In this post I’m going to be sharing my tips for long-haul flights. Some of the links in this post do contain affiliates, which means that if you make a purchase, I receive a small commission (at no additional costs to you). This helps me continue to create free content for you. Thank you for your support! 

Some of the best destinations are also the furthest away from you, which means long haul flights, jetlag and precious vacation days at risk of being wasted.  Follow these tips to survive and thrive on your next long-haul flight. These tips for long-haul flight will leave you feeling better than ever when you arrive at your destination.

Thanks to the miracle of flight, us humans are able to spend an entire day of our lives in the sky, in a limbo between countries, only to land in a completely new and foreign place. But if you’re not being pampered in first class, long-haul flights can totally take a toll on you. So here are my top tips for long-haul flights. 

Tips for long-haul flights

Choose your seat wisely

First things first, before even thinking about what to pack or setting foot in the airport, do yourself a favor and do a little bit of research on Seat Guru to make an educated selection on your seat.  Things most travelers obviously prefer to avoid (especially on long-haul flights) would be seats right next to the lavatory or middle seats. This is especially the case in some of the larger plane layouts. Some of the larger aircrafts are 4-5 seats across in the middle section. That’s a lot of people to have to navigate around every time you wish to get up. I also recommend avoiding the back of the plane. This tends to be a high traffic area with a lot going on plus the engine is usually much louder in the back. 

Dress appropriately (and by that I do mean comfy!)

When dressing for long-haul flights think ‘cozy-chic’. You don’t have to sacrifice fashion for comfort here.  You want to wear breathable, lightweight clothing that you can move around and get comfortable in. Also, make sure that you’ve got a few extra layers. Airplanes can get cold so throwing on a scarf can mean an extra layer if you’re cold, or a convenient pillow if you’re ready to rest. 

Shop my airplane favorites

My favorite go-to flight essentials are a comfortable pair of leggings or joggers, a t-shirt topped with a sweater and I always throw on a scarf and my comfiest trainers. Trust me, feet swell up when you’re on a plane for 15 hours and you do not want to be crushing your feet in boots, heels or even sandals.

Medical professionals even highly recommend wearing compression socks while flying. You can find cute and comfy compression socks here.

Pack smart for long-haul flights

Of all of the tips for long haul flights, this is probably one of my top here.  I always recommend packing a small personal item in addition to your actual carry on bag.  It is important to pack this bag wisely so that you can easily access what you need when you need it. I love my Tumi Voyageur backpack! It is the perfect size for what I need and has the perfect pocket for my laptop. 

Pack your favorite amenities

Having your own headphones is essential. You will not be able to hear anything over the potential sound of children crying and engines roaring with those tiny (one-size fits all) headphones that the airline provides. It’s not worth it, I promise. It’s even better if you have noise cancelling headphones. We have had this brand of noise canceling headphones for a few years now and we love them.

Similarly, as fun as it is to open up your airplane care package, that tiny toothpaste, socks and earbuds for your journey won’t hit the same as having your own favorites along with you. Just take my word for it. It is a million times more comfortable to have your own. I suggest packing a small amenity bag full of your favorites with items like toothpaste, a toothbrush, hydrating eye masks, face wipes and a good moisturizer.  Maybe even get yourself a nice silky eye mask that doesn’t even feel like you’re wearing one. When it comes to surviving a long-haul flight, comfort is key, and your own pillow and eye mask will provide much better comfort. 

I also ALWAYS pack my own hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes for flights.  Even before COVID, I just think it’s a wise thing to have.  For more information on traveling during COVID, check out my full blog post on how to travel safely during COVID. 

Hydrate

This goes for your skin as well. Don’t wear makeup, but make sure that you do wear moisturizer. The recycled air on a plane will dry your skin out in an instant. Instead of caking on the makeup, make sure that you’ve got your go to skin moisturizer for the ultimate comfort. Your skin will be thanking you when you get to your destination. 

On that same note, drink a lot of water. It is so easy to get dehydrated on an airplane. Yes it’s not ideal to be getting up and squeezing out into the aisle to use the bathroom all the time, but your jetlag will be 10x worse if you’re dehydrated when you arrive. 

According to the experts you should be drinking about 8oz of water every hour. 

Pro tip: Getting up every couple of hours helps keep the blood flowing in your legs, actually helping you to stay more comfortable on the flight. So maybe getting up to go to the bathroom has even more benefits.  On this same thought, don’t be afraid to get up and move about as much as you need to. 

Bring your own snacks

Most long-haul flights provide at least two meals and a snack, helping you to stay more comfortable throughout the journey. But what happens when the meals have passed, the lights are off and the hunger strikes? It’s great to have a couple of snacks of your own. 

Tip from another flyer though, try to bring quiet snacks that aren’t going to disrupt your neighbors if you start eating in the night. Meaning, you might love apples, but crunching into an apple while your seat mates are sleeping is not going to make you any friends. 

I always pack a couple of sweets, some protein bars and nuts, just to cover all the bases of what I might be craving when I’m on a long haul-flight.  These bars are my absolute favorite for on the go.

Stick to your bedtime routine

You often have to trick yourself into sleeping on a plane. What helps with this is sticking to your bedtime routine. If that involves washing your face, brushing your teeth and reading a bit before bed, do all of those things to tell your body it’s time to wind down.  

It’s easy to get excited by the prospect of so many movies to watch (added to the excitement of your destination) that you may want to stay up watching endless flicks. But don’t make this mistake. I suggest that after they pick up the dinner trays, you go through your entire bedtime routine as you would at home, helping you to wind down and get a few hours of sleep in the air. 

Disclaimer: I am NOT a medical professional in any way shape or form.  Nor am I making any formal recommendations. I’m simply sharing what works for me. 

Anyone who knows me knows that my trick is to take a Benadryl with a glass of red wine with dinner and then it is pretty much lights out for at least a few hours of needed rest. My general suggestion would be to do your research and use any type of sleep-aid wisely. 

Be nice to your neighbors – the “golden rule” of tips for long-haul flights

Lastly, if you want to survive your next long-haul flight, be nice to your neighbors. This should go without saying, but it really can make the biggest difference on your flight. You’re going to be sitting with these people for a long time and at some point you’re all going to need to get up and move around. Simply be kind and respectful of the people sitting next to you. That way if you’re stuck in the middle they’ll always be happy to let you out when you need.  In my book, kindness always wins!

You’re ready to survive your next adventure with these tips for long-haul flights

Just like that you’re ready to survive your next long-haul flight. If you stick to these tips I can promise that you are going to arrive at your destination feeling refreshed and ready for the next adventure. Because while flying is fun, the real fun starts when you land. 

Do you have any tips for long-haul flights? Let me know in the comments below! I’d love to know what works for you. On that note, if you have any questions about flying, packing or travel in general, let me know so I can create content that answers all your questions!