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!

Best tip ever: just before you get on the plane drink a litre of water. Try not to eat much on the plane, keep drinking at leats one more litre of water, and if you do eat, stick to fruit and veg. When you arrive, make sure your first meal is salad or fruit, nothing heavy. Then you won't get jetlag constipation.

Wear really soft loose fitting clothes in layers and good trainers. Take a big wrap you can use as a blanket. And maybe a padded gilet to fold as a pillow. Some planes are really cold. Bring your own headphones - the free ones often don't work.

Carry lipsalve and moisturiser in hand luggage (you are allowed to take tiny travel sized amounts with you, or buy some at duty free) as the air onboard is really drying. Same with travel size hand sanitiser.

Take First Defense before you board and once you've arrived to avoid catching anything from fellow passengers.

Noise cancelling headphones are a must. I have Bose ones and they’re a game changer.

I always drink enough booze to make me sleepy after the first meal. Because I’m practically phobic about the loos on planes, just before my snooze, I leg it to the loo for a wee before everyone else goes for a post-prandial shit. I then don’t go for the rest of the flight, probably because I’m slightly dehydrated from the wine and gin and tonics.

This is only for flights around 10 hours. If it was proper long-haul, I might be more sensible.

If you can choose your seats, pick the ones with the loos in front. You won’t have someone reclining their seats on you. If you can’t get leg support/leg hammocks. They hang off the front seat so you can raise your legs. Neck supports are also good. Longer flights the planes are bigger, but the seats vary from company to company. Check who you’re flying with x

Check as much as you can into the hold. Don’t carry anything unnecessary with you.
It you don’t have lounge access pay for it, they often have showers so you can make sure you’re fresh and fed before getting on the plane. Take a water bottle to fill up in the lounge and buy at least 2 bottles more airside. There is never enough water provided on a flight.
Take moisturiser for face and hands, lip balm and a face spritz. Tooth brush/paste, deodorant and a flannel so you can freshen up on the plane before landing (time it right, as lots of people do this). Take 2 additional sets of clothes: flight clothes (pjs or lounge wear) and clothes for your destination. Also slipper socks / slippers for the plane because the floors are gross.
I have taken neck pillows in the past but wouldn’t call them a must have and take up precious hand luggage space. You can ask for an extra pillow on the flight.

Take a small metal water bottle and fill it airside. Won't gets crushed like a plastic one if you tuck it in the corner of your seat for easy sipping.
NEVER ask the flight attendant to refill it! If they give you bottled water with your meal, use that.

Thanks some great tips so far! I will definitely look at flight socks and herbal sleeping pills.
For the pp who asked we are flying with Singapore airlines no kids.
I will definitely have a couple of drinks as it will be Christmas night so we will raise a glass or two and also I do get mild anxiety on planes. Our flight is 8.30pm so I am hoping this is an advantage.

Alcohol and movies

I like to do a face mask when flying long haul.
Don't care what I look like!

An antihistamine after dinner will help you nod off.
Sleeping tablets not recommended when flying.

@FoxtrotOscarFoxtrotOscar thanks will get those instead then

It’s unlikely you’ll find a GP who’ll prescribe you diazepam or sleeping tablets for flying anyway, the guidelines changed a few years ago. Over the counter ones are fine though.

Everything everyone else has said - wear layers, noise canceling headphones, keep hydrated etc. the main thing for me has always been the boredom so I make sure I’ve got plenty to read and watch on my iPad. Get up and stretch/walk around regularly, you’ll see others doing it too. The flight attendants are lovely on Singapore Airlines and if you’re nervous, let them know!

Are you flying economy?

Oh well, if it’s Singapore Airlines, you’ll be fine, it’ll be like part of the holiday 😁. Definitely take some layers though as the temperature fluctuates during the sleep and waking phase. When they turn the lights down after dinner do try to sleep, definitely take your shoes off too. I always take mini cleanser, moisturiser, lip balm, toothpaste and brush as it’s nice to freshen up after a sleep. I also take clean underwear to change in to too, just before landing, as you’ll have been in your underwear for about 24 hrs by then. I can sleep anywhere though and have regularly had to be woken up to disembark 😁 so possibly not the best person to ask about comfort on a flight. I did used to travel constantly for work though so I had to nail it early on or else I’d not have survived. Not that you asked but if you’re concerned about jet lag when you arrive, I recommend that, no matter what time of day it is and how tired you are, you stay up until your usual bedtime. Then go to sleep and get up at your normal time too. And under no circumstances keep a watch or other device on UK time and keep saying ‘it’s really 4am’ - No. It isn’t (yes DH I am looking at you).

Wear a mask so you don't start your holiday sick, planes are hotbeds of infection even with their filtration systems (which aren't on during boarding/taxi-ing). Sleep if you can - eye masks make a real difference. Once you arrive don't have a nap, immediately try and put yourself on local time.

My best tip? Don’t take my DS (10) with you on an overnight flight….

This is the way to do it.

I regularly used to do 9 hours for work and, before long it started to seem like 9 hours wasn't really long enough for a good rest

Ex cabin crew tips -
A good pashmina or wrap that doubles as a coat/blanket.
One of those fluffy neck pillows - but wear it backwards so the space is at the back of your neck and the pillow is under your chin, it stops your head rolling about so much and waking you up.

Ear plugs. Eyeshades.
Bottle of water.
A book - flight entertainment often breaks!
A few snacks in your bag. Ideally not too crunchy or smelly so you don’t disturb your neighbours!
Ideally you should get two or three meals on a flight of 12 hours, have time to watch a couple of films and sleep a good few hours.

8.30pm is a great time to take off. Dinner, a move and sleep. Another movie if you wake up, then breakfast.

I presume you’re flying to Asia? Flights back are likely to be night flights too. You’ll be fine.

Take a book - cheep paperback so if batteries run out or inflight system isn’t very good you have entertainment.
Face wipes or baby wipes so you can freshen up.

Lots of good suggestions already.

OTC medication to help sleep I use Night Nurse tablets. And a G&T.....
For clothing, once on board change into a soft non-underwired bra or one of those secret support vests in a size larger than normal. Nothing worse than a bra digging in.
Take flip flops or stretchy knit slip-ons like Skechers for arrival as feet will swell and getting shoes /trainers back on can be a struggle.

Hit the complimentary drinks as soon as they bring the trolley around, take headphones and download podcasts/audiobooks, watch the map page (strangely mesmerising) take warm socks (I find my feet get cold on flights). Take nut free snacks if you are a bigger eater, they have cut down on the amount of food you get on board and most flights seem to start with a please refrain from eating nuts message at the beginning.

Oh and take an empty water bottle and fill it airside before boarding

Ok reading these, just me who hits the drinks trolley . They are still very generous on ba

I’m a great believer in the drinks trolley.

Helps with my acceptance.

I'm all about the drinks trolley

Drink as much as you can - that's my motto

But never tea or coffee out of those dirty filters