Long haul - what to take on flight?

[Pixilicious1]

I’m travelling long haul (14hrs) early next year with my teen DD and have no idea what we should take with us on the flight. Previously only flown max 4 hrs.
all suggestions welcome for both entertainment and comfort.
thanks!!

We ordered a Hindu meal on our way to Boston last year with and it was great!

The best I had was on Japan airlines, I normally order Hindu vegetarian, but this time I ordered Asian vegetarian and it was pretty good.

I flew with Emirates from London to Melbourne and the food and service amazing.
I just took a book,snooze easy neck pillow,meds,sweets,earplugs and wore flight socks . In flight entertainment was fabulous.

Toothpaste tablets - they are crunchy so clean your teeth a bit (Gruum do them)
Hand cream
Reading book/puzzle book or tablet equiv. It's a good opportunity to take a long book you've been meaning to read for ages but not had the time
Slip on/off shoes
Noise-cancelling headphones
Mints (if you get nauseous)
Bag that fits under seat in front so you can get to the above easily

I've had good experiences with BA, Virgin and other airlines (this year China, India and Japanese) re vegan food - never as described. The plus is you often get fresh fruit which is great as you really want something refreshing on a long flight. DH is not vegan but always orders it too

Check what you need to ensure your headphones connect to the in flight entertainment. A lot still need a cable while most modern headphones are Bluetooth. You can get a converter but check first. DH spent a 12 hour flight unable to use his noise cancelling headphones and had to use the crappy airline ear bud things.

Never travel through Charles de Gaul if you like your luggage!

I'd always put a spare change in hand luggage regardless of short or long haul or direct or indirect tbh - you will be grateful for it if you get delayed a long time just as much as if your luggage gets lost. Always put any medication in hand luggage. Beyond that? A book or some kind of entertainment. Again for delays as much as on the plane. And charging cable and battery pack. An extra warm jumper as it can get cold on the plane.

The one thing I love and always bring us a pair of fold up slippers, you'll probably be wearing flight socks so I find wearing another pair on top really uncomfortable so I get comfy fold up socks with the back cut out, it means you can take it your shoes put them on and you don't have to be faffing around looking for shoes for the loo.

I never have enough drinks, you'll get lots to drink onboard but it's always in little plastic cups, I alwayd get a big bottle of freezing cold water, you can these airside if you're in an airport with MLS restrictions.

I vacuum pack a pillow for my dd, the vacuum bags that have the usb connector if great for bringing it back home.

KN95 or N95 masks, worn throughout. Take them off briefly for eating if necessary but try to keep them on as much as possible. Airplanes have awful air quality with high recirculation so you're breathing a lot of air that's already passed through someone's lungs.
There is nothing to lose from wearing a mask on the plane. There is a lot to lose from falling sick.

The nylon bag for under your seat is such a good suggestion - annoyed that I’ve never thought of it.

Consider your seat choice, I booked doorway (don’t know the proper name) seats without thinking about how awkward it is to not have the seat pocket in front.

If you have short legs then a foot hammock is a game changer!

Hope the link works...something like this
https://amzn.eu/d/7V7eCJH

I wouldn’t do this if you paid me. Sitting for hours on end in a silly beak mask.
Completely daft unless severely immunocompromised.

Definitely noise cancelling headphones. I like to have my own eye masks which are all cotton and nicer to wear. I also usually bring a nice pashmina or wrap to cosy under as the blankets provided are usually pretty horrid and staticy.
Travel pillows vary massively so buy one and try it out first before buying the other.
I personally dont like airline food so bring snacks

No different to 4 hour flights except they usually lob food and sometimes complimentary drinks at you periodically. I take water on board (empty bottle through security and fill up beyond) as unless you have an aisle seat the person in your row may fall asleep and cabin crew tend to set up a fetch your own drinks station (it’s good to stretch your legs) I use make sure I have socks if I’m travelling in sandals. That said I do this for Canary Islands flight too.

Some airlines have banned them (or some versions) so buyer beware.

Oh and if on ba order the south Asian vegetarian meal, it’s actually edible unlike the other food onboard, only downside is it’s always fruit salad for desert so bring a chocolate bar or something with you.

Neck pillow
Cosy blanket
Ear plugs
Eye mask
Toothbrush and travel size toothpaste
Lollies to give to any crying kids (obv only if their parents gratefully accept first)

Reserve aisle seat if in Economy.

Snacks. I once nearly starved on a long flight in Business Class!

Another vote for noise cancelling headphones but the over ear ones. My partner swore by Bose and treated me to some...game changer.
I always take wet wipes and a pashmina or poncho as can get chilly. Snacks. I also take paracetamol, anti sickness tabs and imodium as nothing like feeling unwell for 12 hours.
I have a bag from Bagillini I use. It's cross body so I wear it with my rucksack if im backpacking and taking hand luggage only. It fits under seat.

Really? Which airline was that? All BC I’ve been on overfeed everyone imo.
Economy and EPlus you can also buy snacks if forget to bring.

Not if you’re the poor bastard sitting in front. I had this on a long flight this year. It was so annoying. The cabin crew told the passenger to remove it.

I’ve never seen one! Looks horrendous, no wonder they’re banned on some flights. Selfish and dangerous.

Absolutely. I can’t tell you how irritating it was, my seat was constantly being jogged and pulled down. It was an overnight flight, too.

Flight socks, definitely need the compression for a 14 hour flight
Travel sickness tablets, if you have never flown longer than a 4 hour flight you won’t know if a longer flight will make you a bit travel sick. Nothing worse than having to get up and down to dash to the loo if others in your row are sleeping
Lip balm and moisturiser, super dry in the cabin
Slides, no one wants to walk into the toilet in sock soles🤢
Book/kindle

I thought the first time was an anomaly but after the third I had a complete re-think about my strategy! 😂