Travelling to the other side of the world is a great adventure. Unfortunately, if you want to get over there in a reasonable amount of time you will need to survive long-haul flights, and I mean really long, with at least one flight being more than ten hours! This is exactly what you will be faced with if you decide to fly from Australia to the UK. Most people book two flights with a stopover in Singapore, Hong Kong, Darwin or Dubai.
For most people, this will be in an economy seat with limited space, irregular toilet breaks and a string of “microwave” plane meals. To survive long-haul flights in these conditions is hard especially for people who have never been more than a few hours on a plane. However, just like everything, there are things you can do to make your trip as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
Here are 19 tips on how you can survive long-haul flights in an economy seat:
1. Book your flights and choose your seat early
The seat you choose can make or break how well you fare on a long flight and I have very specific recommendations. The best seat is an aisle seat in the middle section of seats in the last third of the plane. This seat should be within seven rows from a plane exit door and a reasonable distance away from any toilets.
This seat is the best for a number of reasons:
- An aisle seat trumps a window seat and a middle seat every single time. The window seat is only good for the views during take-off and landing. The rest of the time you are stuck next to a vibrating wall which you can’t sleep on. The middle seat is worse with you stuck in between two people who are usually pushing their elbows into your tiny space.
- An aisle seat in the middle section is the most convenient. You can get up, walk around and go to the toilet anytime without feeling any guilt asking someone to move. It’s also better because if you are asleep nice people can access the other aisle to go to the toilet and avoid waking you. If you sit in an aisle seat on the row of seats next to a window you are 100% going to be woken up by the people sitting next to you if they need to go to the toilet.
- You have a little more space to stretch your legs in the aisle seat. Just watch out for those food trolleys!
- It is the safest. Studies show people sitting in the rear third of the plane have the highest chance of survival in a plane crash. Studies also show being near an exit door is also safer as you can get out more quickly.
- You want to be far enough away from the toilets to avoid smelling any wafts or being woken up by the constantly opening and closing toilet door.
2. Put any hand luggage into the storage above you
Your leg space is premium space and you need it for your legs. Try to get on the plane early so there will be space in the overhead storage lockers for your carry-on baggage.
3. Equalise your ear drums during take off
If you have never been on a plane before, you need to adjust to the pressure changes during take-off. To do this just make a swallowing action or suck on a lolly as you fly upwards and you won’t even notice it.
4. Wear comfortable clothes
You are going to be sitting on a plane for over ten hours. Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothes. There is no prize for looking good just feeling good.
5. Remove your shoes
Trust me. It is just so much more comfortable not wearing shoes.
6. Take a head pillow
You will be sleeping and sitting in a seat for a long time. Neck support is a must! Those U-shaped pillows are great.
7. If the person in front leans the seat all the way down ask them to push it up a bit
I have had this happen to me a few times and frankly these people are either selfish or oblivious. They are well in their right to do this but you are well in your right to ask them to not push it right down. I think people are generally pretty good about this and in every case I have asked they straighten their chair up a bit. However, if they don’t then your only option is to lean your chair down.
8. Start working on the jet lag early
The last thing you want is jet lag when you arrive. Change your watch to your destination’s time when you first get on the plane and then try to stay awake until it is night time at your destination.
9. Take a good eye mask
This is essential to have a good sleep. Some airlines supply eye masks but it’s best to bring a more comfortable one with you.
10. Take ear plugs
Don’t forget ear plugs. They are critical to for sleeping on a plane!
11. Take several face masks
Need we say more.
12. Take extra snacks and a water bottle (bought after you go through customs)
Always take some extras so you can eat and drink any time during the flight. If you walk to the back of the plane sometimes they keep snacks there too.
13. Take your own head phones
The head phones provided on planes have terrible audio and are uncomfortable to wear. Taking your own noise cancelling head phones is just another thing to make your flight experience that little bit better.
14. Stay hydrated
Drink lots of water and avoid drinking alcohol which will dehydrate you. As you have already followed the above advice to sit on an aisle seat, going to the toilet more frequently will not be a hassle and walking more will be better for your legs and your butt!
15. Exercise regularly
Get up regularly and walk down the aisles to the back of the plane. Here, you will find all the clever people doing stretches in the small space near the plane exit door. This is good for your muscles, joints and blood flow. It will also help you prevent deep vein thrombosis.
16. Keep yourself busy
After the third film you are going to get a bit over it. However, instead of getting bored think about it, this is the one time in your life when you will be awake and have no active mobile network. No one can distract you so make the most of it! Take a book to read. Listen to some podcasts (download them before the flight). Do some journal writing. Finish off that project you have been postponing for months. Spend some time planning what you are going to do when you land. Meditate. There’s a lot more you can do than just watch the screen in front of you.
17. Brush your teeth and wash your face in the airport
At some point on long-haul flights you are going to feel like you really need to have a wash. Brushing your teeth and washing your face before the flight and during any stop-overs will make you feel cleaner and better.
18. Have a shower during stop-overs
This really depends on how long you are going to be stopping for but a shower is a great way to freshen up if you can find one. In Hong Kong airport, there are complimentary shower facilities before you exit the customs area which you should take advantage of.
19. Earn points to upgrade your seat
Use a website like Point Hacks to earn frequent flyer points so you can upgrade to premium economy or business.
Just joking! Using the tips above I am sure you can survive long-haul flights. Instead, use those frequent flyer points to get cheaper economy seats so you have more to spend on your holiday!