Your long haul flight clothing / comfort tips

[Couchto5ktowine]

I have a 10 hour flight in 3 weeks time to a much anticipated holiday and I’m keen to get your tips that mean I arrive in comfort! Jet lag won’t be a huge issue and I’ve flown long haul before: I’m just never hugely organised.

Ideally I’m looking for specific recommendations: what are your toiletries / clothing / accessories tips that mean I’ll arrive in tip top condition? Style isn’t a huge priority!

I have a couple of sleep suits, that have been a perk of first class/upper class flights over the years. You could mimic the same by getting a loose fitting sweatshirt and jogging bottoms. Try and get thin material, as planes tend to get quite hot.

As soon as I get on board (ideally before take-off, but if that isn't possible, as soon as we've taken off and the seat belt sign has gone off) I go and change. They're relatively loose around the waist, soft and generally more comfortable than 'normal' clothes. But also importantly, it doesn't matter if stuff gets spilled on you! I was flying home from New York once, and the guy next to me managed to spill his large glass of red wine over me.

Toiletries - always have a lip salve with me.

The other thing that really helps is an eye-mask. Sometimes you get one if they give you a utilities pack, but I take my own just in case.

Linen or cotton clothes, bring a big scarf to use as a wrap.

Moisturiser and spritzer in 100ml bottles to stop the air con drying you out. I also like eye drops.

If you can sleep it helps.

Take a warm sweater/ fleece, I find planes pretty cold these days. Hopefully they will have blankets to hand out of you need one. Also take one of those neck pillow things. Face wipes and moisturiser are handy too.

Loose and layered.
Make sure you have a toothbrush and toothpaste and a hairbrush / comb as it's good to be able to make yourself feel fresh.

And if the seats are a bit hard, ask for an extra pillow to sit on!

Don't wear jeans - something soft or comfy is better (I don't go change - I just wear comfy clothing), and a couple of layers on top as I'm usually too hot or too cold so it's good to be able to take stuff off.

A pashmina or soft, lightweight blanket for having near your face (plane blankets don't get washed very often apparently).

I slather on night cream and loads of lip salve before a long flight as the air is very drying.

Drink lots of water. Avoid alcohol and only drink tea/coffee in the morning if you need a boost of caffeine to wake you up, just water, water, water and take a large bottle on with you, as those silly little cups aren't enough.

Eye mask and ear plugs. I also take noise-cancelling headphones for watching films or listening to music.

After 10 hours though you're likely to feel a bit shit. Plane seats are small and cramped and all that time sitting down is bad for just about everything. Get up and walk around as much as you can and particularly stretch out your legs and back, if you're able to. Every couple of hours is good.

Wide legged jersey trousers, shoes that are easy to get on/off in case security take a dislike to them, soft, comfy teeshirt. Cardigan. For my destination, I need a long sleeved teeshirt, you might prefer short sleeves or a vest, but airplanes can vary from too warm to too cold (DS2 and I spent the last flight huddled under our blankets, so think layers). Socks if not worn with your shoes (I wear trainers).
Hand cream and lipsalve/Vaseline.
Baby wipes.
Spare toothbrush and knickers for the times your case doesn't appear.....
As much sleep and you can and limited alcohol on the flight.........

Toothbrush and toothpaste (under 100ml)
Layers of clothing. I have a blanket that packs down quite small, because being cold and unable to get warm is rubbish.
Sachets of hot chocolate. I don’t like tea/coffee but if you ask for hot water you can make hot choc.
Baby wipes. For wiping face, armpits, arms to feel cleaner.

I wear leggings and jersey dress or tunic. I wear slip on shoes/sandals as they are easy to put on again at the end and it doesn't matter if my ankles have swollen. I take a jumper and woolly socks to put on as planes are often cold. I take an eye mask for sleeping if I remember. I always buy an extra bottle of water as I get dehydrated quicker than they serve the drinks on board. That's about it.

Great, thank you! If anyone has any particular shops they’d recommend with super comfy clothes I’m all ears!

@pepsicola sorry to be thick but what’s “spritzer”?!

