There is vague wax poetic saying that goes “Its not about the destination, its the journey”. I believe this person has never driven cross country before or had to sit on an international flight that lasted 12 hrs. I assume the person who came up with this quote was trying to emphasize the importance of making progress rather than just focusing on results. However, when it comes to traveling, it is absolutely about the destination because the journey is more or less irritating depending on how you prepare. Long flights in particular are taxing because until you land there is not much you can do but endure. At the time of this post, I have never been on flight lasting longer than 8 hrs. I plan to travel more frequently and internationally one day so I wanted to prepare myself and also share with others. Here are some tips on how I plan to survive my first of many international flights.
1. Wearing Comfy Clothing
When one os preparing for a long flight, you need to consider what kind of clothing you should wear. Something loose fitting made out of breathable material like cottons are the standard. Clothing like a t-shirt dress or a sweat pant set are things I’m considering. Just because its comfy doesn’t mean it can’t be cute, nor do you have to spend an arm and a leg for something you are meant to travel in. There are some cute and affordable options at Walmart and on Amazon.
2. Have Entertainment Ready
The next tip is extremely important. One mistake could ruin your whole flight. Make sure your devices are all charged and you have downloaded all your entertainment. You can always tell when someone has not followed these steps because they are either desperately trying to charge their devices at the limited plugin stations at the airport, their thumbs are frantically moving across their screen to download content before the flight attendants ask you turn off your signal, or they look dejected mid takeoff, as if someone had stole their peace of mind. Take from me as someone who traveled every week for work, have your own charger pack and download your content before you get to the airport.
Sure some air carriers have their own ports to charge you devices and they may often have free movies to play, but that’s not always guaranteed. I think depending on the flight you might have to pay for wifi and access to movies on the flight. Regardless if your flight has these accommodations or not, just have something ready for yourself (mayhems bring a book as well). And for the love of sanity charge your headphones as well.
3. Move Your Body Consistently
For flights longer 4-5 hours, it is recommended that you stretch your legs very 3 hours or so. This is important, because sitting in one spacer a long period time allows the blood in your body to pool downward. And at a high altitude you could put your body at risk for deep vein thrombosis. You want to improve your circulation and also relive some muscle tension for sitting so long. Stand up and walk to the bathroom, walk the plane hall once over, or even just standing up and doing some minor stretches like calf raises, ankle rotations, or leg extensions are all good to do, especially on international flights that are often long. Drinking water and wearing things like compression socks can also be helpful, but nothing beats moving your body.
4. Pack for the Bathroom
I. Hate. Public. Bathrooms. I especially hate public bathrooms 35,000 feet in the air, so this next tip is for me and anyone like me. Pack your self a bathroom kit. Bathrooms are already nasty, but when there is only 2 bathrooms, on either side of the plane, both the size of a closet in Manhattan, NY, that are meant to service between 150 – 700 people depending on the plane size…it can get even more nasty. Something my mother has taught me is to have a kit. Mine consists of a small pack lysol wipes, disposable gloves, sanitary wipes (flushable), Kleenex, disposable toilet covers, and hand sanitizer. You can also add feminine products to your kit if you so happen to be traveling on your period. This may seem to be a bit obsessive, but as I said “I hate public bathrooms”. I’d much rather have this kit than try to hold it or deal with other people’s filth. This is one less thing to irritate me on long flight.
5. Have your medicine
Long flights can also present to you some common ailments. Issues like allergies, headaches, or motion sickness don’t just stop because you are in the air. Make sure to pack the over the counter medications you may need and any prescriptions you may have from your doctor. Some common medicines to pack for long flights are:
– Ibuprofen or acetaminophen for headaches and body aches
-Antacids, Pepto-Bismol, or Imodium for stomach issues
-Dramamine for motion sickness
-Antihistamines like Xyzal, Claratin, or Allegra for allergy issues
You can purchase all these at the airport if you don’t have it already. Make sure to pack these medications in a travel safe container. Its better to be over prepared than under.
As I continue to travel, I’m sure I’ll discover more tips along the way to make traveling easier. The quote I mentioned at the beginning of this post was correct. It is about the journey. So do yourself a favor and make it as easy as possible.