Long haul flights and planes in general aren’t most people’s favourite thing. Whether you find them scary, boring or can’t stand the idea of being stuck on them for hours they are just a means of getting from A to B. As a flight attendant myself I like planes a bit more than most so today in this post I hope to help make plane rides a bit more bearable.
What To Wear
Everyone wants to be comfortable when travelling but you also have to remember an aeroplane is a public place so you have to consider what is appropriate to keep everyone comfortable.
Trousers and Trainers
My recommendation is to wear loose trousers and a comfortable pair of slip on trainers. This is ideal for most travel situations but particularly a long flight. Not only are planes typically quite cold but they are also dirty! So keeping yourself more covered up is the best option.
An Extra Layer
Debating on bringing that extra jumper or cardigan? Bring it as an extra layer onboard. Most of the time planes are cold ( considering the outside temperature is about -50 when flying you can’t blame them!) So keep that extra layer to hand just in case and you can always remove it if you are cold.
Keep your shoes on!
A lot of people like to take their shoes off to get comfortable onboard which is normally fine at your seat if you’re courteous to your seatmate but please put them back on if you get up. And you should absolutely wear them if you’re heading to the toilet! I’m not sure why people choose to head to the bathroom without, as I’ve never seen someone do it on the ground! You should also be keeping your shoes on for take-off and landing.
Change of Clothes
I always pack a change of clothes in my carry-on in case my luggage gets lost but it could also come in handy on board. A large number of accidents could happen on a plane especially as the little tray tables aren’t the most stable things. You’ll always be grateful for those clean trousers if an orange juice gets spilled.
Pre-order Your Meal
Try to find out in advance what food is offered on your flight and if you have any dietary requirements make sure you let them know in advance and pre order a special. On the day there is often very little flight attendants can do to help with being in the air and all, so make sure you sort it beforehand.
Bring Backup and Snacks
Airplane food isn’t known to be the best thing around, so make sure you bring some backup snacks too. Like with a lot of things I’ve mentioned its always best to be prepared for the worst so having some of your own food or picking up a meal deal in the terminal will stop you going hungry.
Entertainment
Sure, most airlines have seat back entertainment screens nowadays but do they always work? Or have things you are interested in? Nope! So make sure you have some of your favourite show downloaded or pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read.
Moisturise
Plane cabins have really low humidity which will leave your skin super dry and irritated, so be sure to pop a little moisturizer and lip balm in your liquids bag and your skin will thank you later.
Stay Hydrated
The low humidity on board can also lead to quicker dehydration. Make sure to get some water bottles or bring a refillable one and fill it up in the airport.
Power Bank
With so many important things stored on our phones, I always recommend having a power bank with you so you won’t have to worry about running out of charge.
Pen
Finally, you should always bring a pen when travelling. A pen takes up barely any room and can always come in handy if there are forms to fill in before landing.
