Long haul flight - any tips?

[Sundaychiller]

I am going on a 14 hour flight at Christmas and then a further 2 hrs, excited about the holiday but not the flights! any one got any tips to make it bearable please?
Thank you!

Take off at night / before midnight whenever possible. Keep yourself hydrated but away from alcoholic beverages.

Snacks and nice sandwiches. Watch a few films, listen to music, snooze.

There's no silver bullet, just mind blowing boring

Ask your GP to prescribe diazepam and doze the whole time

Acceptance.

Drink lots of water, walk around as much as you can and do shoulder rolls and ankle rolls to keep your circulation going.

I rarely sleep on a flight but will doze off and rest better with an eye mask, comfortable headphones and a good audiobook.

Comfy clothes, something warm (I always get cold feet on flights!). Noise cancelling headphones and eye mask are my saviour. I sometimes take over the counter sleeping tablets and they do help me doze off.

Just you or with kids?

Just you -

comfy clothes, include a change of top for when you start to feel icky. Cosy socks
Snacks
Extra battery pack or two for tablet/phone (unless there are in seat plug sockets in which case bring charging cable)
Some sort of neck pillow for sleeping. I haven’t found a great one though.
A small throw/large scarf - extra warmth and can be used for extra padding to help you get comfy.
Earplugs are a MUST
Don’t drink alcohol.

With kids:
Good luck!

Check now what the price difference is for the next class up. If they can’t fill it often airlines will do upgrade offers. Knowing the difference now will help you know if the offer is good or not

Wear something very comfortable and take a warm jumper or cardi in case the cabin gets chilly.

For me, an aisle seat - and booking it early enough - is essential. Otherwise if you need the loo in the night (or even during the day) you can be faced with having to either wake or climb over an (almost inevitably) very large person fast asleep in the aisle seat. Plus it gives you a bit more room for leg stretching, except when crew are up and down with trolleys.
One of those neck pillow things are handy if you want a zizz.

If you can afford it, upgrade. We fly long haul fairly often, fly business when possible and premium if not. The extra room really makes a difference for that length of time imo (we're both also very tall so couldn't do economy if we wanted to).

Lots of water - I rarely drink alcohol on a flight. Take a toothbrush, face cleanser and moisturiser. Makes all the difference when you can freshen up mid flight! I also take a stick of deodorant and a change of underwear + top.

Compression socks for me are also a non negotiable, make all the difference in comfort levels! Soft shoes too, layers so you can change depending on aircraft temperature too. Good headphones, noise cancelling if you have them. Some snacks and a kindle too!

Take an empty drink bottle and fill it up once you get through security. They never give you enough water in economy class!

where possible I take a sleeping pill or diazepam, try and time it for the best possible time zone adjustment.

If solo here are my tips. An overnighr flight i get onboard in normal clothes. Have dinner etc watch a film. Then few hours in to flight change into comfy bottoms and top and take off bra. Fluffy socks. Brush teeth and treat it a bit like bed time and relax/dose. daytime just make sure youre comfy and slipper socks.

Noise cancelling headphones are your friend. I invested in some bose ones. Best thing i ever bought. I sleep with them on a plane. Block out crying babies, random chitchat etc.

Snacks. Airplane food is a bit meh at times and also never served when you get peckish.

Tablet filled with your favourite series to binge.

Take your own pillow (even a small cushion is better than airplane ones).

A big snuggly hoody and i find a big pashmina type scarf. Helps keep you warm and snuggly in flight when sleeping.

Water. Buy a big bottle at airport and take on board.

Also make sure you have medication basics on you in case of air presure headaches or whatever.

Finally toothbursh, deodrant and fresh underwear for when you're about an hour ish before landing. Go freshen up. Put bra back on if you took it off. Feel 'awake' again even if you've had next to no sleep.

Buy Boots over the counter Sleepeaze - they are non addictive. I can't sleep on flights no matter what I do, but find if I try to stay up for as long as I can the first day, then take these for the first 2-3 nights, my sleep pattern adjusts with no issues.
Also - sadly- not drinking alcohol on flights helps enormously with jet lag.

If you like to have your feet up you can buy a folding footrest which loops over the meal tray. I made my own by tying a knot in a long scarf. It really helped me as I get quite swollen ankles on a long haul flight. I’m not very tall though and I’m not sure it would work if you were tall.

