There are many great destinations around the world to see, but some require a long flight in order to get there. Here are a few ways to help you to not go crazy on that long flight.
1) Pack a spare comfy outfit. While wearing comfortable clothes on a flight is a given, even your most comfortable outfit may become uncomfortable after an extended period of time. Pack an extra outfit in your suitcase that you can change into should the clothing you wore onto the plane become uncomfortable. Even if you don’t need it for the flight, you can change into it upon landing to help you feel fresh or have a backup in case your checked luggage gets lost. Also, be sure to wear comfortable shoes that can be easily removed.
2) Bring good headphones (and two pairs). Many pairs of headphones will start to hurt your ears after extended wear. Bring a set of a different kind to relieve your aching ears. Invest in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones for extra peace and quiet.
3) Choose your seat cautiously. If you typically choose aisle or window seats, think very carefully about where you should sit on a long flight. Sit in the aisle and you may have to deal with people getting up and down often and may struggle to sleep in an upright position. However, choose to sit by the window and you may get trapped in your seat by those sitting next to you. Check if there are exit row seats available as they allow a little extra leg room.
SeatGuru shows you the optimal seat on your flight
Check out www.seatguru.com to find the best seat on every flight. It will show you the layout of your plane with each seat ranging from red (bad) to green (good seat). It will also show you the amenities available on the plane.
4) Bring a pillow and blanket. Nothing makes your cozier than your own pillow and blanket. Check out the Lug Nap Sac I wrote about in “Travel Accessories We Can’t Go Without”.
Lug Nap Sac Travel Blanket & Pillow
5) Leave the extra carry-on bag behind. While it may be tempting to pack two carry-on bags, you will regret it when you want to stretch out your feet. Try to keep your luggage to what will fit in the overhead.
6) Bring food and water. There is nothing worse than being on a long flight when all the meal options are terrible. Prepare like the airline will not serve you any food instead of banking on eating what they serve or waiting for a flight attendant to bring you a drink.
Check www.airlinemeals.net for what you can expect to eat on your flight.
7) Continue your daily routine. If you wash your face, brush your teeth, etc. every morning and evening, bring the items you need to continue this regime. Not only will it give you something to do for 5 minutes and a reason to get up; but it will help your body register the end of the day/start of a new one. It may sound strange, but changing into sweat pants, and preparing like I am going to bed helps me relax and actually get some sleep on a long flight.
8) Prepare for the dry air. Recycled cabin air gets very dry. Make sure to drink lots of water to keep your body hydrated to avoid extreme jet lag. Make sure to pack eye drops, lotion, and chapstick to protect your skin from being in dry conditions for an extended period of time.
9) Walk around regularly. Get up at least every few hours and walk around just to get your blood flowing. If you sit for an extended period it can cause cramps and other health risks. Some travelers like to wear compression socks on long flights to increase the blood circulation in their legs.
10) Bring back support. If you often experience back pain (or even if you don’t) bring some form of back support to keep your body from aching upon your arrival. Bring a lumbar support pillow to allow extra support for your back.
Adjust-Air Portable Lumbar Support
11) Prepare entertainment for 1 ½ times longer than the flight. If you have a 12 hour flight, don’t bring only a book that will take you 13 hours to read. You are bound to either get bored with it or finish it faster than you expect. When you are bored and in a contained space, it is hard to keep yourself focused. Bring options to choose from to keep you entertained (movies, games, magazines, books, work, etc.).
12) Take airborne before you go and/or while you are in the air. A long flight can do a lot of damage to your body and immune system. Take airborne and other vitamin and mineral packed supplements to make up for this damage. There is nothing worse than getting sick right when you arrive at your destination.
mybuddyabroad.wordpress.com 