How to Prepare for a Long Flight

If you're planning to fly from the United States to Europe this spring, it's time to start thinking about how you'll spend your time in the air. Besides packing a few entertaining books and catching up on your favorite TV series, here are a few tips for how you can make the 10-plus hours of flight go by as quickly as possible.

It's worth noting that you don't want to drink too much water while flying — doing so can lead to cramps or even a mild form of dehydration called hyponatremia, and it also negatively affects blood pressure. So try to drink when you're feeling thirsty, not when you're feeling light-headed.

1. Pack enough snacks  

 "The easiest way to make the flight pass by faster is to bring plenty of snacks for yourself," says Anna Belknap, vice president of the Luggage Concierge division of Travel Pro Group, a leading luggage and travel accessories manufacturer based in Dayton, Ohio. "When you're busy mentally trying to figure out what will be on your agenda once you land and start enjoying some downtime, little brain cells are being destroyed as we're thinking about food or flight patterns," Belknap says. "Sometimes all I want is just to eat something!"

2. Check your flight status  

"If you have time before your flight, check to see if there are any changes in your flight," says Ronald Clark, vice president of product management at Expedia. "A lot of times if you're checking in online ahead of time they'll try to e-mail you and let you know that there is a change," he says. "Or if they've decided to de-ice the plane or something like that."

3. Explore the airline's entertainment options  

"Check out the entertainment offerings on board your next flight, which will be Wi-Fi enabled," says Clark. The airline's website can tell you what to expect in terms of movies, TV shows and more. Note those, then set up your choice of entertainment prior to getting on the flight. "Download what you want before you get on the plane, so when you're ready to watch it all you have do is plug in your headphones, put on what you like and relax."

4. Watch out for high-altitude headache  

"If your flight is long enough and the cabin is pressurized at a higher altitude than you're normally accustomed to," Clark says, "you may experience a headache or an upset stomach. This is caused by the change in barometric pressure at the higher altitude. So drink plenty of water before the flight and during the flight, even if you don't feel thirsty." This could also include a few cups of coffee to help ease the transition from a lower altitude to a higher altitude.

5. Stretch your legs  

"It is important to stand up and stretch every hour or so," Belknap says. "If you can walk around for five minutes, take a stroll up and down the aisle or go out into the galley area, that's always good." If it's not safe to open the galley doors — some of them lock during flights — try this trick: Use your headphone wire as an impromptu door handle. The flight attendants will love you.

6. Take in deep breaths  

On the longer flights "a good way to make the time go by faster is to just pause, close your eyes and take some long, deep breaths," Belknap says.

7. Use a mask  

If you're prone to air sickness, Belknap recommends visiting the flight attendant before takeoff and asking for a mask that fits over your nose and mouth. This can be especially helpful if other passengers are sick during the flight. If you have trouble sleeping during flights, try using ear plugs for extra protection against noise.

8. Be nice to the pilot  

"Pilots are people, too," Clark says. "There's a good chance that you will be sitting near the cockpit on longer flights, so just remember that pilots have families and children and it does take a bit to keep in touch with them." No need for any awkward "what do your kids think about you spending so much time flying?" conversations — just assume that they're wonderful.

9. Bring an eye mask  

If there's any chance of light coming into your row from the window, bringing an eye mask could make all the difference in getting some sleep. If you don't have one handy, Belknap suggests using a scarf or small towel. And even if you don't end up using it, you can use the eye mask to make a serious fashion statement.

10. Ask for help if you need it  

If none of these tips work for you, Belknap warns against sitting on your hands and doing nothing. "Ask a flight attendant or one of the pilots if they have any special techniques they use to make the time go by," she says. "Everyone is different, and there are so many ways to try to pass the time."

11. Ditch the electronics  

As the 11-hour flight to Europe goes on, the cabin of your plane may get cold enough that you want to close your window shades. As Clark points out, this will not do much for sleep. "Put a blanket over you and enjoy the scenery!" A good book can also help pass the time — especially if you're in coach. "If it's a book that you really wanted to read anyway and there's nobody around, definitely pick up a paperback."

12. Ask for club seating if possible  

"If your travel includes some leg room (in economy or business class), consider asking for club seating," Belknap says. "This will make the flight go by much faster, because you can stretch out and have more room to walk around." Be sure to specify that you want the seats next to the cockpit door, if possible.

13. Get some sleep before you fly  

If you've found through experience that sleeping on planes helps your sleep patterns, Clark says it's important to prepare for a full night's rest before flying. "Expect it, be ready and take time to find out what kind of pillows they have on board," he says. "I have found that many of the ones they use are too firm for me and I ended up with a bad neck.

Conclusion

Most of you will agree with the above tips. But some may disagree. How do you manage your time on a long flight? Have any suggestions or tips that you would like to add or disagree with? Please share in the comment box below and let us know!

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