20 Ways to Survive a Long-Haul Flight Without Losing Your Mind

Long-haul flights are rarely a photographer’s favourite part of travelling. They are simply the price we pay to reach the places we have been dreaming about.

For several hours, your world becomes a reclining seat, a folding tray and a stranger who may or may not understand the accepted rules of armrest ownership. Add dry cabin air, questionable sleep, limited movement and the possibility of spending 11 hours near someone who removes their shoes, and the journey can test even the most patient traveller.

The good news is that a little preparation can make a major difference. You may not step off the aircraft feeling refreshed enough to run a marathon, but you can arrive comfortable, organized and reasonably pleasant to be around.

Here are 20 ways to make your next long-haul flight easier.

1. Choose Your Seat as Early as Possible

Book early and select your seat as soon as the airline allows it. The right seat can have a large impact on how comfortable you feel during a long flight.

A window seat gives you something to lean against and prevents other passengers from climbing over you while you sleep. An aisle seat offers easier access to the washroom and allows you to stand up without beginning a small negotiation.

The middle seat offers neither benefit, but it does provide an excellent opportunity to reflect on the decisions that brought you there.

Remember that airlines can change aircraft or move passengers, so check your seat assignment again when you check in.

2. Do Not Automatically Dismiss the Back Rows

Most travellers rush to choose seats near the front of economy. That makes sense if getting off the aircraft quickly is your priority. However, the back of the plane can occasionally offer an advantage.

On flights that are not full, empty seats often remain near the rear. You may have a better chance of finding an unused seat beside you or, in rare and glorious circumstances, an entire row.

Seats near the back can be noisier, and you will probably be among the last passengers to leave. Still, an empty seat beside you during a 10-hour flight can be worth an extra 15 minutes after landing.

3. Consider Paying for More Space

A long-haul flight is one of the few times when paying for extra legroom can feel less like an indulgence and more like a sound medical decision.

Premium economy often includes a wider seat, more recline, additional legroom, earlier boarding and improved meal service. Even an exit-row seat can make a significant difference.

Use airline points or miles when possible. You have been collecting them for something, and there is little value in dying with 400,000 unused points and a lifetime of cramped knees.

Complimentary upgrades are increasingly rare. Dressing well and smiling politely will never hurt, but loyalty status, availability and payment usually matter more than wearing a blazer at the check-in desk.

4. Begin Adjusting to the New Time Zone

A few days before departure, gradually move your bedtime and waking time closer to the schedule at your destination.

Travelling east usually means going to bed earlier. Travelling west often means staying awake later. Even shifting your routine by an hour or two can soften the impact of jet lag.

Do not attempt to defeat jet lag by staying awake for an entire day before flying. This sounds clever until you find yourself exhausted, confused and arguing with an airport vending machine when it gives you Skittles instead of a Kit Kat.

5. Dress for Comfort, Not the Runway

Long flights are not fashion shows. Wear loose, breathable clothing that allows you to move easily and remain comfortable while sitting for several hours.

Layers are important because aircraft cabins can move unpredictably between a tropical greenhouse and meat locker. A light sweater, fleece or zip-up jacket is easy to remove and does not require acrobatics in your seat.

Avoid tight waistbands, stiff fabrics and complicated footwear. Your body may swell slightly during the flight, so choose clothing and shoes with a little extra room.

You do not need to wear pyjamas to the airport, but nobody will judge you for dressing like comfort is the main objective.

6. Arrive Earlier Than You Think Necessary

A long journey is tiring enough without beginning it by sprinting through the terminal.

Give yourself enough time to check your luggage, clear security, find the gate, fill your water bottle and deal with any unexpected problems. International terminals can be large, security lines can change quickly and gates occasionally move.

Arriving early also gives you time to eat a proper meal before boarding. That may be wise when the in-flight dinner appears to have been designed by someone who has only heard rumours about food.

7. Keep Your Personal Bag Organized

You will need more supplies on a long flight, but that does not mean your underseat bag should resemble an overfilled storage locker.

