8 Tips To Survive a Long Flight
Are you dreaming of a getaway to Africa or Australia, but the idea of a 15 hour plane ride gives you anxiety? Well, you’re not the only one. Anything over 6 hours tends to make us all start to wonder what to do with that kind of time. Here are a few tips on how to survive a LONG flight.
Sleep - It seems obvious right? Well I know not all of us are able to sleep on planes, but if you’re able to knock out, definitely take advantage of the full 8 hours that you’ve been missing out on in your daily life. I’ll write a separate post on what I bring on flights to make myself feel at home.
Watch movies - It’s easy to cut through long flights when you know each movie should take about 2 hours each so get ready to catch up on all of those movies you didn’t want to see in theaters. If you prefer to use your iPad, be sure to stock up on those downloadable movies and shows on the Netflix app so you don’t have to try to stream movies on plane wifi.
Read - For those airlines that are getting rid of in-seat TV’s (UGH), you can always turn to a book to kill time on those long flights. I always try to bring a thriller or historical fiction on a flight so that it’s a page turner and not a snooze fest. Choose wisely! And if you’re tight on packing space, go for Audible - you can listen to as many audio books as you like. Let me know in the comments if you want me to share my favorite books.
Stretch - Sitting for 15 hours is obviously not great for circulation or the human body in general. Hell, I can’t even sit at my desk at work for 8 hours. After every movie, or 2 hour time period (if you’re not sleeping, of course), be sure to get up and stretch your legs. I like to walk to where the bathrooms are or where the stewardesses are and do a quick 5 minutes of stretching. Even that will make you feel a little more human. Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks, your body needs this, I swear. If stretching isn’t your thing, you can walk up and down the aisles a couple of times just watch out for those aisle seat legs sticking out!
Water - DRINK WATER!! This one seems obvious too, but honestly, who on earth is actually drinking enough water? I’m a sucker for in flight wine to wind down while watching a movie, but it’s important to have ample water while flying. I like to buy my own bottle of water so that I’m not annoying the stewardesses all flight or needing to use the seat table tray. Plus this ensures that I’ll have more than enough water for a full flight. My recommendation is to get the biggest bottle you can find.
Knitting - Bet you haven’t gotten this tip before. Well, this is my hail Mary! If I really can’t sleep and my eyes are tired of staring at a screen, I turn to activities that involve my hands. Before you ask, yes you can carry knitting needles on planes. Knitting gives you a way to feel productive while killing time. At the end of your flight you may even have a scarf to wear! The only caveat is to watch your elbows to you’re not hitting the person next to you each time you cast the yarn.
Podcasts - Been dying to catch up on a podcast? Now is the time! I always try to find something that’s a documentary or murder mystery to hold my attention for a chunk of these flights.
Layovers - As much as I love a direct flight, if my trip is to the other side of the world, I’ll opt for a 24 hour layover somewhere. It gives you the opportunity to see somewhere new without paying for that extra flight, while also getting fresh air and movement. Flights with long layovers are typically cheaper because everyone wants to get to their destination quickly, but not me. I always look for something with a full day layover, but not overnight. If it’s overnight you’ll increase your cost by needing a hotel, but if you’re someone who can’t sleep on planes, an overnighter might be the best option for you. Sometimes a night in a real bed can change the game.
Hope these 8 tips help you on your next long flight! If you have any other tricks that you use when flying long distances, let me know in the comments!