Long Haul Flight Survival Tips

[SDSorority]

Hi all!! I'm looking for your best long haul flight survival tips.... any and all are appreciated!!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

What would you consider to be long haul?

 

[micheand]

Depends on how long you mean. We are from Upper Michigan (think Lake Superior, we are 10 mins away from the shore!) and fly from Wisconsin due to price factors. The typical flight, nonstop, is 3 or more hours. On the way to disney everyone is Disney excited so we make sure we have an electronic device, iPad in our case, with a couple of choices of Disney movies. We also seat the kids next to each other (both old enough not to need to sit right next to mom and dad) so they can share the iPad and other things. Last flight we also bought huge sticker books to keep them busy. Even if they had done stickers the whole way they never could have finished them. I think they were Star Wars themed, from Target. I have girls and they loved them, but the little boy across from 17 year old wanted hers in the worst way so while sister watched a movie, oldest did stickers with him. Flight actually went by quickly. On the way home I was worried that they would be difficult to entertain, but a week at Disney wore them out and they slept a great deal. My kids are older, thank goodness for that! I can't imagine entertaining a young one!

 

[SDSorority]

What would you consider to be long haul?

We have a 14 hour flight coming up- I'd consider that long haul.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Yes, 14 hours is definitely a long haul flight. My best recommendation? Fly business class or higher. Seriously. It's the only way to survive!

If you can't do that, if available, pay for seats with extra legroom, such as United Airlines Economy +. I have a blow up foot rest (they are very inexpensive) that helps. I also bring ear plugs, sleep mask, noise canceling headphones, iPad, a book, snacks, and a shawl I can use as a blanket.

 

[supergoofy]

For a 14 hour flight I would book the latest flight out I could and fly red eye.

Get up extra early and hit the gym or go for a run and then work all day long so when I got on the plane I was a zombie so I could sleep for at least half the flight.

 

[dis_guy]

Noise cancelling headphones are a must for me. I don't sleep well or often on a plane (former aircrew: flying+sleeping=BAD) so having my own quiet "headspace" is essential. All the active pilots I know have these for use when deadheading.

Drink fluids (water) often to avoid dehydration. Don't overdo the alcohol, even if it's "free".

Sit somewhere you can get into and out of easily. Get up and move around a bit as often as you can.

Wear compression clothing- at least go for the high socks. Many athletes who fly a lot wear full length tops and bottoms.

Consider a seat pad of some sort. Those economy seats are very hard after 8-10 hours. Make sure it's made of a breathable material.

Upgrade to at least an "extra legroom" seat. As a pp said first class would be good if you can swing it.

Have reasonable expectations. You will be dead tired, you will feel like you're in a cattle car, you will feel stressed and grouchy, and others will do seriously dumb and rude things. Just roll with it.

Have a great trip. I'm sure the destination will be worth it.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

For a 14 hour flight I would book the latest flight out I could and fly red eye.

Get up extra early and hit the gym or go for a run and then work all day long so when I got on the plane I was a zombie so I could sleep for at least half the flight.

A 14 hour flight has plenty of time for sleeping. OP did not indicate if the 14 hours is total travel time, or if it is actual nonstop flying time.

 

[Jillpie]

Having just flown to Africa this Fall, a 21 hour experience, it's fresh on my mind. What I could not have done without, was my Bose noise canceling headphones. Don't go cheap, they are SO worth every penny. Getting there, I had put a TV season on my IPad, that saved me and really passed the time. Delta fed us literally every two hours, that passed the time. The other thing I really loved was my inflatable pillow to sleep.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

We have a 14 hour flight coming up- I'd consider that long haul.

I have traveled extensively overseas, and in March-2014 back to Ireland & UK.
. . . if you can afford it, book business or first class
. . . book a flight with 180º lay-flat seats, not just 160º or 170º
. . . eat very few carbs before/during flight
. . . eat fruit before/during flight, not juice, but the actual fruit
. . . NO, NO, NO alcohol before/during the flight
. . . drink lots of water before/during the flight, as pressurized drain your fluids
. . . some folks take a mild sleeping pill, like Ambien, just before takeoff
. . . invest in good noise-canceling earphones for your or plane's audio
. . . wear slippers packed in your carrying
. . . wear loose-fitting clothes to be comfortable
. . . take an inflatable pillow for neck support

 

[Huff]

West to East I take late afternoon or early evening flights. Get a meal, maybe watch a movie then get some sleep and arrive in the morning. Cabin noise quiets down and its an enjoyable flight.

East to West is a different story and is much more difficult to get much comfort because you're gaining hours along the way. An evening flight is still preferable but you'll end up arriving at bad hours of the day.

