It’s smart to take long-haul flights seriously. Though you might be able to convince yourself that they’re really just ‘three movies and two naps,’ they can be crowded, loud, dehydrating, and exhausting.
Fortunately, the newer planes have features such as naturally changing light, better humidity, and lower pressurization, all of which help reduce fatigue.
Remember this advice:
Alcohol and caffeine are dehydrating.
Though there’s plenty of both to go around on long-haul flights, the one-two punch of alcohol and coffee contribute to jet lag. The best drink is water, and lots of it. The Aerospace Medical Association recommends about 8 ounces of water per hour to help replace lost moisture due to the dry cabin air.
Noise-canceling headphones are your friend.
High-quality headphones will cancel out the sounds of crying babies and snoring passengers. Find a pair that’s comfortable to sleep with. Some road warriors also can’t live without their comfy travel pillows and eye masks to block out the cabin light.
Your seat is everything.
More companies are cutting back on allowing planners to fly business class, but you can still take the matter into your own hands. On some airlines, a minor change to Premium Economy makes all the difference, and you can use your miles for the upgrade. For example, on JetBlue from New York and Boston to Europe, the Even More Space upgrade gives you up to seven inches of extra leg room, along with priority security, early boarding, and dedicated storage space.
Try the SeatGuru app, a guide to which seats on your particular plane offer the most and the least legroom (in general, it recommends window seats for long flights).
Exercise is a Must.
The day before your flight, devote some time to walking or stretching in preparation for the flight. Once onboard, it’s important to exercise your legs on long-haul flights, where there is a greater risk of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots that can form in your veins). Compression socks help as well. Qantas suggests moving around as much as you can by strolling up and down the aisles and doing leg stretches while seated throughout the flight.
Other Steps to Arrive Fresh
To arrive fresh, follow the practice of the airlines, which typically allow their flight attendants between five and 10 minutes at the end of a flight to wash up, refresh their hair and makeup, and brush their teeth.
Sources: Allianz Travel, Qantas, CNN
