Here are some tips for trans-oceanic flights anywhere from 6 to 20 hours long.
The 3 most important things are staying hydrated, good food, and sleep especially if you are traveling East to West. The 4th item is preventing boredom.
For West to East, you must sleep at least 3 (or 4.5) hours on the flight as you will arrive in the morning and your body will feel like 2 am.
For East to West, upon arrival, try to stay up as long as possible until 7 or 8pm. Don’t be alarmed if you wake up in the middle of the night, as your body thinks it’s morning.
Before your flight:
- Always arrive early. Surprises like cancelled flight do happen. If your luggage is over weight or oversize, you will have ample time to repack.
- Make a note of where you parked your car at the airport by writing it down on your ticket stub or airline ticket.
- Consider an aisle or exit row seat for leg room.
- Order a special meal, such as a lacto-ovo meal which is usually served before the regular meals. So if you like to eat early in the flight, order a special meal. Passengers sitting in the rear of the plane are served last and often you don;t get a choice. You will need to book this request at least 24 hours in advance. Any last minute flight changes will ruin this strategy.
- Look for flights with planes supporting Audio Video on Demand in Economy Class, which is great for watching 3 or more movies without draining your own laptop battery. Mind you, those movies may be old and not the latest Hollywood releases, but hey, a 9 hour flight is a 9 hour flight!
- Look for seats and airlines with 110/220V power plugs on every seat – then bring your own movies on your laptop or portable DVD player. These power outlets were once a luxury to Business and First class, but now available on Economy on larger and newer planes.
- Minimize your carry-on luggage especially if you have connecting flights.
- If traveling with a group or family, cross pack with a buddy so if they lose your luggage, at least you’ll have half your clothes. Of course, have your personal medication in your carry-on (I can’t stress this enough)
During the Flight:
- Wear shoes to the restroom! Some men have bad aim, and turbulence doesn’t hep!
- Turn on the air vent above you, but this will dry your hair and skin.
- Move around often, and sit close to the back of the plane to use the standing area by the air stewards. But do not sit in the back row because of the smells of the restrooms. It’s tough to walk around during meal or drink service.
- If you are the “cold” type of person, wear layers.
- Most important, pack a sense of humour. Travel is never perfect.
Essentials and Luxury items Checklist:
. You can buy these for less than $50 and they come in two varieties: around ear, and in ear “bud style”. I personally like the Bose brand. You’ll strain less from competing with the sounds of the engine, plus you’ll arrive at your destination more refreshed. It also creates an anti-social atmosphere in case the person sitting next to you is too chatty.