How to Prepare for a Long-Haul Flight

Even a five-hour cross-country journey can be a chore these days, thanks to modern coach seating arrangements, limited food offerings (many of which are no longer free), and ever fuller airplanes. So, an eight-hour transatlantic journey can be downright brutal, to say nothing of the 10-14 hours it takes to cross the Pacific. Thankfully, there are things that you can do to make life easier on yourself. Here are some tips for preparing for your next long-haul flight:

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Choose Your Airline Wisely

All airlines are not created equal. Food, entertainment, comfort… all of these basic conveniences differ from airline to airline. Choosing your airline wisely can greatly improve your travel experience. But perhaps most simply, it starts with your seat. Use an app like SeatGuru, by TripAdvisor, to find the best seats. Perhaps you like aisle seats or prefer the emergency exit row. SeatGuru can help ensure you get the seat you want.

Choose Your Travel Clothing Wisely

No, that does not mean that you should travel in your pajamas! But you may want to consider wearing layers, and choose articles of clothing that fit a bit more loosely (again, skip the sweatpants though). Temperature on an airplane can be a finicky thing, so layers help you stay comfortable, while looser-fitting clothing makes it easier to catch a couple of hours of sleep (and avoid the risk of DVT).

Trick Out Your Tablet

Any airplane built in the last 10 years or so typically has some sort of display built into the seat-back. But there’s no saying what the selection will be like, nor whether it will be free or not. If you have a tablet, like the new iPad Pro, load it up with movies, TV shows, games, and music. T-Mobile offers an “unlimited” data plan for tablets that enables individuals to use their device in more than 140 countries free of charge—perfect for travelers. Not only will you be able to use it on the plane, but you might be able to use it at your destination as well.

Check for Free Upgrades

It never hurts to ask the individual behind the counter for an upgrade. While you’re unlikely to get upgrades for nothing, that doesn’t mean they aren’t available. Dress nicely, be polite, and make a human connection, and you might just get lucky! However, the more likely way to a free upgrade is by offering something in return for it. Has a family of five been separated because of a booking error? Is the flight overbooked and in need of volunteers to sit the flight out? Offer up your seat and the odds are good that the airline will reward you for it.

Bring Your Own Pillow

Airplane pillows tend to be… well, horrible. If you want any chance of catching a couple of hours of solid sleep, you may want to consider bringing your own travel pillow. The choices are many, of course. There’s the common horseshoe-shaped neck pillow. The bizarre, but by all accounts brilliant Ostrich pillow. The innovative WOOLLIP frontal pillow. And the infinitely adjustable, aptly named Infinity pillow. Choose the one that works for you and get some shuteye!

Charge Your Devices

Airports tend to have ample charging stations these days, but it’s always a good idea to arrive at the airport with your devices fully charged and ready to go. So plug in those tablets, smartphones, and laptops the night before your trip and fly confidently, knowing that your device will make it all the way to the other side. And for those jet setters heading overseas, don’t forget your power converters for when you arrive! There’s nothing worse than getting to your hotel room and realizing you’ve forgotten it.

Long-Haul Flights Don’t Have to Be Miserable

Nobody likes being on an airplane for 10 hours, but there are steps you can take to make the journey more tolerable. Come prepared with entertainment and comforts in hand, and you might just find that the flight goes by in a flash. And remember, 10 hours on an airplane is much better than two months on a boat! All-in-all, sitting on a chair in the sky isn’t the worst way to travel.