I live in New Zealand so I'm well versed when it comes to long haul flights

I pack:

• noise cancelling earphones
• a giant scarf that doubles as a blanket or pillow
• snacks
• eye mask
• toothbrush and mini toothpaste
• face cleanser
• a decent moisturiser
• socks (in case feet swell)
• a comb
• a pen to fill out landing cards for the destination
• I always purchase a large bottle of water after security

Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Wear comfortable layers - I've been on flights that were way too hot or way too cold before.

I’ve just done 14 hours with a baby and a toddler. You’ll be fine!

love this idea!!!! i nearly was buying one of those footrests for a long haul flight next year but the thought of carrying it about was putting me off
this will be perfect

I fly long haul regularly for work and unfortunately I'm not senior enough for business all the time. comfy clothes, an oversized cardigan, a giant scarf to use as a blanket and a neck pillow are essential. For the pillow the memory foam ones are way better than the cheaper beaded ones. I always try to fly at night where possible but even if its not I try to sleep my way through it as much as I can. I always book the window so can lean against it to sleep but I don't need to pee often usually only once in the whole flight if that.
I have dinner and a glass of wine in the airport. I get on the plane, put in my earphones, take a sleeping pill, blanket over my head and pretend I am anywhere but on a plane until we arrive.
If you can afford the upgrade to business for a 14hr flight you will not regret it

Flight stockings
drink lots of water
walk around as much as you can
lib balm
ankle exercises
when you’ve watched a couple of films find a comedy series to binge.

I did 17 hours plus 3.5 last month (to Australia)
I bought a turtl pillow

uk.trtltravel.com/products/trtl-pillow-original?gc_id=15290765409&h_ad_id=635324405656&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyracBhDoARIsACGFcS6UpSEfbbCdxp9Ter_UHbtLkAURMnCMXD3HIWCOebFPcD6jojABzzcaAgb7EALw_wcB
It was worth it.. my head actually felt supported as I dozed.
Comfy clothes comfy shoes as your feet may swell, plenty of water and snacks (especially if you are vegetarian... I was lumped in with vegans and frankly the food was awful!)

Kindle... only don't leave it on the flight out like I did!

What time does it take off? Are you in economy class?
You’ll probably want to sleep for a lot of it, so take a sleeping mask, a neck pillow, herbal sleeping tablets and good ear plugs (I really recommend silicone ones). Don’t drink caffeine when they serve the first round of drinks on board (they always have decaf available, even if they have to go to the back of the plane for it!)
Wear soft clothing and nothing with a tight waist band! I normally wear joggers and a jumper (not a hoodie though) or leggings with a tunic. Dress in layers because sometimes the cabin seems to goes from hot to cold to hot to cold…. Wear slip on shoes and take a thick pair of socks.
Take a kindle if you have one, or take a good page-turner or buy a couple of magazines after security.
Keep yourself hydrated. Flying makes my lips dry, so I always take a good lip balm.

if you can spend the night before at the airport, so so. Take a mini bottle of wine/bubbly and some nice chocolate to start the holiday well.

the day of the flight stop eating 2 hrs before the flight and don’t drink alcohol, just water. This stops your sleep system know what time it is and makes it much easier to get over jetlag

take a sleep mask, so if you want to sleep do so, a good book helps with sleep

have a wonderful trip

I like to get shit faced before a flight so I'm all for alcohol, yes I feel like shit when I get there but it helps my anxiety 😂

Take zopiclone to sleep if overnight, I slept 12 hours to Thailand and felt great when I got there.
Some flight socks to reduce DVT risks
Plenty of snacks, there's never enough food on planes
2ltrs of water
Headphones
Comfy clothes
Sleep mask
Nice pillow - the virgin premium ones I keep as they're great for sleeping

If I fly economy, I always get a window seat as it is much easier to rest your head and sleep. But I also have a bladder like a camel.

I also buy snacks ( crisps, chocolate) airside and water.

Big scarf and a kindle/ downloaded movies on laptop.

🤣🤣
I think you are right.
I have a 17 hr flight , 2 hr break then 8 1/2 hrs coming up. I am bloody dreading it.
I have bought a memory foam cushion to sit on, I have a neck pillow. I am taking sleeping pills and a couple good books.