Page 4 | Surviving a long haul flight in economy

Bobsledgirl · 2023-10-31T06:54:05+00:00

How? We have a 8 hour overnight flight next month. Can’t afford an upgrade and the last time I had a flight like that it nearly killed me! The seats are so uncomfortable, you can’t recline unless everyone does. I recall being desperate for sleep but couldn’t find the right position. A neck support cushion didn’t help because the seats are too upright. Any tips? It’s putting me off the trip tbh. ( Can’t change the flight)

Scalottia · 31/10/2023 08:30

Also you are absolutely fine to recline, ignore anyone that says otherwise. Especially on longer flights.

TheFlis · 31/10/2023 08:31

Bobsledgirl · 31/10/2023 07:58

I really didn’t know it was ok to recline. No one did on my last flight, I’m not an experienced traveller at all as you can see. I don’t really like flying at all. This isn’t a holiday to be clear. It’s a necessary flight for family reasons. If I didn’t have to go I wouldn’t.

thanks everyone.

It’s generally regarded as bad form to recline on a short haul flight but absolutely expected on long haul, particularly at night.

TronaldDump · 31/10/2023 08:35

I do 12 hours economy quite often and it's a grim night but it is what it is! Take a very rich moisturiser for your hands and a good quality lip balm - I like the lanolin stuff. Nothing worse than feeling dried out.

Get your own water and snacks at the airport so you can eat and drink to your own schedule not when the crew come round (I usually do eat the meal though).

Second noise cancelling earphones, I have a silk eye mask too. I usually take a nytol before dinner then watch movies on my tablet until I feel sleepy. Definitely see any sleep you get as a bonus and try not to put pressure on yourself. On an 8 hour flight you'll probably only have 4 of those for sleep anyway by the time food has been served and cleared away/they have given you breakfast etc.

I usually wear gym gear - a comfy sports bra and leggings - with slip on shoes so I can be as comfortable as possible.

BigDahliaFan · 31/10/2023 08:35

You can bid for an upgrade on are lingus. I did that on way to states last year. Bid the minimum and got an upgrade.

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 31/10/2023 08:38

I am On holiday now. Prior to this I haven't flown long haul for about 27/18 years. This was a 7.5 ish hour flight.

Honestly it was way better than I expected. Went relatively quickly as broken up by all the meals and snacks!

Katrinawaves · 31/10/2023 08:40

I had a little travel package when I travelled a lot for work. It had a small pillow (I preferred the oblong shape to the u shaped ones which go round the neck) a warm wrap, some travel slippers and an amenity pack with lip balm, toothbrush and paste and moisturiser). I wore comfortable clothes (yoga pants and layers on top) and changed into compression socks when I boarded.

I used the paid for lounges before boarding to relax and get some rest and always chose an aisle seat so I could get up and walk around if I got stiff and easily use the loo. Factored in time for an extra nap before and after the flight because I knew I wouldn’t get a full night sleep.

Reclining is fine outside of meal service for a night flight and there should be lots of inflight entertainment which will keep you diverted. I always had a book with me too.

It’s likely to be a bit boring and you will probably get a little stiff but it’s only 8 hours so not the end of the world. There are more uncomfortable ways of travelling though or spending that amount of time (it’s just the length of a normal working day after all where you don’t get served two meals, alcohol and have movies and music laid on to entertain you!)

Have a good trip.

CharlotteBog · 31/10/2023 08:40

Only read OP's posts.
What works for me.
Accept that I probably won't sleep and that it won't be the end of the world.
Wear comfortable clothes.
Take my own headphones.
Have a gin and tonic.
Watch films or listen to music.
If I do nod off all well and good, if not then so be it.

plasticknockers · 31/10/2023 08:42

Haven't RTFT to see if already suggested, but can you book either an exit seat or one in a pair, which are often a feature of the bigger planes? It will cost of course but nowhere near as much as business class. I think it was £50 when I went to JFK with BA. You can use SeatGuru for good tips.

Try not to worry, 8 hours actually goes so quickly especially with good entertainment.

