Flying is a polarizing topic amongst travellers. Some people love it. Others see it as a necessary evil to endure before arriving at favourite holiday destinations. For these people, even a four-hour flight from Toronto down to the Caribbean can be tedious. And that is just for short flights.
When it comes to long haul flights, planes can be in the air for anywhere from six to 19 hours. And that’s not including layovers. That’s a long time. Even those that love flying can begin to get uncomfortable and restless during these extended air times. Add being packed into economy like a can of sardines, and long haul flights have the potential to be a truly awful experience.
Flights should be fun. But, during these extended airtimes, it can be hard to view the flight as the preemptive build-up of excitement before your adventure. Luckily, there are a few ways to embrace the long haul and ensure you receive a comfortable experience as you prepare yourself for arrival. Here are some of my favourite long haul flight essentials for surviving extended airtimes.
1. Fly With a Reputable Airline
While budget airlines are the favourite of budget travellers and backpackers, these airlines are not well-suited for long haul flights. Spirit and WestJet may be your best friend for domestic and continental flights, but the experience can be borderline unbearable when it comes to overseas flying.
To ensure you receive a comfortable long haul flight, it is critical to book with a reputable airline proven to provide high-quality services. Such airlines include Emirates, Swiss, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines. When booking these airlines, flyers should compare aspects such as supplied legroom, onboard meals, and flight services of each long haul flight.
2. Dress Comfortably
Deciding what to wear on a long haul flight is easy—the most comfortable clothes you own. Unless you are flying directly to fashion week in Milan, style should not even be considered.
I remember boarding my 11-hour flight from Toronto to Greece, and two rows in front of me was a woman wearing her Sunday’s best. Now, I’m not a fashionista, but what got my attention was the large brimmed hat and 10-inch stilettos. She just didn’t look comfortable. But, when we arrived in Athens, she looked rough. Her hat was folded up on top of her bag, and her hair was raggedly draping over her shoulders.
My point is we are all going to look rough upon arrival. So you may as well just dress comfortably for the experience. Now, I’m not condemning this women’s flight wardrobe. For all I know, that is her ‘comfortable clothes.’ However, for me, comfortable clothes mean sweatpants that zipper off into shorts, a tank top, and a carry-on sweater.
3. Pack a Toothbrush and Spare Clothes in Your Carry On
If there is any lesson to be learned from the woman with the large-brimmed hat on my flight to Greece, it is that you will never arrive at your long-haul flight’s destination feeling fresh. For this reason, packing a toothbrush and a spare change of clothes in your carry-on is always a good long haul flight tip.
A quick brush of your teeth upon arrival and a set of climate-appropriate attire will leave you feeling refreshed, energized, and ready to take in your first impression of the new city.
4. Book Your Seat in Advance with Online Check-Ins
If you buy preferred seating for your ticket, this long haul flight tip is already taken care of. However, for those of us who don’t enjoy forking over additional expenses for a specific seat, online check-ins will typically suffice when it comes to getting a comfortable seat.
While check-in desks typically only open 2-hours before a long haul flight, most airlines open their online check-ins 24 hours in advance. By checking in the moment this window opens, flyers will have more or less their pick of seating.
As for the best seat for a long haul flight, the emergency exit rows are, of course, the best. Unfortunately, these rows are assigned randomly or require additional ticket costs, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Besides these spacious rows, choosing your seat comes down to personal preference. The window seats are ideal for those prone to motion sickness or people who enjoy a view as they rest their heads. Alternatively, the aisle seat offers more legroom as you sprawl out into the shared space. The only spot that doesn’t provide any benefit is the damn middle seats.
So, if you are stuck between two strangers overflowing into your personal space, all I can say is good luck.
5. Choose a Suitable on Board Meal
Depending on the length, most long haul flights will typically provide up to two meals for their flyers, and most airlines will offer one of two choices per meal. But, while this choice may seem trivial, it can actually affect the remainder of your flight.
