7 Tips For Surviving Long International Flights

Looking for 7 tips for surviving long international flights?  Well, you have come to the right place.

Here I have listed 7 tips and tricks to take some of the stress away as you are planning for your trip.

My longest international flight was a whopping 14-hour flight from JFK to Tokyo!

If you have a long-haul flight in the future, these are my 7 tips for surviving long international flights.

I hope they help you be more prepared, more comfortable, and have much less stress.

7 Tips for Surviving Long International Flights

#1 Research Airlines For Surviving Your Long International Flights.

Research various airlines. Read reviews. If you can, choose a newer model aircraft.

It will be equipped with up-to-date equipment and amenities. Check the airlines’ food, entertainment, and comfort options (like legroom!)

Do your homework on cabin layouts as well. seatguru.com provides up-to-date seating charts for all flights.

This website even gives information on which rows have seatbacks that don’t recline.

Also, where seats are too close to the bathroom, and which seats have any extra precious legroom space for the specific flight you are interested in.

Consider booking a non-US flight if possible. Foreign carriers seem to often have better amenities than US ones, even in economy class.

And they often provide hot towels, wet wipes, pillows, and blankets.

#2 Select Your Seat Wisely For Surviving Your Long International Flights

Choosing your seat wisely is one of the most important decisions you will make once you have settled on your airline and flight. And one of the best tips for a long flight.

Most of the time an aisle seat is best because you will have the luxury of being able to stand frequently and stretch your legs. Or make frequent bathroom visits without disturbing your seatmates.

However, if you are on an overnight long-haul flight and you plan to sleep on the plane to be wide awake upon reaching your destination, the window seat might be a better choice for you.

Exit rows typically have more legroom.

Do you want to avoid crying babies? Plan to stay away from the front of the plane. And the first few rows of each section of the plane.

That’s where families with children are usually seated on international flights.

Seats by the plane’s wings experience less turbulence because they are closer to the plane’s center of gravity.

On the other hand, consider that bulkhead seats, while offering more legroom may not have overhead storage space available near you, and seats in exit rows may not recline.

Sitting in the far back of the plane has its advantages and disadvantages. But could help you survive a long international flight.

Selecting a seat near the rear of the plane could mean a noisier and bumpier ride, and it will take longer to board and disembark.

But if you are taking your chances of finding an empty seat or even an empty row to stretch out on to blissfully sleep the hours away, the back of the plane is where you will usually find them.

Lately, when I am traveling long international flights, I purchase my seat and the seats of those accompanying me beforehand, if a seat assignment is not included.

I have learned it is better to be prepared and know my seat assignment beforehand than to rely on my airline’s selection for me.

This has reduced my stress so much way before I even head out to the airport.

#3 Nutrition Is Important to Survive Your Long International Flights

Investigate what meal choices you have on your long-haul flight.

Order a specialty meal (usually within 24 hours of the flight), for several important reasons. Airlines’ specialty meals often are of better quality than the standard meals, and they are served first.

This is very important if you plan to sleep most of the flight.

With a specialty meal, you are served first, you eat earlier, and although the food trays are not retrieved any earlier, you are well on your way to preparing yourself for sleeping.

Airline snacks are salty and will dehydrate you. Do not rely on airline snacks only to keep your blood sugar stable during your flight.

Purchase healthy snacks airside once you pass through security, or bring healthy snacks.

Aim for protein-rich options such as almonds, trail mix, peanut butter crackers, or protein bars.

Staying hydrated is of utmost importance. Airline cabins have low humidity and their air is dry so check out my tips if you want to avoid getting sick on a plane. Drink slowly and regularly.

Alternatively, purchase a bottle of water airside, or bring a refillable water container that you fill with water after you pass security.

These are some of the best long-haul flight tips!

#4 Bring Your Entertainment For Surviving Your Long International Flights

Check online to see what kind of inflight entertainment options your flight offers: are there seatback screens, wifi, power outlets, and phone chargers at your seat?

Plan to bring an interesting book, one you simply cannot put down. That will make the time pass quickly.

Download podcasts to your electronic devices. You can learn something new and the topics are unlimited from comedy to politics, self-help to music.

Take advantage of the inflight entertainment options on your flight.

Binge-watch a TV series or a few top-rated movies. Of course, you can download your movies/TV shows to your laptop or tablet.

Whether or not you decide to chat up your seatmate is up to you and that can go either way when implementing these 7 tips for surviving long international flights.

You may find a chatty chum and pass the hours away talking about mutually interesting subjects. Or you may be sitting next to someone with whom you have no mutual interests whatsoever.

An adult coloring book and accompanying coloring pencils will be a stress reducer and use your creative juices while the hours pass by.

Games and puzzles are an excellent option, especially for families traveling together.

These tips for a long flight are sure to pass the time away!

#5 How To Avoid DVT On Your Long International Flights

DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is a real threat to passengers on long international flights.

