Easy Travel Hacks for Your Next Long Haul Flight
If you’ve got a long flight coming up soon, you’ll want to prepare with a few of these travel hacks to make your trip a little easier. There are 5 things you’ll want to prepare for before any long-haul flight: entertainment, comfort, sleep, food, and health. Take a look at these travel hacks to make each of these a little easier!
- Entertainment
- Comfort
- Sleep
- Food
- Health
Entertainment
If you go into it prepared, a good long flight can be quite enjoyable! Just think of it as some “forced quiet time.” The sleep might not be so great, but it’s nice to disconnect for a while! Keep yourself busy on a long flight by relaxing or engaging your brain:
- Listen to a good playlist
- Read a book
- Enjoy a podcast you’ve been meaning to start
- Use a language-learning app
- Try brain puzzles like Sudoku or a crossword
- Catch up on some knitting/crocheting
- Bring some coloring books
- Try a new card game with a friend
- Journal or write a letter
- Start a new audiobook
Comfort
Sometimes air travel makes you feel just a little bit worn down. The long hours, cramped quarters, the stress of TSA… Treat yourself to a little bit of luxury. Even the simplest bit of self-care can go a long way on a difficult trip.
- Baby wipes: use these to freshen up after a night on the plane
- Eye gels: give yourself a little spa treatment while en route
- Slippers: change into more comfortable footwear as soon as you get to your seat
- Upgrade your seats: a seat upgrade is WELL worth it for a long-haul flight
Sleep
This is the hard part. It’s cramped, uncomfortable, and just all-around hard to sleep on a plane. So how do you find sleep at 30,000 feet?
- Foot hammock: you might look a little funny with this contraption, but your legs will thank you!
- Multi-purpose scarf: get a scarf that doubles as a blanket — planes can be chilly
- Wear comfortable clothes: wear something you can rest in easily, and don’t forget to layer up
- Create a calming routine: drink some tea, shut down electronics an hour before sleeping, or read a book
- Take a sleep aid: talk to your doctor about a sleep aid such as melatonin to help you get some shut-eye
Food
Airport food, while convenient, is usually extremely overpriced. And it’s hard to find something healthy! In order to stay healthy on your trip, you’ll want to find some TSA-friendly foods that give you lasting nourishment. Opt for snacks that are free from refined sugars and minimally processed.
Here are some good ideas:
- Whole fruits: bananas, apples, and oranges are easy to pack
- Oatmeal cups: bring oat cups like these for an easy bedtime snack or breakfast.
- Popcorn: for a yummy, whole-grain snack, grab a few bags of popcorn such as Angie’s Boomchikapop
- DIY trail mix: toss together some walnuts, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, and a few dark chocolate pieces for a protein-packed pick-me-up you can easily bring through TSA
Health
You don’t want to start your dream trip out by feeling cruddy! Take a few preventative steps to stay healthy on the plane. Keep your immune system strong and your body energized with a little TLC.
Related: 8 Things You Can Do To Stay Healthy on the Plane
- Essential oils: bring lavender to aid sleep and peppermint if you are prone to air sickness
- Compression socks: to help with swelling
- Drink lots of water: airplane humidity levels are lower than the Sahara Desert!
- Vitamin C: Take a vitamin C supplement to boost your immune system
- Special meal request: Do you have special dietary needs? Contact the airline ahead of time to let them know of any allergies or dietary preferences. Most airlines are very accommodating!
Read next: Wellness Travel – What You Need to Know
