How to survive a long-haul flight

Prepare

The best way to prepare for a long-haul flight is to make sure you are well-rested a few nights before your flight so that your body does not attempt to catch up on lost sleep during the flight. Depriving yourself of sleep with hopes to get exhausted and sleep on a plane often results in restlessness and a constant struggle to be more comfortable in a not so comfortable environment. Try going to bed early during the week leading up to your flight, even though it can be a little bit hard to do so because of anticipation and excitement getting enough sleep will help you feel less exhausted and irritable.

Pre-Booking a seat

Selecting a seat for a long-haul flight gives you peace of mind knowing that you are in control in making that choice and not having it be chosen for you when checking in on the day of your flight. There are a lot of factors that play a role in where you choose to sit, some people prefer window seat as a default seat for all there flights, but if you are travelling alone some people prefer to sit on the aisle seat to avoid having to always ask people to move every time they want to get up and go to the toilet. If you know that you are wrestles and need to go to the bathroom more times than usual because you want to keep hydrated on the flight, its best to select an aisle seat. Travelers with babies may want to sit in the bulkhead where bassinets are available.

Consider the following before deciding on whether or not to pay for a seat

How much is it?

Can I afford it?

How long is my flight?

Is extra leg room an absolute requirement?

Will having my preferred seat help me to relax?

Depending on the answers to your questions and the price quoted to pick your specific seat, you may choose to pay extra for your preferred seat.

Charge your electronics

Make sure that you fully charge up all your essential devices before taking your flight and do not forget to bring along all your chargers and a charging cable in your carry on-luggage where you will find access to charging points conveniently located in your seat area Consider bringing along a power bank as a back-up source in case the plane has no power points. You can always load your laptop, tablet or phone with additional music, movies and e-books in case you run out of options on board. Hard copy books are also an option to give your eyes a break from staring at a screen for the duration of your trip.

Comfort

Carefully plan what you are going to wear, don’t just put on anything last minute because certain type clothes can compromise your comfortability on the plane. Try to avoid Wearing tight fitting clothing that restrict circulation, breathable clothing material would be recommended for long-haul flights. Layering is key to assembling the perfect airplane outfit. Make sure your clothes and shoes are very comfy because you will be sitting in them and walking in them (if you have a connecting flight) for a while during your flight. Always have a jersey or jacket just in case it is chilly on a plane. It is also recommended to wear glasses instead of contacts to help prevent discomfort to the eyes.

Bring some snacks

Although meals provided on the plane there are often not a wide range of snacks so it is always advisable to purchase your salty, sweet, fruity treats at your local store or at duty free stores in the airport. You can also enjoy these snacks while trying to keep yourself entertained or while reading a book. Another good thing about stocking your treats before leaving your local country is that they will be more affordable, and they might not stock the treat you enjoy eating back home.

Always bring a shawl or scarf

When taking a long-haul flight make sure you bring along a shawl or scarf and a small pillow or neck pillow just to keep warm and comfortable. Most international airlines do provide each passenger with a blanket so there is no need to bring a blanket from home. The temperature does tend to fluctuate especially when flying throughout the evening so it’s best to have something a scarf or a throw nearby to keep you warm.

Avoiding distractions

There can be a lot of distractions on board that can make you more irritable, as such it is important for you to bring an eye-mask which can came in handy when you want to rest and a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to give you some peace and quiet necessary for you to rest well.

Stay calm

Being bored and not having something to grab your attention during your flight, being unable to sleep, watching something scary can spike up your in-flight anxiety. Try to always remain calm by watching some of your favorite shows or anything that is soothing, or calming, you can also read about your destination in the guidebook, get excited about your holiday. Restlessness can also result in inflight anxiety that is why it is important to make sure you are comfortable as possible. Do not put too much pressure on yourself to fall sleep and do what you want to do depending on how you are feeling.

Stay hydrated

Always make sure you hydrate well because dehydration can increase your changes of having jet lag. Airplane cabins have low humidity levels. When you are dehydrated it also affects your mood, energy levels, causes headaches, it might cause your throat, nose, eyes and skin to feel dry and raises your levels of irritability. Make sure you drink water frequently and avoid caffeine and alcoholic intake as they are believed to worsen dehydration , pack a small bottle of nasal spray and eye drops if worried about drying out.

Get up and walk around.

Getting up and walking, it could be to the restroom can be a great way for you to stretch your legs and release some tension from sitting in the same position. It is also good for your feet as sitting down for too long can cause some sort of discomfort, walking can also freshen you from fatigue.

Upon arrival.

After taking a long-haul flight, if you arrive early, it is recommended that you stay awake. It is not ideal for you to head straight to bed upon arrival because often you will wake up feeling more fatigued only to find out that it is close to nighttime. Staying awake may mean catching up with friends and family, taking a cup of coffee just to keep you up till the evening. This will help you to wake up feeling better the next day and ready for a full day of holiday fun.