How To Survive A Long Plane Ride

“I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Long flights aren’t pretty.  I start thinking about the amount of fidgeting I will be doing. i imagine a kid kicking my seat or a screaming baby for 15 hours straight. I think about the inflight meal and what the bathroom will start to look like half way through. I picture the bad movies and tv sitcom reruns i will be watching to pass the time.

The first hour of the flight is pretty manageable. Then it starts to dawn on me that I am stuck in an aluminum can for an interminable amount of time. Sometimes it helps to make a schedule and break the flight up into time chunks. Two hours to do work, three hours to watch movies, an hour to blog, etc. This can work better than constantly looking at the time.

It is so important to stay hydrated. Airplanes dehydrate you quickly which can make you feel bad and also do a number on your skin and eyes. Bring travel sizes of moisturizer, hand cream, eye cream, eye drops, water spray, chapstick and a reusable water bottle. Vapur water bottles roll up to fit in your pocket and can hold a liter of water. Eating protein is better than carbs because carbohydrates hold water making you bloated, Caffeine and alcohol will dehydrate you even further.

Flying takes a toll on everyone’s freshness. Colgate wisps or a toothbrush, breath mints or mouth wash and deodorant will help you and the people around you feel better.

Slip on shoes and compression socks for health risks such as blood clots are good to have with you and will help with circulation. Wear comfortable loose-fitting clothing. Sweat pants don’t have to be your go to travel attire. (I did wear them for a long time. I’m not proud of this.) You can wear leggings and a long sweater or comfortable jeans and a loose-fitting shirt.

Anything that helps to pass the time is useful -Tablet, iPod, book, magazines, movies, etc. For me it  is Hollywood, Hollywood, Hollywood. I bring a stack of trashy magazines and watch as many movies as I can.

Noise cancelling headphones, fuzzy socks and a scarf/blanket makes it easier to sleep.
I wrote another blog about that. https://travelwellflysafe.com/2015/11/03/how-to-sleep-on-a-plane/

I always get off long flights feeling like the Tin Man – creaky bones, cramped muscles, neck and back knots, and all around uncomfortable. Now I do some stretches and yoga poses that are conducive to small spaces and it definitely helps.

Long flights are usually exciting because it means you are going somewhere amazing. A long uncomfortable flight is a small price to pay for seeing the world.
Fly safe,
JAZ