ColleenDonaghy · 31/10/2023 08:43

Overnight and long haul you can definitely recline outside of mealtimes. I'm very anti reclining when it's daytime and short haul but you're grand overnight.

Don't get hung up on sleeping, because then you won't. Focus on resting instead. I used to fly back from the US with a long drive at the other end, I'd just recline, listen to gentle music and close my eyes - more often than not I'd drift off. Focusing iny the need to sleep only makes it harder as you stress that you're awake. Obviously don't drive if you arrive shattered at the other end, have a nap in the car.

Scalottia · 31/10/2023 08:47

Noise-cancelling headphones, wear lots of layers (sometimes it's bloody cold on planes), spare pair of fluffy socks, audiobooks, ipad with lots of downloaded shows from netflix etc...no alcohol and lots of water!

I personally like the aisle seat, so that I can get up and move around without disturbing the person next to me.

PonteMinchi · 31/10/2023 08:47

Bobsledgirl · 31/10/2023 07:58

I really didn’t know it was ok to recline. No one did on my last flight, I’m not an experienced traveller at all as you can see. I don’t really like flying at all. This isn’t a holiday to be clear. It’s a necessary flight for family reasons. If I didn’t have to go I wouldn’t.

thanks everyone.

It’s pretty much the norm to recline as soon as the meal trays are picked up. You’ll notice a lot of people go to the loo, and then settle down to watch a film or doze.

emmetgirl · 31/10/2023 08:52

I can never sleep on flights and I don't like flying. I download films/tv shows etc that I want to watch equivalent in length to the flight and have a book with me in case I want to read. Also some snacks. Get up and walk around every hour too. Plan your time on the plane. It's the only thing that works for me.

IrresponsiblyCertainAboutSexualDimorphism · 31/10/2023 09:00

Aer Lingus are OK. MAN-MCO-MAN had bendy headrests so there was something to lean against. Coupled with a Trtl neck support it was fairly comfortable. The seat pitch was pretty good too.

On reclining, I always recline on a night flight after the meal (after checking I wasn’t going to squash anyone) and have never had any issues. I’m very happy for the person in front to recline too of course.

creativegoblin · 31/10/2023 09:07

I normally walk through business class (purposely to bathroom) and see if any spare seats. If there are, on the way back I sit in the empty seat and immediately put on eye sleep mask. I make sure I've dressed well. This has worked all but once (so about 14/15 times).

LibbyL92 · 31/10/2023 09:08

I’ve done my fair share of long haul recently and the the worst seats to choose are the middle seats. So either book a window or an aisle.

person who sits in the middle is always worse off over space.

take some fluffy socks, next pillow. And make sure you have nothing down by your feet (bag in overhead locker and just make sure you have what you need out in the pockets in front)

the recline thing.. I don’t recline. But if I notice the person behind me has then I will.

Pandor · 31/10/2023 09:14

ive done a lot of long haul flights, one tip - if you have wireless headphones you can buy little Bluetooth transmitters that plug into the seat backs, they let you use the wireless headphones to listen to the in flight entertainment.

Getting tangled in headphone cables, accidentally ripping them out, having to use the crappy headphones they give you on the plane instead of noise cancelling ones…all those things used to be minor irritants that helped make the flight feel more uncomfortable. I love that little extra bit of freedom you get from being able to watch films without having to attach your headphones to a seat!

Lobelia123 · 31/10/2023 09:14

My best advice to you is to change your mindset. You cant upgrade or change your tickets, the only thing in your control is your attitude towards it....believe me, that can make a huge difference. Change your lens / perspective - its a privilege and an adventure to travel, no matter how mundane the reason, means or destination. Have fun with it. Make a joke about being in a flying tin can. Watch movies, listen to music, take your own snacks....dont start moaning and being negative about it all before you even check in.

sashh · 31/10/2023 09:32

Bobsledgirl · 31/10/2023 07:14

Thanks. Noise cancelling headphones are a good idea.

im travelling with my son. We’re both tall. I tried to get extra leg room seats but they were gone. It’s not a holiday, I’m travelling for family reasons and flights can’t be changed.

