Long Haul Flight Travel Tips

I wouldn’t say I’m a travel expert by any means, but I have been on ~20 long haul flights in the last 3 years, so I feel like I have almost gotten my prep down to a perfect science. Long haul flights are exhausting – we are often cramped into tiny seats, for hours and hours at a time, trying to get a decent amount of rest, but we all know how hard that is. There are so many factors that are out of our control, so I like to do as much in advance as possible to atleast make the things I can control more enjoyable. My top tips & tricks are below!

SLEEP

Buy & bring an Ostrich pillow – We all know that sleeping on a plane can be difficult, but with it’s super soft jersey material, and bead-like interior, the Ostrich Pillow makes it so much easier.  This O shaped travel pillow lays on top of your eyes and ears, blocking out sound and light, and acts as a rest for the head. I first discovered it’s magic a few years ago when my {now} husband had a medical emergency when travelling. My {now} sister-in-law, Katelyn, had an Ostrich pillow with her and let me borrow it when it became clear I would have to spend the night at the hospital in a chair – It blocked out the beeping machines, the lights from other patients and made my awkward angles comfortable enough for me to get a few hours rest. Ever since that moment, I have sworn by this travel accessory, making it my #1 must-have. More recently, I have discovered the brands newer item – this neck support pillow which I only bring on long haul flights because it is such a pain to carry around {it’s much more bulky than it’s sister product!} But y’all, as much as I hate carrying this product through the airports, it makes sleeping so much more pleasant when on the plane. AKA it’s 1000% worth it.  It’s also covered in the same soft jersey material as its sister, but instead of having a soft beaded interior, this pillow is made of a more stiff insert that gives your neck the support it needs. This past Christmas, when flying to Switzerland, I had a middle seat in the middle row {literally the worst of the worst} and had it not been for this little guy, I wouldn’t have slept at all!

Don’t forget an eye mask – If you have the ostrich pillow already, then you don’t necessarily need an eye mask, but I always travel with one anyway in case I need it post travel days. For example, sometimes my husband stays awake longer than I do, or the windows in the hotels don’t have sufficient black out shades,  so I find it really convienient to have this eye mask on hand. It takes up zero space in my carry on tote, and because I love the way the soft silk feels on my eyes I will often layer it under the ostrich pillow when traveling too {why not?!} Pro tip: even though they aren’t as pretty, buy the navy or black silk – the lighter colors are prettier, but will show make up and dirt.

Bring your own sleep aid – If you have trouble falling asleep while flying, I can’t recommend Melatonin enough. This herbal remedy is sure to help ease the toughest of sleepers into a soundful slumber. I’m sensitive to medicine, so I use this brand which is safe for children {and only 1mg}, but if you’re less sensitive, Vitafusion has 3mg per gummy and will certainly do the trick. It also comes in pill form if gummies aren’t your thing.

COMFORT/EASE

Change into sweatpants – My parents grew up during the golden age of travel – a time when flying was not only luxurious but also something to get dressed up for. Forget the destination! Flying was the event. Fast forward 30+ years, and flying has become a lot more relaxed, and although I don’t wear my ‘Sunday best’ when I travel, I do think my parents instilled in me to always look somewhat put together. There is the age old saying of ‘you never know who you are going to run into’ and I honestly couldn’t agree more. I know I would be mortified if I saw someone I knew and I looked like a total slob while walking through the airport. Long haul flight or not, save the sweatpants for your seat. Speaking of which…as soon as I’m on the plane and settled into my seat, I privately change into these sweatpants. I don’t like to wear clothes that restrict me or dig into my skin and these sweatpants will keep me as comfortable as possible when trying to sleep. I love these particular sweatpants because they are warm without making me hot and they roll up into a small enough ball that they don’t take up a ton of room in my carry-on tote. 30 minutes before landing, I change back into my jeans and am ready to face the world again.

Pack an oversized scarf {this one comes in four different colors} – The temperature on a plane is unpredictable, so I always pack a scarf to have as a layer incase I get cold. It’s lighter than a full-on sweater, but gives you that extra coverage if your t-shirt isn’t enough. My Favorites are these ones from Shopbop.

Pack a pair of long socks – There is nothing worse than being too cold on a flight, and for me, that starts with my feet. If my feet are cold, then so is the rest of me! I can’t stand bare ankles when flying, so I always pack a tall sock. These are my favorite {because they’re thin but keep you warm} but any brand will do. Bonus points if they are compression socks!

