- Long-haul flights are exhausting. It's cramped and uncomfortable. You can't move around much, and there's a lot of sitting. In addition, your shirt scratches, and the pants are simply too tight after 4 hours. You can't stretch out, and you can't get a decent night's sleep either. Here you will find 14 valuable tips on how to get through a long-haul flight relaxed and start your vacation relaxed. And yes, you can even make yourself comfortable in the economy class.
Table of Contents
1 The Best Seat
Your seat can be pretty crucial to your relaxation on a flight. Right next to the toilet or galley – disaster. Prefer an aisle and window? On a long-haul flight, you should choose your seat wisely. If you book a seat far forward, you get your meal early and can sleep afterward. It's also where an airplane shakes the least. If you book a seat further back, you might have empty seats around you because seats are assigned at the counter from front to back.
- Tip: At SeatGuru, you can find the best seats for every type of plane
You have to decide whether to sit in the aisle or at the window. Window seats have a nice view, and you can lean against them to sleep, but you always have to disturb them when you want to move or go to the restroom. You can stretch your legs and walk around without upsetting someone at the aisle seat, but you will be disturbed occasionally.
2 Early at the Airport
Especially on the journey to the airport, you should plan with a buffer. Don't arrive just before time, sweaty and with a pulse of 200. Or even miss the flight. Rather have too much time at the airport and read a few more pages in the book.
3 Lounge
You don't have to be in a frequent flyer program or fly business class to enjoy the luxury and relaxation of an airport lounge. The lounges also offer hourly tickets, which you can buy on the spot or online beforehand.
- Tip: You will find the widest range of lounges across all airports with Priority Pass
4 Transportation
Nothing is more annoying and exhausting than standing tired and flat at the airport and far and wide is no cab. The bus doesn't run anymore either. There is no Wi-Fi either. And now? Organize your transport in advance and arrive relaxed.
5 Comfy Clothes
Make sure you wear something comfortable because nothing is more annoying and exhausting than clothes that are too tight or scratchy. That doesn't mean you have to show up in your pajamas. Take your time and see which of your clothes you can wear comfortably for hours. And if you only wear the outfit on your outbound and return flights, that is.
- Tip: Wear layers because the temperature can fluctuate a lot - on the plane and depending on your destination. We recommend a packable warming jacket
6 Support Stockings
One of the best aids for a long-haul flight is support stockings. After all, bent legs, minimal movement, and reduced air pressure will take a toll on anybody. You don't have to belong to the risk group to suffer from flight thrombosis. And this manifests itself not only through discomfort, but can also proceed silently.
- Tip: If you often have heavy legs or problems with the legs, clarify it medically beforehand
7 Amenity Kit
Your skin also finds flying exhausting. Therefore, pack an amenity kit in your hand luggage: cream, deodorant, toothbrush, and toothpaste. Also, eye drops, especially if you wear contact lenses. That way, you can freshen up during the flight and not feel like you've had a wild night of partying after landing. All products are now available in travel sizes, so it's easy with the liquids.
8 The Foldable Bag Trick
The plane is already on the runway; you look out the window and remember your headphones are in the carry-on compartment, along with your neck pillow. Bummer.
- Tip: Pack everything you need during the flight in a foldable bag and take it to your seat
That way, you always have everything at hand and don't have to disturb your seatmate. After landing, you can quickly put the stuff from the bag into your hand luggage.
9 Headphones and Earplugs
Some inventions are just terrific, including noise-canceling headphones and earplugs. Silence and peace. Some earplugs can even alleviate air pressure discomfort. Used in time before takeoff and landing, or simply wear them throughout the flight. They also have a noise-reducing effect and are also available for children.
10 Cozy to the Maximum
Why sit bolt upright all the time waiting for the plane to land? Make yourself comfortable. Pack a cozy travel blanket – light, soft and foldable. It will be even more comfortable with a footrest. Because a long-haul flight is still a long-haul flight – it just gets a lot more bearable. A neck pillow should also be part of your essential equipment. Whether inflatable and space-saving, with microbeads and extremely flexible or butter-soft thanks to memory foam – the choice is enormous. A sleeping mask provides the perfect relaxation, and your body comes down thanks to the darkness, even if you should not sleep.
11 Don't Forget Your Fun
Try to see the time of the flight with different eyes: finally, you have a whole 8 hours to do only what you feel like. You'll even have food brought to you at regular intervals, and if you're thirsty, all you have to do is ring the bell. Think about which book you have always wanted to read for ages or which audiobook you have wanted to listen to ever. Everything you feel like doing and never found the time to do yet.
12 Water and Snacks
Sounds so simple, but almost everyone forgets it: Drink lots of water. Your body and skin dry out faster on planes. The consequences of dehydration can be headaches, and you certainly don't want that. Take your favorite snacks with you; at the latest, in the middle of the night, when jet lag kicks in, you'll be glad you did.
13 Keep Moving
Not just when your knees hurt and your butt is flat, but regularly. Walk up and down the aisles and stretch. Your body will thank you very much. After all, there's no other place where you can just move zero for hours on end because even when you're traveling by coach, there are breaks where you can walk around.
14 Did You Forget Something?
If you forget something, no problem at all. Just ask the staff on board. There you will be able to get a lot more than you can imagine.
- Discover: Checklist for your hand luggage on the plane
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