{"id":109050,"date":"2019-12-17T09:24:48","date_gmt":"2019-12-17T17:24:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=109050"},"modified":"2023-07-07T12:32:34","modified_gmt":"2023-07-07T19:32:34","slug":"how-to-prepare-for-a-long-flight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/how-to-prepare-for-a-long-flight","title":{"rendered":"How to Prepare for a Long Flight"},"content":{"rendered":"

I had long dreamed of visiting Jordan\u2014of smearing black mud on my face and bobbing 1,410 feet below sea level in the Dead Sea, riding through sun-worn sandstone and rose-hued dunes in Wadi Rum and experiencing the awe-inducing hidden city of Petra. But, last April, between me and my dream sat a 13-hour nightmare of a flight.<\/p>\n

Luckily, it wasn\u2019t my first rodeo. In the past two years alone I\u2019ve logged more than 100 flight hours\u2014nearly all in five-plus-hour chunks. And if you\u2019ve spent as much time trapped in an airplane as I have, you know the more you prepare, the better the flight. Here\u2019s what I\u2019ve learned after years of long-distance plane travel.<\/p>\n

Shop Smart<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You know what they say about prior proper planning, right? (It prevents piss poor performance.) Set yourself up for success before you ever step on the jet bridge by booking flights with shorter, more convenient layovers and carefully chosen seats. (I\u2019m an aisle kind of person since I hate waking strangers up to go to the bathroom.) I\u2019ve spent my fair share of cold, sleepless nights on the sticky floors of darkened, empty airports\u2014including two nights of horror in London Gatwick listening to the hum of floor cleaners and hunting for working power outlets\u2014all to save $100. Was it worth it? No.<\/p>\n

Charge Your Devices<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While more and more airlines are investing in inflight Wi-Fi and seatback screens, what will you do on your cross-Atlantic flight if the TV doesn\u2019t work and your phone isn\u2019t charged? For this tech-obsessed millennial, the thought is almost too terrible to contemplate. Before I board, I double- and triple-check my tech bag to make sure I have the right dongles for each device (including the correct adapters<\/a>, as they can be very<\/em> expensive abroad), and throw in an external battery<\/a> for good measure. I actually like having two: a small battery<\/a> in my hip pack that can charge my phone at least once while I\u2019m on the go and another larger bank<\/a> that lives in my luggage and can charge my phone up to four times in case I can\u2019t find an outlet for a few days.<\/p>\n

Take a Travel Pillow<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I scoffed at travel pillows<\/a> for years, thinking they were for travelers less hardened than I. Then I received one as a gift and discovered that they\u2019re a gift from the god of travel Hermes himself. While some travelers opt for comfortable, full-plush models like this fleece-lined one from Eagle Creek<\/a>, I prefer less comfy but more packable inflatable options like the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Traveller Pillow<\/a>. That way, at the end of my flight, I can simply deflate it, pack it in my carry-on and painlessly strut down the aisle.<\/p>\n

\"Looking<\/p>\n

Dress Down<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I believe that comfort is the only thing worth thinking about when picking a flight outfit. Stretch, breathability, softness\u2014these are the hallmarks of smart airplane apparel. On my last flight to Los Angeles, I sported lightweight, moisture-wicking black pants; a basic, odor-resistant white tee; stain-resistant, wrinkle-free hoodie; and an oversized, neutral, cozy cotton scarf. I also chose slip-on shoes to more easily move through TSA.<\/p>\n

Once you have those basics down, you can level up by investing in an eco-friendly, wicking, wrinkle-resistant capsule wardrobe\u2014an edited collection of clothes that are easy to mix and match to create multiple outfits. My capsule allows me to dress for weeks out of nothing more than a carry-on. Need more inspiration? Here\u2019s how I fit two weeks worth of clothes<\/a> into an 18-liter daypack.<\/p>\n

