Australia and long haul flight, what to know before I go

[SunshineSurf]

Long story short I’m headed to the Northern Rivers area of NSW (Eastern Australia) for a month in January. I’ve never done anything like this before! The furthest I’ve been is Italy and that was a decade ago.

Does anyone have any advice/tips for long haul plane travel and/or travel to Australia?

So far I have flights booked, purchased travel insurance, booked accommodation (AirBnB), and my passport arrived this week.

Do you need a visa? Also, plug adaptor? Vaccines? Extra medication if you take prescription medication.

Disclaimer. Just leaving India so you might need none of those things for Oz. But we needed them here.

ear plugs eye mask flight socks. Good book. Try and sleep so you get your 8 hours in before landing give you a chance at jet lag. Best tip if all - enjoy Northern Rivers it’s sooo beautiful so many lovely places.

Prepare to be bored, very bored. Prepare to want to cry when you have to board for your second leg
Take your own food. And I don’t just mean a muesli bar but go to Pret or somewhere before you fly and get some sandwiches and things. Yes, there will be meals on the flight but you might not like then or you might be asleep when they come around
Depending on your bladder control, pick a window or aisle seat. Window would be my preference but it might involve waking two sleeping people when you need a wee
Wear layers. I always take a large pashmina style scarf too which I can use as a blanket.
You’ll be fine. But it’s a long way!

Take a big water bottle and stay hydrated! Also put a toothbrush and toothpaste in your hand luggage, as well as some wet wipes and a spare t-shirt. I always feel vaguely more human once I’ve brushed my teeth, wiped my face/underarms with a wet wipe and changed into a fresh t-shirt before landing!

Upgrade to premium economy if possible. Absolute game changer on long flights. Have an amazing time!

I se all that. Buy some really good headphones with noise cancellation. Take a iPad crammed with downloads.. The constant noise can be wearing. I’ve been on a flight to Australia where the screens didn’t work.

Take real food, toothbrush and a change of clothes. Consider taking some over the counter sleeping pills.

The boredom one is real. I'm used to flying 20 hours but Australia is 30 hours journey from where we live.

Bring your kindle and watch movies. Emirates has a nice big new plane from Dubai to Australia. I find the seats nicer than the normal ones flying to Asia. Book aisle if you can.

Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. I usually bring fresh undies as well. You'll get amenities like toothbrush on board. And yes buy some nice food or snack when you transit as a PP said.

Walk around as much as you can. Wear compression socks if needed.

Don't stress out about forgetting stuff, as long as you have passport, money/cards and medication, anything else you can buy.

I live 2 hours up the road from Northern Rivers.
Bring clothes that are natural fibres, swimmers and sandals. It's a really casual place so you probably won't need many gou g oing out clothes.
It's a beautiful part of the world.
Everyone has given great advise about the long haul flight, if you can have a shower somewhere on the way I would.

Regular flier between Aus/Nz and LHR here. I do that flight about every 2 months and have done for 15 years.
There are no redeeming features for a flight this long in Economy. It is objectively horrendous.
My lifesavers
Bose noise cancelling headphones.
Neck pillow. NOT those toilet seat shaped ones. One that you wrap around your neck like a scarf and there’s some boning in there to keep your head upright.
Foot hammock. These are often banned by airlines but if you are in a window seat you can be discreet and you aren’t impeding anyone’s access
IPhone full of interesting podcasts.
Snacks. The airline will provide but infrequently. It’s something to do.
Cashmere poncho. Yes sounds ridiculous but it’s my most worn item when travelling. Lightweight. Warm as toast when needed and can be worn over leggings and a light top for maximum comfort and temp regulation. Also snuggly. Planes are either hotter than the sun or freezing. You don’t know what you will get.
wear flip flops on the plane. Your feet will double in size. Socks in case feet get cold

Refillable water bottle. Ultra long haul planes have water dispensers.
Flight socks, eye masks, lip balms, books that others will suggest. Yeah whatever but not my ride or die. Never bothered.
Change of pants and freshen up stuff. Deodorant, toothbrush (if Emirates A380 you can ask for one) So nice the hour before landing.

My other suggestion. Alcohol if you can handle it. Just keep the G&Ts flowing while you want them. Such a lovely pastime to have a drink at 40k feet on a plane while watching a movie with some little snacks. Keep the cabin crew on your side by asking at the galley rather than using call button. Call button means they get a bunch of other requests from seats around you.
Get up often. If in a 777 or a380 there are spaces to stand at the back and do calf raises and hip extensions , toe taps. Good for circulation, use the loo while you are there and get another Gin on your way back.
Review the airlines IFE selection and plan your time. Eg Watch series 3 of White Lotus with drinks and dinner and more Gins. When done try to nap with a podcast etc.
Try and stick to your destination sleeping times

Final most important advice.
On arrival go to bed at a reasonable time in your time zone. If you arrive at 9 am stay awake until 9pm. It will be pretty awful but excitement will keep you awake. Have the best nights sleep of your life and awake with no jet lag. Easy. I’ve done it for years and never fails. Jet leg happens when people arrive early morning with no sleep for 48 hours and immediately nap which is a disaster.

Oh and yes you need a visa!!

