How to Survive Long-Haul Flights
I love traveling to far-off places and exotic destinations like the rest of us. Getting there is another story. Many times you're catching more than one connection, layovers or considerable time in the air, crammed in tight quarters. The following are some tips for those long-hauls that I've learned along the way:
Download all your music, books, podcasts, and apps that would keep you entertained without WiFi - and in case the in-flight entertainment fails or your screen doesn't work. That happened to me flying back from Australia to LAX for 16 hours. Not enough boxed wine in the world to make up for not having a book with me. Felt like a rookie.
Stay hydrated. Even though they hand out water on the plane, I find it's not sufficient. I recommend buying a bottle of overpriced water in the airport (if it's unavoidable) or bring a water bottle to fill at the airport once through security. A lot of airports have implemented drinking fountains to fill your water bottles. When you land, you'll feel more refreshed, even if it does mean a few extra trips to the airplane bathroom.
Comfy clothes and layers. I always like to wear a scarf to dress up my attire and have a sweater that I can keep on or take off. I also pack a pair of what I like to call my 'plane socks' - those fluffy pair that double as slippers rolled up in my purse.
Bring some hydrating face wipes or rose water to freshen your face. After a little while, you start to feel greasy and stale so this will give you a pick me up. Rose water is something I picked up from my friend Katie Jo who's always spraying me with it and my skincare guru.
Bring chocolates or sweets for the flight attendants. It may seem like you're the one in need of a treat for flying, however, these staff put up with so much in their jobs, when really, their biggest job & concern is all about safety. Not small packs of pretzels or peddling Duty Free goods.
The trip is worth the haul, however, you can make it more bearable when you plan ahead. We can’t all be first-class ballers.
Safe travels!