The Best Way To Prepare For A Long Haul Flight

Long-haul flights can suck up all your energy, and it’s hard not to feel exhausted and a bit unwell when you land. This is especially true if your route isn’t direct and your trip itinerary involves one or more layovers, which can be tiring even if you know how to plan your layover the smart way.

I have a few tips to help you stay healthy while you fly. Here is my checklist to help you prepare for and survive a long-haul flight.

How to stay hydrated on long-haul flights

Flying at high altitudes implies breathing pressured air in the cabin for long hours, which inevitably changes blood oxygen levels and can lead to fatigue, headaches, and dizziness. Sitting on a plane is not like sitting on a sofa in your home. That’s why the first rule and best practice to follow on a long flight is skipping the free in-flight alcoholic drinks.

To maintain a good level of hydration during the flight, you can do all of the following:

• Drink fresh, natural water

  I know plain water is dull and challenging to drink; a good option is herbal teas or thoughtful integration with minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These are essential micronutrients that keep the body alkaline when we fly. You can purchase long-haul flight supplements that contain the necessary nutrients at the airport or bring your package from home. Alternatively, 1-2 electrolyte drinks would do.

• Give your skin a drink

  Use face moisturiser, hand cream, and lip balm several times to prevent your skin from drying out. Also, don’t forget to take good care of your mouth and nose to avoid oral bacterial infections. Many people get colds, flu, and bugs from flying, so it is vital to keep your immune system healthy.

• Keep good mouth hygiene

  By brushing your teeth a few times during your flight. We all hate that furry teeth feeling, so cleaning your teeth a few times during the big trip is wise.

  The Philips electric toothbrushes will come in handy on really long flights. Even chewing sugarless gum or sucking on xylitol mints will help keep your mouth fresh and bacteria-free.

• Hydrate your nose with a nasal spray

  Get an excellent nasal spray at the airport. Saline or seawater nasal sprays are the best for flying because they also clean your nose from dust, dirt, and bacteria.

• Don’t forget eye-drops when you fly

  Nothing is worse than dry, red eyes when sitting on a plane for long hours. Good eyedrops are among the first things I pack into my cabin bag. You can get eyedrops at the airport in small bottles or individually wrapped.

What food to eat on a plane

There are many theories about what to eat on a long flight and which foods to avoid. In my many years of travelling, I have tried absolutely everything. Food on planes is notoriously not the healthiest, so eating no food at all would probably be the best way to adjust to time zone crossing. However, it is also quite a difficult thing to do for many.

Nonetheless, there are many ways to prepare for time zone transitions. When it comes to food, here are my best tips:

• Take light meals on the plane and for the day before the long flight

  The day before flying and on the aircraft, only eat light food. When I fly, I stick to fruit and veggie platters, but I recommend eating healthy smart bars that keep you full and light when I get hungry.

• Avoid meat and fish

  If you can avoid animal proteins and dairy products, that’s the best. They only add to the extra workload on your stomach and body as you adjust to the time zone transition.

• Pack your food

  The food quality on planes is notoriously bad, so the best thing to do is pack your essential foods—light snacks, fruit bars, teas, etc.

The importance of sleep on a long-haul flight

Sleeping on the plane is essential because it helps you combat jet lag. The longer you manage to sleep in the cabin, the shorter you will suffer jet lag. Even 1 or 2 hours’ sleep will naturally help your internal body clock adjust to the new time zone.

A long-haul flight means crossing several time zones; the more time zones, the longer it takes to recover from jet lag. Moreover, you may have heard the saying, “East is a beast, West is best” This is true when you fly east. It takes much longer to recover than when you travel west.

Tips for Sleep Comfort on The Plane

Here are my best tips on improving sleep comfort on the plane, which will prevent you from feeling jet-lagged in a few days.

1. Bring a travel pillow

   It can help you fall asleep and stay asleep longer. Good flight pillows are usually bulky and expensive, and I don’t take one because I love minimalist packing. However, the benefits outweigh the downsides, and it is worth purchasing one. At airport shops, there is a vast choice for all budgets.

2. Pack a sleep mask

   It can be a lifesaver when flying long-haul, mainly if it isn’t through the night. On short-haul flights, it can also be great for having a quick nap. I have tried many, and Tempur is my favourite travel sleep mask.

3. Stretch your legs and move around in the cabin

   Sitting in a narrow space for a few hours can increase the risk of developing blood clots in your legs. Because of the lower blood oxygen level in flight, blood cannot circulate properly, causing dizziness and leading to DVT (deep vein thrombosis). So, circling your wrists and ankles to boost the blood flow, pulling your right knee up towards your chest, switching legs, and moving your shoulders up and down to release tension in your neck are excellent and simple aeroplane exercises on long flights.

4. Wear the right plane outfit

   Loose clothes and pulling on some flight socks will help enhance your comfort, prevent ankle swelling, and make you feel warm and comfy when falling asleep.

The above tips are great for preparing your body for a long flight. On the days following the trip, make sure to continue with good self-care.

This post will help you choose what to wear for your long-haul flight.

Walk in parks, expose yourself to daylight, fill your lungs with fresh air, and, most importantly, eat freshly cooked food with plenty of vitamins and essential nutrients to boost your immune system.

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What to wear on a long haul flight

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