Nope. Everyone with kids books PE. By the end of the flight that cabin looks like a bomb hit it. Totally crammed with fractious families and the noise was crazy. Economy was a haven of calm and quiet.

It's pretty hellish to be honest. We go back every year and we are all very tall and can't afford PE so usually book the bulkhead if we can. Often there are babies there too!

Look at it as an endurance exercise. I save up a novel I am really looking forward to and start it a day or so beforehand so I am engrossed before I leave. I skip a couple of TV shows I watch in the weeks beforehand and download them to my phone to catch up on. Same with podcasts. I eat all the plane food. I also download a free mindless game onto my phone at the airport - tetris or candycrush or something like that to pass the time when I am tired beyond belief.

Agree with moving around - do it as much as you can.

Painkillers.

I did this flight last week. Especially if you are 40+, there's only so long you can sit before everything starts to ache, then you can't sleep. And you need to sleep or it's boring AF.

Get co-codamol or similar and it'll help you relax and sleep too. Buy before you leave as you can't get it over the counter in Australia.

Also very long phone charging cord so you can charge up at the airport and in hotels even if the outlet isn't right next to you.

I agree with this. Premium economy is full of people who can’t manage. Economy is far less fraught. And you can spend the difference on headphones and silk eye masks.

Somewhere along the journey, you will regret ever doing it. It will be worth it when you finally reach your destination!

Have a pen with you to fill the incoming card. Do NOT take fresh food with you, leave leftovers in plane. No half eaten sandwich or fruit.
Flight is fine. Yes, it is long, but you watch movies, box sets. Try to book a bulkhead or emergency exit seat. It can get very cold on planes, so have a big scarf and jumper with you. Have also a change of clothes with you. Accidents happen, once someone reclined their seat fully and quite violently and my glass of juice ended up on my lap. Trousers and sweater were drenched.

You don't mention visa. You need a tourist visa to get in. You will need an adaptor to charge phone, computer, ...
Depending on which airlines you are flying, several will confiscate your purchased bottles at the gate for the second leg.

Don’t let people put you off by scaremongering! I do this regularly in economy and it is fine, it’s a day of inconvenience to get to the other side of the world and do amazing things. Key things are layers and comfort as as a PP said it’s either boiling or freezing - more often freezing IME, a good neck pillow with support, I always go aisle and pay for extra legroom seat. Also noise cancelling headphones. And, a top tip if you can get a doctor to prescribe them - lorazepam!

If you’re a UK or EU citizen you don’t need a visa, but you do need to apply for an ETA. Make sure you use the Australian government site, not one that charges you on top.

You don’t need special vaccines, but you will probably need good insect repellent.

Which airline are you using, and which route?

Definitely invest in a good neck pillow with support. I recommend British Pillow Company or Trtl.

Ear plugs, noise-cancelling headphones, and a neck pillow help but a crucial thing about long haul flying is where on the plane you’re flying. Upgrade if you can afford it, if you can’t then have a window seat and preferably in a two seat formation rather than a three-seater if your plane has this. Have you paid for seats yet and seen which seats have been taken?

For you it will feel very hot and humid in that area, that time of year. I would recommend a neck fan and a spray fan. Dont forget sunscreen and a rashie! Flight itself will be fine! Where is your stop over? If you can do a night there I would.

preferably in a two seat formation rather than a three-seater if your plane has this.

Worth being aware though that in economy on some aircraft some of those paired seats are immediately in front of the rear toilets and not that far from the rear galley...so there's potential for disturbance.

Totally agree on ‘see it as an endurance exercise’. You need to have little plans in your head on what you can do to relieve the boredom. Especially what you know will work to help you nap. Scarves are great to bring too. Sleeping is easiest if your head is supported and your arms are across your chest or lap. See my recommendation for the head support. You can use the scarf to pin your arms down by wrapping it around you. Those ‘jolting awake’ moments are because your muscles relax, head and arms drop and you wake up so almost creating a baby type swaddle helps your brain relax.
Also agree re the charging cable. I can recommend getting a power bank with various International plugs and add a long charging cable for your phone. I use this one but it’s an Aus/nz company but there’ll be ones on the Uk you can buy.
https://godashed.com/products/travelpod-universal-travel-charging-kit?currency=nzd&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22025199587&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6ObWBhDDARIsAFdfcUixvd71XfQt5NryB_wjj4w88SanDTFs6Snk3PZKa5_CPL_Ozyc8XVAaAm8BEALw_wcB

Cabeau neck pillow flight is game changer. Attaches to back of seat so holds neck upright. Buy local insect repellent. Take strong antihistamines in case of insect bites. Have done this flight many times but next one arrives at 9 am and no premium economy seats left so considering OTC sleep aids - be grateful for advice from anyone who has used them. They completely knock me out here. Will it cause problems with cabin crew if I look comatose??

You are technically correct but the ETA is still a visitor visa. The Aussies call it a visa. My DH’s visa for Au comes though in seconds but mine sometimes took up to 2 weeks. No idea why. Other friends have had to wait up to 2 months. No reason why. Main thing is don’t assume. Apply asap.

Generally about the fourteen hour mark, when you realise you have another eight to ten hours of this.