Top 8 essentials for a long-haul flight

You're either a lover or a hater of a long haul flight; you either see it as a chance to binge-watch 5 films, eat snacks and lounge around in 'airport outfits' or you absolutely dread anything longer than a 4-hour flight. 

Either way, some of the most incredible destinations in the world do require a long-haul flight, but rest assured we've got some top essentials to get you through the flight!

10 hours of sitting in the same position, let’s face it, it’s not comfy so why wear something that is only going to fuel this. Chuck on your comfiest pair of trousers, grab a hoody and a comfy top and rock the mismatched look. This will also help with the fact your body (mainly your feet) can start to swell, so you definitely don’t want anything that’s already tight against your ankles. 

It's always a good idea to chuck a change of clothes in your hand luggage, depending on your destination, normally something light and airy with some flip flops! 

Flying is not good for the skin; it dries it out and no-one enjoys that. Aircraft humidity is about 20% lower than we're used to, which means it can be drying. On top of that, the high altitude is also a factor and can take a toll. 

Grab a good hand moisturiser, as well as a good serum for your face (make sure they’re under 100ml) and pack them in your hand luggage. That way you can moisturise until your heart’s content and look fresh as a daisy as you hop off the plane. 

Need some inspiration for a long-haul holiday? Why not check out The Travel Podcast episode all about Cancun!

If you don’t own a pair already, you need to. These fashionable must-haves are great for those of us who suffer from feet swelling. They have a high amount of elastic in their composition, essentially administering pressure to your lower legs in order to support blood flow. It also helps to get up and move your legs every hour or so to promote blood flow. 

Hear us out on this one; bright airplane lights and 300 strangers are just some of the reasons you need an eye mask. You’ve had your meal, you’ve watched a film or 2 and your eyelids are getting heavy, chuck on your eye mask and block out the rest of the world (or plane). It will help to block out light and ease you to sleep better. 

Trust us on this, buy a travel toothbrush and toothpaste for your journey.  You need to stay fresh on long flights, and it will instantly make you feel a million times better and less ‘I’ve been on this plane for what seems like 3 years’. 

You may get given some that plug into your seatback tv, but they’re not the greatest and also they may have been in a few ears before. Plus if you take your own, you can listen to your own music/films on your device (in airplane mode remember!) Just don’t forget to pack them back into your bag and not leave them in the seat-back pocket. 

If you're looking for something to listen to why not check out an episode of The Travel Podcast?

It’s always nice to have your favourite sweets or snack on hand, the crew will have a service to buy-on-board but it’s often limited and you might end up watching the passenger in front of you grab the last bag of minstrels.

So save yourself money for souvenirs, and pick up your favourite snacks before you go. 

Some say it’s a fashion faux par to wear this as you walk through the airport, and those people would be wrong. It means you have less to carry and you’re ready to snooze at any moment. But honestly, this will save your neck the ache of your head flopping every 5 minutes as you take your post-inflight-meal nap. It's a great support and can help minimise the aches of sitting in the same position for a long time. 

Now you’re ready to tackle the flight, it’s time to get in touch with your Personal Travel Consultants and plan your next long-haul adventure.