Long-haul flights can be exhausting: there’s not much space, it’s hard to fall asleep and the cabin air quickly wears you out. A travel editor who has been flying regularly for over ten years has shared five simple habits that genuinely help make a journey by plane more comfortable.
The first thing she insists on is a personal toiletries kit for hand luggage. Even if the airline hands out a basic amenity set, it’s much nicer to have your own favourites: a toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, dry shampoo, wet wipes or a make-up remover. This is especially noticeable on night flights or when a flight is delayed and you want to freshen up before landing. The only important thing is to bear in mind the restrictions on liquid volumes in hand luggage and, if necessary, buy anything extra at the airport.
The second tip concerns eating on board. The author admits that she used to try to “get her money’s worth” out of the ticket by accepting every meal offered, but she often felt unwell in the stuffy cabin atmosphere. Now she follows a different strategy: before a night flight she has a proper meal at the airport and skips the in-flight dinner. If she manages to fall asleep, she will sometimes even pass on breakfast immediately after waking, instead bringing along simple snacks that travel well, such as pastries, and eating when she is genuinely hungry. An extra bonus is that she doesn’t have to wait for the crew to collect and clear the trays, and can settle down to sleep whenever it suits her.
There’s one more thing she never boards a plane without — a large scarf or shawl. Even when travelling to warm countries, this accessory saves you from chilly air conditioning, can serve as an extra blanket or pillow and simply creates a sense of cosiness during the flight.
The travel editor also recommends paying special attention to moving around during the flight. If the “fasten seat belts” sign is off, she tries to get up at least once every few hours, walk a little and stretch her legs. This helps reduce stiffness in the body and, she says, may be useful in helping to prevent deep vein thrombosis. To avoid disturbing her neighbours in the row, she chooses an aisle seat whenever possible.
The fifth tip is to have realistic expectations about sleep. The author stresses that for most passengers flying in economy, proper sleep is unlikely, unless you’re in first class with a lie-flat bed. It’s better not to stress about it and accept that the body simply isn’t designed for perfect rest on a plane. Instead, it’s worth taking short naps, drinking enough water, using a sleep mask or light blanket and, if you like, listening to calming music or podcasts. After landing, she suggests having a plan for what to do to make it easier to cope with jet lag.
According to the author’s experience, such simple habits don’t require any expensive gadgets, but they do noticeably improve how you feel on long flights.