Tell me what you wear on longhaul flights!

[Jewelsandgems]

We are off on holiday in 2 weeks and due to my DHs fear of flying, we tend to not fly (the last time we went longhaul was a good 6 years ago)

So, we are going economy and I haven't a clue what to wear! I am after clothing suggestions, and any tips for arriving looking ok would be great too. I am travelling with DD1+2 (2 and 4) and DH.

Thanks

J&G

I wore wide legged thinnish gym tousers, a tee shirt and a hoodie.Take socks , and a eye mask for kipping, and ear plugs. And took my make up bag in my hand luggage

i would suggest maybe some loose cotton trousers and a vest top and cardi or something like that. Not sure if you can carry make up in your hand luggage now, or have they relaxed the restrictions again? Lat time i flew (last year i think) there was still a ban on any lotions, powdersetc in your handluggage.

I am jealous, would love a holiday!

Oooo thanks cyb and can I ask what shoes you wore? Our Virgin Holidays little booklet says shoes should be easy to kick off.....? Love the eyemask suggestion

Bex how thick a cardi did you wear and did you find it cold on the plane (hate being cold emoticon]

Pyjamas. Seriously - you should have seen the look on my in-law's faces when we arrived - dp in red tartan pjs bottoms and a bright red t-shirt.

Very comfortable though.

Those who get embarrassed a little more easily than us can get changed in the toilets on the plane

I just wore my newish trainers that didnt ponk too much. But padded around in my socks on the flight

where are you going?

take a lovely cashmere pashmina thing that can treble up as a blanket, scarf, pillow...

Only a thinish cardigan, (not big and chunky IYSWIM) but then also had a pashmina/scarf type thingy to put on.
I don't remember it being particularly cold, and i am one of those people who really feels the cold. on all long hauls i've been on, they have given us blankets for if you want to sleep, so hopefully they might be available if it gets a bit chilly. have some of the free alcohol, that will warm you up!

chunkypickle I think I will compile an outfit to be as much pajama-like as possible!

cyb yes I have trainers - they are locoste tennis shoe looking ones so could wear those (they are a bit small though; only wear them to and from gym - don't wear shoes for the classes - so wonder if they'd be too uncomfortable? We are going to Malaysia! Am very excited

bex we did get blankets last time we did fly but I have a feeling we'll be giving ours to the DDs if they get cold! (maybe the cabin staff will give extras?)

i am sure there will be enough blankets to go around. Malaysia how exciting! Who are you flying with?

Bex I hope so too! We are flying with singapore airlines, have flown with them before and they were really good last time (although that was without children, so generally much more enjoyable no doubt!)

I would go with cyb's suggested outfit plus a spare in your handluggage in case of kids spilling stuff or puking on you

airline blankets are always so scratchy...take something soft

OOh don't wear shoes that are slightly too small on the ground because when you're in the air your feet swell and you won't be able to get them back on without much discomfort!

I just wear jeans t-shirt and cardigan with a pashmina dahlink

Linen trousers, vest, boyfriend cardi, comfy shoes and take some fluffy socks to stick on in the plane.
Malaysia sounds fab!

Travel in:
Loose wide leg cotton trousers
Comfy T-shirt Bra
thin Cotton vest
thin Cotton L-sleeve tshirt (x2- a clean one to put on for arrival)
Thin knit waterfall cardi
Comfy trainers
Wide and Long scarf- Zara and Gap have some nice ones

Have to hand
Eye mask
Ear Plugs
Facial Cleansing Wipes
Heavy and good moisturiser for face and hands, light day cream for arrival. Think about blagging some samples from the department store counters now.
Day make up- concealer, mascara, powder, gloss

As soon as you are on the plane, take off all the duty free make up you have had on! Slather on moisturiser for the duration. Let your hair down, comb out.

When you are coming into land. splash face with water, put on light moisturiser, apply day make up. Change into day top. Add sun glasses. Hair up in a pony tail.

