While we love to travel to far away lands and explore new cultures, I have to admit that I do get a feeling of dread when I think about the long flight. The thought of being stuck on a compact plane for over 10 hours is certainly the least glamorous part of international travel.

In my lifetime I’ve traveled from California to Greece, England, Ireland, Spain, Japan, India, Mexico, Nigeria, New York, Hawaii, Bahamas, France and Holland. During these long haul travels I learned some tricks and travel hacks to make the air travel more tolerable. If you’re able to arrive at your destination well rested and relaxed then you’re setting yourself up for an awesome trip.

Also, if you’re traveling with an infant I have a whole separate guide to flying with babies in my Family-Friendly Travel section of the blog.

What to Pack on Your Carry-On For a Comfortable Flight

Purple Portable Seat Cushion

On a lengthy flight you’re sitting in the same spot for very long hours and let’s face it, coach chairs aren’t the most comfortable thing to sit on. For long flights I pack my Purple Portable Seat Cushion in my carry-on bag. The interior Purple jelly grid helps to reduce pressure, prevent overheating and keeps you comfortable after hours and hours of use.

This seat cushion folds in half making it easy to pack in a smaller bag and it also has handles so you can grip it with ease. It can also double as a pillow if you’re trying to get into position to sleep on the plane.

Memory Foam Neck Pillow

Paired with my seat cushion I also bring my memory foam neck pillow. I know these things look super cheesy but after several hours of trying to get in a comfortable sleep position you’ll really wish you had one. It truly does help ease the pain when attempting to sleep upright in a chair. If you’re able to get a few hours of sleep on the plane, you can land at your destination well rested and ready for fun. It may also help to get you get a jumpstart on the sleep schedule for the time zone of your destination.

Chapstick

The air inside the aircraft is very dry and will chap your lips fairly quickly. Although chapped lips may seem like a minor thing, after long hours it can become a major irritant. /my favorite lip balm brand I always carry with me is Fresh Lip Sugar.

Noise Canceling Headphones

Have you ever tried listening to a movie or music on a plane but all you could hear was the background noise from the aircraft? And then you dramatically increase the volume on your device and after an hour it gives you a headache? Yup, I’ve been there. The remedy to this situation is high quality noise canceling headphones. If you travel often then these are totally worth the investment.

Come Prepared with Your Own Entertainment

Most airlines nowadays have a selection of movies and shows you can watch for free on the plane. These are definitely useful to burn some hours onboard, but they may not be enough to get you through over a very long flight haul.

I always come prepared with extra downloaded podcasts and music that I’ve saved up specifically for the trip. If you’re traveling with family or friends, bring along some travel-sized old school games such as playing cards. This extra source of entertainment will also come in handy while you’re waiting in the airport and if you have a layover.

Bring Your Own Snacks

While it’s true that most airlines serve food on flights over 6 hours, I always recommend having backup snacks ready. You may have to wait a long time before you can eat, or you may be terribly disappointed with the food options available.

If you’re traveling to a new international destination, it’s probably best to be prepared with snacks in case you come across any issues with converting currency or credit cards not working. Just be aware that in some places you can’t enter the state or country with fresh produce.

My go-to healthy snacks for travel are nuts and seeds, nut butter packets, whole wheat and high fiber crackers, protein powder and my shaker, and water. I avoid snacks that are high in sodium to avoid bloating and retaining water. I also avoid very sugary snacks because they will make me feel yucky by the time I get off the plane.

Extra Power Banks for Your Devices

When you’re waiting in the airport make sure all your devices are being fully charged so you can actually use them on the plane. I also recommend bringing a couple fully-charged power banks for your phone and laptop to extend their power life. These days some airlines now have chargers at the seat. When we booked our Alaska Airlines flights to Hawaii through Booking.com, we got an upgraded plane with power outlets at each seat.

Sleeping Mask

As I mentioned before, getting sleep on the plane is your best bet to arrive at your destination feeling refreshed. While attempting to catch some shuteye, there may be lights on around you that can prevent you from getting quality sleep. Having a sleep mask handy in your bag is an easy way to block out the bright lights and put your body into sleep mode.

Travel Sized Toiletries

After long hours of flying I often feel like the skin on my face gets covered in a greasy film and my mouth needs some refreshing. In my carry-on you’ll find face wipes, hydrating face misting spray, moisturizer, deodorant and a toothbrush/toothpaste.

About an hour before landing I will sneak into the tiny restroom and conduct a mini skin care routine to try and freshen up. If there’s not an opportunity to do this onboard the plane then I’ll find an airport bathroom in between flights. This is especially crucial if you plan on doing some sightseeing before you head to your hotel.

Tips for Booking Your Flight

Selecting Your Seats When Booking Your Flight

When you’re online and in the process of booking your flight, be proactive about selecting your seat. Some people prefer the window seat while others gravitate towards the aisle (almost nobody wants the middle seat). I personally prefer a window seat because I can lean up against the wall to sleep. If you’re booking a flight last minute then your seat options may be limited, but if you plan ahead enough then you can hopefully book your preferred spot.

