Nine essentials you need for long-haul travel
Some of us love flying. Others hate it. The fact is for long-haul travelling, it’s the only practical way of reaching a destination. Make your journey a little easier with these top, frequent flier tips about what to bring on a long-haul flight.
- Pack your own ear plugs and eye mask
If you want to sleep on your flight, bring an eye mask and ear plugs to shut out crying babies or the reading light of your neighbour. You might be supplied with these on certain airlines, but it’s best to come prepared with your own kit.
- Dress in layers
The temperature in a cabin is an unpredictable thing. Sometimes it’s icy cold, other times it’s like a furnace. The only way to prepare for this varying 30,000 ft. climate is to dress in layers; therefore you can strip off if it gets too warm, or pull on a sweater when it starts getting chilly. Socks are essential too – even if you’re heading to flip-flop conditions, remember bare feet could be uncomfortable throughout a flight.
- Bring water
Despite there being so much written about how important it is to stay hydrated on long flights, there’s rarely enough water handed out by cabin staff. Once you’ve passed through security, buy a large bottle of water so you always have some on hand throughout the flight.
- Don’t rely on the entertainment system
You might be content with spending your flight watching films and napping, but what happens if the entertainment system goes down or your screen is broken? These things do happen, so make sure you have a back-up plan, such as a good book, a notebook, laptop, or music you can listen to.
- Remember your chargers
These days, many planes have USB ports or plug sockets for charging your phone or kindle; so make sure you have those cables to hand and avoid devices dying on you mid-chapter or track. However, if there’s no socket or port nearby, make sure your electronics are fully charged before boarding.
- Pack a pen
You’ll usually need to fill out a landing card during your flight, so make sure you have a pen with you to avoid delays on arrival, or having to borrow one from a neighbour.
- Come armed with moisturisers
Flights leave skin and lips parched and crying out for moisture. Make sure you throw some hand or face cream, and lip salve, into your hand luggage to keep your skin happy throughout a long flight. Aim to travel make-up free to keep your skin unclogged, and to avoid that tired, morning-after look on arrival.
- Throw in a toothbrush and toothpaste
When you’re packing your hand luggage, don’t forget a toothbrush and toothpaste, even if it’s just a little travel-size kit. There’s nothing like brushing your teeth to make you feel a bit more normal after hours of breathing recycled air, and eating plane food.
- Pack a spare change of clothes
Your mum was right to tell you to always pack a spare change of clothes. Carrying some fresh underwear and a top has two purposes: if your luggage doesn’t arrive at the same time you do, it means you have back-up clothes to tide you over, but depending on the length of your flight, you might also want to change before you land, so you feel a bit fresher on arrival.