8 Tips for Long Flights

Dear traveler,

I know that for some people, flying is overwhelming. From dealing with airport security to literally hurtling through the sky in a giant metal tube, the process of air travel can be a lot.

So, here are some tips about long international flights for you.

Tip 1 - Bring a Reusable Water Bottle

Water is expensive in airports. Sometimes $7 a bottle kind of expensive. No, thanks.

Instead, bring a reusable water bottle in your carry-on. Personally, it’s ice cold water or nothing for me, so I would also suggest an insulated water bottle.

Most airports have water fountains with bottle re-fill stations built into them, so you can take an empty reusable bottle through security and fill it up once you’re through.

Bonus, if you want ice water (me), many cafes and establishments will give you ice water for free.

Tip 2 - Stay Hydrated

Airplane cabins are pretty dry. From the air conditioners to stabilizing the cabin pressure, the dryness in the cabin can be uncomfortable. Staying hydrated can help alleviate that discomfort.

I know that some might worry about frequent bathroom trips, but staying hydrated doesn’t mean you need to drink cups of water at a time. Just a few sips here or there if you happen to be awake during the flight will help a lot!

Tip 3 - Try to Sleep (Pillow, Eye Mask, Ear plugs, and Melatonin)

Sleeping is great for longer flights. You get a 2-for-1 by de-stressing from travel with a nap while snoozing away most of your tedious flight time. If you time it right, sleeping can even help with jet lag.

However, we all know that sleeping on a plane is easier said than done. So, here are a few things to help you sleep.

A travel pillow that works for you. It makes sleeping in your seat so much more comfortable, and you don’t spend time fighting your (sometimes nonexistent) adjustable headrest.

An eye mask to block out any distracting light. Sunlight. Overhead light. Your neighbor’s phone on full brightness light. All of it.

Ear plugs, or some noise canceling headphones. Crying babies will no longer be your problem.

Melatonin, or Benadryl. I swear by melatonin to reach the dreamlands.

Tip 4 - Set Your Clocks

If your destination has a large time difference with where you’re coming from, then timing when you sleep can also help with jet lag. Just set your devices to the timezone of your destination. Or the very least, add the timezone to your global clock in your clock app.

It’s a pain to figure out time differences, especially if you’re crossing the international date line. But if you’ve already set your clocks, then you know what time it is at your destination and can make adjustments to alleviate jet lag.

As an example, if I leave out of San Francisco at 9:00 and will land in London at 8:00, I’ll try to sleep at around 22:00 London time.

Tip 5 - Download Content

Long flights are perfect for binging all the shows you’ve been adding to your watch list or read those books that you’ve been meaning to. Just make sure that they’ve been downloaded to your device of choice. Go ahead and rewatch the entire Lord of the Rings extended trilogy, or re-read the

Tip 6 - Portable Charger/Charging Cords

Usually, for longer international flights (not so much the domestic ones), the plane seats will have built in USB ports and/or outlets that you can use to charge your devices. So remember take along your charging cords in your carry on!

Or, in the off chance that your seat doesn’t have a USB port, a portable charger is always a good back up to bring abroad with you.

Tip 7 - Have Your Information and Bring a Pen

Crossing international borders requires filling out paperwork (e.g. a customs form) on the plane before you unload into the terminal. Some information that you might want to have at hand to fill out these documents are:

Length of Stay, Accommodation Address, Contact Information, Passport Number, Entry Flight Number

There might be slight differences across customs forms depending on your destination, but the above are a good baseline to have readily accessible based on the US customs form. Also, some countries—especially after Covid—have apps or online sites where you can fill out your forms prior to your flight, so be sure to research your destinations to see if those options are available.

To fill out your information, also make sure to carry a pen with you. While your flight attendants might have some on board for you to borrow, it’s better to be safe rather than sorry.

Tip 7 - Compression Socks

It’s not 100% necessary, but it is helpful if you’re prone to swelling!

I don’t typically wear my compression socks for the entirety of my flights, because that’s what’s most comfortable for me. I suggest the same to you, do what’s most comfortable to you and try to test out your compression socks prior to your flight.

Tip 8 - Snacks

Airplane food tastes different, and sometimes you don’t particularly like what your flight is serving. I’m your local picky eater, so one of my flight priorities is to pack snacks that I know I like.

My snack suggestions are: rice balls (musubi, kimbap, whatever floats your boat), trail mix, vitamin gummies, and protein bars.

Hoping you a safe flight and fair travels

Sincerely,

Kon