Travel tips: Preparing for a long-haul flight
Living in Australia, I can tell you first-hand that a far off adventure for us antipodeans, more often than not, involves embarking on a long-haul flight. Having recently arrived home via a Mexico to Melbourne flight (stopping at LA and Brisbane), I’ve been reflecting on various conversations with airline staff and fellow travellers who, upon meeting me, would shudder at the thought of such a lengthy international trip.
That said, I’ve come up with some tips on how to make the aeronautical purgatory a little more bearable from the onset ...
BEFORE YOU FLY
Be prepared:
Are all your electronic devices charged? This might include an eReader, laptop, iPod or mobile phone. On some flights you can now charge electronic items with a USB power point built into the armrest of the seat, but otherwise, it’s handy to have a full battery before you go. Once onboard, ensure that you set your devices to Airplane Mode.
Take any medication you might require (e.g. travel sickness pills like Dramamine) or have it readily accessible in your carry-on bag/s.
Pack reading material. Long-haul flights are a great opportunity to delve into a good book. If aren’t too impressed with inflight magazines, this is the time to whip out that true crime novel or the History of the World tome you’ve been meaning to read. In my experience, I’ve noticed that international airports often have great newsagents and general stores with shelves stacked with international magazines, political/cultural journals and novels by bestselling authors. While they can be pricey, some of the best books I’ve read have been picked up in transit.
Sleepy heads – If you’re flying overnight and plan on getting some shut-eye, do take with you: a neck pillow for comfort, noise-cancelling headphones or ear plugs (believe me, they come in handy when there’s a baby screaming behind you) and an eye mask which is useful when you’re seated next to a passenger on a Tolkien marathon.
CARRY-ON LUGGAGE
Headphones – In case you want to listen to music or watch the inflight entertainment
Travel size hand sanitizer – I usually opt for Purell or Dettol minis. This is a hygiene essential, and comes in handy before being served an inflight meal or when the restrooms on the plane are out of soap
Tissues
Facial refresher wipes
Roll-on deodorant
Chewing gum
Eye mask
Ear plugs
* Be aware of carry-on baggage restrictions (e.g. No bottled liquids over 100ml) or prepare to have items confiscated by airport security staff).
DRESS FOR COMFORT
A light stretchy T-shirt
A warm, lightweight jacket that isn't too bulky and can fold away into a small bag should you get too hot
Stretchy clothing – Something flexible that gives you some freedom to move around. Nothing too restrictive as wearing tight clothing while flying at high altitudes is a known trigger of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT)
Pants – For the ladies, thick leggings are always a good option. For men, comfortable trousers.
Even if you get onboard wearing thongs/flip flops, it’s handy to keep some socks on you. The cabin can become pretty chilly mid-air.
If you’re travelling from hot to cold climates, you may want to keep a change of clothes in a small backpack at the foot of your seat or stowed above you. This will give you the flexibility to change if you need to mid-flight.
For more travel tips click here or check out my recent posts about New York City, Cleveland and Chicago.