One travel hack is that sometimes you can find rows of empty seats on the back of the plane. It could be worth it to be at the back if you get to lay down and sleep for a while. Your travel seat cushion comes in handy to lay on the uncomfortable in-between portion of the seats.

Always Try to Book Non-Stop Flights

There’s few things that’s more of a drag than having to get back on another plane after already suffering through a long flight. Especially if you had to wait a few hours in the airport between flights. You want to spend your precious vacation time laying on a beach, not dealing with long and draining travel days.

To avoid this issue I recommend booking non-stop flights when possible. It’s not worth saving a few bucks to book layer over flights, trust me. But in some circumstances it’s unavoidable when traveling internationally.

What to Wear for Long Flights

Dress Comfortably for a Long Flight

To say you should wear comfortable clothes on a plane seems like an obvious statement, but there are some specifics you should be aware of. You don’t want to dress too comfortable i.e. like a slob. You want to find a balance of comfort and style because you won’t feel very confident getting off the plane in a foreign country in your pajamas.

When flying I always avoid clothing that is tight around the waist (or tight anywhere else). My body tends to swell a bit when sitting on a plane for long hours and even a tiny bit of tension will start to get uncomfortable within a couple hours.

My go-to air travel outfit is a long tunic top, a nice pair of leggings, a cardigan and either sandals or boots depending on the weather in my destination city. I might also opt to wear a comfortable midi length dress. Try to wear natural fibers such as cotton, rayon and linen fabrics. Synthetics such as polyester and acrylic will make you feel stuffy and sticky because they don’t breathe like natural fibers.

The temperature on a plane can be very unpredictable so I wear layers in case I get hot or cold. I remember on my flight to Germany (on the way to Nigeria) I was absolutely freezing cold and I couldn’t get comfortable to sleep. I’ve also had hot and muggy plane rides where I needed to shed a layer to avoid overheating. Also, if you’re wearing sandals then pack a pair of socks in your bag so your feet are comfy.

Travel Hack - If you’re going to a cold winter destination, a poncho, jacket or oversized scarf can double as a blanket on the plane. That way you can pack light and don’t have to carry a blanket around with you.

Keep Your Hair, Makeup & Jewelry Simple

If you have a full face of makeup when you board the plane, you may have half your makeup smudged all over the place by the time you get off. For myself, wearing makeup for long hours makes my eyes irritated and my skin breakout. My recommendation is to skip the makeup until you get to your hotel where you can properly wash your face.

Another beauty tip - avoid tight and bulky hairstyles. You don’t want to sit with your head in an awkward position for long hours because you’ve got a big bun in the back of your head. Also, tight hairstyles and headbands can give you a headache. A loose braid or easy to adjust ponytail does the trick for me.

I also don’t like bulky and heavy jewelry when I’m on the plane. On travel days I wear my dainty solid gold earrings and necklaces so that my skin doesn’t get irritated (I have metal allergies). By all means, pack your bold and fun statement jewelry in your bag and wear it while on vacation, just don’t wear it onboard the plane.

On-Board the Flight Tips

Avoid Alcoholic Drinks on the Flight

You may think that because you’ll just be sitting for hours with nothing to do… might as well have a couple boozy cocktails to pass the time. Some people will even argue that having a few drinks will help you sleep on the plane.

Let me tell you why this is a bad idea: When you’re on a plane at high altitudes with low oxygen levels from cabin pressure, your body will metabolize the alcohol faster than normal. Meaning that the effects of the alcohol will hit you much harder and faster, and ultimately making your hangover worse than expected.

The last thing you want is to land at your destination feeling like crap because of a couple overpriced drinks. Save the booze for your vacation happy hours.

Drink Plenty of Water

I told you what not to drink, and now here’s what you should be drinking. Water! Lot’s and lot’s of water! I know water seems really boring compared to all the other drink options in that little cart they push around, but your body needs to stay hydrated. It’s very easy to get dehydrated while on a plane with all the dry air inside the cabin. Your best bet to land at your destination feeling refreshed is lots of water and sleep.

Get Up and Move While on the Plane

I know it can be awkward to ask people to get up so you can exit your seat on a plane, but sometimes it’s got to be done. If you’re drinking your water consistently throughout your flight then you should be using the restroom regularly as well. Your body needs movement to avoid swelling, muscle aches and even blood clots.

Don’t Watch the Clock

We’ve talked about what you should pack and how to prepare for long flights, but now’s the time to just sit back and relax. Avoid obsessing over the hours left on your flight and try to get lost in your activities. I know time seems to move at a glacial pace while onboard a flight, but distraction is the only way to get through it.

Buyer Beware with the Onboard Wifi

Some airlines offer wifi for purchase onboard the flight. I have tried this a few times so I could work on the plane and almost every time I was terribly disappointed with the service. In most cases the wifi was so slow that I couldn’t really get any pages to load, and in other cases the wifi didn’t work at all. I also didn’t get any reimbursement from the airline, very annoying. I know the idea of being productive with internet on the plane sounds great but buyer beware!