flights: one from Madrid to Guatemala City, and the other from Santiago de Chile back to Madrid. They were 13 hours each and, well, for me that’s practically a lifetime.
Luckily, with quite a few long haul flights under my belt, I knew what would help to keep me comfortable and occupied during the flight – so let’s get down to it. Here are some essential tips to help you survive (and maybe even enjoy) your next long-haul flight.
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How to Prepare for a Long-Haul Flight
The best way to make sure you have a smooth journey on a long haul flight is to come prepared. Think about everything you’d use if you were to spend the entire day on the sofa at home without being able to get out of your seat and, within reason, pack everything you’d need! Here are things I always consider packing (but I don’t always take every item on this list, depending on the trip).
Essentials to pack for a long flight
- Change of clothes (especially if the weather will be different when you arrive)
- Neck pillow
- Reusable water bottle
- A phone clip or holder (to watch movies hands-free)
- Healthy snacks (I always eat more when I’m bored, but the combination of sugar and aeroplane air is terrible for my skin, so I go as healthy as possible)
- Eye mask
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- Earplugs
- Lip balm & moisturiser
- Fluffy socks (these are a MUST for me)
- Flip flops (for bathroom breaks)
How to organise your luggage on a long-haul flight
I always take three bags on a long haul flight. Or, the assigned two bags, plus my belt bag, which never gets counted because it sits underneath my jacket. I put anything that I’ll need easy access to or that is valuable in my belt bag, like chargers, my phone and passport, cash, etc. I also usually keep my toothbrush and a mini toothpaste in here, because I’m the kind of person that physically cannot sleep without brushing their teeth first!
Anything else that I’ll use on the flight goes into the small hand luggage or “personal item” that goes underneath the seat in front of you. And, finally, the bag that goes in the overhead compartment (this is usually my main bag, as I don’t normally check luggage) has clothes, toiletries, and anything else I’m sure I won’t need for the duration of the flight.
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Window seat vs. aisle seat
Usually, unless it’s really expensive, I pay to choose my seat on a long haul flight. When you’re paying hundreds of dollars for a flight, what’s fifty more to be comfortable? My personal choice is to be in the window seat, with extra legroom (unless it’s super expensive for extra legroom).
Personally I like to sit by the window so that I have somewhere to rest my head and sleep, and I choose extra legroom both for the extra space, and because it means I don’t have to make everyone else stand up when I go to the bathroom.
Obviously, an aisle seat also means you don’t disturb anyone when you go to the bathroom, but you will get disturbed by others and you don’t have anywhere to lean.
Let’s not talk about the pros and cons of a middle seat, because if you actively want one of those you need to reassess your life choices.
Changing time zones
It might seem like overkill to some, but if I’m changing time zones, I try to go to sleep and wake up a couple of hours earlier or later the night before, to help me adjust. It’s also a good idea to take this into account when you’re on the plane. Of course, you’re never going to get a normal sleep on the plane, but try to plan your schedule so that you’ll be tired in the evening of the time zone you’ll arrive in.
I also find that it’s really important to stay hydrated to help me deal with the effects of jet lag!
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Tips for Surviving a Long-Haul Flight
Okay, now we’ve gone through the preparation stages, what can you do on the flight itself to make it more comfortable?
Staying comfortable on a long haul flight
The air in the cabin of a plane can get really dry, especially after many hours on a long haul flight. I always take moisturiser for my hands and face, as well as lip balm, to combat it as much as possible (although I do find that my skin ends up dry no matter what!).
Similarly, it’s very easy to find yourself dehydrated on a plane. They aren’t exactly generous with giving out water, and I’m always reluctant to drink too much so I don’t have to keep getting up for the bathroom. That being said, it’s important to stay hydrated both for your general wellbeing and to help you cope with jet lag once you get to the other side!
I always go for comfy, loose-fitting clothing, but I’m not much of a fashionista, especially when it comes to travel. The main thing I will recommend to you is layers! I tend to layer up as much as possible, even though it sometimes means lugging around jackets and/or jumpers in hot climates before or after the flight. For me, it’s worth it to have them on the plane because the blankets they give you in economy class just don’t cut it.
Sleeping on a long flight
So, of course, this is where your eye mask and either headphones or ear plugs will come in handy! For me, the most important thing to help me sleep is having somewhere to rest my head, but I know for a lot of people they like to feel more horizontal. If you struggle to get the right position for sleeping on a long flight, try a foot sling or foot hammock to keep your feet off the floor.
How to plan your time
To make the time pass quickly, plan a schedule of roughly when you’ll sleep, watch movies, or do any other activities you’ve brought with you during the flight. There are usually three meals on a long haul flight – one after take off, one meal time during the flight, and again not long before you land. If you’re not sure, ask a flight attendant about the scheduled mealtimes for your flight so you can plan around them.
If you’re anything like me, mealtimes are just another good way to pass half an hour quickly!
Depending on how much I want to sleep and the time it will be when I arrive, I usually watch movies or read until the mid-flight meal, and then try to sleep.
Medical considerations on a long-haul flight
Remember that, even when you’re young, you need to keep yourself moving on a long haul flight. The combination of altitude, dehydration and sitting still can put you at risk of DVT (deep vein thrombosis) which is a blood clot, usually in your legs.
If you have additional risk factors, you should wear compression socks to promote blood flow and reduce the risk of DVT. It’s also a good idea to get up and walk around every few hours, do some simple exercises in your seat, and/or drink a lot of water to help prevent blood clots.
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Remember, the journey is part of the adventure! As much as it might not feel like it 😉