Flights can be long, and we all know that there are some items we should bring in order to stay comfortable and refreshed. Here are four essential tips you should keep in mind the next time you go on a long flight, so that you can become a pro.
Wear Comfortable Clothes
Let's face it: Planes are uncomfortable. Unless you are lucky enough to travel in first class, you are going to be wedged into a seat that is always going to feel one size too small. For this reason, dressing comfortably is a must so that you can try to relax as much as you can. More importantly, though, wearing loose clothing that allows for movement can prevent blood clots that can form when you sit in the same position for a long period of time.
Bring Headphones
Most airlines provide you with headphones for listening to the in-flight movies and other entertainment on the screen on the back of the seat in front of you, but this isn't always the best course of action to take. Some airlines charge you for the use of these headphones (and who wants to whip out their credit card at 30,000 feet just to buy a spindly little pair of earbuds?), and other times they are used. Some bloggers recommend bringing your own headphones so that you can be sure they are the noise-canceling kind, but I say that just bringing any kind of headphones is a good idea, because you never know what the headphone situation will be on the plane. And 10 hours is a long time to go without being able to hear the movie you're watching!
Don't Drink Too Much (Alcohol)
Long-haul flights usually have a drink cart that comes around every few hours, offering all kinds of delicious-sounding alcoholic beverages. Don't be tempted, though. Even though some people think that drinking a bit of wine or beer will help them fall sleep better on the flight, the opposite is actually true. Alcohol acts as a stimulant in the first hours after it has been imbibed, which then leads to you staying awake much longer than you wanted to. Alcohol can also lead to dehydration and a foggy-head feeling that will increase your jet lag and make you feel just plain terrible by the time all is said and done.
Stay Hydrated (And Fed)
The number one most important tip to keep in mind when you are taking a long flight is to stay hydrated (with good beverages, not alcohol), and to make sure that you eat. It's important to keep your blood sugar up on a flight, and to keep yourself from getting dehydrated in the already-dry environment of the plane. Even if you have a nervous stomach, you have to make sure to eat at regular intervals (carbs are best) or at least drink fruit juice so that you don't come down with even worse problems. If you need more of an incentive to stay fed and hydrated, studies have shown that drinking plenty of water before, during, and after a flight can help to stave off jet lag.