Tips for surviving a 13 hour flight please

[FupOff]

I have my first long haul flight in a few weeks and I’m a nervous flyer at the best of times - I don’t enjoy the claustrophobic feeling on the plane, or the general frenzy of airports. Being prepared helps me feel calm so any ideas of what to take in my hand luggage will be helpful, also any ideas on what to wear?!

Planes are often very cold, so have a big jumper/scarf in your hand luggage. I now pack a change of clothes for me since witnessing an hostess dropping a tray full of drinks on someone head when she tripped, and that person had to stay in wet clothes for hours.
You will catch up on so many movies. If there is a tea you like, take some bags with you so that when they come with the hot drinks you can have it by just requesting hot water.
I hate plane food. So I either bring some of mine, or just go without food.
Have a new novel in your bag. Once on a long haul flight , my DD's screen didn't work, so I swapped seat with her so we could watch movies and I just enjoyed my book. 13 hours with a book/ screen is doable.
Depending where you are flying, chances are you will have to fill a form before landing, so have a pen with you. Have a printed copy of your visa, covid vaccination, transfer, hotel confirmation in case your phone dies before landing. Check if you need to fill any form online before leaving.

There seems to be quite a bit of chaos in airports now, so go early. If you can afford it, purchase a lounge access and relax before the flight.

Focus on the destination and the awesome you will have

What’s with all the bold? Are you trying to send a cryptic message 😂

Are you travelling alone?

In case of TLDR

Travel pillow. All the way. Fluffy socks or slippers. Eye mask.
Headphones to listen to music or podcast. Download books onto a kindle or kindle app or bring paperbacks with you.. Tablet with preloaded films or a TV show u watch. Snacks, sweets and wet wipes.

Planes are always 100 degrees hot in my experience and I end up with swollen ankles and greasy hair. So definitely dress in layers in you get the cold or the hot plane!

I always take my own food and eat as little as possible it helps me sleep better when I arrive.

I take a kindle so I can change books. My last 13 hr flight I read a massive book almost completely. I'm not a movie person.

Yes to taking your own teabags and snacks/chocolate.

I take micellar wipes for my skin plus moisturiser.

Also spare contact lenses to put in before I arrive to help the gritty feeling in my eyes.

Charger pack for phone so you can listen to books or music.

Have a great flight OP.

You don't need special clothes for flying. Why does everyone on here think that?
Just wear whatever you would normally wear to lounge about in eg jogging bottoms or leggings.

For distractions take a tablet and put books and films on it. Are you travelling with a companion? If so a bit of Uno or card games will pass the time. Or sleep if you can.

Take lipsil, wear shoes that can slip on and off easily and drink plenty of water.

I binge watched a series of Handmaid’s Tale on my last long haul. I don’t sleep. I drink wine. I walk about. Has to be done.

It took me years of long flights to realise that I can only sleep on a plane if I've taken out my earrings! Something to do with tricking myself into relaxing properly.
Try it OP - another thing to try

I always put compression socks on for a flight that long.
Take a fairly compact bag to have your stuff in for the flight as you have to put it under the seat in front of you for take off and landing.
I take headphones for the films etc as I can’t keep earphones in!
Yes to kindle, can read it if the lights are dimmed.
Im not that keen on the food, but usually order a vegetarian meal which is often a tasty pasta dish.
Have a toilet visit about an hour before you land as quite a lot of people tend to visit in the last hour and some take ages in there, redoing their flipping makeup, getting changed etc.
which airline are you flying with?

Noise cancelling headphones, earplugs and decent eye mask that actually works not just makes it's bit dark.
Planes are surprisingly noisy and the headphone help you be able to listen to music and TV comfortably and the ear plugs and eye mask so you can sleep
I would also suggest some face/skin wipes to freshen up and some mints.

Comfy shoes that slip on and off easily

Also for going through security? Get some decent size ziplock bags and put all your items you need to remove ( loose change, watch, phone, EarPods etc) in the bag while in the line then you pop that in the tray and just pick on bag up the other side and walk away to pop on in your own time away from security. Makes life much easier.

Eyemask, ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones, lots of water, comfy clothes, pashmina type scarf to use as a cover/pillow/comforter, downloaded audio books, podcasts and playlist, some fruit.

Also a travel toothbrush and small tube of toothpaste, and I always carry a spare pair of knickers, just in case luggage goes missing.

Jogging bottoms or leggings are not everyday wear for many people!

