Some links may be affiliated. This means I may earn a small commission from purchases made at no extra cost to you!
You want to book that once in a lifetime trip to Tokyo but you’re wondering how to survive long haul flights. Don’t worry, I’ve been there before many, many times. My first long haul flight was Honolulu Hawaii to Atlanta at a whopping 10 hours.
I was totally unprepared at the time and suffered greatly. However, now after visiting 20 countries on 4 continents, I’ve mastered surviving long haul flights. Traveling is amazing and opens your world of opportunity. But travel doesn’t come without flying. Let’s dive into my top tips for how to survive long haul flights.
Pack Snacks/Meals- How to Survive Long Haul Flights
Airplane is far from good unless you’re in first class. I always make sure to bring some snacks like chips, packed granola bars, or fresh fruit. For the extra long flights, I love to bring dry sandwiches and meals. A hack is to bring a ramen cup and ask for hot water. It cooks quickly and fills up your belly!
Pillows and Blankets are a Must
Not every long haul airline provides proper comfort (cough cough Norse). Because of this, I prefer to bring a quality neck pillow and travel blanket.
It’s best to bring what’s comfortable to you and pack accordingly. Neck pillows are always great and a thin foldable blanket does wonders for cold flights.
Bring Books! – How to Survive Long Haul Flights
I’m a huge book reader. Romance, fantasy, non-fiction, self help, you name it! If you’re an avid book reader like me, it will be a huge suggestion to bring along one of your favorite books.
Long haul flights can start to get to you mentally so if you have a juicy book to dive into, the hours will eventually peel away without you noticing. If you don’t like traveling with heavy books, consider investing in a kindle to download your favorites on.
Download TV Shows & Entertainment
While I appreciate their selection, airlines don’t typically have the best entertainment. To keep my sanity for the up coming hours, I like to dowload my own shows.
Using your mobile phone, Netflix allows consumers to download TV shows & movies. This is completely free of charge and able to watch without wifi! The same also goes for youtube so if there’s a show you want to binge, better to prepare.
Connect to the Airline Wifi- How to Survive Long Haul Flights
Some airlines have in flight wifi to connect to and message loved ones through whatsapp. This does not apply to all airlines but carriers like Delta and Qatar typically offer this service. It tends to be free and allow basic services to make you feel connected to the outside world. Just be sure to connect before taking off.
Wear Comfortable Clothes
There’s no need to wear a tuxedo or prom dress to the airport. Dress comfortably and bring a sweatshirt. Airports/airplanes are always freezing cold!
Noise Cancelling Headphones and Earplugs- How to Survive Long Haul Flights
You’ll regret not bringing them when that screaming baby goes off for 2 hours. I love over the ear headphones as they tend to be the best at noise canceling. So whether its to play some calming sleep music or a podcast, headphones are a nust to survive long haul flights.
Bring an Eye Mask
Eye masks are my best friend when it comes to traveling. A good quality mask can block out any and all light no matter the time of day. So if you’re a light/sensitive sleeper, this will be a good investment.
Bring Portable Chargers- How to Survive Long Haul Flights
Not only will you want to bring loaded portable chargers, but also fully charged devices. Most upscale airlines like Ethiopian and Emirates surely in flight have charging stations.
However some other airlines or older planes may not have the same luxury. It’s best to prepare for whatever is to come and always have a charged device while traveling.
Pack a Toiletry Bag
Going 14 hours without fresh breathe is a huge no-no for me. I always pack a small toiletry bag on long haul flights. This will typically have small tooth paste, tooth brush, deodorant, and perfume.
This is just so I can freshen up on any layover or hour 6 of a 14 hour flight. Also, if you have access to a lounge before of after a flight, its a great idea to bring a wash cloth and thin microfiber towl.
Get Work Done- How to Survive Long Haul Flights
If you’re like me and work online, find creative ways to get some work done while flying. Of course, there won’t be internet access. But find creative ways to do work offline and save digitally it for when you regain wifi access.
Some great examples include editing videos, typing a blog article, or catching up on emails. You never know just how long these flights are until you wish you’d prepared better!
Put in Flight Meal Preferences
If you’re vegan, lactose intolerant, muslim, or have dietary restrictions you’ll want to listen up. There are typically only meat & vegetarian options inflight. The vegetarian option almost always has a form of dairy (cheese, milk, etc), so it’s not vegan friendly. There are muslim options with no pork, and some airlines even offer fully raw vegan!
Most airlines with free inflight meals allow for a preference. This needs to be done at least 24 hours in advance to be saved. Anything after won’t qualify and you’ll be left hungry. Be sure to prepare, especially if you’re vegan like me!
Be sure to get a good seat- How to Survive Long Haul Flights
No one wants the middle seat for 8+ hours, let’s just be honest. When embarking on long haul flights, its best to choose an assigned seat. If this option isn’t available, I highly suggest spending the money and paying for a seat.
Bring Wet Wipes
Air hostesses don’t typically get the time to do a full wipe down of every single seat or tray. I always bring wet wipes with me whenever traveling as extra hygiene precautions.
Plus, they double as great hand wipes when you can’t quite get to the bathroom and need clean hands.
Bring an extra pair of clothes- How to Survive Long Haul Flights
When I was traveling from Tanzania to South Africa, there was turbulence and the complementary juice spilled all over my pants. Thankfully I had an extra pair of pants in my carry on and I was good to go.
To save yourself from wet pants (and embarrassment), pack an extra pair of clothes. They’re also great for changing into after sweating or having an outfit on for a whole day. You never know when they’ll come in handy.
Did you enjoy this article? Sharing is caring! Be sure to share this with family and friends and save to your Pinterest board for later!