Keep the items you will use most frequently near the top: passport, headphones, charging cable, medication, water bottle, snacks, reading material and toiletries.

Use small pouches to separate electronics, personal-care items and travel documents. This prevents you from emptying the entire bag onto your lap while searching for one charging cable.

Your overhead carry-on can hold less frequently used items. Your personal bag should contain what you need during the flight without requiring a full archaeological excavation.

8. Bring Noise-Cancelling Headphones or Earplugs

Aircraft are noisy. Engines hum, carts rattle, babies express their opinions, and at least one passenger will watch a movie without headphones unless civilization intervenes.

Noise-cancelling headphones can reduce the constant background sound and make it easier to sleep, read or enjoy entertainment. Basic earplugs are also useful and take up almost no space.

Some travellers feel uncomfortable or dizzy while using active noise cancellation. Turn it off if you feel unwell and switch to regular headphones or earplugs.

Silence may not be possible, but reducing the noise can make the cabin feel far less exhausting.

9. Pack a Proper Eye Mask

Cabin lighting rarely follows your personal sleep schedule. Someone will open a window shade at the exact moment you finally begin to drift off.

A comfortable eye mask helps block cabin lights, reading lamps and glowing entertainment screens. Choose one that fits securely without pressing against your eyes.

Some designs include padded eye cups, cooling material or built-in headphones. The simplest version is often enough, provided it blocks light and does not feel like a small elastic band is trying to remove your ears.

An eye mask also sends a helpful message to the cabin: unless the wing is missing, please do not disturb me.

10. Find a Way to Relax

Flying can be stressful, especially when turbulence begins or your connecting time is tight.

Download calming music, breathing exercises, meditations or anything else that helps you settle. Slow breathing can reduce tension and make it easier to fall asleep.

Try inhaling slowly for four seconds, holding briefly and then exhaling for six seconds. Repeat this for several minutes.

You cannot control the weather, the aircraft or the passenger behind you who treats your seatback like a percussion instrument. You can control how much attention you give them.

11. Download Entertainment Before Leaving Home

Never assume the aircraft entertainment system will work perfectly. Screens freeze, headphones fail and occasionally the movie selection appears to have been chosen in 2007.

Download movies, television programs, podcasts, audiobooks, music and digital books before leaving home. Make sure the files can be opened without an internet connection.

Podcasts and audiobooks usually use less battery power than video, making them useful later in the flight.

Bring different types of entertainment. After several hours, you may discover that the serious documentary you planned to watch requires more intellectual effort than you can currently provide.

12. Fully Charge Every Device

Charge your phone, tablet, camera batteries, laptop, headphones and power bank before leaving for the airport.

Some aircraft provide dependable power outlets. Others provide outlets that look encouraging but contribute nothing.

Pack the correct cables and keep them within reach. A compact power bank is useful, particularly if you are travelling with several devices or have a connection after landing.

Put your devices into low-power mode when practical and reduce screen brightness. Eleven hours is a long time to stare at a black screen while remembering all the things you forgot to download.

13. Drink Water and Move Regularly

Cabin air is extremely dry, and dehydration can contribute to headaches, fatigue, dry skin and general discomfort.

Drink water regularly throughout the flight. You do not need to consume gallons at once. Small amounts taken consistently are usually easier and will reduce repeated trips to the washroom.

Stand up, stretch and walk through the cabin every couple of hours when it is safe to do so. While seated, rotate your ankles, flex your feet and move your legs.

Long periods of inactivity can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis, particularly for travellers with additional risk factors. Anyone with a medical condition or previous history of blood clots should speak with a healthcare professional before travelling.

14. Bring a Small Freshen-Up Kit

After several hours in the air, even the most polished traveller can begin to feel like forgotten luggage.

Pack a small kit containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, facial wipes, moisturizer, lip balm and any other permitted toiletries you regularly use.

Brushing your teeth and washing your face before sleeping can help maintain your normal routine. Repeating the process before landing will make you feel more human when you arrive.

A clean shirt and fresh socks can also make a surprising difference, especially before a connection or an immediate meeting.

