Long Haul Flight Tips: How to Survive Long Haul Flights

Surviving long haul flights in economy is not easy. The confined space and uncomfortable seating make it harder still, and one of the downsides of travelling on a budget is that you don't get to be picky with flight times — which means you may end up on 13 hour flights, or even 15 hours, like the flight from New York to South Africa.

Instead of hoping and praying for an empty seat next to you, here's what actually makes a long haul flight bearable.

Long Haul Flight Tips

Pack Efficiently

Don't be the person getting up every 10 minutes to dig through the overhead locker. Carry a small bag alongside your main carry-on, pull out your in-flight essentials and keep it under the seat in front of you so everything's accessible. We love these packable backpacks for exactly this — unpack your long haul essentials once you're at the gate.

Stick to Your Routine

If you're flying a red-eye, stick to your normal nightly routine as much as possible — it helps trick your body into winding down. Herbal teas like chamomile are great for this too, and more hydrating than regular tea since they don't contain caffeine.

Stay Hydrated

One of the best ways to stay comfortable on a long flight. Proper hydration keeps your skin and lips from drying out and chapping. If you're prone to that, grab some manuka honey lip balm before you fly.

Keep Busy

If I have nothing to do on a flight, time crawls. Busy with a movie or a book, it flies. Keep yourself occupied — photo editing, writing, reading, watching something — and resist the urge to check your watch or keep the flight map up on your screen. That only makes it feel longer.

Dress Comfortably

The single best long haul tip: dress comfortably. Pack pyjamas to change into if you can. Leggings or sweatpants are the best thing for sitting through 13-15 hours. Planes get chilly too, so bring a sweater or scarf just in case.

Try to Sleep

Once you've run out of movies or things to do, close your eyes and rest as much as you can. You'll likely land at an odd hour, and any sleep behind you makes getting through to a proper bed at your hotel or hostel much easier.

What We Always Carry

Entertainment

Good noise-cancelling headphones make a genuine difference — they drown out crying babies and engine drone equally well. An iPod shuffle or your phone works for music depending on whether there are charging ports on board.

A kindle is genuinely worth carrying even if you have the app on your phone — the battery lasts far longer, meaning you can read through an entire long haul flight without worrying about your phone dying. If you're productive on flights, a tablet or lightweight laptop is worth the extra weight for the hours you'll actually use it.

Comfort

A proper travel pillow is worth having, though you don't need to go overboard — a simple one from the airport works fine. A favourite sweatshirt doubles as an extra layer and comfort item. A Turkish towel or microfibre travel towel also works well as a lightweight blanket if the plane runs cold.

Other Essentials

We try to use less plastic when travelling, so a refillable water bottle filled before boarding means skipping the multiple plastic cups every time the cabin crew comes around.

Always carry snacks — protein bars and something indulgent like gummy bears or chips both have their place. And a small medical kit: paracetamol, eye drops, indigestion tablets, melatonin to help you sleep, and allergy tablets just in case. Emergen-C packets are a favourite of ours too — good for hydration and a bit of extra vitamin C when you're trying not to catch anything before your trip even starts.

A bamboo toothbrush is worth packing — after several hours you'll want to freshen up, and lip balm is essential since lips dry out fast in cabin air.

Surviving Layovers

Sleep

For an especially long layover, look into day-use hotel rooms near the airport. A little sleep goes a long way, and the ability to drop your bags, have a hot shower and rest properly for an hour is worth every penny. We'd recommend this for anything over a 4 hour layover. For shorter layovers, find a quiet spot with a few empty seats and take turns resting if you're travelling with someone — just don't both fall asleep and miss your flight.

Cut Costs by Avoiding Spending Money at Airports

Everything costs more at the airport. A refillable water bottle filled at a fountain after security avoids paying for bottled water entirely. Avoid eating at the sit-down restaurants and skip alcohol specifically — airport drink prices are a genuine shock (a local beer that costs $1 USD at home can run $5 USD or more at the terminal bar). You also don't want to be flying hungover.

Related Posts

• Flying Long Haul with a Toddler
• Carry-On Only Packing Guide