How to Survive a Long Haul Flight

Taking a long haul flight marks an exciting time. It’s the start of a big adventure, but it also means spending hours in a cramped space. Getting through a long travel day isn’t for the faint of heart. As a frequent flier, I’ve learned a few long haul flight tips in my day. I’ve taken over a hundred flights, including an annual 15-hour non-stop flight between Vancouver and Sydney—sometimes even in the middle seat. It’s far from my favourite activity, but I’ve picked up a tip or two for long haul flying. Here's what I've learned about how to survive a long haul flight. 

First, welcome a mindset shift. Yes, flying sucks, but it can also be uninterrupted “you” time to watch movies, read, snack, and  get some sleep. I try to focus on the time to relax and make myself as comfortable as possible. These are my tried and true long haul flight tips to make your next journey a little easier.

Pack your favorite snacks

Many people think you can’t bring your own food on planes, but that’s simply not true. You can bring food on most flights, as long as you follow the departing airport’s rules on liquids. The liquid limit means you can’t bring most ice packs, but there’s a way to keep your goodies cold: freeze a bag of grapes or chopped fruits, and use that as a makeshift ice pack (and later, a snack). 

It’s also important to know the rules around restricted items (eg. meats and produce) at your destination. Make sure to dispose of any restricted food items before landing. Lastly, I try to be conscious of other passengers. That means packing nut-free options that won't stink up the plane.

Choose the right seat

This is an obvious long haul flight tip, but it’s one I forget when I’m in budget-planning mode. Sometimes, it’s worth paying for a better seat. Absolutely no one wants to be stuck in a middle seat for 10+ hours! If you can afford it, pay for the advanced seating selection (or the upgrade, if you’re money money).

SeatGuru’s Seat Maps feature can also help you figure out if there’s seats to avoid. If you don't want to pay for seat selection, some airlines let you choose your seat for free when you check in online. In these cases, I set a reminder for when online check in opens (usually 24 hours before my flight), so I can have the first pick. 

It’s rare these days, but one of my best long haul flight tips is to try to increase your chance of an empty row. I find that the back of the plane is usually less crowded, so I sit in the back section of seats. Even if I pre-select a seat, when I get to the airport I check the kiosk for any empty rows I can switch to. This strategy has paid off more than once!

Wear the right clothes

If you’re wondering how to survive a long haul flight, the answer is not by wearing denim or your fancy new jacket. Comfort is so important on a long-haul flight. Gone are the days of dressing nicely to get a free upgrade. Not to mention, it’s totally possible to look nice and still be comfortable! It makes me feel better to wear real clothes instead of sweatpants, so I usually go for a pair of leggings and a couple of comfy sweaters. 

Being cold on a flight is the easiest way to make sure you get no sleep. The temperature usually dips when it’s nap time, so I always bring layers. If I have the space, I bring my own blanket or a comfy scarf.

Pack your carry-on strategically

I bring two carry-on bags: one for the overhead bin, and a small one for at my feet. The one at my feet is for items I reach for frequently throughout my flight, such as my water bottle, headphones, charger, hand sanitizer, and medication. I also always include some items to freshen up, like lip balm, lotion, mints, and a toothbrush and toothpaste. Just make sure this bag is something small that won’t take up too much leg room. 

There are few things more annoying than having to take down a carry-on luggage from the overhead bin and rifle through it during a flight. Especially when you can’t find what you need and essentially have to start unpacking it in the aisle. Try to prevent this by packing stuff you might need during the flight in easily-accessible spots, like the front pouch of your luggage.

Get up, for goodness sake

Seriously, it’s good for your health. It blows my mind that people can sit in one seat for 15 hours. Sitting for this long increases your risk of getting a dangerous blood clot. This tip is literally how to survive a long haul flight—blood clots can be life threatening. 

I understand getting some shut-eye or not wanting to disturb your seat mates, but it’s important to move around. It prevents your muscles from getting achey and keeps your blood flowing. If I’m really tired, I do some seated exercises.

Bring enough entertainment & charge your devices

On a completely full flight to Australia, the woman next to me had a broken TV screen. They were unable to fix it before takeoff, so she had nothing to do for the entire flight. I wanted to cry for her. If you’re taking a budget flight, many won’t have free entertainment, which may leave you wondering what to do on a long flight. 

Since then, I always make sure to bring enough entertainment and make sure my devices are fully charged. You can't always guarantee that a flight will have entertainment, or even an outlet. 

If you’re wondering what to do on a long haul flight: bring multiple entertainment methods. I tend to cycle in between movies, music, podcasts, and Netflix shows that I've downloaded to my phone. I also download some kind of white noise to listen to, because that helps me to drown out some of the airplane noise when I want a moment of quiet.

Hydrate

Hydration comes from the inside out, so to avoid feeling like a crusty, dusty mess, drink enough water. I bring an extra water bottle which I fill up after security and I also buy a bottle of Gatorade or juice—something that encourages me to drink when I'm a bit bored of water. I personally also avoid dehydrating drinks like coffee, tea, and alcohol. 

Hydration isn't just what you put in your body. I always bring lotion for my hands and face. If I have the space, I bring dry eye drops and nasal spray. It makes me feel so much more comfortable when I hit the 8-hour mark and start feeling like a human raisin.

Keep germs at bay 

Part of why I hate flying is because I used to always get sick. Like a full-on flu kind of sick. I've come a long way since then, and I'm now able to survive most of my long haul flights with just a case of the sniffles. When you’re travelling, the lack of sleep, jet lag, close proximity to others, and low cabin humidity can all contribute to sickness after a flight.

There are three things that have significantly lowered my chances of getting sick after a long haul flight. First, I make sure I get some sleep. Second, I religiously use hand sanitizer and hand wipes. And third, I do not touch my face unless I have recently cleaned my hands. The air on an airplane is filtered and not as much of a risk to your health as your own hands.

Hopefully, these long haul flight tips will make your next journey a little more tolerable.

These long haul flight tips have made travelling so much more bearable for me. I still can't claim that I love flying, but it’s become more tolerable with experience. And if you hate flying (like me), just remember: it’s so worth it for the adventure.

Do you get pre-flight jitters? Here's how to deal with pre trip anxiety.