How to Survive a Long Haul Flight in Economy
We’ve had our fair share of long haul flights, from 6-8 hours to fly across the Atlantic, all the way up to 18 hours to fly across the Pacific! So we know a thing or two about how to survive a long flight. We almost always fly in economy class, where space is very limited and it can be tricky to get comfortable. We’re sharing our favorite in-flight must haves and our top tips for how to get comfy and survive a long haul flight!
Surviving a Long Haul Flight
Sharing tips and in-flight must-haves!
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A good flight starts before you board
TSA Pre Check
Spending 20-30 minutes in line waiting to go through the TSA security check point can be a real bummer. And when it’s finally your turn, you have to take off your shoes and pull everything out of your meticulously packed bag. But what if you could hop in a shorter line, keep your shoes on, and keep all your stuff in your bag? That’s the beauty of TSA pre check! If you have the right credit card, you can get your TSA pre check application fee automatically reimbursed, which is a great benefit to have.
Pro Tip
If you have to go through security check points that require you to remove all metal, wearing a metal-free belt can save you a lot of time and hassle!
Lounging in a Lounge
Why spend $6 for a bottle of water and $20 for a sandwich at the airport, and then fight for one of the limited places to sit in a congested airport terminal? If you’re tired of the high airport prices, you might want to try an airport lounge. Many airport lounges have food and drinks included and usually have abundant seating - though lounge overcrowding has become more common in recent years. Like TSA pre check, if you have the right credit card, you may be able to access airport lounges for free! Be sure to check your card benefits to see if you have access to any lounges.
Stay Hydrated
Air travel can really dehydrate you and dry out your skin, so be sure to bring a reusable water bottle and fill it up often to stay hydrated on your flight.
In-Flight Essentials
To make our flight more comfortable, and to avoid having to open the overhead bin to grab something out of our carry on mid-flight, we like to keep a small pouch in the seat-back pocket with some of our most used in-flight essentials. Here are some of our top things we keep handy for a comfy in-flight experience:
Eye Mask -Useful for blocking out light when trying to sleep on the plane
Kleenex - You never know when you’ll need it!
Pill Organizer - Great for keeping medications easily accessible, like allergy pills or vitamins
Gum - To help with popping ears on take off and landing
Sea-Bands - To help with motion sickness
Airfly - Wirelessly connect to in-flight entertainment
Power Adapter - Handy for charging electronics
In-Flight Meds - Dramamine and Pepto bismol are two meds we keep handy during flights because you never know when you’ll need them
Two-Prong Headphone Adapter - Some airlines use a two-prong headphone jack and carrying an adapter will allow you to use your favorite headphones instead of the flimsy ones the airline provides
Pen - Great to have on hand if you need to fill out any forms or write postcards
Lip Balm - Keep your skin and your lips well hydrated in the dry air of the plane
Charging Cable - Many planes have USB charging ports which is great for charging your phone during the flight
Wireless Power Bank - A great backup option if there are no places to plug in your phone
Comfy Footwear
One trick to getting comfy on a long haul flight is making sure your feet are comfortable. We like wearing compression socks during the flight to help combat restless leg syndrome and reduce ankle swelling. And if you really want to get comfortable, consider bringing a pair of slippers on your next long haul flight!
Great Headphones
There’s nothing worse than being stuck on a long haul flight with loud people next to you. Whether it’s a crying baby, or people talking loudly when you’re trying to watch a movie or sleep, a good pair of noise cancelling headphones will help make your flight more comfortable. Jeremy likes the compact size of over-ear earbud-style headphones, and I like the comfort of my Beats Studio Pro over-ear headphones. Mine aren’t very compact, but they are so worth it!
Combat Motion Sickness
If you’re even a little bit prone to motion sickness, wearing Sea-Bands might be a good idea. They work through acupressure by applying pressure to your median nerve.
Stay Entertained
In-flight entertainment on most airlines is pretty good and usually keeps us entertained for a while, but it’s good to have other options. We always download some eBooks, audiobooks and podcasts so that we have a variety of things to choose from during our flights. We love renting ebooks from the library using the Libby app!
Stay Happy, Not Hangry
One thing that will quickly ruin a flight is being hangry. Don’t let yourself get to the point of hanger - eat the in-flight meals and snacks they provide. In case the airline food doesn’t appeal to you, be sure to pack a couple snacks for the flight.
Stretch Your Legs
It’s hard to sit in your seat for 6+ hours and stay comfy, but really, you shouldn’t do that! During a long haul flight, try to get up and walk down the aisle to get your blood flowing. You can even do smaller stretches in your seat to stretch your legs or arms during the flight without bothering your neighbors.
Refresh Upon Landing
We like to keep some basic toiletries on hand to use when we land at our destination. A toothbrush and toothpaste are great to help wake you up and give your mouth an instantly clean feeling. We also like to keep deodorant handy to freshen up after a long flight.
For more information, check out our video on YouTube!
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