Traveling Truly

How to Survive a Long-Haul Flight

(and actually feel alive when you land)

I LOVE flying. People think I am weird but I love the whole experience. Being in airports, people-watching businessmen and cheesy tourists from all over the world, and listening to the sounds of a million different languages collide as everyone passes through the long halls on their way to their various gates and destinations. I’ve also met some pretty cool people during long layovers at airports, people whom I would have never met if not for these bustling international crossroads.

I also love the actual experience of flying. Sitting above the clouds zooming toward whatever new destination awaits me usually is enough to keep me in a good mood, despite whatever discomforts the airplane itself necessitates.

If you’re like me, then flying first class is not in your travel budget, and any daydreams of legroom and personal space are nothing but exactly that. So despite how much I adore flying, there are a myriad of discomforts and inconveniences that can dampen the spirit of even the most enthusiastic flyer. Make that flight 8+ hours long, maybe even combine that with a 1am departure, and you may find yourself hating both life and flying about 4 hours in.

Because of the less-than-perfect reality of plane travel, I have searched and experimented for myself to find what really makes the difference on a long-haul flight. A 15-hr red-eye nonstop flight from NYC to China was my first test run. With some tweaks and improvements, here is my list of tips and tricks to survive long-haul flights and land ready to explore!

1. Bring a Travel Pillow, Sleep Mask, and Earbuds

I cannot stress this enough. For me, it doesn’t matter what other prep I have done to try to get some sleep on a plane- if I don’t have these things to make me comfortable and block out the rest of the world, I won’t sleep a wink. Once I am comfy (as possible) in my seat, stick my ear plugs in, and slide that mask over my eyes, I am dead to the world. No stewardess, annoying kid, or engine noise will bother me now.

For the travel pillow, some people use an inflatable one, but I am a memory foam fan myself. If it’s not worth the extra bulk to you (I clip it onto my backpack or luggage) then opt for the inflatable. I like a slimmer, memory foam pillow that will give me a nice balance of support and comfort while I am sleeping.

Pro-tip: turn your pillow around so that is in front of your neck instead of behind. This will be way more comfortable and be able to cradle your chin when your head inevitably rolls forward. Use the tiny provided pillow for lumbar support. Trust me, you will thank me for this tip (if you didn’t already know it) the second you slip that puppy behind your back and IMMEDIATELY feel relief from the terrible design of airplane seats.

2. Get Some Exercise

Try not to just sit around all day before your flight. Walk around and explore the airport, go up and down some stairs, stretch, and do whatever you need to do to prep your body for sitting in a small seat for way too long. This will help you be more comfortable in your seat and help you sleep better!

3. Get Comfy

I don’t like to lounge around airports in sweats or leggings, but I also have no interest in wearing jeans for 10 hours on a plane. In my carry-on, I bring leggings, a t-shirt, and comfy socks to slip on either right before boarding or after we leave. I’m aware that this is extra, and it’s not for everybody. So if you would rather, then just wear a comfy outfit to the airport! A pair of black leggings with a simple, cute top and a long sweater can still look cute and be comfy for your flight. Add the comfy socks to slip on after takeoff and you are set.

4. Bring Snacks

I am a big snacker, but I always forget to bring snack when I go places. Buying expensive airport snacks sucks and buying airplane snacks sucks even more. Bring some healthy snacks to help you feel good and balance out the airline food (and maybe a little chocolate because if you have to sit in an uncomfortable seat for 10 hours you might as well treat yourself a little, right?). If you’re unsure of what you can bring, check out the information online.

