Ten hours from Detroit to Sao Pa
ulo.
Seventeen hours from Washington, DC to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Nine hours from Toronto to Vienna.
I’ve experienced all of these multiple times. Long flights are about as fun as being swarmed by a colony of raging yellow jackets. However, there are things you can do to make long flights more comfortable – more comfortable, NOT comfortable.
Here are my suggestions….
- Pick your seat ahead of time. Whenever possible, select your seat when you make your reservation. It may cost a few bucks, but it’s worth it. On long flights, I prefer a plane with a 2-3-2 or 2-4-2 seating arrangement. I make sure to reserve my seat in a 2 column. Whether I’m alone or with my husband it’s nice to only have one other person to contend with when getting up during the flight.
- ALSO – Seatguru.com is your friend. It allows you to see a layout of the plane, and provides info about each seat. Be sure to check them out when making your flight selections!
- Dress with comfort in mind. If you’re going to be on a plane for ten hours, you do not need to dress for the boardroom. I have a blue hoodie and yoga pant ensemble that is comfortable enough to sleep in, but still looks polished. My husband has a nice jogging suit that he wears on long flights. Even if I need to go directly from the airport to a meeting, I dress for comfort on the plane. I’ll change clothes at the airport if necessary.
- Bring your own entertainment. Most international flights offer some form of entertainment, but I still like to supplement with my own. I love my E-reader. I can read and play Spider Solitaire for hours. You know what works for you.
- Minimize your carry-on baggage. Baring a few exceptions, if you are not traveling with kids, you only need a backpack. I like to keep mine under the seat ahead of me. I carry a bottle of water, my tablet/E-reader, a change of clothes, a lipgloss, a pen, my phone, medications, and my wallet.
- Walk as much as possible during the flight. Long flights can be taxing on the human body. Be sure you are getting up and walking regularly. Keep your circulation going as much as possible. In addition to walking, I do calf, arm and neck stretching. It’s important, so please take it seriously. Also, you can use your walks as an opportunity to drink some water.
- Consider paying for an upgrade. I know it’s expensive. You don’t necessarily have to pay for first class, but there are usually other options on long haul flights. Check with your airline so see what what your options are. The coach+1 options usually give you a little more arm and/or leg room. Those couple of inches can make a significant difference in your comfort level on that brutally long flight.
These are my top suggestions for long flights. Being on a plane for ten hours is going to suck no matter what. However these tips have served me well, and I hope you will find them useful.