Just remember that changing clothes in an aircraft washroom requires patience, balance and the flexibility of a circus performer.

15. Use the Time Productively—Within Reason

A long flight can be a useful opportunity to organize photographs, write notes, read, plan your trip or complete work that does not require an internet connection.

Download all necessary files before departure. In-flight Wi-Fi can be slow, expensive or completely unavailable.

However, do not feel obligated to transform every airborne minute into a productivity seminar. It is perfectly acceptable to watch three films, eat snacks and stare blankly at the flight map.

Rest is also productive, especially when crossing several time zones.

16. Treat the Cabin Crew Well

Cabin crews manage safety, meals, medical situations, passenger concerns and countless requests during every flight. Courtesy should be automatic.

Greet them, listen during announcements and be patient when service takes time. A sincere thank-you costs nothing.

Friendly passengers are also easier to help when small opportunities arise, such as changing seats, getting an extra bottle of water or solving a problem.

Do not be kind because you expect an upgrade. Be kind because the crew is working in a pressurized metal tube filled with hundreds of people, and several of those people have already asked whether the plane will arrive early.

17. Pack Your Own Snacks

Bring a few familiar snacks that are easy to eat and unlikely to create a mess.

Granola bars, nuts, crackers, dried fruit, sandwiches and protein bars are practical choices. Avoid anything with a powerful smell. Your tuna-and-boiled-egg sandwich may be delicious, but the rest of the cabin did not agree to participate.

Check airport security and destination customs rules before packing food. Fresh fruit, meat and other agricultural products may be restricted when entering another country.

Eat fresh items before landing or dispose of them properly. A forgotten apple can become a surprisingly expensive souvenir at customs.

18. Support Your Feet and Legs

Sitting for hours with your feet on the floor can contribute to swelling and discomfort.

A small travel footrest can improve your sitting position. Some attach to the tray-table support and allow you to raise your feet slightly. A firm personal bag may also work, provided you are not crushing anything valuable.

Compression socks can help reduce swelling and support circulation. Choose the correct size and speak with a healthcare professional if you have circulation problems or are unsure whether they are suitable for you.

Also change your position regularly. Even the best seat becomes uncomfortable when your body remains frozen like a museum display.

19. Protect Your Nose and Skin From Dry Cabin Air

Aircraft cabins have very low humidity. Your nose, throat, eyes and skin may feel dry long before you land.

A saline nasal spray can help keep nasal passages comfortable. Unlike medicated decongestant sprays, saline sprays are generally intended to add moisture rather than reduce congestion.

Anyone considering a medicated nasal spray should check with a pharmacist or healthcare professional, particularly if they have high blood pressure, heart conditions or use other medications.

Lip balm, moisturizer and lubricating eye drops can also help. Avoid heavily scented products unless you wish to become unpopular across three rows.

20. Choose Your Drinks Carefully

A glass of wine with dinner may help you relax, but too much alcohol can worsen dehydration, disturb sleep and increase fatigue after landing.

Caffeine can also interfere with rest, especially when consumed late in the flight. Carbonated drinks may contribute to bloating because gases expand as cabin pressure changes.

Water should remain your main drink. Herbal tea can also be a good option when available.

You do not need to avoid every enjoyable drink. Just remember that an aircraft cabin is not the ideal place to discover your personal limit. The washroom is small, the aisle is narrow and turbulence has terrible timing.

A Better Flight Begins Before Boarding

You cannot control every part of a long-haul journey. There may still be delays, turbulence, crying children, malfunctioning screens and a seatmate who believes both armrests were included in their ticket.

You can, however, prepare your seat, clothing, food, entertainment, sleep schedule and carry-on bag before leaving home.

The goal is not to make 12 hours in economy feel luxurious. The goal is to arrive at your destination rested enough to enjoy the reason you travelled in the first place.

The flight is only the uncomfortable bridge between home and the photography adventure waiting on the other side.

Now that we’ve given you sound tips to survive your long-haul flight … time to search for your next photography adventure with Akari Photo Tours.