Any long haul tips for first time solo flyer please?

[Nugg]

I’m flying direct premium economy to Australia and then business indirect via Dubai back.

never have I ever flown anything above budget airlines. BA was classed as “fancy” and it was not remotely 🤣

is there anything I should know/do/not do?! Feeling anxious as the weeks hurtle along’

Oh you'll be fine. Dress comfortably and lock in for a long one. There is nothing to it, you'll see, try not to worry.

For the premium economy, see if you can book a seat with extra leg room such as emergency exit or bulkhead even if you have to pay for it. Go on manage my boolking on your airline website and then on select/change seat.
Have a change of clothes with you for accidental spills (even not your own) or if suitcase is lost. Long haul flights can be freezing, so have a big scarf or big jumper. Have a book or download movies on your phone in the Netfix app in case your tv doesn’t work.
For the return flight, do you have a flat bed or are you with a low cost such as Scoot which isn’t really business at all, they don’t even have a tv or any entertainment.

Extra legroom seat could be an unnecessary expense - if it's indeed an option in PE.

My DH is 6'3", & has never needed that in PE in various airlines.

Planes can be chilly - dress in layers

power banks and international plug adapters in your carry on along with change of top and pants. Shoes you can slip on and off easily or disposable slippers.

eye mask

face cream, lip balm and a big bottle of water. (Shouldn’t be necessary for business class return).

perhaps medication that you know makes you drowsy - anti histamines, travel sickness pills or nytol

travel pillow of your choice

Dress comfortable but smart ish. Single travellers are more likely to get upgraded, so looking the part makes you more likely to be picked. Buy water once through the scanners, as the dry air can make you more thirsty.

Go for an aisle seat so you can get out whenever you want. I normally go for an aisle seat in the middle row of 3 seats as 95% of the time it’ll be a couple sat next to me and they let each other in and out so don’t disturb me.

Bring a refillable bottle as most airports have water refill post security.

Download any kindle books, Spotify playlists etc before you go. I also have a look at what films are showing (airline website will say) and have a couple in mind that I want to watch.

When I go premium or business, what I am paying for (especially with business) is better sleep. I set my watch to the local time at my destination and try to synchronise on to that. Obviously with the time difference between Europe and Australia this is impossible to do completely, but for example if you will land in the morning, sleep as solidly as you can in the last few hours of the flight, whereas if you will land in the evening, try to stay awake a little bit so that you can go to the hotel and sleep there. I find that if I can get 4 or 4½ solid hours of good quality sleep on the plane when going east, I can say to my body "We just had a poor night's sleep but we'll catch up tomorrow". My worst flights are from the US east coast to London leaving at 6pm, where you barely have time to get 2 hours sleep before it's dawn and they're coming round with breakfast.

The real difference is between premium economy and business. In the latter your seat converts to a proper lie-flat bed and you get a comfy topper and a proper cover. On some airlines there is a note saying pyjamas are available - definitely get them, it's really worth it in terms of saying to your body "We are going to bed now". (You can usually keep them after the flight too!).

It can feel a bit strange going to sleep the first time you travel business, as you (or, hopefully, someone else) have paid all that money and there is a menu of tempting food and unlimited bubbly. But what you are paying for is partly a nicer flight, and partly a nicer start to your stay.

OP is travelling PE & BC !
Water is regularly dished out in long haul.
No point in dressing "smartly" in PE or BC .

dont’t buy water unless you want to remortgage your house. Take your water bottle through security and refill it airside. Some airports now allow up to 2 litres of liquids through the scanners.
snacks
ear plugs
eye mask
change of clothes
basic toiletries to freshen up
entertainment
chargers / power bank
medication
personally i’d reserve an aisle seat in PE if I was travelling on my own, hate the idea of being trapped in a window or middle seat by a random!

So PE is OK but Business Class is a flat bed. That is the biggest difference.

Get an aisle seat far from the loos.

Someone mentioned a bulkhead seat - just remember that there's no room for your carry-on on that kind of seat - you'll have to put it in the overhead bin.
Bring some kind of time-appropriate snack from the lounge - you have no idea when they'll bring any food out or what it will be - could be a full-size dinner at 2 pm your time. Bring some baggies in case you want to save something from the meal to have in with you case there's a delay on arrival.

Oh thank you for the tips so far! I’ve booked an aisle seat in the middle block in PE so that sounds like a plan. I already know what I’m wearing but PJs is a great idea. I’m flying pretty much midday to midday inc time difference obvs going out and 10pm-midday returning.

I never download stuff but I’ll make sure I do also never bother with toiletries but obviously I’ll need some!

I have daily prescription meds that I intend to take each morning as I would at home.

I’m staying with family so they’ll be sensitive to any jet lag I’m sure I just intended to stay up on arrival day and take it from there…we shall see!!

The main reason for a legroom seat is that you won’t have anyone in front of you lowering their seat on you, and that for me is a massive plus. Also you have the freedom to get up, stretch your legs as much as you want.

Nobody above the age of 5 changes into a PJ. Have loose pants. I travel with Birkenstocks because I like to remove my shoes during flight and it is quick and easy to put them on to go to the toilets or walk around. Toilets can get quite dirty after a bit and you don’t want to step on urine in your socks.

On longhaul flights, the overhead bins are massive, plenty of space for your bags. If you are window there is a side pocket on wall. I don’t really need stuff from my bag.

Have a look at the special meals section if you have dietary preferences. I always pick the fruit platter if available. A special meal is delivered before the general meal service, and this means you also have the tray out for longer.

Many airlines have a snack tray in the main kitchen and you can ask for a drink at any time in the main kitchen as well. It is often at the back but not always .

Have a pen with you because you will have to fill a form for custom before landing.

DO NOT BRING ANY FRESH FOOD. Leave everything in the plane. Be it a forgotten apple at the bottom of your bag or a half eaten sandwich. Massive fines for fruit, veg, meats, …..

Never flown PE, but for the business sector don't worry too much about bringing snacks - they will usually have a smaller menu you can order from on demand. And plenty of people change into the complimentary PJ's.

Take all your medication in your hand luggage in case your hold luggage doesn’t arrive with you.
I’d also air tag (or equivalent) your hold bag for peace of mind.

There are also rules these days about batteries, power banks, devices etc. Read what Qantas and Emirates have to say.

Not necessarily true, I was recently upgraded from PE to Business class from Bangkok to London - I was dressed in a hoodie, leggings and trainers! 😊

Agreed, dress codes are now pretty relaxed.

Upgrading, if needed, is much more likely to be done on a loyalty points or similar basis these days, almost regardless of dress, rather than simply on the basis of picking a random well dressed traveller.

Get a TRTL neck pillow absolute game changer. I slept for 6 hours straight on the LHR- Perth

I am flying premium economy to the west coast of the US in a couple of weeks. The one tip I have read is that the footrests might not be high enough to get your feet up for sleeping in a comfortable position, and to take a smaller suitcase on board to prop your feet up.

Are you flying out via Singapore? If you are there is, amongst lots of other things, a swimming pool. Perfect after 12 hours in plane.

FWIW If the OP really means direct rather than non-stop for the outbound then chances are it'll be very short transit (typically sub 2 hours) in somewhere like Singapore with no aircraft change.

BA do one (though sounds like BA have been ruled out) the other obvious one ex UK is the QF2.

@notimagainflying nonstop PE Qantas

OK, nonstop ..enjoy.

FWIW this "direct" business has become a bit of a hardy annual on MN ever since some websites started to mangle the language...

Ohhh I had no idea - direct to me means no stops! Which I’m doing going out but not returning 😁