I have IBS. This means that there are a lot of foods that can upset my digestive system. For me, this choice of onboard meal is even more critical. If I eat something wrong, I will spend the remaining hours in the air walking back and forth from the toilet to my seat.
For this reason, I always keep my onboard meal as simple as possible. Sure the more lavish flights will offer meals such as chicken parmesan or lasagna, but I will always opt for the simpler option. So instead, I stick to meals of high carbs and lean meats.
Finally, flyers should avoid dehydrating foods. Snacks such as nuts and saltines are typical for airlines to provide but will leave patrons craving a glass of water or wine.
6. Indulge Wisely
Speaking of wine, many long haul flights provide alcohol to their patrons free of charge. And while I believe the intoxicating effects of alcohol can help calm the nerves of short flights, overindulging can actually be counterproductive for the long haul flight.
Beyond simply being more disruptive to other flyers, becoming intoxicated on a plane will actually mess with your sleep cycle, cause dehydration, and ultimately leave you feeling sick for the latter half of the flight.
Because let’s face it. You aren’t going to be drinking for 19 hours straight on a flight without making an asshole of yourself. At some point during the flight, you will stop, and those devastating hangovers will come into effect. Do you know what’s worse than a hangover? Having a hangover 30,000 feet in the air.
7. Bring a Neck Pillow and Your Own Headphones
Most airlines will provide pillows, blankets, and headphones for their long haul flights. But, as can be expected, these aren’t the highest quality products. So unless you want to arrive at your destination with a sore back and a kink in your neck, bring your own neck pillow.
Similarly, the provided headphones will perform as a last resource option. Still, they are often not up to the task of exuding audio levels that can compete with the external noises of the plane in motion. While most long-haul flights provide diverse onboard movie selections, bringing your own headphones is essential to follow any of the films’ plots.
8. Take Periodic Walks of the Aisles
Remaining in your seat for 12+ hours severely increases your long-haul flight blood clot risk. Therefore, it is critical to get up every few hours of a long haul flight to simply stretch your limbs.
But don’t just stand in the aisleway. This will simply cause traffic to accumulate by your seat and likely result in a flight attendant asking you to sit down.
Instead, go for a walk down the length of the plain. Stretch your legs and let your blood flow get acclimatized to the higher altitudes.
9. Be Courteous to your Seatmates
You don’t have to become best friends with your seatmates. But you are going to be stuck next to them for several hours. Getting on the wrong foot can result in a severely awkward long haul flight.
Again, you don’t have to spend the whole flight shooting the shit. Just do the bare minimum to be cordial. Introduce yourself, offer to help with their luggage, and most importantly, get in the aisle and let them go through if they are sitting at the window seat.
DON’T MAKE THEM CLIMB OVER YOU. No one should have to contemplate the Fight Club flying dilemma;
“Now, a question of etiquette – as I pass, do I give you the ass or the crotch?”
10. Bring Your Own Entertainment
As mentioned already, most airlines provide a wide film selection for long haul flights. But sometimes, you can be flying for 12+ hours. So that’s like… at least six movies.
I’m a movie buff, but I find that too many movies to watch within a 12 hours span.
Instead, bring your own forms of entertainment that can keep you engaged in your spare time. Books and music are popular forms of onboard entertainment. And, I always try to have one new offline game downloaded on my phone.
Whatever you enjoy doing, bring enough of it to engage your attention for at least a couple of hours.
FAQ: Long Haul Flight Essentials for Surviving Extended Air Times
What is a long haul flight?
Long haul flights are routes offered by airlines that fly for extended periods. Long haul flights are typically intercontinental flights and will often include added services and meals.
What is considered a long haul flight?
The classification of the long haul flight varies between airlines. However, most airlines consider any flight of 6+ hours to be a long haul and will provide the expected services of such.
What to wear on a long-haul flight?
Dress comfortably. A long haul flight is not the time to set fashion trends. Break out those sweatpants. You can always dress more stylishly once you arrive at your destination.