Surviving A Long Haul Flight
While hauling flight might sound fun and exciting, hauling long flights is the real nightmare you don’t want to sign up for. If you are flying a short trip, like 3 or 4hours, it might be fun and exciting, especially if you are the type that socialize well, you just might find a friendly seat partner with whom you can chat all through the journey and before you even realize it, you are at your destination. But unfortunately, that is not the kind of flight experience, we are talking about. We’re talking about that kind of long hour flight that makes you feel miserable, tired, dehydrated, sleep deprived and bored as well. We know how frustrating this can be, but not all long hour flights have to be a nightmare. So in this expose, we’re is to be dishing out 10 tips to help you overcome boredom, dehydration, deep-vein thrombosis, sleep deprivation, so that the next time you find yourself on a long haul, you can boldly say, I can do this.
Upgrading
- When traveling the long-haul, you have no better friend than your regular flier miles. If you wish, you could request the help of a travel agent to find flights on which you could exhaust all your Continental miles to upgrade your trip. This means catching small passenger flights to connect you from one airport to another at small price worth everything it offers, comfortable seats, amazing food, entertainment and the entire first class experience.
SeatGuru
- Don’t ever make the mistake of an exit row seat reservation. Most Exit row seats are located close to the restroom and I can guarantee you might not be able to get a rest from the endless and noisy foot traffic of other passengers using the restroom. In addition, you might not get enough leg rest or even enough comfort to allow you nap. Before you decide to go with an exit row seat, think about your preference of exit vs. aisle seat. Things might be a bit different on a long-haul flight than on a shorter flight.
Check if you can change seat
- Have you always failed at choosing the right seat? Why not try at the gate. If you are lucky enough and the flight is not full, the gate agent may be able to sight an empty row, or get you and a traveling partner in a “window and aisle” configuration reducing the chances of having someone sit in the middle seat, thereby getting you a seat and a half, or more.
Bring your own travel gear
- When you talk about surviving flights, a lot of people are not thinking gear. You may care less about neck pillows, eye masks, earplugs, noise-canceling headphones, etc. On a long-haul flight, you might want to reconsider. And yes, your luggage should be limited, but these are essential survival tools you may want to consider. You will be grateful for the comfort you will provide yourself. So don’t forget to gear up next time you are on a long haul.
Work vs. entertainment
- You should have a very dependable plan on how to maximize your time in your flight, a plan helping you escape the long boring hours, and by escape, we don’t mean working (for example office work, writing proposal and all that) No! While working may help you exhaust some time, it doesn’t make them disappear. You really want it to look as though it never happened. Then think out of the box, making the ordinary look extraordinary, imagine headphones and Hollywood blockbusters. While working may sound fine to you and look like the best thing to do, work will disappoint you at the cruel middle hours of this experience, headphones and movies won’t. Prepare yourself, either by fully loading your iPad with tons of movies.
Don’t burden yourself with too much luggage
- While checked luggage fees may encourage travelers to carry more stuff on a long-haul flight, you don’t want to do this, as this could really wear you out. Too much stuff under the seat in front of you just means less legroom and a more choked space for the next 12 hours. Don’t torture yourself by bringing in more than you carry and denying yourself enough sleeping space.
Try to be rested when you board
- The joke is on you if you think a long-haul flight is the best place to catch up on sleep – sorry. Although this may seem like an enticing and rational thing to do on a long haul. Boarding a flight extremely tired, hoping to sleep the whole way, you are in for a shock when you find you are suddenly restless for no just cause. Truthfully, your flight will be long enough for you to catch some sleep, even if you were fully rested, but the best thing to do is to accept it as it comes. When you find yourself feeling somewhat dizzy, be nice enough to yourself, get the eye covers and earplugs, and slide in. Don’t throw away 2 to 3 hours of nap on a few extra rounds of comedy, you might soon realize the joke is on you.
Kepp your belongings safe
- Don’t play the victim. Remember, there are all kinds of dodgy travelers on a long haul, waiting for you to fall asleep to make a move on your luggage. Be sure to keep your valuables deep inside your bags where eyes or hands can’t reach them. Valuables like your passport, credit cards and cash should be kept in a money belt below your clothes. Bottom line, keep your belongings safe when you fly.
Sleeping aid?
- Have you got plans on using any sleep aids, do yourself a favor, try them before you fly with them. Some drugs act more like stimulants rather than sleep aid keeping you awake all through your flight and leaving you totally wretched. Drugs vary from person to person, what works for a friend might just not work for you, so be sure to try them out at home before trusting them on a flight. And always make sure to check with doctor before taking any drugs.
Stay hydrated
- If you think hydration is a problem on a cross country flight, try a long haul of 15 hours! Drinking a lot of water is key, both for a comfy flight, but also important when trying to beat jetlag, so bring your own bottles and drink away! Even drink a lot of water before flying.
Move
- Ask for an aisle seat or exit row so you can get up and walk around whenever you feel the need.
Besides this, all you have to do is, keep smiling and reminding yourself that this too shall pass (in 16 hours).
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