Grab Earplugs and Noise-Canceling Headphones<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Heavy breathers, clapping kids and bumping beats all necessitate noise mitigation. I\u2019m a huge fan of noise-canceling headphones<\/a>, which are useful at the office, on the bus and even next to my partner who won\u2019t stop watching dog howling compilations. (Don\u2019t ask.) But their importance for long flights is not to be understated. They can even help protect you from hearing loss<\/a> since you won\u2019t have to crank up your music to drown out the engine noise. I also always have a pack of earplugs<\/a> in my bag for when I just need a break from all forms of noise. And if you have a kid onboard, having some earplugs to hand out to your neighbors is a great way to gain some compassion.<\/p>\n

Sleep Aids Are Key<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I\u2019m the kind of person who can sleep anywhere, anytime. Under my desk at work? Yes. On a raft floating the Delaware? Yep. On a horse? Of course. But while I usually don\u2019t need sleep aids, I bring them when I fly anyway because you never know when insomnia can strike. And I refuse to endure a whole international red-eye awake. There are plenty of natural methods and over-the-counter options. Just make sure you try it out before<\/em> you fly. Sleep aids affect everyone differently, and a multi-hour flight isn\u2019t the best place to potentially discover negative side effects or that the one you grabbed simply doesn\u2019t work for you.<\/p>\n

\"No<\/p>\n

Hydrate\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While hydration is important in general (even mild dehydration can increase feelings of anxiety and fatigue<\/a> and reduce physical performance in athletes<\/a>), it can be especially important while flying. Filtered cabin air is usually cool and dry, and it can help pull moisture right out of you. One study showed passenger\u2019s skin hydration decreased by up to 37 percent<\/a> on long-distance flights. Plus, if you\u2019re drinking regularly, you also have a little extra motivation for moving in the direction of the bathroom from time to time, which will help stave off the risk of deep vein thrombosis<\/a>. Just remember to bring your reusable water bottle<\/a> and to top if off before you board.<\/p>\n

Clean Up<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the United States, we like to be two to three feet away from strangers<\/a>. But while flying, you\u2019re lucky to have a few inches of space between you and the next person. And just as I\u2019d rather not smell them, they shouldn\u2019t have to smell me. For that reason, I keep a little kit of toiletries in the small bag I tuck under my seat. In it lives a tiny toothbrush and tube of paste<\/a>, deodorant<\/a> and face wipes<\/a>. I also make sure to leave room for my napkin-size towel<\/a>, duct tape and my nail clippers, which are<\/em> allowed on flights. (Just don\u2019t clip in public, please.)<\/p>\n

Pack Snacks<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Food makes pretty much everything better. If we\u2019re all honest with ourselves, though, we can agree that the food available on planes is pretty terrible. Thinking back to my last in-flight meal, I remember a bland mush more than any distinct food groups. It was snacks got me through that trip. I look for options that aren\u2019t very messy, smelly or noisy and that bring a mix of sweet and savory because I\u2019m never quite sure what I\u2019ll be in the mood for. I usually pop by a local REI and grab some butter blends<\/a> and gummy bears<\/a>, which actually makes for a strange, but delicious combo. Ginger chews<\/a> are a must too, in case of tummy troubles. You can also save some money by making your own snack at home<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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I had long dreamed of visiting Jordan\u2014of smearing black mud on my face and bobbing 1,410 feet below sea level in the Dead Sea, riding through sun-worn sandstone and rose-hued dunes in Wadi Rum and experiencing the awe-inducing hidden city of Petra. But, last April, between me and my dream sat a 13-hour nightmare of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":109058,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[388],"tags":[12,613],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-109050","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-travel","tag-travel-tips"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/travel\/how-to-prepare-for-a-long-flight","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"How to Prepare for a Long Flight","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/how-to-prepare-for-a-long-flight","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/travel\/how-to-prepare-for-a-long-flight"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/12\/jc-gellidon-e3GO5N-x8MY-unsplash.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/12\/jc-gellidon-e3GO5N-x8MY-unsplash.jpg?fit=4240%2C2384"},"articleSection":"Travel","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Aer Parris-Hoshour"}],"creator":["Aer Parris-Hoshour"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["travel","travel tips"],"dateCreated":"2019-12-17T17:24:48Z","datePublished":"2019-12-17T17:24:48Z","dateModified":"2023-07-07T19:32:34Z"},"rendered":"