Hit me with your long haul flight tips

[GFHell]

I’ll soon be travelling from London to Sydney via the Middle East. I’ve never taken a flight of anywhere near this length before. I’m lucky enough to be going business class. Travelling alone
What tips can you give me?
I’m interested in avoiding jet lag of course. I’m also interested in what to wear because the weather Will be very different when I leave London from when I arrive in Sydney. I was going to wear long loose trousers and a couple of layers that I can easily fit in my cabin bag before I disembark.
I thought of wearing trainers but having some sandals in my bag.
I have compression socks ready.
Any tips at all are very welcome from what to make sure I’ve got on the flight with me, to what to wear, to avoiding jet lag or anything else you think might be useful

Sounds like you already have most of it covered :) Clothes wise, something loose fitting and yes layers like a t shirt and jumper on top - I avoid leggings but also not those extra flowy trousers that will drag on the floor of the bathroom! Shoes wise I have these travel slippers that pack easy in your carry on, they’re comfy and easy to slip on with your compression socks during the flight.

Before sleeping I find it helps to still do a little night time routine - bring face wipes, toothbrush, moisturiser so you still feel like you’re getting ready for bed. Business class will make it smoother anyway, enjoy!

I have regularly travelled UK to NZ all my life and always carry:

Change of clothes and miniature toiletries (in case suitcase is lost). For a hot destination country I’d take 2 changes of clothes as they’ll fold up very small.

Take a large scarf or warm cardigan as planes can get cold, although you should be given a small blanket.

Book / Kindle / magazine
Paracetamol

Don't wear wide-leg trousers as they’ll drag on the toilet floor unless you are ok to gather them up when you are in there.

I’m always freezing cold on long flights so agree with pashmina advice. Try to sleep as much as possible.

Any recommendations / advice on compression socks? Had a look on line and so many different types . I’m not sure where to start

I flew BC with Emirates to Sydney about 20 years ago and have never forgotten it. What a fantastic experience.

I ate dinner and slept to Dubai. Showered and changed in the airport lounge and got back on the plane to eat and sleep again 😜 Arrived as fresh as a daisy.

In my defence, I had worked right up to the last minute and was so knackered it was easy to sleep the whole way. I loved that journey! It was like being in a hotel. Everyone said I’d feel shocking when I arrived. I didn’t. The bed with massage rollers really helped 🎉 Hope you have a fabulous time!

Ironic 😄

😀😀😀

Fully appreciate the irony!

For long haul I use sleep gummies. Once I’ve set my watch to the destination time I force myself to sleep for 4-5 hours at destination night time. For this gummies are a great help - they knock you out but not too deep/ long so you don’t end up with swollen feet. I use these for kids as well.

https://amzn.eu/d/0ayhrjsn

Noise cancelling ear buds if flying Emirates as very often there are screaming kids even in business class

If you’re flying business class Emirates, you don’t need tips or hacks. Everything will be laid on for you and staff with be on hand to provide if not. That’s the point of paying not to travel in Economy surely?

Absolutely this. You will often not be able to connect your great noise cancelling bluetooth headphones to their entertainment system, they will of course provide wired ones. Take a few snacks that you actually like. Just been on upper with Virgin, and their "wonder wall" of snacks is really quite bad unless you like fizzy teenager candy kitten stuff or crisps, although don't get me started on Air France in Premium for 14 hours, served a meal within an hour, and then nothing else until an hour before landing other than a random chocolate brownie in the middle of the night. Was really quite hungry. I'd agree with others about adjusting your clock to landing time when you are half way there. Long dresses can be better on flights if you ever feel "bloat", also slip on shoes or easy shoes, for going the loo. x

I make an effort to have every wine on the list😃. When you get to Sydney have a meal at the local time, so breakfast if it's breakfast time.

You don't need to bother with any blankets, toothpaste etc although I still take my own pillow whichever class I'm in as I also like to have at destination.

I always shower in transit so I have a change of clothes for that although this will be more important on the return.

I wear trainers on but have slides for the plane, you will get provided with slippers though which are fine, I just prefer my slides.

My own silk eye mask.

I take a blow up pillow. It means I’m more comfortable when I’m sleeping. Plus fully charged up iPad and noise cancelling headphones plus a change of cloths. I always wear a loose crinkle cotton dress and whizz my bra off so I’m very comfortable. I barely get jet lag unless flying easy to west. I flew to Australia a few years ago via Singapore and didn’t have jet lag. I sleep well on planes.

You don’t need to overthink this if you’re flying business! The airline should give you PJs, slippers, eye mask, toiletries, really good headphones.

Re jet lag - time some of your naps with your destination landing time. I.e. if you’re landing at 5am, try and get some sleep in the last few hours - or if you’re landing in the evening, avoid sleeping in the last few hours.

Eat, drink, enjoy the business class experience!!!!

I wear a hoodie with eye mask built in.
Def ear plugs or head phones.
Watch a hack ref creating an easy pillow substitute to aid sleep.

Take some magnesium after food on the flight. Have a warm drink with your meal not alcohol. Keep a bottle of water handy.
Layers def - flights do get cold.

If you have a warm pad - those cheap pads for back pain, for example. Slap on on top of your first layer of clothes to provide external heat where you like to feel warmer when you sleep.

I tend to go with abdomen area and pop one in my hoodie pouch so I can keep my hands and tummy warm. Just make sure it's not directly touching your skin.

If youre not in BC/FC, use a scarf to provide a foot rest. Again YouTube video to see how to do this.

Finally, if there's an empty row of seats nearby, bag it. Lie down with a seat belt across you. Luxury!!!

I do that trip a lot and have done it for about 50 years. Business class is a snack compared with budget economy!

I get the cabin staff to put my bed down as soon as the meal service is over and basically I just sleep or doze as much as possible for the 24 hours of the trip.

I rarely fly via the ME as I prefer to stop over in Asia and the route via Singapore or HK splits the journey into more equal halves.

I always have a big scarf or hoody and a silk eye mask. I go on board in a reasonably smart suit as the trousers and jacket can be changed out of and the staff will hang them up for you. They mean if I’m going from winter to summer ( or vice versa) I have a wool suit the end I need warmth and can carry my jacket in the heat. I change into soft jersey trousers for the flight. I wear a light cashmere jumper that does the same cold/warm clothing as a wool suit.

Buy an Evian water face spray at your departure airport. It really helps with the dehydration of the flight. Carry on as little as possible. You really won’t need it. I have toothbrush and toothpaste, eye mask, antihistamines, book and phone (plus charger and cords. Just try to sleep as much as possible. I find gin on embarkation and red wine with my meal help.

Oh and walk a lot when you change planes - after a long shower in the lounge.
have a shower. I once decided to go a really short route with only a 90 minute stop over in Singapore and decided to walk rather than take a shower in the lounge. A mistake.