Viola, you will looked groomed and put together on arrival.

Some fleecy socks (ski type), soft cotton yoga type trousers, t shirt, lightish cardi and pashmina type thing. Get changed into all this (or at least the trousers and socks) once you have boarded. You don't want to wear shoes on the plane.

Lucky you!

me
depart - dress, leggings, waterfall cardi,fit flops and thick socks in bag

cardi to wrap round, hence waterfall style for flight when ds nicks my blanket

arrive - leggings off, fit flops on, cardi over bag as blanket for ds in case air con horrid.

ds roll up to shorts trousers, crocs (thick socks and jama bottoms in hand bag if red eye)t.shirt . fleece.

dh - levis, checked shirt, trainers - this not helpful, these are the only clothes he owns.

Singapore airlines are very good with children We flew with them to New Zealand when our children were 6 and 8 and they were really lovely we did lots of flights on that trip and I wore comfy cargo type trousers, thin long sleeved t-shirt, thinnish cardigan and hoody with Converse on my feet The temperature in the plane cabin can fluctuate so much so it's good to have layers Also had a pashmina in my bag and very unnatractive DVT socks! Layers are the way to go. Same applies for the children.

This is all great stuff! Thanks girls!

We have been to the Far East - HK, Singapore and Malaysia every year for the since the girls were babies. They are now 6 and 8.(I have family out there) Singapore Airlines are very good.

Normally, when we get on board and walk to our seats, I always ask the air hostess for extra blankets for the children and myselfas during the flight, the temperature can get quite cold. We all take off our shoes as soon as we board.

I always bring the kids a spare thick cardigan and they put it on after their first meal when getting ready to sleep. I put them in t-shirts and loose bottoms and trainers / sandals. It does matter as they take them off once on board.

I alway bring a spare set of clothing with me as when we arrive at HK / Malaysia or Singapore, its usually baking hot so I pack a spare summer dress and sandles.

For myself, it just a top and either comfy bottoms though I have travelled long haul in soft jeans or a skirt. As long as they are very comfy, its ok. It also have a warm cardigan - not too thin or thick. As i alwasy ask for extra blankets, I'm not too bothered. As long as I can also use that cardigan on holiday then its ok. They normally supply fluffy socks which we tend to put on immediatly on board,

I also prepare a small makeup bag in a see through pouch (as in Heathrow - we need to have that scanned) with all my makeup that I need to use to re-do my face. All lotions and liquids must be in small bottles under 100ml and that would be allowed to pass security. So that is, toner, cotton wool, moisturer, light foundation, concealer and lipstick. Also, I put in spare contact lense bottle with saline and another one with cleaning fluid. I also take an asprin before I fly.

The kids each take a very small rucksack with one cuddly toy, and maybe a book and some pens and some sweets. I carry 2 DS for them to play with and a mag for myself. My kids love flying now and so do I but not DH.

Don't forget to ask the air hostess for children packs WHEN you board the plane. It's a little bag with things to keep them ooccupied.
Hope this helps.

twolittledarlings very useful post - Thankyou very much

lol at this thread
it sounds like a poncey mag ar5ticle
have you all got your capsule wardrobes too

Definitely do the spare set of clothing and some make-up - I am currently stranded with my bags in transit

Take a small tin/clear pot of vaseline. The air can be very dry and i find my nose and lips dry out and crack.

If you have longish hair, plait it. The dry air in the plane will make it all static-y. I usually end up with two demented plaits, otherwise I have a halo of hair that gets all tangled.

If your younger DD uses a grobag, take that onboard. I travelled with DD to NZ when she was just short of two and we put her in pyjamas and into her growbag about two hours out and the little darling slept most of the way. If you can get your older DD a cheap MP3 player you can put some stories on it (I rip CDs, Charlie and Lola etc) This should keep her amused for some time.

Malaysia is pretty warm, so make sure you have either T shirts on the girls when you land or have some in your bag to change into.