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A Hawaii Lifestyle Blog + Travel Blog By Kait Hanson

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How I Survive Long Haul Flights

Around the World, Travel, USA · April 25, 2018 · Leave a Comment

It’s no secret to anyone who has been around here for awhile but – I love to travel. Thankfully, Dane really loves it, too, or else I’d be spending a lot of time traveling solo. I think it’s one of those things that the more you do it – the more you want to do it. Is traveling a drug?! I digress…The more I travel, the more I learn about myself in the process. I’ve shared before my carry-on bag essentials, but today I wanted to break down how I survive long haul flights. Living in Hawaii doesn’t make it easy to go places and honestly we look at California or Seattle like “oh man, only 6 hours?!” It seems like that is a drop in the bucket compared to the 16 it normally takes us to get back to the East Coast, the 20 to Thailand, 30+ to Bali and the 20 we are flying today to Italy. That’s a really freaking long time to be on a plane if you aren’t someone who is used to it (i.e. a pilot, flight attendant, etc.). Today I’m sharing how I get through it…and no that doesn’t mean always flying first class (although that would be truly delightful). If this is something you are interested in learning more about, I hope you’ll stick around 🙂

How I Survive Long Haul Flights - Flying Tips - Travel Tips - Long Flight Hacks - Travel Ideas - Communikait by Kait Hanson

How I Survive Long Haul Flights

1. Water. WATER, WATER AND MORE WATER. I have known for awhile that water is important while flying, but it was never so apparent to me than when our plane simply didn’t have on a connector out of Las Vegas back to Honolulu. It was a red-eye and they had run out mid-flight – not fun! We landed and I was so parched I felt like I was going to be sick…and that was only 5ish hours! When you’re spending a ton of time in the air, it’s so important to hydrate. Not only is this crucial for your body, but it’s necessary for your skin, too! I fill up my Hydroflask before getting on the plane and will usually have it refilled mid-flight. On flights longer than 10 hours, I’ll usually have it filled two or three times, often offering to pay since I realize it’s not the most convenient task for the flight crew.

How I Survive Long Haul Flights - Flying Tips - Travel Tips - Long Flight Hacks - Travel Ideas - Communikait by Kait Hanson

2. Cards. This one seems odd, but there are only so many naps I can take, books I can ready and, movies/television shows I can watch before I need something that stimulates my brain in a different way. I have loved playing cards for as long as I can remember (my parents and grandparents taught me young) and it stuck. Dane wasn’t a huge cards player when we first met, but I righted that ship and now he happily plays with me on trips and when we visit my family.

How I Survive Long Haul Flights - Flying Tips - Travel Tips - Long Flight Hacks - Travel Ideas - Communikait by Kait Hanson

3. Noise Canceling Headphones. I never understood how crucial these headphones could be until our flight home from Taiwan last year. For the duration of the flight, someone was watching a movie with the noise cranked all the way to the top. Surprisingly, no one said a word and it was all I could hear, even over the sounds of the engine, cabin, etc. I knew I would never get on another transcontinental flight without something other than my standard headphones that came with my phone. Currently I have the Bose QuietComfort 35 II and honestly – WHAT WAS I DOING BEFORE THIS? I wear them on planes, at my desk, at the gym – they’re glorious. 10/10 recommend and I’ll be picking Dane up a pair for the next gift-giving event.

How I Survive Long Haul Flights - Flying Tips - Travel Tips - Long Flight Hacks - Travel Ideas - Communikait by Kait Hanson

4. Getting up to walk. I cannot stress enough how important/smart it is to get up and stretch out those arms and legs. Of course, do this when it’s safe to do so, but nevertheless – get moving! It’s good to do this to avoid cramping and keep your circulation moving.

5. Wear clothes that are comfortable. I know what they say about people who look like slobs when they travel, but you don’t have to look sloppy to be comfortable. Thankfully, athleisure wear has come a long way! I typically wear these pants with a tank top and my favorite chambray top. I’ll pair it with sandals or slip-on sneakers (my go-to pair) and DONE! I am also sure to pack a pashmina in my bag so I can wear that if I get cold. I also typically throw in a change of clothes, so I can quickly change when we land.

How I Survive Long Haul Flights - Flying Tips - Travel Tips - Long Flight Hacks - Travel Ideas - Communikait by Kait Hanson

And maybe the most important tip of them all – try to relax. For some people, this may seem or be impossible. Take a deep breath, maybe sleep a couple hours, get lost in a book or magazine, watch a movie or television show, walk a few laps, stretch, drink your water, don’t over-do it on the in-flight cocktails and get excited for your trip! What are some tips you swear by for surviving long haul flights? Or maybe just flights in general?

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Kait Hanson, author of Communikait, a travel blog & Hawaiian lifestyle blog
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I'm Kait, the creative behind Communikait, a travel blog & Hawaiian lifestyle blog packed with loads of color and designed to inspire you to live your very best life. Whether you've come for recipes, travel ideas, photos of Hawaii or to simply say hello - I'm glad you're here!

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