If you saw my Instagram stories in February, you would have noticed that we had taken our first-ever long-haul flight to Australia. It was a bit of a nightmare as we had some issues leading up to departures; we lost E’s passport and only realised a week before our flight, which was extremely stressful and during our trip, my MIL had a fall and sustained a really serious injury, meaning she couldn’t enjoy the journey as much as she wanted.

Despite the challenges, the reason for our trip, was a family wedding, which was a beautiful experience. We’ve learned from our mistakes and will keep all passports together in a secure place to avoid repeating our stressful situation.

I wanted to put together some tips for long-haul flights for those thinking of or embarking on this type of flight for the first time.

Wear Comfy Clothes

Regardless of your destination, you want to wear something loose and comfortable for your trip. Airport waits, layovers, and, of course, sitting on planes can be lengthy and tedious, and the last thing you want is to make it more uncomfortable by wearing restrictive or annoyance-inducing clothes.

Try on your clothes or invest in new pieces you feel comfortable wearing, such as tracksuits, so you can get comfy in your seat and not have to worry about your clothing annoying you.

Stay Hydrated

Plane travel is extremely dehydrating, especially when you are in the air for prolonged periods. You can combat this by drinking adequate amounts of water in the days leading up to the flight, prior to the flight in the airport, and on the plane. You can bring a reusable water bottle with you or buy a bottle of water at the airport to drink on the plane, but it’s best to avoid drinks that can dehydrate you, like caffeine products such as coffee and energy drinks, as well as too much alcohol. Add water in between alcoholic beverages to combat dehydration from alcohol.

Sleep Strategically

If you can sleep on planes, try to time your sleep in the air to ward off the dreaded jet lag. For first-timers on long-haul flights, it can be a shock to the system. When you sleep will depend on your destination and the time you are arriving, so do some research and find out when it is best to sleep to help you feel more refreshed when you arrive.

Sleep Products

This could be taking a travel pillow for your neck, a blow-up pillow to place on the table in front of you or on the wall, or it can be an eye mask, or you can even use your comfy women’s hoodie to rest your head on if you wish or listen to white noise through headphones. Find what works for you to help you drift off in public and get some rest. No one wants to be struggling to sleep when in the air for copious amounts of time, and flights can get really boring really quickly, especially if you are restricted to your seat, or you’re stuck in the middle, and can’t or don’t want to disturb your neighbours.

Take a Charger

Charging up your devices is a great idea, but they might not last the distance. Taking a charger with you in the form of a portable charging block or a wire to plug into the plane can help you stay charged so you can use your devices. Remember, they need to be in flight mode, so download any games, videos, playlists, or books you want to read to keep you occupied for the length of the flight.

Pack Healthy Snacks

Healthy snacks can be a win for long-haul flights. If you get peckish, healthy snacks can help you stop eating junk food that is so readily available on commercial flights. While there’s nothing wrong with indulging in treats, if you are in the air for hours, you want something nutritious to fill you up alongside your tasty snacks, so incorporating some, such as protein bars, nuts, trail mix, etc., can be beneficial.

There are many things you can do to make your long-haul flight easier and more enjoyable. These tips, based on our experiences, are designed to help you feel more confident and in control when flying long distances. The more prepared you are, the smoother your flight will be.

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