 

[SDSorority]

Our flight oversees will be an overnight flight, but the flight home is what I'm most worried about since it'll be during the day. We did book business class for both long haul flights, with normal economy for the short flights to the hub cities. We'll be flying AirCanada for both overseas flights, and I have heard good things. I'm just nervous about being in a plane for that long- the longest straight shot I have ever flown was Ohio to Seattle nonstop on Southwest, which I think was somewhere around 6 hours. By hour 4 I was antsy as all get out. At least with business class I should be able to get up and move a little easier without bugging anyone.

When we land after our first flight, my body will think it's 2am. I'm hoping to adjust my clock in the few days prior to the trip to help lesson the body clock wonkyness, but does anyone have any jet lag tips to help??

 

[Hopefully]

Our flight oversees will be an overnight flight, but the flight home is what I'm most worried about since it'll be during the day. We did book business class for both long haul flights, with normal economy for the short flights to the hub cities. We'll be flying AirCanada for both overseas flights, and I have heard good things. I'm just nervous about being in a plane for that long- the longest straight shot I have ever flown was Ohio to Seattle nonstop on Southwest, which I think was somewhere around 6 hours. By hour 4 I was antsy as all get out. At least with business class I should be able to get up and move a little easier without bugging anyone.

When we land after our first flight, my body will think it's 2am. I'm hoping to adjust my clock in the few days prior to the trip to help lesson the body clock wonkyness, but does anyone have any jet lag tips to help??

I flew 16+ hours non-stop Newark to Hong Kong overnight. Sleep was okay. Watched movies, which I never do. They fed us 3 times. I coped.
Flight home Hong Kong to Newark was MUCH worse. Day time flight. Center seat in coach. Rude seat map. I don't have a lot of advice , just hope for you

 

[SDSorority]

I flew 16+ hours non-stop Newark to Hong Kong overnight. Sleep was okay. Watched movies, which I never do. They fed us 3 times. I coped.
Flight home Hong Kong to Newark was MUCH worse. Day time flight. Center seat in coach. Rude seat map. I don't have a lot of advice , just hope for you

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

.......
Flight home Hong Kong to Newark was MUCH worse. Day time flight. Center seat in coach. Rude seat map. I don't have a lot of advice , just hope for you

What's a rude seat map?

I couldn't cope with a middle seat on a 16 hour flight. I would have chosen a flight with a better seat selection.

I actually prefer day flights for international travel. UA has an IAD-LHR flight which leaves in the morning and arrives in London at night. Wish there were more flights like these to other European cities.

OP, when you arrive at your destination, DO NOT sleep if it's the daytime. Try and keep going until your bedtime at local time. It really helps adjust to local time.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Yes, 14 hours is definitely a long haul flight. My best recommendation? Fly business class or higher. Seriously. It's the only way to survive!

1) We have two LONG flights within the net six months
. . . Ireland for 2½ weeks
. . . Australia - New Zealand - Fiji for 38 days.
2) We are flying Business Class due to the length of time in-the-air.

 

[ttintagel]

I bring as many tiny liquor bottles as I can get through security.

Good travel pillow, good comfy socks so I can take my shoes off if I feel the need.

I tend to get sick after I fly (my immune system is no match for a sealed metal container of everybody's colds and germs, so I also bring disinfectant wipes to clean off the tray table, armrests, and seat back in front of me. Also, a couple of disposable face masks.

Hydration good, and the resulting bathroom break is a good way to get up and get my circulation going again.

I'm almost always flying with someone else, and I like to bring a double headphone jack so we can both listen to the same music, podcasts or whatever. Reading on a plane for any length of time gives me a headache.

I introduce myself to the person ahead of me and politely ask them to give me a heads up when they're going to recline so that I don't get a surprise smash in the knee. This works maybe half the time.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I bring as many tiny liquor bottles as I can get through security. Good travel pillow, good comfy socks so I can take my shoes off if I feel the need.

1) BOTH are excellent ideas.
2) Although I fly Biz-Class and get free booze, I still bring a "neck pillow". (One of those curve-shaped devices).
. . . I bought mine form Amazon for about $10 (they had more expensive ones, but I LIKE CHEAP).
. . . It has a "hood" to go over your head, as well as the neck pillow.
. . . This stops breezes from the plane A/C unit over head.
. . . If flying alone, stops the person next to me from talking to me the entire trip!

NOTE:
. . . Not trying to be "uppity", but I do not fly Coach.
. . . After more than 4½-million airmiles in my business career, I don't want to be crammed "in-the-back" of the plane in my retirement.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

1) We have two LONG flights within the net six months
. . . Ireland for 2½ weeks
. . . Australia - New Zealand - Fiji for 38 days.
2) We are flying Business Class due to the length of time in-the-air.

This thread is FIVE YEARS old. Why bump it? I am certain the OP has resolved her issue!

 

[ttintagel]

Not trying to be "uppity", but I do not fly Coach

Doesn't sound uppity to me; I think everybody would fly business/first if they could afford it. I know I would.