How to Survive the Longest Flight of Your Life

Long travel days are the worst. Between being shoved in a tiny seat, not having access to your full skincare routine, and not having a comfortable place to sleep, long flights are enough to make some people not want to travel internationally. As someone who has survived 36-hour travel days, a singular 18-hour flight, and sleeping on the airport floor during a layover, I have become an expert at mastering a long flight. These are my tips on how to survive the longest flight of your life!

Bring a High-Quality Neck Pillow

On a plane, you barely have any space to get comfortable, so you should maximize the space you’ve got. Buying a nice neck pillow was the best decision I’ve ever made. THIS is my favorite neck pillow. It’s memory foam, it folds up, and it clips onto my backpack for easy travel.

I used to have one without a cover, and while it was comfortable, I dragged it around with me during 4 months of backpacking. That thing touched endless train and airport floors, was soaked in rain multiple times, and was probably a health hazard. So do yourself a favor and get one with a cover.

Bring a Kindle

I don’t know about you, but I can only watch movies for so long. On a 10+ hour flight, you’re going to want options. My favorite way to pass the time is reading, but you will never catch me lugging book(s) around on my trips. I have read 3+ books on long flights before, and with the Kindle, I can save all the books I want! Learn more about why a Kindle is essential for travel in my article, 10 Reasons Why Traveling With a Kindle is Amazing.

Download Shows, Podcasts, and Audio Books

Although reading is my favorite way to pass the time, you have to be prepared with other forms of entertainment. The plane usually has options on the built-in screens, but sometimes they won’t have your favorites! Be sure to download shows on your favorite streaming platform while you still have WiFi. If audio books are your thing, set up a Hoopla account with your library card for tons of free e-books, audio books, and movies. You can thank me later!

Bring a Charging Pack

Charging packs are a necessity. Airplanes typically have outlets at your seat, but what about that 7-hour layover?! It can be a pain trying to find a free outlet in the airport so do yourself a favor and bring a charging pack. This is essential since so many boarding tickets are now on your phone, you don’t want that to die! I snagged THIS two pack from Amazon and they can last for multiple charges!

Compression Socks

Long flights can decrease your blood circulation, and you want to keep it moving. Wearing a pair of compression socks can help decrease the chance of blood clots on a flight. Additionally, try to stand up and walk around every 2-3 hours. I also like to stretch in my seat, doing calf raises and flexing my toes when I can. Check out THIS 3 pack!

Wear Your Comfiest Clothes

If you’re going to be stuck in a small seat for hours, you better be comfortable. Wear your comfiest sweats and coziest hoodie. I avoid wearing leggings as those can feel too tight after a while, but you know your wardrobe best! Sometimes I like to bring an extra hoodie in my carry-on to use as a blanket if it gets chilly.

Keep all Medications in Your Carry On

This is important, as you may be separated from your luggage for over 24 hours if you have layovers! Make sure to keep any important medication and toiletries in your carry-on. If you have a layover, take a minute when you get off your first flight to go to the bathroom, brush your teeth and hair, wash your face, and refresh yourself. You will feel so much better for round #2.

Bring Snacks

Let’s be real, airplane food can be gross. You need to be prepared with the snacks! Grab something salty, something sweet, and something fresh if you can! Also, make sure to bring a water bottle and have the flight attendants refill it as needed. There is nothing worse than being dehydrated on a plane. Bonus points if you buy your snacks at the dollar store before getting to the airport, we don’t want to pay those airport prices! Contrary to popular belief, you are allowed to bring packaged food through security, don’t let them fool you.

Pull an All-Nighter

I value my sleep, but I value my sleep on a plane even more. If you are going somewhere in a different timezone, you might as well get on that timezone a day early. If I have a morning flight, sometimes I will pull an all-nighter the night before and then I am so exhausted that I just pass out for the whole flight. Then I barely feel it and wake up in the right time zone!

Check the Seats Right Before You Board

If you are lucky, your flight might not be full. It’s always great to check the seat map before boarding and leading up to your trip. You may discover an empty row! Once you board, you can also keep your eyes peeled for empty rows or seats. Sometimes you can get lucky and have a whole row to yourself!

On one of my longest flights ever, LA to Auckland, I got lucky and had a whole row to myself! This made the flight so much better since I could lay across all three seats and stretch out.

Key Points

Hopefully, these tips make your long flight a little more bearable, but how lucky are you to travel across the world and see new places?! Sitting on a plane is a small price to pay to experience the wonders that this world has to offer.

Bring a high-quality neck pillow that has a cover.
Have multiple entertainment options by bringing a Kindle, downloading movies beforehand, and using Hoopla for audio books.
Bring a charging pack to help during a long layover.
Wear compression socks and move around to help blood circulation.
Wear your comfiest clothes and bring something to keep you warm!
Keep all medications and toiletries in your carry-on. Make sure to freshen up between flights!
Stop at the store before you get to the airport to bring lots of snacks.
Pull an all-nighter to help you get your body into the right timezone.
Check for empty rows or seats leading up to your flight.

Maddie Around the World