Every Tip You Need To Transform Any Long Flight Into A Pleasant Experience

Flying can often be an unpleasant experience. In fact, most people out there don’t particularly look forward to a long flight, simply because so many details can make the experience just plain awful. But fortunately, we have the internet to help us improve some of these flying experiences. Here’s a list of tips that will make traveling by plane a much more enjoyable time from now on.

Charge Without A Charging Port

We all know how the feeling of having an uncharged phone isn’t the best. And even though most airports have free charging stations nowadays, you might still find yourself stuck in certain airports. But no need to panic.

Many airports also have tons of televisions spread all over, so if you can’t find a charging port, then you can just find a TV that probably has a USB port. It shouldn’t be a problem to simply plug your phone and charge it till it’s ready for your flight.

How To Save Space

Packing can be an enjoyable experience for some, but for others, it’s not that exciting! Especially when you book one of those low-cost flights, and you literally have to fit everything into one small suitcase. But the truth is that if you use the right technique, your packing experience might become 100 times better from now on.

Here’s how it goes, just lay out every piece of clothing that is a bit bulkier at the bottom part of your suitcase. Then, you can start packing the rest. Try to roll everything that you can (like pajamas, t-shirts, pants) while folding everything that can potentially become wrinkled. And voila, everything should be packed while looking incredibly organized.

Always Wear Layers

Airplanes are usually fairly cold, especially for people coming from tropical and warm weather. While some flights aren’t as cold, it’s impossible to know how cold or hot the flight will be, so better be safe than sorry.

When you get ready for your flight, make sure to layer up while still being comfortable. This will not only save some space from your suitcase but also gives you the option of taking out a piece of clothing in case you feel hot. You can always use it as a blanket, a pillow, or a headrest. And if that doesn’t work, you can also quickly put the extra piece of clothing stored in the upper cabinet if you don’t need it.

Don’t Order That Carbonated Drink

If you know that your flight is going to be particularly long, then the best thing you can do is to skip that carbonated drink. The thing is that carbonated beverages, like sodas, coca-cola, and others, can add a certain amount to the air you swallow.

This, in turn, results in a continuous need to burp or pass gas more frequently, because once the air reaches a person’s digestive tract, it needs to find a way to pass through. There’s more! Your intestines can be expanded as the altitude changes, causing even more discomfort and gas. So just try and skip soda for fruit juice or water.

Packing your Foundation

Packing makeup foundation in your luggage can be a little difficult. Because of the size restrictions and air pressure, it might not be a good idea to pack your foundation in your suitcase.

Instead, try using a contact lens case to store the perfect amount of foundation or prescription ointments for your trip. This tip is especially useful for those who use a foundation that comes ina glass bottle because the last thing you want is that bottle breaking in your suitcase and all over your clothing.

Make your Luggage Identifiable

Before going on your flight you may want to try making your luggage uniquely identifiable. This is because many people may have luggage that looks just like yours and the last thing you want is someone mistakenly walking off with your bag.

If your bag is easy to spot it also makes it easier for you to take the right bag instead of someone else’s by mistake. You can brighten up your luggage by tying colorful ribbons to the handle. This is especially important if you have a black suitcase which is one of the most common types.

Pay Attention To The Blankets

If you’re a self-proclaimed germaphobe, or you know you have the tendency to worry about this stuff, then beware of airplane blankets. Unless you see that the blankets they’re giving out at the beginning of the flight come in sealed bags, then you might just want to pass.

Chances are that if the blanket isn’t sealed, it might not have been washed after the previous flight. So to avoid unwanted germs, you might want to simply take your own small blanket. Just make sure to layer your clothes until you feel that there’s no chance that you’ll freeze on the plane.

Pack Some Snacks

Even though buying airport snacks is always fun and yummy, you might be better just packing your favorite snacks and food from home. That way, you’ll actually save some money, since everything at the airport is overpriced anyway, and you won’t get stuck without food in any circumstance.

Sometimes the airplane food sucks or you’re at the airport too early or too late, finding all food stores closed. Remember to try to pack your snacks in bags to save space, instead of putting them in containers.

Choose A Morning Flight If You Can

If you’re not the biggest fan of turbulence, then you should know that morning flights usually have less turbulence. So if you do have the option to do so, it could be a better idea to choose a morning flight.

This is because the earth heats mostly throughout the day, causing the hot air to rise, resulting in winds and even storms. So storms might have a bigger chance of happening in the afternoon instead of the morning.

Pack Smaller Items in a Repurposed Pill Caddy

If you pack smaller items like jewelry or earplugs in your suitcase, it is very easy for these tiny pieces to go missing.

The best thing to do is to keep them together in one safe place. A pill caddy is small enough to park without taking too much room in your luggage, and the separate compartments are perfect for earrings or chains.

Try To Keep The Air On

Yes, it does get pretty cold during the flight, so the most obvious thing to do is to turn the air off. But the truth is that it’s always better to just keep the vent on, even if it’s a bit chillier.

Keeping it on will allow you to avoid any contact with random germs that can result in you becoming sick after the flights. When the air is on, a sort of invisible air barrier surrounds you, chasing away any unwanted viruses spread all over the plane. Your skin can also get really dry when the air is off, so keeping it on will allow it to breathe and keep it moisturized.

Give Customer Service A Call

Sometimes, flights get canceled. And when that happens at the last minute, people are usually at the airport already, and everyone tries to get on the next flight out.

So to not get lost in the crowd, here’s a great tip. You can simply get your phone and call the customer service line, and they should be able to easily rebook the next flight out. That way, you’re ready to avoid the line and maybe even beat it.

Escape From The Middle Seat

No one really likes to sit in the middle seat, especially when you’re sitting in the middle of two complete strangers. But with online check-in revolutionizing the industry, people book their seats a long time in advance.

