Getting through long-haul flights

Trip Planning Tips
1

As someone who lives in Australia, a flight shorter than 6 hours isn’t a big deal, but those 30 hour travel days kill me.

Usually, I’ll load up on Netflix, bring a book (I never read them on flights, but I won’t learn), grab a few snacks or just stare into the abyss while disassociating for the last several hours of a long haul flight while listening to a podcast (or silence, depending on how over it I am).

I’m curious to know if there’s anything you do to make these travel days more bearable? :eyes:

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Tips for Sleeping On Planes
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Hi @kate25: here are my tips for long-haul:

  1. Take every bit of sleep you can get:
    1. Don’t drink the alcohol, fill up on water: this helps with sleep
    2. Don’t eat the bread… it’s terrible quality and makes you feel bloated and uncomfortable: this helps with sleep
    3. If you aren’t sleepy, put on a podcast or movie you’ve heard or seen before
  2. Treat it like the brain-break it is and think of it as a mini-holiday on its own. Who doesn’t love a day in ‘bed’ watching movies? I get excited for the flight ahead and the movies I’ll get to watch!
    1. Go through and use the ‘shortlist’ / ‘favourite’ the movies or shows which interest you right at the start of the flight. Cast a wide net - add more than you can possibly watch but are at least interested in… then select which one to watch based on whether you are wide awake or wanting to fall asleep (match the vibe of the movie to the current mood!)
    2. Be conscious of when meals will be served so that you’re not about to fall asleep just as they are about to wake everyone up for food.
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3

Noise cancelling headphones are a must! and get an AirFly, it’s a bluetooth transmitter that you can plug into the headphone jack on the plane and connects to wireless headphones. You can actually focus on what you’re watching which is great.

Also, bring a pillow, neck rest whatever will help you get cozy an extra pillow to put behind your back or on your armrest really helps.

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4

Unlike @Garry …I always go for that free glass of wine :joy: I personally find that it puts me to sleep LOL

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5

Hi @kate25

I travel quite a bit for work, and it did take me a bit of time to find a rhythm.

A few things I always make sure I do are:

  • Spend a bit of extra money to get the window seat
  • A glass of wine or two always helps me fall asleep a bit faster
  • Put a movie on I have watched already so I don’t feel too bad falling asleep to it
  • I do end up reading a lot during my longer flights (but at the same time reading does make me super sleepy)
  • A neck pillow is a must
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6

I’m with @bagelabroad I opt for a drink, a G&T typically. Then spend a good chunk of a flight reading a book on my Kindle, or if I’m ready for a sleep, then put on a movie I have seen a few times so I fall asleep without worrying about missing the movie.

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7

I am with @bagelabroad and @Gee, I enjoy a glass of wine or a whiskey on those long flights!

For the longest non-stop flight I took from Cape Town to New York (16h) I had a sleeping pill to help me sleep most of the flight. When I woke up I was rested and then just made sure I ate and have enough water. I find that trying to fall asleep on my own sometimes never happens because of the excitement and distractions on the plane.

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8

My two cents: I always fly with no make up and bring a face mask - comfy clothes are a must! and fluffly socks. Yep, fluffy socks - they make me feel so snuggly and I fall asleep immediately. Please try it and let me know how it works for you :heart:

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9

Such good advice in here already. My 2 must haves are noise cancelling headphones and a decent neck pillow - the only time I have ever been able to sleep on a plane is with these (and when Ive snagged whole rows to myself!

I personally like an aisle seat so I can get up and wander, then if i get restless sitting down, I get up to do something, really slowly, like brush my teeth, or wash my face, or stretch, or look out a window near the toilets etc and it helps breaks things up a bit (because I struggle sitting down for so long!)

I also learned if I have any chance of sleeping then not to eat the in flight meals before you do, so i usually skip the ‘dinner’ and focus on trying to sleep :slight_smile:

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10

I definitely bring my own comfortable noise canceling headphone for the airplane, bring my own neck pillow (can’t sleep without it on an airplane) and kind of disassociate from the rest of the world. I used to be a window person but those days are gone. I like my comfort so I am an aisle seat kinda guy these days. I like to get up every so often to stretch my legs and get a drink. Keeping hydrated is essential on long haul flights! I would say, when arriving at a connecting airport, depending on the amount of time I have, I would try to get through the essentials, going to the bathroom, brushing teeth, applying deodorant and trying to feel human again.

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11

I was a lot younger when I did long-haul flights and always looked at them as part of the adventure.

Much like a long-distance bus ride in Brazil, or Guangzhou to Beijing by train, I would read about my destination and make notes in between some shut eye.

Free drinks on planes were the norm, in those days. People even smoked. There was no Internet and certainly no Netflix.

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12

Any specific advice for someone who’s done lots of flying but over the last two years developed a very bad case of fear of flying? :sweat_smile:

I used to be absolutely fine on planes - even enjoyed flying. But in 2024 and 2025, I had some very turbulent flights, and I am having a hard time bringing myself to fly again.

Living in Central Europe, this doesn’t pose an issue, as I can whizz around on trains and buses. But I really want to go back to Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea one day :heart: