HOW TO SURVIVE A LONG FLIGHT: 15 TIPS

You need to take a long flight in the next time and don't know how to survive 10+ hours up in the air? Don't worry, we got your back.
Long flights don't have to be something to be dreaded - they can actually be enjoyed! All it needs is a little bit of planning ahead and arming yourself with things that will help to pass the time and make you sleep.
With these 15 tips you'll be disappointed when the flight is over 😁

1. Pack a pillow (and a blanket)
Your pillow is your best friend on long flights. There are tons of different travel pillows on the market - find which one works best for you.
Also, not every airline provides blankets, so you might want to bring your own or at least a cozy sweater.

2. Don't run out of power
Make sure that all devices you will want to use are fully charged and that you have all your chargers with you so that you can keep all your gadgets powered up throughout the flight. Alternatively bring an extra charging device in case your plane doesn't have electrical outlets. Just make sure that the airline allows to bring it on board.

3. Load up your devices
Load up your devices (phone, tablet, computer, e-reader) with games, movies, TV shows, music and books before boarding. You can also download the airline's app just in case that this is the way they stream their entertainment. Even better, if you have to do some work, bring your laptop, you’re stuck in a seat for ages anyway, better to try doing something productive with the time!

4. Wear comfortable clothes
The temperature on the plane is rarely comfortable for everyone. If you are like me, you will be freezing while others complain it's too hot. As you never know, it's best to be prepared. Wear comfortable clothes on a long flight, you'll be sitting for hours so jeans wouldn't be my preferred piece. It's best if you bring some layers in case it's cold: I might be an extreme example but I always bring an extra scarf, sweater and jacket and yes, there have been flights I really needed all this. Pack some cozy socks, too, the feet are always cold.

5. Eye Mask
Don't forget to bring your eye mask - it helps you creating an ideal sleeping environment by blocking out all the light. Most airlines pass them out on long flights but if you want to make sure you have a comfortable one instead of the cheap and scratch ones they offer, bring your own.

6. Sleeping pills
I personally never take them as I don't have so much troubles sleeping and in case of an emergency I want to be fully aware. I know a lot of people that swear on them to get some rest. Ask your doctor for advise.

 7. Get an aisle seat
Yes, I also prefer the window seat for short flights, but I've experienced that it's just so much easier when you have the aisle seat. That way you can stretch your legs and don't have to climb over the people next to you every time you need to go to the toilet or want to take a walk. If you cannot book it online in advance, better show up earlier at the airport and ask for the aisle seat. It's worth it! You can also consult SeatGuru.com or SeatExpert.com for your best options.

8. Bring some snacks and water
Yes, there will be food on the flight, but what if you don’t like it? Or the breaks between meals are too long and you get hungry? It’s just easier to bring some snacks with you that you know you will like. Plus, if you watch your diet strictly, bringing your own food means knowing exactly what's in it.
Even more important - bring some water! There are often hours where you get nothing to drink during your flight. You can either buy it or just fill up your bottle after the security check. I love using foldable bottles as they take no space when they're empty.

9. Bring earplugs
They are essential for a good night's sleep. If you forget yours, chances are that the flight attendant will have an extra pair.

10. Pack anti-bacterial wipes and hand sanitiser
Do you know how filthy an airplane is? Disgustingly. As you cannot onboard a few hours in advance to sanitise the entire plane, you can take your own measures, in the form of hand sanitiser. It's simple – put some on your hands every time you’re about to touch something that will go in your mouth and you should be fine.
With the wipes you wipe down your arms rests, seat belt, seat back tray etc. A somewhat sanitized area will help you relax.

11. Try to sleep to get over different time zones
Depending on where you’re headed, there might be a time zone difference, and there’s nothing quite as bad as reaching a new destination and being completely knackered because of the time difference. The best way to overcome time differences is sleeping on the plane to adjust your biological clock. This is obviously quite hard, sleeping on planes doesn’t come easy to most people, but if you follow some of my previous tips, you might be able to! A thing I always try to do when I know there will be a time difference is that I try to act accordingly to the new zone. So when it's night where I'm flying, I try to sleep and the other way round. This way I never really have to deal with jetlag problems.

12. A lightweight bag for beauty bits
Over the course of a long haul flight, you’ll probably spend way too much time ferreting around in your handbag. Keep your bag contents organised and you’ll find stuff much easier – something that’s especially helpful when you’re hovering in the aisle or searching your bag under your seat. I keep all my travel documents, pen and currency in my travel wallet and I have a separate, lightweight bag for my beauty bits like my essential oil, hair brush, pill pack, lip balm and hand sanitiser. This way, I can easily put my hand bag in the overhead bin and only have my small bag(s) at the seat.

13. Buckle up
If you're planning to sleep, make sure your fastened seat belt is visible over your clothes and blanket. That way, the flight attendants won't have to wake you up when they do their safety checks when the seatbelt sign goes on. So if your seat belt is visible, they won't disturb your sleep.

14. Go for a walk up and down the aisle every now and then
This one is an important one not just to pass some time, but also from a physical point of view. Sitting down for too long isn’t good for the blood circulation in your legs, so getting up every now and then ensures you stay healthy, and it breaks up the flight a bit.

15. Be nice
Last but not least: Be friendly! You're all on this flight together so be pleasant to everyone, from the gate agents to your fellow passengers. Just put on a smile and bring three boxes of chocolate - one for the gate agents, one for the flight attendants and one for yourself! The flight attendants really can make or break your flight and they will be sure to appreciate this simple acknowledgement of their hard work ;)