So sometimes you don’t have a choice but to reserve the remaining middle seats. If that happens, though, you can always set up an alert on ExpertFlyer.com. The website will notify you if someone cancels their ticket or simple changes seats, allowing you to change yours too right away.

Easy Packing

Packing your suitcase perfectly to make everything fit can take a lot of patience and time. It can all be undone when you reach in to find something. Instead, try storing different outfits in freezer bags. Just plan your outfits beforehand and store each outfit in its own bag.

That way if you need to search your bag for something nothing will be unfolded and disorganized and you can easily find all your clothes for a certain day Its also a great way to keep track while packing and nothing will be forgotten.

Wait To Fall Asleep

Some people manage to fall asleep before takeoff literally until the moment the plane lands. But to protect our ears from temporary ear loss and from hurting, it’s always better to stay awake until after takeoff and to be awake before landing.

Unfortunately, our ears don’t have the ability to regulate the air pressure when the plane is going up and down too rapidly. Anyone can prevent their ears from hurting by chewing a bit of gum before or wearing special earplugs.

Make A Wise Choice

While it might be a bit of a gamble, it might be worth the try. If you’re two people traveling together, try to book a window seat, and instead of booking a middle seat, choose the aisle.

If the flight isn’t full, then it’s most probable that no one will book the middle seat, since people usually prefer to book the window or aisle seat. However, if a person does book the middle seat, you can just ask them to switch seats with one of you so that you can still sit together.

Block Out Any Noise

Long flights almost always have a passenger who is too noisy, who snores, has a cough, a crying baby, or just a group of friends having fun. If noise isn’t your thing, there’s no need to suffer too much.

You can always block out the noise by using a pair of earplugs made of silicone. Today, there are also noise-canceling headphones that will literally make you feel like there isn’t one person around you, allowing you to relax in peace throughout the whole flight.

Have Disinfectant Wipes With You

Ah, germs! Don’t we just love them? They are literally everywhere, and we need to be constantly on alert to prevent ourselves from getting sick.

The reason why so many people catch a cold and other virus is that there are germs spread all over the plane. Flight attendants might not always clean trays and other surfaces around your seat, so it’s still better to just take a couple of wipes and make sure everything is disinfected around you. That way you can wipe down all the surfaces around you before taking your seat.

Dress Comfortable Clothes

Sure, it feels great to look fabulous before a flight, especially if you know you’re arriving on a special occasion or person. But really, who wants to sit for 10 hours in tight jeans and an uncomfortable shirt?

The number one rule before a long flight is to dress comfy, with stretchy and breathable clothes. Fabrics like silk, linen, and cotton are usually perfect for the occasion, helping you stay comfortable and clean.

What To Do During Turbulence

Here are a couple of tips that might just make your experience with turbulence so much better! If flight turbulence is a big no-no for you, then always try to choose seats located over the wings, because turbulence is actually felt much more in the back of the plane.

But if turbulence doesn’t bother you that much, then you might want to choose seats located in the front part of the aircraft, where the air is cooler and fresher.

Pack Some Extra Underwear And Socks

Just like it’s a good idea to pack a small travel kit with you, packing some extra socks and underwear can take you a long way. After hours in a long flight, it’s always nice to freshen up and change into something clean and fresh.

You might also want to take a pair of slippers with you since your feet can swell after long hours with no activity. So it’s always good to let your feet breathe a little bit. Just in case make sure to keep extra socks in your carryon in case your feet get cold during the flight.

Travel Kits For The Win

Sometimes we make fun of people with perfectly organized travel kits, but those people seriously know what’s up! It never hurts to have some essential items in your carry on, especially when you never know when you might need them.

So just pack some travel-sized deodorant, face/body wipes, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. These items will make a massive difference after hours of sleeping during the flight, allowing you to refresh yourself before you arrive at your destination.

Take An Empty Travel Mug With You

Unfortunately, we’re not allowed to take liquids past security at the airport. But instead of paying for overpriced water, tea, or a cup of coffee, you can always take an empty travel mug on your backpack.

Pack some tea bags and then just ask your flight attendant for some hot water during the flight. This is especially useful in low-cost flights when you don’t get any food or drinks with the ticket unless you pay extra.

Always Remember To Hydrate

Hydrating yourself is essential in any circumstance. While you should drink a good amount of water every day, making sure to drink it a couple of days before your flight and during the flight itself is extremely important.

You might have to go back and forth to the bathroom more than you’d like, but in the end, it will all be worth it. You feel the benefits through your skin and your body after the flight.

Don’t Let Security Stress You Out

Passing through security can be pretty unpleasant and nerve-wracking. While some airports are less strict than others, at some airports, you can literally spend a whole hour at security.

But TSA actually has an application named “MyTSA”, that shares an estimate of how long you might spend at security lines at different airports. This is particularly helpful when you arrive at the airport almost by boarding time, and you’re still worried about how long you will have to spend in the security line.

Entertain Yourself

Getting bored on a long flight is a terrible feeling. Sometimes you simply can’t fall asleep, and the movie that’s playing isn’t necessarily your favorite.

So a good tip is to always try and prepare some entertainment for yourself ahead of the trip. It’s still a good idea to take a book, make sure your music playlists are updated, and maybe upload a movie or two to your laptop in case the flight doesn’t have wifi.

Try To Not Order Ice

A nice and icy cup of water can be delicious. Especially during a flight, it’s nice to feel refreshed with some water or juice with loads of ice.

Unfortunately, though, we’re here to tell you that you might want to skip the ice next time you fly. First of all, ice takes tons of space in your cup, resulting in much less to drink. Secondly, the water that makes the ice comes from a water tank, which mostly isn’t the cleanest.