I seem to recall etiquette was not to recline but if everyone does it then I’m sure it will be ok.

Being tall is an advantage, ask for the exit seats at check in and if you don't get them then ask again as you are actually boarding, they tend to fill these seats last.

I'm short enough I can lie on the floor of the exit row - I know the floor is disgusting I take a couple of scarves.

Take chocolates / biscuits for the flight crew.

I once gave a flight attendant a book I'd finished when we got chatting, the next flight she recognised me and found me a row of three seats to lie down across.

TenderDandelions · 31/10/2023 09:32

I hate the overnight flight back from Florida. Not only because it's so hard to sleep on the plane, but moreso because it lands at 6.30am and you then have to try and stay awake all day long, or risk a danger nap. I recovered quicker from a 10.5hour flight from California than an 8 hour flight from Orlando, purely due to the fact that it landed at 3pm UK time, so I only had to cope for 6 hours after landing!

On the plane itself, as soon as food service is over, recline your seat. Get yourself an eye mask and some noise cancelling earphones. If you use a neck pillow remember you are most likely to nod forwards as you fall asleep, so put the bulky bit round the front, not the back.

I have given up on the idea of actually sleeping in an economy seat, but on a night flight I just accept that the best I'll get is "rest". Just closing your eyes and listening to some white noise and zoning out is restful.

If your flight is coming from the US to the UK, you can buy yourself some melatonin in the US to take at your normal bedtime on your first day back. Apparently it can help recovery time from jet lag by about a day. The normal expectation is that it can take up to one day per hour of time difference to get over jet lag, so Florida, for example, is currently 4 hours behind the UK, so it will take 4 days to get back on to a normal sleep pattern.

PinkRoses1245 · 31/10/2023 09:35

I wouldn't really consider 8 hours long haul. You can recline your seat whenever just not during meals. Get some over the counter sleeping tablets, and just watch movies the whole way, using noise cancelling headphones. It's really not that bad.

cheezncrackers · 31/10/2023 09:36

An 8-hour flight is not particularly long haul OP. Honestly, either don't travel, book a daytime flight or just suck it up. It's only 8 hours!

Noseyoldcow · 31/10/2023 09:38

Comfortable breathable clothing, tight waistbands are awful if, like me, you get the bloats. The temperature can vary from chilly to tropical, so take account of that. Yoga type loose pants are good. Wear comfortable shoes. Drink plenty of still water. If you can't get up and move around, at least wiggle your feet about.
Can't advise about sleep, as I am the sort of person who could sleep on a clothes line. So much so that long haul I sometimes don't even get to finish the films I've started watching on the plane. Short haul, I bung earplugs in and go out like a light. Not so good for those around me, I'm a snorer. Feel free to hate me.

BIWI · 31/10/2023 09:38

My best tip - having done several flights to Australia in economy - is to stop worrying about sleep. Just assume that you won't get any. So find something to watch/listen to on the entertainment programme, or download something from Netflix (or other provider) on to a tablet. Or make sure you have a good book (or two).

If you break the 8 hours down, you'll also find that there really isn't much time to sleep anyway. You'll board, and then in the 60-90 minutes after you've taken off, there will be a drinks and meal service. That will take around 30-40 minutes to be delivered, eaten and then cleared away. And then around 60-90 minutes before you land the cabin lights will be raised, and you'll be served your breakfast.

ticketstickets · 31/10/2023 09:39

i flew recently overnight aerlingus. not quite 8 hours, more like 6 from USA.

I took a sleep aid (can't remember what brand, bought in the airport) and slept most of the flight. Didn't bring a travel pillow, just used airlines.

My husband always books the window seat and brings his own (down) pillow.

MaggieFS · 31/10/2023 09:52

It does sound a bit drama llama-ish, but here are my tips

-after the meal put your set back. It's normal and expected
-have a boozy drink but not more than two. Also have some water
-take ear plugs and an eye mask
-wear the neck pillow backwards so your head can loll to the side or forwards without it pushing your whole head forwards

Or just watch movies.