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!!

depends on where on board you’re sitting i suppose 😆

Don't forget flight socks or stockings to prevent DVT - also get up and walk about as much as possible.

Just how often do you eat? I don't think I have ever gone hungry on a long haul flight as I have been fed at regular meal times.

Pillow spray or essential oil so you drop off.

Please do not do this ^^

Ooh yes, the cake and snack basket on the bar on Emirates was a particular highlight along with the mug of tea the lovely cabin crew made me.

Musicozy silk sleep band with inbuilt Bluetooth headphones - usually £20-£30 on Amazon - plus a good book or two downloaded on Audible

I travel long haul at least twice a year. I don’t take any food on board cos they feed you all the time!!
I always take sanitising wipes to clean screen etc
take my own fleece blanket and pillow cos it’s not a give that the ones provided are cleaned.
phone charger
moisturiser
most airlines give you a pack on a long flight which includes toothpaste and toothbrush etc
spare pair of knickers, leggings and top… just in case!!!

Just back from long haul this morning. Took a sleeping pill, thick eye mask/earplugs, cashmere socks and face cream. There was a pack with mask/cream but usually crap. And a good book to get me to sleep.

Toothbrush, toothpaste, face wipes, deodorant and multi-purpose moisturiser.

Noise Cancelling headphones, IPad and charger (kindle app on iPad)

Hoodie and eye mask for night flights plus a pashmina that can double as a blanket.

Sweets and snack.

Water bottle.

I always take a nice snuggly cardigan. If you’ve got some headphones that will plug into the entertainment system then do that because the ones in economy are rubbish. Take a water bottle and fill it up after security because the drinks service can be hit or miss.
On our last flight home from Florida, I was so thirsty for ages and ended up going to the galley to ask for a drink when no-one came by.

I've travelled longhaul loads over the years, and have refined my luggage by experience and common sense. I now take only a carryon and a small "personal item" - a little backpack which fits under the seat in front. But then, I'm not interested in having "smart" clothes and lots of shoes. Too much luggage is a nightmare.
In April, DH and I are off on a 30-hour journey (2 long hauls, shortish layover). We'll be away for 2 months, but the weather will be predictably mild-warm, making packing easy. In my little backpack, I always carry my iPad and charger, moisturiser, cleanser, handsanitiser, lip balm, toothbrush and tiny toothpaste, spare knickers, bra and teeshirt, socks, merino scarf, eyemask, earplugs, meds, thin book. Sounds a lot, but I put the moisturiser and cleanser into small plastic bottles...200 ml of each, (one in each bag) will mostly see me through the 2 months. I take light merino, which rolls up into a tiny ball. I have to keep reiterating...too much luggage ruins a trip!!

Depends on your luggage allowance. I don’t trust airlines to get my clothes to the other end, so I always take extra clothes, underwear and swimwear for the other end. Onboard I take wipes, deodorant, tooth brush and toothpaste, basic make up. Most hotels have soap, shower gel and shampoo. A comb or brush is handy too.

I like to comfy, get the extra wide seats with legroom. Take my turtl for the neck, ear poses, music on your phone, something to read, I take a kindle and get magazines. I also take the adult colouring book and pens and something to snack on. Remember long haul will also have films for you to watch or download them to watch.

Pretty much the same stuff you would take on a short haul flight. We flew long haul this summer and I took a neck pillow, noise cancelling ear buds, my kindle paperwhite, and lots of snacks for my teen & tween boys. They were fully entertained all flight by the games & movies on the seat screen, and loved the meals served. Pillows and blankets are usually provided but the pillows are rubbish so a neck one is better. I always wear slip on shoes and the kids wear sliders and socks), as I like to take my shoes off during the flight (no smelly feet here though). The teen also took a toll on block deodorant so he could be fresh smelling as we arrived 🤣

Dehydration is so miserable on long haul - so LARGE water bottles

Easy to slip on/off shoes - aeroplane toilet floors are beyond gross do not go in in socks!!!

