First every long haul flight coming up - what do I need?

[SirRaymondClench]

Forever I've read about beauty routines for onboard a long haul flight but it's never applied to me as I've never flown further than Europe...
However in a few weeks I am off to New York (woohoo!) which is about as long haul as I get!

So what would you reccommend for onboard? What do you do skin wise etc onboard? Any other tips?

Wow thank tyou for the great suggestions. Lots to think about.

I know for some of you, you wouldn't consider UK-Ny as a long haul but for me, this is probably the longest flight and the biggest journey I will get to make. Unless I win the lottery I've always wanted to go to the States and it feels very much like I'm the last living adult who has never been but with money being tight and ageing parents I have to care for (and kids!) I have never been able to go so it's a big deal for me.
I am very much flying economy, I was agog at the price of First and Business class flights. Those of you that have flown that way are very very lucky.

Tooth floss. This is first in the bag as should you get something stuck, you have hours of misery without any. Yeah to wipes (wipe the tray, your hands, anything sticky). Any moisturizing mask especially in a sachet, stuck the rest on your hands, I like the Missha mask/essence/cream sachets. Deo. Toothpaste and brush.
If you use dry shampoo, be warned that if you spray them in a closed aircraft loo you may set off the smoke alarms. Be warned! Just the aerosol type.

I've just purchased (last of the big spenders) a small pot of Nivea blue for my flight next week, I've also packed a lip balm, tissues, I'm yet to buy wet wipes and maybe a small bottle of facial cleanser. I'll defiantly need my glasses case and I might even go all out and pack my miniature bottle of Si' perfume! It's not my favorite but I'm sure I'll appreciate it after my flight.

I'm a little suprised that people need to use dry shampoo after an 8 hour flight. I'm also a bit agog at how high maintenance some people seem to turn into on a flight. Last year we flew to Orlando. All I had was moisturiser, lip balm and eye drops which I used as and when while sat in my seat.

How do people brush teeth on planes? Do you take bottled water into the loo with you? I'm also very aware that spending so much time getting changed and doing a beauty routine would create long queues for the toilet.

'I'm a little suprised that people need to use dry shampoo after an 8 hour flight.'

One word: perimenopausal hair. Mine's a grease pit in 8 hours, even on land, without dry shampoo. How do you brush your teeth, you take a water bottle in, squirt on a blob of toothpaste, brush and rinse. I used to fly like you, but I do that now and people will ask if I'm alright upon landing. Or probably avoid me because I haven't put on more deodorant. I sweat like a pig at certain times of the month - much better with black cohosh, but still, I'm hot and sweaty.

Getting changed? Sorry, but if I'm taking off where it's 11 degrees and landing where it's 40 degrees with 80% humidity, I'm going to change into some shorts and a tshirt for the massive immigration queues.

I've done all manner of combinations of Glasgow-Amsterdam-Houston, Glasgow-Newark-Houston, Glasgow-London-Houston for nearly 15 years now, the temp difference is always staggering. I've got it down to a science now. It works for us. I've also got stuck, so glad to have the gear I need to avoid body odour.

Anti bac wipes are a must. I also wear a large scarf that can double as a blanket. I don't normally use this but those Evian facial spritz things feel so refreshing during a long haul flight. Moisturizer is a must.

lol is there even enough room to change in the tiny bathroom on the plane? I find them gross and try to be in and out of them as quickly as I can! 😣

Expat, sorry I didn't realize you meant the bathroom at where you're landing. In that case I would layer your clothes when you board so you can take off other things when you get there. You could do a camisole with a cardigan over it. You could do a dress with leggings on underneath etc.

Believe me, rain, I've tried every combo going. I've been doing this journey in many combos for a very long time. I'm very well-versed in what works for me and for us and pack our hand luggage accordingly with such precision, even the attendants remark on it. It's usually 40 degrees or near enough with sky high humidity in Houston when we land and even in the airport, it's boiling hot to us and we've been on the go for the better part of 18 hours. It takes at least an hour to get through immigration, even as US/UK nationals, which we all are, baggage claim and then the further queue after baggage claim. I want to wear shorts, a vest top or tshirt and my Reef sandals on landing, because my feet are always swollen by then despite flight socks and moving around. I'm not interested in stripping off layers to do that except in the lav. I'm well-practised at it and it works just fine.

