Long Haul Flights – How to Cope?

If you want to get to that remote island, that exotic destination, or far flung place you are will need to endure a long haul flight. Long haul flights can be testing but if prepared they can be part of the experience and even sometimes enjoyable. The following 10 tips are useful in helping you cope and prepare for your flight ahead.

Sleeping & Eating Before Flying
Accessories
Exercise Regularly
Drinking on Long Haul Flights
Prepare Your Bodyclock
Avoid Long Connecting Flights
Choose the Correct Flight
Choose the Right Airline
Footwear and Clothing
Sit Back and Relax

1. Sleeping & Eating Before Flying

Get enough sleep before your trip and avoid eating unhealthy junk food and drinking alcohol. You will need the sleep because any sleep gained on the flight is going to be broken sleep, and sitting for long times you will want your digestive system working in as it should be, and avoiding junk food and alcohol will help with avoiding an uncomfortable bloated feeling.

2. Accessories

Make sure you take extra layers of clothing and a packet of soft tissues. The air con can get unbearably cold at times which can make your nose run, if it occurs, you’ll be pleased you have some tissues on hand.

3. Exercise Regularly

Feeling lazy and tired is no excuse not to get up and stretch from time-to-time, It is important that you don’t remain completely still to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis. Also try not to sit crossed legs for too long or in any position that could stem the rate of your blood flow.

4. Drinking on Long Haul Flights – Rhydration

Hydrate yourself well; this will help with dehydration and tiredness keeping you more alert when you arrive at your destination.

5. Prepare Your Bodyclock

While on your flight, set your watch to the local time of your destination, this will help you with adjusting your body clock to the new time-zone. Also try sleeping when it is time to sleep at your destination, if this means watching another movie to try and stay awake then do it, it is well worth doing everything you can on your flight to reduce the effect of jet-lag.

6. Avoid Long Connecting Flights

Cheap is not always a good idea, often airlines offer cheap flights when you have a long time to wait for your onward connecting flight. Often in the time you spend waiting at the airport for your onward flight, you will be tempted to spend money on food and drinks and possibly gifts. In the long run you waste time and not save much more money. Choose your flight carefully so you don’t have to wait a long time for your onward flight

7. Choose the Correct Flight

If you have a connecting flight, try choosing an airline that connects roughly halfway to your destination. This will break up your journey and you won’t spend too long sitting in one position.

8. Choose the Right Airline

Choose an airline that provides good in-flight entertainment to help occupy your mind. Not all airlines provide personal entertainment systems and being able to choose what you watch when you like really helps with making the time go by.

9. Footwear and Clothing

Wear comfortable clothes and footwear, slip on shoes are a good idea so you can easily take them off and slip them back on again when you get up to stretch your legs. Don’t bother about looking your best; after a 14-hour journey, no one cares.