This week I am heading over the pond to Europe and I cannot wait. As most of you know, I love traveling and am trying to visit 30 countries before I turn 30! Currently at 24 and I am 27 years old!
One of the worst part about traveling is long flights. But there are so many amazing places in this world, that just take a little longer to get to. It is well worth the long journey, and I am here to help make sure that you have an enjoyable as possible long haul flight.
Tips for Long Flights
Book your tickets early.
This should go without saying. The earlier you book, the better your chances of scoring your favorite seat — it’s that simple. Frequent flyer? The time to cash those miles in on an upgrade is now. Before choosing seats, I always look up the seat map for my flight. A trick that I have recently been using is if you are flying with another person, book the window and the aisle seats. You have lower odds of someone picking a middle seat and might have a whole row to yourselves!
Befriend the crew.
Simply not being horrible to the flight crew is a given, but you could always go one step further and make an active effort to be nice. Not only will you up your chances of special treatment, but you’ll also most likely make their day. A tip that I do when I am traveling during the holidays is to bring $5 Starbucks gift cards for the crew and you instantly will be giving the red carpet treatment.
Pack extra snacks.
We all know that airplane food is never good. But you most likely will need to eat something especially on a long haul flight. I always try to pick around whatever meal they provide you, but I also come prepared with my own snacks.
Dress for comfort and bring layers.
I personally think that people who wear jeans on an airplane are borderline sociopaths. Don’t get me wrong I love a good denim moment, but long haul flights are not it. The fashion gods have made it even easier now that athlesisure is so accessible and popular nowadays.
Now I am not a fan of looking like a complete slump when flying. I think you still need to look presentable, but you can do that comfortably. I am a big fan of jogger sets, or leggings. Always remember to wear socks on the plane (I pack fuzzy socks too for when it is time to sleep).
Don’t forget layers though! Planes are notoriously known for being cold. I always bring an extra sweater or a scarf with me. I usually opt for a bigger scarf just because that looks more presentable and it doubles as something you can wear at your destination.
Get creative.
You rarely get the chance to sit down for such a long time, more or less distraction-free, so why not make the most of it? Bring a notebook, adult coloring book, read that book that has been on your TBR list or whatever else you need to give the right-hand side of your brain a workout.
Stay hydrated.
One of my top travel tips for long flights is to drink a lot of water! Because the air is so dry on flights, dehydration happens quicker when flying than it would at home. You will feel a 100 times better if you are not all puffy and dehydrated when you step off your flight.
As much as that wine sounds like a good idea, try to limit yourself to just a small glass. The last thing you need is to be extra dehydrated because you indulged in too much wine. Same goes for caffeine, if it is an overnight flight try to not drink caffeine so you can actually catch some z’s.
DON’T wear makeup; DO moisturize
I do sport a little makeup on my way to the airport, but as soon as I am settled on my flight I go into my skincare routine. I take off all my make up, go to the bathroom to wash my face, I apply a moisturizer mask, eye masks, and a lip mask if I am feeling fancy. Hydrating skin is just as important.
Prepare yourself to sleep.
As someone who cannot sleep on planes, I struggle with this one the most! You’ll be on the plane for the equivalent of a whole day or night, so it’s worth bringing a few long haul flight essentials. Start with a lightweight blanket and invest in a good travel pillow to make sleeping less of a neckache. We got these neck wraps last year, and it was the first thing that actually worked and I was able to sleep for a little.
Forget that those other 349 passengers are even there with a good sleep mask and a pair of ear plugs. Finally, slip in some basic toiletries, such as a hand luggage sized toothbrush and toothpaste, and you’ll feel that bit fresher when you land.
Don’t overdo the carry-ons.
You’ll need more for a long-haul flight than you would for a short one, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to overpack. Keep the essentials in your personal item so they’re always within arm’s reach.
Noise-canceling headphones are your new best friend.
If you can’t afford them, some high-quality earplugs will do just fine to block out the airplane noise or loud passengers.
Charge those devices.
The absolute last thing you need is for your iPad to run out of juice one hour into an 11-hour flight. This is especially true if your in-flight entertainment system isn’t working. Take advantage of the plug in between your seat. I like to charge my phone so when I land, I am full on juice and ready to take on the day!
Try to relax.
Do whatever it takes — meditate, listen to some calming music, do some breathing exercises — not only will it help you sleep more easily, but it’s also good to stay calm because travel days can be pretty stressful.
Combat jet lag.
The flight isn’t over just because you’ve left the plane. To fight jet lag, get as much daylight as you can, try not to take a nap and stay up as late as you can, hydrate, and try to get some exercise. We always try to book a walking tour on our first day! Do all of that for a day or two and you’ll be back to normal — just in time for the return trip.
What are your long haul fight tips!?
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