Our flight from either London or Europe is nigh on 10 hours and we've have to fly from Glasgow and then change planes every time, so it's a very long journey, especially with an autistic child.

People are just sharing what works for them. If others don't have such requirements, good on them. I'm just sharing what works for us. Layering doesn't do it for me. I've tried. I have a pair of shorts, my Reefs, and a top in my bag and go into the lav and change into them. On the way back, I wear clothes appropriate to what the weather is like in London or Amsterdam and then change into clothes for Glasgow if necessary.

I don't bother packing jackets because DH collects us with the jackets and if we get stuck in London, we'll go to a friend's and then get on a train and go back to Glasgow.

We have a 2-hour drive from Glasgow.

Comfortable clothes, no makeup, and glasses on (normally wear contacts). Those people aren't going to see me again so I have no interest in impressing them.

Sleep as much as possible, a refreshing face-wipe (not something heavy for makeup removal) upon awakening, pop in lenses, put on makeup and good to go.

Oh god. I go against all the sensible rules. I pack my kindle, laptop & magazines, and order a red wine as soon as possible. Lovely red, eye mask, blanket & off to sleep

Me too! Flight to NY only takes about 6 hours so it's not exactly long haul. I wear comfy clothes but that's about it. Makeup stays on. Bring something good to read and you will be there in a jiffy.

Each child also has a shallow silicone baking tray. This way they can play with Lego or the like and are less likely to drop small items on the floor.

That's such a clever idea! You are clearly an expert at this flying with kids lark.

My husband takes his PJs and changes whilst the staff put the mattress on the seat.

😅

You never disappoint.

I'm also a bit agog at how high maintenance some people seem to turn into on a flight......I'm also very aware that spending so much time getting changed and doing a beauty routine would create long queues for the toilet

I'm sure you didn't mean it but that all can across pretty judgemental! It's not about being high maintenance - for me it's about making use of the time rather than just whiling it away, I'm stuck somewhere for X number of hours, may as well use the time to pamper myself and hopefully start my holiday/return home feeling refreshed and nurtured rather than manky and drained!

Also with the right wipes (never normally use beauty wipes but when travelling they come into their own) I do all of my routine in my seat. Make sure nothing is overly fragranced so as not to impact fellow passengers. I only nip to the loo in the hour before landing to brush teeth and use the mirror for a few minutes to re-apply light makeup, if I'm going for a wee etc anyway otherwise wait until landing, hardly contributing massively to the usually already significant queues at that point!

Expat, I've done a nearly 20 hour flight from the US to Africa twice. I was just giving you my advice. I went from cold winter in the US to boiling heat. Ten hours is bearable to me. I still wouldn't go change my entire outfit in the bathroom at the airport when landing. If I can make it through a 10 or even 20 hour flight, I can deal with staying in the same clothes afterwards. Sorry but your reply to me came across snarky and condescending. So I'm telling you what worked for me. It's just a suggestion about layering. If you want to change your clothes in the bathroom at the airport, good luck to you. You obviously have it all figured out, so I don't know why you're asking for advice.

Just drink loads of water, wear comfortable clothes, watch films and relax. Keep your cabin baggage light and small whatever you do.

Um, I'm not asking for advice, rain. I'm not the OP. . And your post came across as very patronising to me. Yes, I've heard of layering, everyone has. If you read my posts, too, you'd realise that a) only one leg of the flight I do, not twice, but every year is 10 hours, there's another on top of that, the journey works out to roughly 18 hours. It also involves having to stay in a hotel the night before b) I travel alone with two children (well, used to be three before DD1 died), one of whom is autistic.

Bravo if you do what works for you!

I'm not the OP, I went over what works for me, and you answered me by name with a post I found quite patronising.

As you were, OP.

You'll be given all that on board in the washbags they hand out at the start of the flight

Er, don't think you get such luxuries in cattle class!

My hair gets super staticky on planes so if it's long pulling it into a plait can be useful.

I have little folding slippers that take up no space and put those on after boarding which works well as a compromise between shoes off and filthy socks/feet