Get Elizabeth arden 8 hour spray! I like to bring a face mask to do on the plane too. I am a nervous flyer so I always bring rescue remedy with me. Deffo comfy clothing like tracksuit bottoms, baggy tshirt and hoodie so you have layers. Maybe think about getting compression socks too

Something elasticated if you tend to bloat. If you have space some spare socks and a t-shirt, I was once on a really hot sweaty flight (East coast USA to Iceland ) and felt really grubby by the end of it.

“as planes tend to get quite hot.”

That’s not my experience. Usually the air con is too fierce and the plane is too cold.

Hmm. My last few trips have been unbearably hot. But then it could be because I've been travelling in business with a duvet! . But layering is always the way to go here, so that you can deal with either hot or cold.

Eye mask
Ear plugs
Melatonin/antihistamine/sleeping tablet
Comfy shoes - never ever walk about in your socks 🤮
Own noise-cancelling headphones
Lip balm and moisturiser

You won't know if it's a hot or cold flight until you get on so layers are probably best.

I wish any of this worked for me.
Eye mask is useful. Drinking alcohol is often only way I can get any sleep.
My hands swell up so I need to be ready for that.

Just did the long haul from Hell this week.

I keep it simple: cotton t shirt, jersey pull ons, cashmere (or similar) poncho and a pair of glam flip flops.

I hate flying!

I don't sleep at all on flights. I really tried with my eye mask on a 12 hour flight and nothing!

I think sometimes you just have to have a plan B! I try and get into the time zone of the place I'm travelling to, but if that doesn't work, then just go with the flow. You can't force yourself to be tired when you aren't. And stressing about it makes it worse.

If you're travelling because you're on holiday it's a lot easier - it doesn't actually matter if you're tired when you arrive!

Go to Primark for v cheap pyjamas. Bottoms £5 Tops £2-3. Buy a bottle of water airside to take on the plane. Take a cheap pashmina or sarong. You can use it as a blanket on the plane, or roll it up to use as a neck cushion. While on holiday you can use it to sit on the beach, or in a park. As a cover up in a place of worship if you are wearing a skimpy top. As an emergency towel, or turban to cover a bad hair day. I never travel without one!

You'll bloat, so you need a flexible waistband. You'll freeze at times, sweltering at others, so you'll need layers. You'll need to be wearing something that suits the weather the other side. Hand cream. Lip balm. More water than is readily available. God I hate long haul. Hope you have a great time!

The last long haul flights I took, I did a couple of things that made a massive psychological difference, but didn't actually help me sleep more... But did make me stress less about not sleeping, so I felt better if you see what I mean. I wore what I usually wear to travel (jeggings, ballet flats, short sleeve t-shirt and waterfall cardi) and stayed in that until after the meal service. Then I went to the bathroom and did my usual night time routine, so:
Took makeup off (with wipes)
Brushed my teeth
Put my PJs on - leggings and long sleeve t shirt
Put on socks, then slipper socks - I find my feet are always cold in planes and the slipper socks + socks combi means I'm not going to get pee-feet if I go to the loo later in the flight - vom
Moisturised face and hands.
I always find that lip balm/salve makes me lips more dry, so I avoid it and just use a regular moisturiser on my lips.
That way, I was warm and comfy, and I treated the flight like a lazy Sunday at home, snoozing and watching TV, rather than 12 hours cooped up in a tiny seat.
HTH

Lightweight tapered / harem style jogging bottoms with a long sleeve t-shirt or short sleeved t shirt and take a wrap cardigan or similar. I usually wear trainers on the way out and take flip-flops / sandals for arrival due to heat at the destination (and swollen feet...)

I also wipe off all makeup off on taking my seat on the flight, and lather on moisturizer and reapply to face and hands a few times during, to ward off skin dehydration. Like a pp I buy a large bottle of water for the plane - usually compensates for the red wine

I take a small ziplock bag with travel size deodorant, face wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash and moisturizer and then minimal makeup if you can be arsed, for the other end. Sounds a bit OTT but I find a freshen up before landing makes me feel better

I’ve just flown back from New Zealand: 26 hours, 2 hour stop-over and then another 7 hours. I wondered about the length of time some people took in the loo- now I know!

I wore comfy day clothes, didn’t get changed but had a spare outfit in my bag in case anything got spilled on me. I just took face wipes, deodorant, mouth wash, lip balm and extra water with me. You just have to power through it as best you can. I wore flight socks on the advice of a friend who is cabin crew.