Whether you’re travelling for business or for leisure, long haul travel can be an uncomfortable experience if you don’t have the luxury of flying business class. With this in mind we compiled a list of tips to help you get through your next long haul flight and make sure that you’re raring to go once you land at your destination.
First things first, before you jet off it’s important to plan ahead. Here’s a few things to consider…
Think strategically when you pick your seat
When possible it is important to do a bit of forward planning and make sure that you pick a good seat for your long haul flight. If you want more leg room go for the exit rows or if you like about to move about the plane more freely then ensure that you get an aisle seat.
Have an eye mask at the ready
Sleeping masks are great for blocking out the surrounding light and helping you to get some essential shut eye during your long haul flight. It’s worth investing in a good quality mask that has built in concave eye cavities as this means that your eyes will be unobstructed during the REM stage of your sleep cycle, so you will have a deeper, more satisfying sleep that leaves you feeling refreshed.
Wear comfortable clothes and layer up
Save that little black dress or tight fitting suit until you land and make sure to wear loose, comfy clothes and shoes to catch the plane. Also, the ideal room temperature varies from person to person and the cabin temperature will fluctuate during your flight. One minute you might be sweating and the next you could find yourself shivering so layers are key, allowing you to adjust your temperature to ensure maximum comfort. Pack for all eventualities and make sure to throw in some comfy socks to keep you warm and snug.
When it comes to food…
Choose carefully what you eat
To stop you feeling bloated during your journey go for the lighter in flight meals with less sodium, sugar and fewer calories such as the chicken or fish options rather than pasta. If you’re carrying your own food try to avoid processed, sugary and fried foods and white bread as they can make you feel tired and unsettled, not ideal during such a long flight. Also, before catching the plane avoid fizzy drinks and gas-producing foods like onion, garlic, potato, broccoli, beans and dairy foods.
And pack snacks
Avoid forking out for snacks on the plane and and stock up on them in advance so you have more money to spend on your trip. Go for snacks that are rich in protein such as almonds, cheese and crackers or yoghurt. Snacks are also great to keep you going between in flight meals as you may be eating at times that you’re not used to normally.
And when it comes to drink…
Stay hydrated
The air in the cabin can often be very dry so its easy to become dehydrated. If you can’t bring a bottle of water on board due to safety restrictions at least bring an empty bottle in your hand luggage for the cabin crew to fill up. Make sure to drink lots of water (slowly and regularly) throughout the flight and avoid excessive caffeine or alcohol. Decaffeinated green tea is a good substitute for regular tea or coffee as it has been said to stave off the onset of jet lag. The rest of your body may become dehydrated too during the journey so bring a little tub of moisturizer to apply whenever you need and if you’re prone to dry eyes don’t forget to bring some eye drops.
To keep yourself entertained…
Charge up your electronics and bring an extra power pack
If you love your technology like we do, you won’t be able to last a whole flight without playing your favourite virtual games. Make sure that your phone, Kindle, iPad etc are all fully charged up before you leave and bring an extra power pack so you have some extra juice to power you up again if you do run out of battery.
Do some in-flight exercises
Sitting still for a prolonged period of time can become uncomfortable and lead to your muscles becoming stiff however you can avoid this with some simple exercises. This page from Virgin Atlantic offers some great ideas of different in-flight exercises with exciting names such as “the inquirer” to keep you moving throughout the flight and to minimise the risk of clotting disorders like DVT.
If you have any other useful tips to add to this list feel free to tweet us them at @ferrovial or just leave us a comment below. Also, if you’re flying through a Ferrovial Airport on your next adventure be sure to share a photo of your journey with us.
Enjoyed this post?
Read our posts on Things you don’t do when you travel but should and how to prepare a good travel first aid kit by the Head of Occupational Health and Safety at Ferrovial Jesús Antonio González Gil.
Also, if you’re flying through one of Ferrovial’s airports portfolio on your next adventure be sure to share a photo of your journey with us.
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