Is this your first long haul flight? Are you a seasoned traveller? Whichever it is, I’m assuming that you’re here for some tips on how to survive a long haul flight. As an international student from Indonesia going to university in the UK, I’m no stranger to fourteen-hour flights.
I’ve never been able to sit still for hours, which is why I used to detest long haul flights. Sleeping is out of the question. I’m honestly jealous of people with the power to sleep on the plane. I mean, how are we supposed to sleep sitting down? And yes, I’m probably that person who would walk up and down the aisle every two hours.
Fortunately, after experiencing lots of long haul flights, I realize that they’re not so bad after all. Here’s my tips on how to survive a long haul flight in economy class.
What is a long haul flight?
Firstly, let’s talk about how long a long haul flight actually is. There isn’t any one universal way to differentiate short haul, medium haul and long haul flights. Some airlines and airports have their own definitions of flight lengths.
However, I would generally say that a long haul flight is any flight longer than 7 hours. These are usually international flights.
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What to wear on a long haul flight?
Although comfort might be the priority when you have a long flight ahead, that doesn’t mean you have to wear your PJs! I mean, sure, no one will judge (well, some might, not me). But if you can look cute and be comfy, why not?
Skinny jeans and fashion tops are off-limits. For me, neutral and loose-fitting clothes are the ultimate flight-friendly outfit. I recommend wearing leggings or jogger pants, a comfy top and some cardigan or hoodie. Wear simple shoes that you can easily take on and off for bathroom trips and security. Compression socks can also help reduce swelling and blood clots.
If you’re flying from a colder to warmer climate (or vice versa), the key is to layer up. You can shed those sweater when it gets hot and use it as an extra pillow.
Staying clean and fresh in the air
You can often tell that someone has been flying the entire day because, well, they look like it. Long haul flights can especially offset your freshness. While I personally don’t want to go through all the trouble of looking top notch, I find that staying fresh can make me feel less crappy on flights.
This is where travel-sized toiletries really shine! I usually pack some toothpaste (and toothbrush, of course) and face wash. Sometimes I’ll use them to freshen up before landing or in the airport during layover, depending on my flight duration. You can bring a mini deodorant and moisturizer too.
Trust me, this trick will help you feel clean and fresh during and after your flight. You never have to feel like you’ve been stuck on the same seat (that thousands of people have sat on) for ten hours 🙂
How to sleep on long haul flights?
I gotta admit, I’m probably not the best person to answer this question. Unless I’m super tired, I find it quite hard to fall asleep on a flight. Even if I do get some sleep in, they’re usually short bursts of half sleeps.
Sleeping can be a bigger problem if you are flying economy (like I usually do). If you know you might have difficulties falling asleep, come extra prepared. Bring a good quality neck pillow, a comfy eye mask and maybe ear plugs too if you can’t stand noises while you sleep.
If your flight is empty and you’re lucky enough to get the entire row… Well, good for you! That’s more space to put your things and legs on. Remember that while it’s okay to lie down across the seats, it can be quite dangerous. You’d also have to sit back up and wear the safety belts if there’s any turbulence.
Stay hydrated!
You should be drinking plenty of water even back on the ground, but staying hydrated is even more important when flying! Cabins are really dry because the plane has to pump outside air to replace cabin air, which is loaded with CO2 from our breaths.
This means that your skin and throat will be drier than usual, which is why you need to drink more. Also, being dehydrated has been known to worsen jet lags.
Don’t forget to walk and stretch
Oxygen is thin when you’re inside an enclosed steel box miles up in the air with hundreds of other people. Added with the fact that you’re staying in the same position for hours, you may experience fatigue, dehydration and swollen limbs.
Those are not pleasant things. I suggest getting up every hour or so (if you’re not sleeping) to walk up and down the aisle to stretch your legs. Personally, my leg muscles will start hurting if they remain completely inactive. Maybe it’s a perk of being only 154cm (5″), but I like to change up my sitting position every half an hour.
You can also do some small exercises like rotating your ankles, neck and shoulders to encourage blood flow.
Enjoy your long haul flight
Most importantly, try as much as possible to enjoy the entire flight. Even if you can’t sleep, the entertainment system is there for a reason! Listen to music and relax, use this time to journal and reflect, watch some new films or read a book.
Well, there you have it, now you know exactly how to survive a long haul flight. Are you ready? Oh, don’t forget to check your passport, visa and any important travel document like reservations for accommodation and transport. Have a safe flight!