If you’re a frequent traveler, then chances are you’ve already gone through a dreaded long-haul flight at least once or twice. The more often you travel, the higher the chances of you booking a long-haul flight.
They’re also becoming more and more popular, with Aviation JobNet reporting that Qantas is looking at a whopping 20 hour flight from Sydney to New York. While 20 hours may be a bit much, in a quickly globalizing world ten- or even sixteen-hour flights are a distinct possibility.
There’s no way to be a 100% comfortable on an airplane, but you can at least make the most of what you have. In our post on ‘How to Pack Light for a 1 Month Trip in a Carry On’, we talked about packing for long trips— this time, we’ll talk about prepping for long flights.
So sit back, get that paper and pen out, and get ready to make your list.
Pick the Right Seat
The most important thing you can do before even booking your ticket on a long-haul flight is planning your seat. You’ll be stuck in the same spot for seven hours or longer, so picking the cheapest seat in the house might not be the smartest choice this time. While people might have different preferences, Cosmopolitan Magazine has found that the best seat on an airplane in Economy class is 19F. Either way, as long as you have plenty of legroom, space to recline your chair, and access to the nearest lavatory, then you’re all set for your trip.
Pack Smart
The next most important thing to do on a long-haul flight is to make sure you pack smart— for your carry-on, that is. While it may be tempting to bring everything but the kitchen sink on your flight, keeping things to the essentials will be better for you in the long run. Make sure you pack a good travel pillow, eye mask, earplugs, a tablet or laptop full of entertainment, and a good blazer or cardigan for when the plane gets chilly. Try to avoid huge carry-on bags, to avoid the hassle of digging through them, and also try to keep the number of bags to a minimum. After all, you can stretch out more comfortably when there isn’t an extra bag blocking your feet.
Bring Snacks
While a long-haul flight will probably have in-flight service, those big carts only pass through the aisles a couple of times while you’re in the air. There’s no worse feeling than being stuck on a plane hungry, so it’s a pretty good idea to bring a few snacks with you onboard. Condé Nast has a helpful list of foods that you can or can’t bring on an airplane, so give it a read and get your bag of trail mix ready to go.
Dress Comfortably
Finally, the best thing you can do for yourself on your long-haul flight is to make sure that you dress comfortably. You’ll be in a cramped space for who knows how many hours, so you need to make sure your clothes are breathable and comfortable. This means no to tight jeans and yes to loose slacks or sweatpants, sweaters, and other loose clothing. Make sure you’re wearing the right type of shoes, as well— you’ll be slipping them on and off not just through security, but also on the plane as you try to get comfortable.
Pack Smart
The next most important thing to do on a long-haul flight is to make sure you pack smart— for your carry-on, that is. While it may be tempting to bring everything but the kitchen sink on your flight, keeping things to the essentials will be better for you in the long run. Make sure you pack a good travel pillow, eye mask, earplugs, a tablet or laptop full of entertainment, and a good blazer or cardigan for when the plane gets chilly. Try to avoid huge carry-on bags, to avoid the hassle of digging through them, and also try to keep the number of bags to a minimum. After all, you can stretch out more comfortably when there isn’t an extra bag blocking your feet. As well as being prepared on the plane, you need to pack a few essentials for when you land. If your luggage is delayed or gets lost in transit, you need to be confident that you could get by for a day or two. Pack some stylish prescription sunglasses, a change of underwear, a swimsuit and a basic dress that could be worn in the daytime or evening. A small bag with these items will be a breath of fresh air when you want to hit the beach as soon as you land!