PACK YOUR OWN ACCESSORIES

Bring your own pair of earphones – Unless you’re flying first class or business, you don’t want to rely on the earphones handed out to you for free by the airline. They’re often broken and/or inefficient and can make your ears hurt if you use them for long periods of time. I always pack my own set, and for that there is no better option than the AirPod Pros. I swear by these! I even own multiple pairs because I use them so frequently.

Never lose a charge – Travel days are often long and when I’m abroad, things tend to take a little longer to load on my phone, which then in turn drains my battery quicker than I’m used to. This portable charger has been my favorite for the last year or so because of its compact size and ability to charge my phone from dead to full 2x over before recharging. I also love its compact size – it doesn’t take up a ton of room and it isn’t massively heavy {something I definitely couldn’t say about the Anker}. You never want to be stuck in a situation where you need your phone, and it’s dead, so this little guy is the perfect security blanket.

Buy your own water/bring your own snacks – before you board the plane, buy yourself a large bottle of water. They will serve beverages throughout the flight, but its nice to have your own so you can fall asleep without having to worry about knocking over your cup of water, or missing the service altogether. Also, I always pack a few of these Kind bars – I hate feeling hungry on a flight because there is nothing you can do but wait for the next meal handout. These are my favorite because they’re filling and delicious!

Bring your own entertainment – there is nothing worse than getting onto a flight and realizing that you forgot your book or that your TV doesn’t work. I always have a plethora of podcasts and tv shows downloaded in advance so I can pass the time easily and/or have something to fall asleep to! I also love a good book, so bringing one or two of those is always a smart idea if you have the space in your carry on. Right now I’m listening to Dr. Death – a podcast about a corrupt doctor in Dallas, and currently downloading ‘You‘ on the Netflix app which I’ve heard is equal parts creepy and addicting.

STAY HYDRATED

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate – It shouldn’t be surprising that airplanes dry you out – The humidity level in the cabins of most commercial airlines is just 10 percent to 20 percent {sometimes even lower!} For reference, the average humidity for a room in your house is anywhere from 30 to 65 percent. Because of this, I apply a layer of serum and moisturizer as soon as I step foot on the plane to give my skin a heads start on hydration. I also try to drink as much water as possible. This will do wonders for not only your skin, but for your jet lag as well. Last but not least, I love to pack these cooling eye gels to help fight the puffiness I know I’ll be feeling when I land. They are slick on one side, cotton on the other, so they don’t slide down your face, or leave a slimy mess on your face. Plus they feel like they’ve been cooling in a refrigerator even when they haven’t! In case you’re wondering – I always pack a few of my most essential beauty items in my carry on when traveling in case my checked bag gets lost.

Do not wear mascara – Have you ever fallen asleep with mascara on? It’s the worst. Your eyes ache, and they look all puffy, and often times dry, crumbling mascara will be cascading down your cheeks. I typically go to the airport without make up on, but if thats not your thing, then remove it as soon as you step foot on the plane. Go to the little bathroom and use a make up remover to take it off, and then follow with your most hydrating serum and moisturizer.

Hand sanitizer/wipes – hardly need to explain this one. Planes are so. dang. dirty. Wipe down your seat once you get on the plane, and then use hand sanitizer after using the restroom {even after washing your hands}. I don’t do these things every time I travel, but if it’s cold & flu season, and I’m trapped on a plane for 8+ hours you can bet your bottom dollar that I do!

Brush/toothbrush toothpaste – Fall asleep or not, everyone should brush their teeth before getting off a long flight. I always keep my toothbrush and travel paste handy and when I go to the restroom to change out of my sweatpants back into my jeans, I always brush my teeth. You will feel so much better once you do, and it will wake you up a bit too!

Last but not least, if you are checking a bag, put atleast one change of clothes and underwear + anything you couldn’t live without in your carry on should your bag get lost. International airports are a zoo and I can’t tell you how many times my checked back has gotten lost. It always shows up a day or two later, but I have definitely learned my lesson. Also, last but not least, NEVER check your jewelry or any electronics. Or really anything of value! Always bring those with you on the plane. 

Well, there you go! Those are my tried & true tricks for guaranteeing the most successful long haul flying experience. I hope you found those helpful, and if you have anything to add please leave a comment below!

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