Long-Haul Flights and How to Survive Them

World traveller Roxana Oliver previously wrote a guest post about the six reasons to visit Bali. This time, she outlines the best ways to survive long-haul flights. This is incredibly fitting, as I am getting ready to go to Bali in March and will need to take all of her tips to heart!

Imagine boarding a 15-hour flight. It doesn’t sound horrible, does it? Okay, the first hour passed, the second, and then the third. Four hours down, 11 hours to go. Five hours later – nine down and six to go. Sounds never ending, doesn’t it? If you embark on a flight from Australia to, for example, London, that’s 22 hours of screaming children, not having enough space to sleep, not smoking (if you’re a smoker), etc., so yes, long-haul flights are a bit painful, but nothing that some preparation cannot fix. What are the things that can help us survive such an endeavour?

1. Go for seats in the back
This should be the first thing you do if you want to survive a flight that’s longer than eight hours. When you’re booking the tickets, go for the seats in the back if you have the option. Even though you might experience some more turbulence in the back of the plane, the chances of you having an extra seat next to you are higher because everyone wants to be sitting in the front. If you don’t succeed, never mind, but at least you tried.

2. Prepare your music
Even though it could be a bit tiring to listen to music the whole duration of the flight, it’s very important that you prepare as many music playlists and albums as you can on your phone, iPad, or tablet. You’ll definitely be needing some tunes to relax to, and thinking about it in advance may help. You should transfer as many different genres to your listening device as you can, as who knows what you’ll be in the mood for.

3. Plan out the movies or TV shows
Long-haul flights are excellent for watching or re-watching different movie series, or just catching up on your favourite TV shows. For example, re-watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy will surely take 11 or 12 hours off your flight. Just make sure your battery is able to survive this kind of an achievement. If not, have that in mind before you start your trip, so you can either bring a power bank or a different gadget to continue watching.

4. Limit your carry-on luggage
Yes, there are probably a bunch of things you think you will need in the airplane so you probably tend to overstuff your luggage. Keep in mind the bigger your carry-on bag is, the less leg space you have during your flight. Opting for the essentials only, housed in a small carry-on bag, is probably something that will make you happier during the flight. However, make sure to bring your own small pillow and a travel blanket, as you will need that the most. They will not take up too much of your leg space, as you will take them out of the carry-on the moment you sit down.

5. Bring some work
If there is some typing or reading to do for work, make sure to bring it on the plane. Music and TV shows are always great options, but if the flight is incredibly long, it is best to do some work on the plane and have more free time at your destination. However, you can also be listening to music while working. Just make sure to take the appropriate headphones. Taking trendy wireless headphones should be the best option, as your movements will not be limited, and you don’t need the nuisance in the form of cables on such a long flight.

6. Take a book
Opt for some light books that will keep you interested – perhaps some mystery novels, or chic-lit if you’re into that genre. Avoid something very deep and complicated; there’s a chance you won’t be that concentrated on the plot and you’ll waste time.

7. Consider taking sleeping aids
If you opt for this, make sure you’ve used that exact sleeping aid at least once before this journey, as you don’t know what your reaction may be. If everything’s perfect, choose natural sleeping aids, such as melatonin, or anything with herbs as the base ingredient. This will help you get some sleep on the plane, which will make your entire flight a bit shorter.

Now that you survived this part of the journey, it’s time to fight off the jetlag! Soak in as much daylight as you can, and if you have to, take short naps. Follow these tips and you’ll be at your destination before you even know it! Bon voyage and good luck!

About Roxana
Roxana is a travel enthusiast and lifestyle consultant from Sydney, and she loves to write about her adventures. She is all about the healthy lifestyle, loves to run with her husband and dogs, and has fun cooking exotic meals for her family. Being a typical Aussie, she often hits the waves and loves beaches and sunshine! You can find out more about her writing by following her on Twitter and Facebook. She is also one of the editors at Highstylife Magazine. All photos in this post are courtesy of Roxana Oliver.