Emergency change of clothes (cabin pressure = exploding yogurt/milk pottle/juice box)

I always take an Avene water spray/face wipes/hand san/small lovely scented hand moisturiser for in seat freshen up - makes you feel so much better.
Toothbrush, tooth paste and deodourant/basic make-up/comb/Paracetamol for pre-sleep/landing

A genuine treat and magazine - something to look forward to/console yourself with if you can't sleep. Ditto for something cosy and comforting to wear.

If you can, make sure shoes accessories etc are a light colour - makes them much easier to find in low light.

Please don’t bring either of these things. There may be people on the flight with fragrance allergies. Those people will be loaded with antihistamines and gripping their epipens and asthma inhalers , just hoping some person doesn’t decide to use something that causes a reaction.

I hope all these people who take toothbrushes don’t clean their teeth in the airplane toilets. Yuk!!

Edited as I seem to have posted twice.

Saline nasal spray - my nose gets really dry and painful on long haul flights.
A foot hammock - they go over the tray table and I love mine! Also inexpensive
Lip Balm
Good ear plugs (I use the silicone ones)
An eye mask
A good travel pillow (mine is memory foam and rolls up into a carry bag) I got an incredibly painful neck one time from a long flight and will never travel without one.
A good pair of headphones that you can plug in or a little Bluetooth adapter to plug in so you can connect your Bluetooth headphones.
Compression socks
A water bottle - most airports will have places to refill your water bottle!
I also take face wash, some micellar water with cotton pads, some moisturiser (the flight dries out my skin), toothpaste and toothbrush.
a spare change of clothes / underwear.

also depending who you fly with, I would recommend downloading some films or something to watch on your phone. I’ve flown with china eastern airlines recently and Saudi airlines and both had very limited options for good movies.

aaaaand some snacks, just incase you don’t like the plane food! You can take food through in your carry on.

I fly regularly long haul and these are my must haves.

enjoy!

Lypsyl
Water (can be just a disposable bottle) often they give it, but last time I flew (Virgin) it was in small cups as they were reducing plastic.
Noise cancelling headphones, spend time in advance downloading stuff
Phone, charger cable, power bank
Ibuprofen or similar, also any other medication you don't like being without
Small leakproof plastic bag (was always flying with kids, who were not generally airsick but you "never know") comes in useful anyway for rubbish etc.
Sliders can be helpful for the loos if you were taking them anyway
I quite like a crossword and pen. I find I can't concentrate on a book, but a kindle if you can.
A couple of cereal bars or similar. Usually not needed.

I have got a "fakey" trytl pillow, and have mixed feelings about it. Great when you are knackered, but hot if not - think it is better than the cheap travel donuts though. Comfy socks and pashima if blankets are not going to be offered.

I don't drink alcohol on flights (I'm a right alky normally so this does not continue once I arrive) but can't see how it improves things.

What on earth would be wrong with it? I don’t imagine they are using it to clean under the rim first.

There are all sorts of wild stories about this but the water out of the cold tap in the toilets is usually supposedly /technically potable and there's always the option of using bottled water..so yes, lots of people clean their teeth in the aircraft toilets..

Airborne particles in the loo. A toothbrush needs to be about 1-2 metres from a toilet to avoid toilet plume containing poo particles. Think about it. Airplane loos are disgusting.

Any thoughts on whether how aircraft loos finction verses how normal ones function might effect that?

Objectively untold numbers of passengers and crew have been cleaning their teeth in aircraft loos for decades without coming to harm..

TBH If the various health risks some claim are associated with flying were of the magnitude they like to claim airlines would be out of crew due sickness even quicker than they would be out of passengers.

Isn't there a sugar free chewing gum you can use to freshen your mouth instead of brushing your teeth?

I take it after using the toilet you change your clothes, wash any exposed skin, wash your hair, and of course do not breathe at all while in the toilet cubicle?