5. Bring a Water Bottle

Listen. There is almost nothing worse than being stuck in an airplane seat (especially if you didn’t get that aisle seat), breathing in that dry, horrible air, and thirsting to death because the five ounces of water they gave you with your meal weren’t enough to last you the next three hours. The attendant isn’t coming round and your new friend is snoring happily in their seat. You are miserable and your plans for sleep have shriveled and died. Friends, bring a water bottle. It will also help you feel better by the time you land, combat the dry air to keep your skin and face moisturized, and help to keep you from getting under-eye bags. The benefits of staying hydrated during a long-haul flight are enormous. Bring. Your. Water bottle. I once forgot mine on just an 8-hour flight with a budget airline. They literally served us NOTHING unless you ordered from the snack bar or bought your meal ahead of time. I did not know this. I had to get up about five times to ask for water because they never came around and offered it. That was no fun.
(Lesson I learned the hard way: if you bring a water bottle with a pop-up straw, leave the straw open during take-off. Due to the change in air pressure, you may end up with a geyser when you open it to take a sip and drench yourself, your stuff, and your seat partner. Not that anything this embarrassing has ever happened to me…)

6. Choose an Aisle Seat

The aisle seat is indisputably the best seat for long-haul flights for one great reason that trumps any cons: You can get up whenever you want. Unless the seatbelt sign is on, or the food service is going, you can literally get up WHENEVER YOU WANT. Have to pee? Go! Want to stretch your legs? Pop up and walk down to the back and stand for a while. Want a snack? On most airlines, you can literally just walk to the bathroom area and grab snacks or a drink. This is actually super important. Getting up during your flight will help you stay much more comfortable while you are in your seat and can help prevent blood clots and cramps in your legs. I try to stand around in the back for a few minutes stretching and discreetly working a few muscles every time I get up to go to the bathroom, and it helps my comfort level tremendously. No one cares, no one thinks you look stupid. And if they do, it’s worth it.

On many airlines, you can choose your seat on the app once you have your boarding pass. Sometimes you can ask for an aisle seat during check-in. It definitely can’t hurt to try. Unless you are ABSOLUTELY set on seeing your destination out the window as you land or you HAVE to have the wall to lean on in order to get to sleep, then the aisle seat is hands-down the right choice. Avoid the middle of the row if AT ALL possible. You would regret it if you didn’t even TRY to get a better seat and you find yourself stuck behind two man-spreaders with B.O.

7. Coordinate Your Sleep

If I am flying long-haul but landing in the morning, I try to not sleep at the beginning of my flight. As soon as your board the plane, try to think like you’re in your destination’s time zone already and sleep accordingly. This will help TREMENDOUSLY with jet lag and make you ready to go and do and explore when you reach your destination instead of crashing for a nap and wasting time.

8. “Go to Bed”

Whatever your bedtime routine is, go try to do that on the plane. I like to go the bathroom, wash my face, brush my teeth and hair, and slip into my comfy clothes. It helps to have a small bathroom bag with whatever toiletries you need that you can keep handy in the pocket of the seat in front of you. If you want to read a book or listen to music, do it! Avoid using screens for about half an hour before you want to be asleep, as they will keep your brain stimulated and not wanting to sleep for scientific reasons I have no desire to go into.

Wrap up in your blanket, shut out the world, and go to sleep!

9. Freshen Up

If you’re landing during the day and not just going straight to sleep as soon as you leave the airport, I recommend having a few things with you to freshen up right before or after you land. If you’re going straight to a hotel and can freshen up there, then you might opt to do that, but I hate even just going through the airport and getting on the train feeling gross. I always have face wash, moisturizer, toothpaste and toothbrush, hairbrush, and makeup easily accessible as well as fresh undies and a new top to change into. If I’m feeling bored and antsy on the plane, I may do this before landing, but often I just wait until I am in the airport and freshen up there. This makes all the difference in feeling ready for the day in your new destination. (It’s also a great way to kill time on a layover.)

10. Go with the Flow

Try not to get too upset when take-off gets delayed or when your seat neighbor is snoring too loudly and taking the armrest. Remember that flying is not always comfortable, but the more stressed and upset you get about it, the harder it will be to relax, get some sleep, and land feeling excited rather than zombie-like. Bring headphones and play some relaxing music or listen to a grounding podcast. Try to go with the flow and accept the inconveniences of travel as all a part of the adventure.

None of these are ground-breaking or super-secret tips, but they are definitely a collection of the things I try to do every single time I fly long-haul and I swear by each one. What do you do when you travel to make flying a bit more tolerable? Let me know!