I have a travel outfit, only wear on planes. Black cotton elastic waist trousers (like pjs but smart) and a long black top plus a long cashmere cardigan.

For the claustrophobia

Get a small handheld battery powered fan.

dress in layers so you can get down to a very light, cool layer of clothing when the plane is too warm.

bring multiple water bottles and fill them past security or buy water in the airport. You will likely want more to drink more water than the flight attendants want to bring around, plus if you get stuck on the tarmac you will be well supplied.

have mints or hard candy to suck on.

for keeping yourself distracted

being A portable power supply so that you can keep devices going even if you can’t plug them in

a simple crochet project is also nice. It’s easier to do in the confined space of a plane than most other crafts, including knitting. I often challenge myself to finish a small project during a flight.

My tip is to basically drink the complimentary drinks, eat the food and enjoy the little plane travelling across the map - it's surprisingly captivating watching all those place names. Take a jumper and socks if you are wearing summer clothes, planes can be very cold (BA especially!)

I always have podcasts downloaded and audio books too, I can't concentrate on the movie

Comfy clothes
Massive scarf/wrap
Moisturiser
Face wipes
Sweets to suck for landing
If a night flight: 2 gin and tonics and a phenargen tablet

I agree with all the above suggestions. If you are flying to a different time zone, ideally, spend a few days trying to change your body into that zone. Depending where you are going, I normally go to bed an hour or so later and set my morning alarm later each day.

I too get cold on a plane. I always take a pashmina/large scarf which can be wrapped around you on the plane or around your neck walking through the airport

I always take a pair of slip on, hotel type slippers. Most airlines provide thick socks, so I put these on- then the slip on slippers. I always find plane toilets have something wet on the floor, so I use the slippers for walking up and down and toilet visits- but take them off at my seat. Something like this- that can be thrown away if too wet/dreadful to re-use:
www.blueboxsocks.co.uk/hotel-guest-hospital-spa-slippers/open-toe-non-woven-slippers/?gclid=CjwKCAjw14uVBhBEEiwAaufYx0VOKQRwmsJSMokWjPIrAUYq_z_WSejX9BwtXr879-PJs0lYcxF2RBoCZzsQAvD_BwE

The plane air con dries out your skin and lips. I used to wash any make-up off in flight(or wear none at all) and lather on a travel sized facial cream. A chap stick type lip balm is also great to carry.

Take some tooth floss. Planes have toothpicks, but not floss. Absolutely nothing worse than having something stuck in your tooth that you cant get out for hours on end. It drove me neurotic once!

For the claustrophobia- you might find sitting on the aisle gives you the freedom to get up and down from your seat when you want- rather than asking others to move. Or in the exit aisle with extra leg room. Middle of plane- above the wings has less turbulence apparently.

Forgot- eye mask and ear plugs

I’ll assume you are flying economy, I have done many long haul flights in economy, I don’t like flying and get the claustrophobic feeling.

Aisle seat is my first tip, then you can get up whenever you need to
I have a bag that I keep by my feet with what I think I’ll use on the flight, I use zip bags to keep things sectioned, so it’s not one big jumble.
I wear comfy long trousers, a comfy bra, a tshirt, socks and comfy trainers. I will have with me on my seat my zip hoodie and a lightweight wrap. Flights can be boiling or freezing and usually are both. I go to the bathroom in my socks and if they supply them on the plane I use these over mine. I travel with my hair tied up and no make up.
In my bag will be, my phone and ipad, I use the phone for music and will have both books and films or bingeable tv on the iPad. I use expensive over the ear noise cancelling headphones so I can be in my own world. Most seats on longhaul will have a way of charging so I pack my charge too. That keeps me entertained and I sometimes see if there are any movies that I might fancy on the inflight entertainment.
I then have a small amenities bag with a hairbrush,moisturiser, toothbrush, face wipes and lip balm, sanpro, I can take this with me to the bathroom.
For sleeping which I always try to do after the meal service is cleared up I take a neck pillow and a sleep mask. Even if I can’t sleep I listen to a relaxing/meditation playlist.
I travel with a refillable water bottle and a few snacks.

in my second bag that goes in the overhead locker is my spare clothes, medication, make-up laptop and other stuff that I won’t need inflight.

Ear plugs, comfy headphone, sleeping tablets and a nice blanket. And your fave snacks

I happened to wear knickers with quite noticeable elastic round the legs. Boy that's uncomfy after 8 hours. It's also quite tricky to adjust when you are squashed beside a stranger.