Long-haul journeys can feel intimidating, but packing a handful of long-flight essentials will improve your trip dramatically. With just a bit of planning and a well-considered flying checklist, you can significantly improve your inflight experience and arrive more refreshed than you expect, even in a middle seat. Here’s how to prepare for a long flight.
- Long flight comfort essentials
- Long flight entertainment essentials
- Long flight health and wellness essentials
- Packing and organizing for long flights
- How to survive a long-haul flight
Long flight comfort essentials
It may sound obvious, but learning how to prepare for a long flight will feel like time well spent once you’re in the air. Keeping your body comfortable is the best thing you can do to improve your long-haul experience.
Make sure you have everything you need packed in your carry-on rather than checked luggage. Concern yourself with taking the must haves for long flights that maximize your personal comfort first. Then use your remaining carry-on space for anything else you might need during the flight.
On your body
Start with loose-fitting, comfortable clothes. These won’t restrict blood flow or cause discomfort from bloating, a common experience when flying. The only tight garments you wear should be compression socks, which can help improve circulation in your legs, relieving discomfort and swelling. Take your shoes off and swap them for a pair of flip flops or slippers, essential for restroom visits.
Sudden noises can easily ruin your slumber, and planes aren’t renowned for their quiet. At the very least, take earplugs to lessen the din – I find silicon are the most effective. If you can, invest in high-quality noise-canceling headphones to help minimize disruption. They’re typically more effective than earbuds, which can also get uncomfortable worn for long periods.
Improve your sleep potential with an eye mask to block ambient light. Silk is best for your skin. A neck pillow is also great for supporting your head, both while asleep and awake.
Around your body
Unless you’re flying business or above, airplane seats are notoriously cramped and rarely made of luxury materials. So help yourself out and upgrade your surroundings.
I always bring at least one additional travel pillow, usually to cushion an elbow against firm, angular armrests. I also always take a thin blanket that can cushion the other arm if I don’t need it for warmth. Both also double up as handy (and polite!) barriers to your uncomfortably close neighbors, as well as for lumbar support.
I pack pillows even when flying in premium cabins where they may already be provided. There’s no such thing as too much cushioning, so having two of each is even better.
Long flight entertainment essentials
Most airlines offer inflight entertainment for long-haul journeys, including films, TV series, music, and games. Some even provide a few podcasts and audiobooks. While the selections are often large, it’s also worth taking some of your favorite entertainment on your own devices.
I have a couple of saved ‘sleep’ playlists on my phone packed with music I find soothing, which always helps me drop off. Whatever you like to listen to, make sure you’ve downloaded it to your device so you can listen without needing to be online.
Remember to bring chargers for any devices you’ll use. Charged portable battery packs are also handy in case your seat’s power outlet is malfunctioning – or doesn’t exist. Books are a great way to pass the time, but aim for lighter paperbacks or digital copies to reduce your carry-on burden.
Long flight health and wellness essentials
No matter why you’re flying, you’ll want to arrive in the best physical and mental condition you can. These long-haul flight tips for health will help keep you in peak form.
Reduce jet lag on long-haul flights
Most jet lag reduction techniques begin long before a flight, but there are some things you can still do onboard. Proper hydration is key to sleeping on the flight and arriving with as little discomfort as possible. Drink water rather than alcohol or caffeine, both of which are dehydrating sleep disruptors. Similarly, pack healthy low carb, salt and sugar snacks – they won’t bloat you or mess with your sleep.
Long flights often mean traversing time zones, a major jet lag contributor. Start following your destination’s local time as soon as you board. When it’s time to sleep there, it’s time to sleep on your flight, or at least reduce mentally stimulating activity if you can’t sleep.
Light exercise in your seat and short walks will also reduce discomfort and help condition you to the local time.
Don’t skip your skincare
You may not be able to carry out your daily skincare routine while flying, but there are some must haves for long flights to combat that drying cabin air.
Ideally, don’t wear makeup on a long-haul flight. If you must, remove it before sleeping, as you would at home. This is also the time to apply a facial moisturizer. It helps to protect your hands and any other skin exposed to cabin air.
And while it’s not skincare, I never travel without eye drops to soothe dried out eyes. Brushing your teeth will help avoid bad tastes (and breath) when waking, and don’t forget to use a lip balm regularly.
Packing and organizing for long flights
Less is more when it comes to how to pack your carry-on. A small carry-on case can go in the overhead bin, but anything you want easy access to should be in a flexible bag small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. Try not to overstuff it though – remember this is where your feet have to go!
Keep wires and smaller items organized in designated containers rather than jumbled all together. Store food and liquids in sealed plastic bags to prevent spillage, and don’t forget about on-board liquid limits. Create a flying checklist in advance, and try not to add unnecessary things at the last second.
Use this same list when repacking so your return journey is just as comfortable. Try these additional travel packing tips to make the most of your suitcase and save more space for your long flight essentials.
How to survive a long-haul flight
Now that you know all the long flight essentials and how to pack them, it’s time to put these expert tips to use. After you’ve gathered your comfort musts, take a look at these additional tips for long flights that go beyond packing.
And if you’re still worried about getting bored on your journey, try some of these top things to do on long flights to pass the time. KAYAK’s comprehensive flight guide compiles all the information you need for every step of a journey, from research and planning to flying and arriving.
My favorite feature is the Bag Measurement tool, that lets me measure my bags with my phone’s camera, and tells me if they’re size compliant on my airline.
Some of our favorite flight routes
If you’re ready to fly but don’t yet know where you want to go, consider some of these top long-haul routes from the United States. Flights to London are the most common arrivals in all of Europe, but you can also search for flights to Paris or flights to Amsterdam for information on other popular European routes.
