Make long haul flights comfortable- what to pack in your carry on case

Jetting off on a truly exotic holiday often means sacrificing an eye-watering amount of time trapped on a plane, counting the hours until you can alight in paradise! Many travellers write this experience off as a necessary evil, and accept that it’s a price they’re willing to pay for a fulfilling holiday experience, but it really doesn’t have to be that way! There are a number of items you can bring along to make this experience more bearable and comfortable.

See also: Make your flights easier. Mindfulness exercises for stressful flights.

What to pack for long flights

What to pack for long haul flights to be comfortable, rested and ready for adventures!


Sleep

Get some sleep to be rested and ready for adventures waiting for you.

When it comes to passing the time on a plane and minimizing jet lag, there are fewer activities more popular than sleeping. It may seem a little ridiculous to bring along an eye-mask and neck pillow, but you’ll be thankful for both when you arrive at your destination refreshed and free from aches and pains. Ear plugs can also come in exceptionally handy, as some passengers may not be particularly considerate of sleepers when playing games or music, and there is always the odd little one who gets a bit grouchy!


Layers

Be comfortable and get good rest by keeping yourself warm and cosy.

You don’t have to be a seasoned traveller to know that if you’re travelling from the UK to Morocco, it’s highly likely that you’ll experience quite a change in temperature. Even during a flight, aeroplane air-conditioning can sometimes prove a little too effective! Don’t let yourself suffer – make sure that the outfit you wear to travel is adaptable for rising and falling temperatures. I am almost always freezing cold and do not travel anywhere (literally anywhere!) without a scarf. Whether I travel to a beach destination or snowy mountains, a big scarf is my best friend and keeps me cozy during long flights. I also found this great long cardigan that makes me cosy and warm.


A little relief

Look after your legs.

On long flights I get pain in my legs from the pressure and lack of moving. I think it is a good idea to use flight socks or compression tights, as long flights can affect circulation in the lower legs. You can also counter this by getting up and having a wander now and then. Book an aisle seat if you plan to be up and down regularly, to avoid disturbing those next to you too much!


Refresh and hydrate

The airplane air is very dry, so it is important to stay hydrated.

 Let’s not forget to stay hydrated when travelling, so you should definitely bring along something to drink. Water is the best way to stay hydrated during long flights, which also help blood circulation. Water at the airports is usually quite expensive, but you can get a refill water filter bottle at the airport without paying extra and worrying to drink unsafe water.

To make you feel and look refreshed on and after a long flight, a few good cosmetics are a good idea. I am usually very faithful to cosmetics that make me feel good, for example Goat’s milk eye cream by one of my favourite Polish brands Ziaja. It is natural, good and cheap. I have a few other favourites that are so great that I keep buying them again and again and help my skin look fresh on so many flights I am taking around the world. One of the great things to take on long flights are eye drops, which will hydrate and brighten your eyes.


A variety of distractions

Spend the time nicely.

Depending on how long you’re in the air, it’s likely that you’ll need more than one activity to busy yourself with. Listening to music can often be a nice way to unwind and prepare yourself for a well-deserved break – often almost amounting to a form of meditation but your iPod only contains a finite amount of tracks, and you may find that you’ll be driven to distraction after a while if you have nothing to do with your hands. Phone games or handheld consoles can be a blessing (remember to turn the sound off or wear headphones!). If you’re creative, bringing a good old notepad or sketchbook along might prove a good distraction, or, if you’re more logically-minded, why not treat yourself to a book of puzzles?

What makes my travels much more comfortable is packing everything I need in a tote bag that I store under the seat. The best is a bag that has a zip and enough space for all the things I want to have handy, like this classic Longchamp tote bag.

Travel Mindfully tote bag
Travel Mindfully tote bag
by PostcardsAnna

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After years of traveling and hundreds of flights taken (I cannot believe that the number is really in hundreds!), I discovered a few ways of making the flights more comfortable. It is also the time for me when I can get some guilt-free sleep. I still however, do not consider myself an expert in packing and sometimes I over pack or forget things and always (but always) learn new travel hacks from other travelers and bloggers. Sooo, please, if you have any tips and tricks to make traveling easier, I will appreciate so much if you could share them with me and the rest of us.

Happy travels, everyone!

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What to pack for long flights

Disclaimer: This posts includes some affiliate links for which I get little cash at no cost for you, which helps me to travel and share the stories with you. I only share my favourites with you that I do or would use myself. 

  1. Really handy tips! I think the layering is super important, I always find I’m really hot when I first board a plane, then end up really cold once we take off – Nightmare! Thanks for sharing xx

  2. Great tips! I love Avene’s Thermal Water Spray; it really is the perfect product to keep your skin hydrated during a long flight.

  3. I love this list of helpful things to bring with you. All I need when I’m travelling on long flights is headphones, Vaseline, a neck pillow and water!!

  4. Good advice here. I wouldn’t want to get stuck on a plane without some of these items. I always bring a pillow and a blanket because it’s usually freezing on an airplane.

  5. I never thought about compression socks to help with the legs. I will have to try that for sure and see if it helps. Headphones are a must have for me too.

  6. The skin hydration suggestions are fabulous – after being on a stuffy, dry airplane for so long, there’s nothing better than using a facial treatment to hydrate your face and skin and getting off the plane feeling fresh.

  7. Helpful post and some good ideas there. Flights can get so tedious. Thanks for sharing your ideas, I will definitely reference!

  8. These are great thoughts … and I know many ppl who need them. Thankfully m very comfy. As soon as I’m on board I sleep off

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