How I Survive Long Haul Flights

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?