How to survive the Long Haul Flights

Tips for Surviving the long haul!

For the business traveler who has to take regular long haul flights, reducing the physical and mental effects of the change in time zones is vital. This is even more important if one is arriving at a destination and walking straight into an important meeting. Following these five simple steps will help the seasoned traveler minimize the stress associated with long haul flights.

PREPARE
Before setting off, plan for all eventualities. The seasoned traveler should ensure that all his or her electrical items are fully charged. One should make sure this is done the night before the flight. Plug in laptops, phones and any iPod or iPad that will be used during the flight. Also, pack a bag of toiletries, ensuring all items are within regulation. One should carry these in hand luggage, so they are readily available during the flight. Our traveler should also pack a book and a magazine, to help pass the time at the airport as well as during the flight.

HYDRATE
Long haul flights can have a severe effect on the body’s hydration. Before checking in, try to drink two or three litres of water. Once on the flight, the traveler should aim to imbibe a small bottle every hour, if possible. Avoid drinking alcohol excessively before and during the flight. If one small drink assists sleep, our passenger should take that. However, too much alcohol speeds up dehydration. In the toiletries bag prepared pre-flight, include eye drops, moisturizing lotion and lip blam. This combats hydration problems and makes their flight more comfortable.

SLEEP
There is no substitute for reducing the stresses of long haul flights than sleep. Our passenger can take many easy steps to make their journey more palatable. They can initially take care while choosing their seat. Asking the airline for seats with additional legroom is a great start. Exit row seats afford a traveler the best possible situation, but are popular and can often cost an extra fee to book. If (s)he prefers to rest their head, book a window seat. However, if they would rather the opportunity to more freely leave their seat and walk around, ensure an aisle seat is reserved.
Avoiding seats near the lavatories and communal areas is a must, as these can become noisy and over-populated, making sleep more difficult. Once our passenger is ready for sleep, they should visit the lavatories to wash and clean teeth. This prepares them for bed, mirroring their usual pre-sleep patterns. Packing a good travel pillow and noise-reduction headphones all help make the passenger’s seat more comfortable and conducive to sleep. Finally, for those who have trouble sleeping on long flights, they can visit their family doctor and ask for a recommendation for a natural sleep remedy to assist with rest.

DRESS
Always dress comfortably. One should make sure attire is light and comfy, with layers to add and remove during the flight. This allows the passenger to counteract the changes in temperature that come on long haul flights. Take a scarf and a light sweater to wear if it gets cold. Also, (s)he should wear comfortable sneakers, but remove these as soon as they are settled into their seat. It is reported that because of the decompression in the cabin feet can increase by one whole size over a long flight. Travelers should pack a thick pair of socks to wear over their everyday socks, to keep feet warm and allow him/her to walk around the cabin and exercise without needing to put their shoes back on.

PLAN YOUR TIME ON BOARD
Planning a flight like a night at a hotel can really help ensure our traveler arrives at their destination in an optimum state. On, say, a 10 hour flight, one should set all watches and phones to the actual time at the destination. The passenger should aim to watch a movie, eat a light meal and sleep on good time patterns. On a red-eye flight, they should try to sleep for at least 4-5 hours. This helps their body adjust and feel more ‘normal’. If the trip includes a connecting flight, pay any small fee required to make use of an airport lounge in the lay-over airport. This allows him/her to take a shower, change clothes and freshen up for the onwards journey.

 

 

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