Hey there, fellow travelers! Today we’re in Prague, and we’re about to fly back to the United States tomorrow. I thought this would be a good time to share our tips for surviving a long haul flight. These tips apply to all flights, but especially those longer than seven hours or so. Long flights can be stressful for many travelers, and knowing what to take on a long haul flight can make a huge difference in your experience.
Check Airline Reviews
Every airline is different, and your choice can make a huge difference in your experience. Read reviews about long-haul airlines to see what your fellow travelers have to say. Are the seats comfortable, how is the service, what is the on-time percentage? Read up on their handling of baggage as well; there are airlines we avoid because of frequent lost baggage issues.
Explore Upgrade Options
A few extra inches of leg room can make a huge difference in the comfort of your flight. Sometimes, the economy “plus” section is not much more than the economy seat, and it’s worth the splurge. We prefer to save our miles for upgrades rather than free flights because we feel it’s a better value for our miles.
Choose Your Seat Wisely
The last place you want to be on a long-haul flight is in the middle seat. Always reserve a window seat or an aisle seat. For tall or heavy passengers, the aisle is usually best as you can spread out a bit between beverage and meal service. Many travelers prefer the window seat so you actually have someplace to rest your head. The emergency exit row and bulkhead rows offer more legroom, usually for a higher price, but you’ll have to put everything in the overhead bin as opposed to under the seat in front of you. Try to avoid the row in front of the exit row, as those seats often don’t recline.
Wear Comfortable Clothing
The best long haul flight outfit is loose clothing you can layer. Not only will you be more comfortable in loose clothing, but you will lessen the risk of DVT, which can happen when tight clothing restricts blood flow. Remember, you might be in these clothes for 15 hours or more, by the time you get to your destination hotel to change. Have a few layers you can easily add and remove as the temperature fluctuates in the plane, and wear shoes that are easy to take off and put back on. (This will help you get through security more quickly, too.) Comfortable socks and underwear can make a huge difference in your comfort. A little seam that’s a nuisance on a normal day can become downright painful after 9 hours digging into your skin! Compression socks are also key.
Pack Thoughtfully
Think about what you will need during the flight. Anything you might want access to should be in your personal item under the seat in front of you, not in the larger carry-on in the overhead bin. This goes double if you don’t have the aisle seat; that guy in the aisle seat doesn’t want you leaning in over him, rifling through your bags over his head. It’s really important to pack as light as you can. After a 15-hour flight, you’ll be glad you don’t have a heavy suitcase to haul around.
Watch: 13 Ways to Annoy People on a Plane
Long Haul Flight Essentials
Every traveler is different, but there are some key items you should have readily available in your personal item that goes under the seat in front of you.
- Phone
- Wallet
- Passport
- Battery Pack
- Cables
- Headphones or Ear Plugs
- Medication
- Entertainment options – books, laptop, Kindle, etc.
- Eye Mask
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
While in-flight entertainment is pretty good, the options only change once a month, so if you have two long-haul flights in the same month, you’re going to run out of movies to watch. Make sure you have a few loaded up on your laptop for the return flight, especially if you are flying with kids!
Bring Snacks!
You’ll usually have a couple of meals on a long-haul flight, but you never know what you’re going to get. (Unless you read the airline reviews ahead of time.) Some airlines put snacks out in the galley that passengers can grab throughout the flight, while others do not. It’s always a good idea to have some snacks packed in your carryon just in case. You may get hungry between meals, or not like what is served and this way you’ll have a backup plan so you’re not starving when you land.
Stay Hydrated
Drink as much water as possible during your flight to stay hydrated. Every time they come by with water, take advantage of it. This also forces you to get up and use the restroom frequently, which is good for your circulation. Staying hydrated is a good way to get a jump start on jet lag, too.
Move Around
Try to get up every couple of hours to get your blood flowing. This will help you avoid DVT and just help you from having sore muscles after sitting still for 15 hours. If you are in the middle or window seat and can’t get up as often, try to do some leg and foot stretches while in your seat. I like to spell the alphabet with my feet and it’s a good stretch of the lower legs.
Look for Extra Seats
If you’re lucky, your long-haul flight won’t be entirely full, and you can move to another seat, or spread out across several seats. Make sure you ask the flight attendant if it’s OK to move.
Be Nice to the Crew
This should go without saying, but the flight attendants and pilots deserve your respect, so be nice to them. Their primary job is to get you to your destination safely, so the easier you can make that job for them, the nicer they will be to you. You might even chat them up and hear some fun travel stories from their job.
Read: What Flight Attendants Want You To Know
Have a Good Attitude
This is the most important trick for surviving a long-haul flight. Nobody wants to sit in a tiny seat, eating bad food for 15 hours. Your attitude can make a huge difference in your flight experience.
What are your go-to tips for long-haul flights? Tell us in the comments! For more travel tips and advice, check out these blog posts and videos: