If distance wasn't a factor, where would you travel to? Do you ever feel intimidated about the idea of flying for long periods? I don't know about you, but when it came time to take my first long haul flight, I had lots of questions. What will I do? But won't I get plane sick? Bored? Out of my mind? How do you sit in a tight airplane seat for a whole 8, 10, 12 hours? To be honest, I still dislike long haul flights and often have to give myself a pep talk whenever I have to get through one. To help you (and me) I teamed up with a few friends of mine who are avid travellers and asked them to share their survival strategies to endure long distance flights. I also added some of my own tips. I think you (and I) may want to keep these handy!
Watch Movies (a lot of them!) - this is by far the number one tip I got from others who've done the trek! Long haul carriers (even budget ones) provide individual screens for your viewing pleasure. There are usually a range of movies or series to choose from, from kids' flicks to adult fare, at no added cost. It's an amazing way to binge watch and watch time fly (hope you got that hidden pun)! Two movies are equivalent to about 4 hours of flight time! Now wasn't that easy!
Protip: carry your own headphones. Some airlines may not offer them for free. Taking along your own also means you can prioritize comfort and invest in a set that feels cozy since you may be wearing them for a while.
Carry a Travel Pillow/Sleep Mask/Earplugs- sleep was the second favourite way to pass time on a flight (it was recommended by all my frequent flyer friends). I don't do well at it, but others do. Carrying the accessories listed above, sets you up for sleeping success. The U-shaped travel pillow helps prevent neck pain from bending over while sleeping. It also prevents those embarrassing moments of leaning over on your neighbour while you're knocked out. Bare in mind that with long distance flights, you'll likely be crossing time zones. This means your body may be experiencing night back home, while it may be daylight outside of the aircraft, based on your location. That may make it difficult to sleep. Sometimes the central airplane lights may be on when you want to catch a nap, particularly if the flight crew is offering duty-free shopping, issuing material, etc. A sleep mask helps you block out unwanted light. Finally, ear plugs (if you can tolerate them), help reduce the noise around you, so you can drift off into your vacation long before you land! Alternatively, you can use earphones and listen to something soothing.
Carry Work- this was another beloved suggestion from seasoned long haul travellers. I suggest taking along your own work! Whether it's that project you always wanted to start, but never had the time to do, or it's your side hustle, here's a great opportunity! If you wanted to write down your 5 year plan, edit videos, write a blog, now's the perfect time to do it! You'll have loads of time on your hands!
Try to Book As Few Connections as Possible.
Travelling for hours will already wear you out. On top of that, there's the whole arriving at the airport 2-3 prior to departure thing. Add in the check-in lines, security screening...flying can be stressful, so adding connecting flights is something I really dislike. It just feels like lost time. Time I could spend getting to my destination sooner, is spent waiting around in an interim location. Plus there is the added stress that if your first flight is delayed, you may miss your second. Or there's the possibility of getting lost in the connecting airport and again, running the risk of missing your connecting flight. You may also have to go through security for a second time during your connection. No thank you! Though I'm an avid budget traveller, this is one area where I'd prefer to pay more. I'd rather pay more for a direct flight rather than one with layovers. So when I book, I try to avoid connections, especially several of them, as much as possible.
Count Down Every Hour - I feel like this is my one quirky little coping tool, so maybe I'm the only person in the world who does it! But it motivates me so! Usually on the TV screen in front of your seat, there's a display showing the plane's location and the remaining hours until landing. I countdown every hour and it gives me great joy knowing I'm one step closer! "I can do this! I will not jump off this plane and I will not so crazy!"
Walk as You Fly!- this is essential, but so easy to overlook. Going for long periods without walking can cause blood clots (thankfully, the risk is very low). It's recommended to walk around every one to two hours to get blood circulating around your body, especially between your legs and heart. Though you may feel like you're annoying your flight neighbours, get up to use the restroom, or pace the aisle and see if you can find a familiar face (that is, if you are extremely bored!). Whatever you do, just walk!
Stay Hydrated- this is also very important to avoid health risks. Most of our body is made of water, so it's important to consume enough. This becomes even more important during flight where the increase in altitude and pressure creates very low humidity (between 5-10%). That's lower than the Sahara Desert! These conditions can increase the risk of dehydration which can have a range of implications. On the lighter side, dehydration can make jet lag worse. In more extreme cases, it can contribute to confusion, fever, low blood pressure and rapid heart beat. And nobody wants to arrive in a new country sick!
Pro Tip: To make sure you're consuming enough in flight, drink about 8 ounzes of water per hour.
Listen to Podcasts/Audio Book/ Playlist - if audio is your thing, then you'll love this idea! Enrich your mind by listening to some of your favourite content! You'll probably be able to make it through a whole book!
Pro Tip: Carry your charger and cables to refresh your battery life. Some airplane seats and usually airports, have USB ports to charge your device.
Carry Snacks- yes, for long haul flights, your plane ticket will likely include some food, but unless you're travelling business class or on a premium airline, it's gonna be like a box of chocolates: you never know what you're gonna get! Enduring hunger pangs on a long distance trip is no fun, so prepare by carrying snacks. This helps not only if the in-flight portions are small, but in case the food service on board is not in-sync with when your hunger strikes. That's one very miserable situation...speaking from experience! Good snacks to pack are: sandwiches, wraps, crackers & cheese, cold pasta, muffins, nuts, chips, granola bars. Also carry them from home please, avoid purchases at the airport, as those prices are out of control! I usually only get drinks at the airport since you aren't allowed to carry them through security.
Plan Your Itinerary- I love this idea! It's quite likely that if you've been busy before your departure, you may not have had a chance to figure out what to do when you get to your destination! Take along some information with you: be it a hardcopy travel guide, screenshots, or downloaded ideas from your favourite blog beforehand. This is a great way to save time when you arrive, as you would already be somewhat familiar with what the destination has to offer and can come prepared with a shortlist of activities that interest you.
Dress Comfortably/Layers/Carry Change of Clothes - this is so helpful! It's likely that you may be travelling from one season into another. Layering allows you to add and remove warmth as needed. The temperature on the airplane may also not be your ideal, layers help solve that problem. It's also a good idea to carry a change of clothes, just in case you have an accident or if you feel a bit uncomfortable being in the same clothes for too long.
Book a Night Flight if Possible- I've found this helpful, especially if you are travelling with kids. For some reason it helps me handle the change in time zones better. Essentially because you're likely to fall asleep on a night flight. Then, when you wake up & arrive at your new location, though the time will be different, you'll likely be arriving in the daytime. Going from night into day is just easier for my mind to process and my body to adjust to.
Get as Much Rest as Possible Before & After the Trip- this helps with the fact that it's a hectic journey and helps your body adjust the time zone changes. I always plan for the first day upon my arrival go be dedicated to getting my body on schedule with the new time. I usually keep that day free and allow myself to sleep or just rest.
I surely hope this list encourages you to take the leap and book a long haul flight! Which ones do you normally use? Did I forget any other tips? Please share them in the comments!
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