How to Survive a Long Haul Flight in Economy
Dreading the thought of sitting on a plane for hours on end and wondering to yourself how will I survive? Not to worry, I got you!
I’m no stranger when it comes to surviving long flights, like hello I’m from Australia anywhere we fly to is long.
I’ll never forget my first long haul flight to the USA I flew straight from Melbourne to Dallas then had another 2hr connecting flight. It was crazy long.
Flying for more than 24hrs turned me into a walking zombie. Since then I have been on multiple long haul flights and like to think that I pretty much got it down.
So without further ado here are my best travel tips for long flights.
Don’t miss these long haul flight tips that will keep you feeling fresh and amazing and less like a deprived zombie! You got this!
Move your body the day before
Throwing in a light workout the day before you fly is great for the body especially when it comes to your body clock, sleep, and fighting off jetlag.
Exercise helps your body tune its circadian rhythms and increases sleep. This will help with sitting down for long periods of time and falling asleep.
Pro Tip! Move your body – but don’t overdo it! A light yoga or Pilates session will do the trick.
If you exercise too hard right before a flight you won’t have enough time to fully recover, the last thing you want on a long flight is a sore body so go easy.
If you’re not used to working out at all basic walking or stretching will also help.
Stay clear of the toilets and cabins
When it comes to flying your seating choice is everything! Especially in economy. It’s best not to reserve seats too close to the toilets as this where the baby beds are situated.
You may find it a little hard to get a few hours of sleep in if you’re surrounded by unsettled babies.
Pro Tip! You want to make sure you check in early and choose your seats ASAP. This will give you a lot more options to choose from especially if you would like to sit together as a family or in pairs.
This is also handy if you wish to snag an emergency exit seat as these seats tend to have more legroom.
Choose isle over a window
Now, this is totally a preference thing! Some people may enjoy sitting near the window on a long haul, but in my experience, it’s better to sit in the aisle.
You have more room to stretch your legs into the aisle and you don’t have to disturb everyone when you need to get up and use the bathroom.
Choose seats closer to the back
Depending on how full your flight is it’s good to grab seats at the back of the plane as flight attendants like to fill the plane starting at the front on wards.
If you don’t have a full flight there will most likely be a lot of spare seats at the back with no one in them.
Once the doors have closed you can then feel free to move around and snag yourself a row of empty seats and really get the chance to kick your feet up and lie down.
Take Care of Your Skin
I know you have heard this many times before! But it’s super important to keep your skin hydrated & moisturized while flying.
The AC can do some serious damage to your skin while in the air so be sure to apply your favorite lotions, masks, or oils in order to keep your skin feeling amazing.
I find it best to remove my makeup beforehand and let my skin breathe during the flight. Sometimes I reapply my makeup just before I land to make me feel a little more put together.
I also like to take with me a facial spray for a little wake me up and a good hydrating face mask and my go-to facial moisturizer as well.
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Keep Yourself Hydrated
Did you know that your body loses more water in the air than on the ground? At super-high altitudes, the air becomes a lot drier & surrounding oxygen levels become lower causing your body to become dehydrated quicker.
This why it’s SO important to drink loads of water during your flight. Being dehydrated not only makes you feel bad but can actually worsen your jetlag.
I suggest bringing your own water bottle on the plane with you. It’s super handy and convenient & you can refill it whenever you need it.
Keep in mind, that taking full bottles of water through security isn’t allowed so it’s best to purchase these afterward or refill them at your gate just before boarding.
Entertainment Is Key
I make sure I have everything I need to keep myself entertained for my flight. Whether that be my computer to smash out a few blog posts, reading a good book, or picking out the latest movies to watch.
I also like to walk to the plane doors at the back and do a few stretches just to keep my body moving.
You don’t want to be 5 hrs in and be consistently looking at the monitor that says you have 12hrs to go due to boredom and lack of entertainment. Trust me! It will drive you crazy.
Comfortable Clothes
The best clothes to wear on a long haul flight should be something you feel most comfortable in.
Wearing tight skinny jeans on a plane just screams “uncomfortable” to me.
I like to dress for coziness & comfort, after all, you will be calling your seat home for the next couple of hours so you might as well settle in and feel relaxed.
I’m all about matching sweatsuits & lounge wear, but making it fashun! My go-to plane outfit is a cozy warm sweater and pants and some comfortable trainers.
You’ll also want to pack some compression socks, these ones are my favorite. They will keep your feet warm during the flight but most importantly stop you from getting any health problems such as DVT (deep vein thrombosis).
Get Some Sleep
Do your best to get some sleep. I know getting quality sleep on a plane can sometimes be quite challenging, but trust me, if you pack the right sleeping essentials you should be sound asleep in no time.
My go-to essential for getting a decent amount of sleep on the plane is having the right neck pillow.
I absolutely love this one from Amazon it’s called the Roomyroc I like really like its sturdiness. It really supports your neck from all angles as well as your chin. An eye mask to block out all the light and earplugs to drown out all sounds around you.
If you still find it a struggle to get in those zzz’s you can also opt for some light sleeping aids such as Melatonin which you can pick up at your local chemist.
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Snacks, Snacks & More Snacks
Typically on a long haul flight, the airline will provide meals one just after you take off and one right before you land.
However, it’s always best to bring your own snacks. You may get hungry, and waiting for the food cart to come back around can take forever.
I like to bring a good handful of easy to pack snacks such as, protein bars, a bag of mixed nuts or trail mix, a piece of fruit, or whatever you like as a quick, no-mess snack.
Having these readily available can keep those hunger pains at bay.
Pro Tip! Save a couple of bucks by bringing snacks from home rather than buying them at the airport as airports tend to increase their food prices and don’t always have the healthiest food options.
Drown Out The Sound
The best thing I’ve ever done was investing in a good pair of noise-canceling headphones for the plane.
Say goodbye to loud engine noises & crying babies while you slip into a noise-free relaxation zone.
These noise-canceling headphones are the best. They sit over my ears, which I love as I find them more comfortable to wear during long flights.
They are completely wireless and come with 30 hours of battery life which is more than enough to last you through a long-haul flight.
You can also control and adjust any settings through the Sennheiser smart control app.
Most Important
By far my most important tip to surviving a long haul flight is preparation. Sure, you could just wing it with no prep and see how you go.
However, in my experience the more prepped you are for a flight the better you will feel stepping off the plane ready to enjoy your vacation.
“Preparation time is never wasted time”
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Long Haul Flight Essentials
See below for a roundup of the best things to bring on a long haul flight. If you enjoyed this post be sure to check out my other flight related posts mentioned throughout with more handy tips and guides.
For a well-rested sleep
No one wants to listen to a screaming baby for hours on end.
Were all about oral hygiene! You don’t want bad breath.
To take your makeup off, and keep your face feeling fresh and awake.
To keep your feet warm, reduce swelling & help blood circulation.
Keep those lips hydrated and avoid dry chapped lips.
Because it’s always icy cold on the plane.
Because one little cup of water, every hour or so isn’t going to keep you hydrated.
There you have it, guys! I hope these useful tips & go-to airplane essentials help you with your next long-haul journey.
Drop me a comment below with your best tips for surviving a long haul-flight along with your top long haul-flight travel essentials. I would love to hear them.
Just a heads up! This post contains some affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links I may receive a small commission that helps support this blog. You will not pay more when you buy through these links. All opinions are my own and I would never recommend anything I don’t personally love.
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Miss Date Doctor
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