This is the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, most frequently the legs, from lack of circulation.

Wearing compression socks like these is recommended. 

Getting up and stretching frequently and taking a stroll on the airplane from time to time helps with circulation.

Bringing a pair of slippers you can change into at your seat is also helpful.

Do not walk around the plane, and especially into the lavatory in your socks only, and especially not in your bare feet.

This is one of the most important of the 7 tips for surviving long international flights.

#6 Sleeping May Help With Surviving Your Long International Flights

Since you ARE on a long international flight, most probably crossing several time zones, sleep will play a big part in your survival during the flight, and how you feel upon arrival.

Depending on if you are flying a long-haul red-eye or during the day will determine when and how much you decide to sleep.

Wearing comfortable clothing is paramount to a comfortable sleep and one of the 7 tips for surviving long international flights.

Leggings or sweatpants are suggested and even changing into PJs will enhance your sleeping experience.

Onboard background noise is said to cause stress, so noise-canceling headphones or earplugs will block out that noise.

On the other hand, having “white noise” downloaded will block out ambient sounds and may help you further relax and sleep better.

Another of the 7 tips for surviving long international flights is wearing an eye mask. Masks block out light, helping avoid jet lag. (Jet lag is when you cross time zones faster than your body can adjust.)

Another suggestion to help avoid jet lag is to change your watch/phone clocks to the time at your destination once you are on board.

A neck pillow will support your head and neck and you will be well-prepared with this compact blanket to keep warm and cocoon yourself in your seat.

One of the smartest 7 tips for surviving long international flights.

#7 A Small Cosmetics Bag Will Help You Survive Your Long International Flights

You will want to have a TSA-approved clear toiletries bag and a travel toothbrush with travel sizes of toothpaste, moisturizer, mouthwash, lip balm, eye drops, or nasal spray for your comfort when you head to the bathroom.

You can purchase TSA travel-sized cosmetics at any big box store, or get some TSA-approved bottles and transfer your cosmetics into them. I do it both ways myself.

By the way, if you put on your favorite pair of comfy socks for the trip, put your shoes back on when visiting the bathroom.

Those spots on the floor may not all be splashes from your fellow passengers washing their hands!

This is one of the best long-haul flight tips.

An extra pair of underwear is something lots of folks don’t consider.

If you are traveling across several time zones, and plan to hit the ground running upon arrival, this tip will keep you feeling fresher longer.

As far as the 7 tips for surviving long international flights, this one is tops!

To Wear A Facemask or Not

It is a personal decision whether to wear a face mask or not.

A face mask does not take the place of frequent hand washing or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Consult the Centers for Disease Control near the time of your travel plans for more updated information.

In addition, one of the 7 tips for surviving long international flights is if you are flying to a foreign country, please research each country’s embassy that you are visiting for up-to-date protocols.

Packing tips to aid you in surviving long international flights.

How To Pack Everything In Your Carry-On Bag contains great information on how to pack everything into a carry-on bag!

This unisex RFID-blocking concealed travel pouch is lightweight allows you to carry personal items next to your body for safety.

These RFID sleeves would be handy to prevent identity theft.

This Anker high-speed phone charging battery is the exact one I carry with me on all of my trips.

My daughter gifted me this FugeTek Selfie Stick and Tripod for my birthday.

It has Bloothtooth connectivity so it is very easy to use.

 These Bagail packing cubes are the exact ones I use whenever I travel.

TSA-Approved luggage locks are of the utmost importance to surviving long international flights.

I always lock my carry-on bag and my bag when on a long-haul flight. Especially if I am going to sleep.

This world traveler adapter kit can charge several devices at the same time.

I never leave home on a trip without my Bobble filtration bottle. The 18.5-ounce size is perfect for travel and it fits nicely in the pocket of a backpack or your purse.

And the replaceable carbon filter ensures fresh clean water whenever you fill the Bobble.

You will want a backpack or daypack with you to store snacks, your water bottle, phone, extra clothes, etc.. This foldable water-resistant backpack would be great.

Perhaps you want a more substantial backpack for your international travel. This antitheft backpack will be great!

As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from Qualified Purchases.

 

Quick tips when traveling long international flights.

Stay vigilant! Please do not have any preconceptions about who can violate you by stealing your possessions.  Stay vigilant.

Call your credit card company for two reasons: 1) to notify the bank that you will be out of the country and give them your exact travel dates.

2) check to see if the bank charges foreign transaction fees every time you are out of the country and use your card.  If it does, inquire about applying for a credit card that does NOT charge such fees.

When using an ATM while traveling, make sure it is in your bank’s network, so you do not incur a transaction fee every time you use it to withdraw money.

Also, consider withdrawing larger amounts of money, fewer times, to limit the transaction fees by your bank.

Whenever you can, purchase advanced tickets to attractions whenever possible. Tickets purchased online, in advance, are mostly always discounted, and many times come with a “skip the line” perk.

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