Picture this: you’ve snagged the perfect getaway deal, exotic beaches or bustling cityscapes await, but first… a long haul flight. 😣 Don’t worry, we’ve got your back (and neck, and everything else). Our credentials? At least two long-haul flights (8+ hours) a year, but usually more. Here’s what you need to turn that airplane marathon into something to look forward to.
1. Invest in an airplane pillow that’s actually comfortable
Not all airplane pillows are made the same. After so many flights, you realize early on that you need a pillow that will actually cradle your head, provide neck support, and prevent any bobble-head business. Don’t settle for the $9.99 pillows you see on sale at the airport. Do yourself a favor and try one of these:
2. Bring an eye mask that can block out those overhead lights
There’s nothing worse than trying to sleep on a plane and having the aisle in front of you turn on their reading light. Or even worse, someone sitting next to you. And let’s not forget the cabin lights turning on and off depending on food service or the time of day. 🙈 Eye masks that cover more of your peripheral vision are necessary for uninterrupted inflight naps.
3. Wear an airport outfit that’s comfortable for long periods of sitting
This seems like a no brainer, but loose clothing can be the one thing that makes your long flight bearable. Like most recommendations, we used to wear leggings, but found that even if we wore our more comfortable pair, they still ended up feeling too restraining towards the end of the flight. Instead, we opt for cute, flowy pants that are breathable and comfortable even after binging plane snacks or fighting the unavoidable inflight bloat. Depending on the destination, we’ve worn thicker sweatpants to fight the freezer-like temperatures planes can sometimes get.
4. Bring an emotional support water bottle that’s small enough for the seat pocket
If you’re anything like us, you don’t go anywhere without a water bottle (is water anxiety a thing? lol), especially not during a long haul flight. But we’ve made the mistake of bringing our huge 72oz bottles, which not only weigh down our backpacks and take up too much space, but they don’t fit in the seat pocket either. Instead, find a water bottle 24oz – 32oz that can fit easily in your personal item and in the seat pocket. Even if you don’t like filling up your water at the airport before a flight, you can ask the flight attendant for a few cups of water so you have some no matter the time of beverage service.
5. Download 2x the shows, movies, or books you actually think you’ll need
When you’re on a long haul flight, it’s easy to get bored fairly quickly. So while you won’t need 6 different ebooks (thank you, kindle) 10 movies, and 3 podcasts for the entire flight, you’re going to want to have more choices. Most airlines also have a pretty good selection of movies, so don’t forget to check those out too! Here’s what we usually watch or read on:
6. If you like inflight movies and shows, try this bluetooth game-changer
Speaking of movies, we love having the option of watching the content provided by the airline, but we don’t often bring wired headphones and hate the disposable ones that are offered (although it’s very nice to have as a last resort). If you just can’t sacrifice the comfort of your favorite wireless headphone, buy a bluetooth airplane headphone adapter. It allows you to watch movies or shows on the plane tv with any wireless headphones you may own.
7. Pack a few different headphone options
This is definitely not a necessity, 😆 but after 4 hours with our AirPods in, sometimes our ears need a break. We like bringing an in-ear pair of headphones as well as a comfortable over-ear pair for long haul flights, switching off depending on how we’re feeling. For example, to sleep, we definitely prefer a noise cancelling pair of over ear headphones. And of course, if you don’t want to buy the bluetooth adapter but want to watch the inflight movies, don’t forget a pair of wired headphones too. Here’s some of our favs:
8. Create a self-care pouch with hygiene basics
When we travel, we bring a pouch for everything (if you get it, you get it). For the flight specifically, we pack a pouch with mini versions of necessities that we know we like to have, even if we don’t end up using it. It usually includes things like:
- flushable, individually packed butt wipes 💩
- hand sanitizer and hand cream
- a small toothbrush, mini tooth paste, and floss picks
- breath mints
- moisturizing facial mist
- mini face wipes
- lip treatment (not just balm, but something a lot thicker)
- medicine like pepto, tums, and advil, plus other medicine that help us relax (or fall asleep), like zzzquil, dramamine, and magnesium, usually packed in a pill case
- hair tie and a hair clip
9. Stash a variety of snacks in your personal item
You really don’t need to bring a ton of food since these long haul flights will usually offer multiple meals and snacks in between, but it’s always good to have a back up plan in case you sleep through food service. Bring snacks that can satiate cravings, and other snacks that will help the hunger subside until you can grab a bite of food after landing.
Bonus Tip: Download a white noise app to create a calming soundscape, or pack a meditation app for some in-flight zen. 🧘♀️
Remember, every long haul flight is the beginning of your next amazing trip. By packing smart and embracing these tips, you’ll land feeling refreshed and ready to explore! Safe travels!
P.S. What are your must-have long-flight essentials? Share your secrets in the comments below!
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