5 Tips For a Long Flight
Start your holiday off right!
Those eight-hour flights can often feel like a lifetime. Here are some top tips to pass the time and take care of yourself on the way.
Inflight Facial
The recycled air on planes can dry out your skin. Once the captain turns the seatbelt signs off, treat yourself to an inflight facial. You’ll pass a little time, protect your skin, and arrive at your destination looking fabulous.
Make sure you sanitize your hands before you get started. Planes are dirty and you don’t want any of that bacteria getting on your face. First, use a little micellar water or a wipe to remove any makeup or sunscreen. Follow up with another one to make sure any dirt is gone. Then apply a hyaluronic acid serum to pull water into your skin. Follow up with a facial spritz. Then apply a good dose of eye cream, followed by a moisturizer or facial oil, to seal in all your hard work. Finally, a slick of lip balm or lip oil to stop your lips from getting dry. Spritz during the flight to avoid your skin getting dried out
Don’t forget to make sure all your products are under 100ml, and in a clear plastic bag to take through security.
Take your own water bottle — but beware of straws
I know you’re not allowed to take a bottle of water through security. But you can take an empty bottle and fill it up on the other side. Many airports now have taps for this purpose. If your airport does not you can always ask a restaurant or café to fill it up for you. This will save you money on buying a bottle at the airport, and avoid more plastic going into landfills. I like to take a large bottle with me on a long flight to stay hydrated. The recycled air on planes is very drying and the food is often very salty, leading to higher levels of thirst.
A word of warning though, beware of water bottles with flip-up straws. The change in air pressure as the plane climbs means pressure inside the bottle is higher than outside. This can force water out through the straw, soaking you and your seatmates. To avoid this, rather than flipping up the straw, unscrew the lid of the bottle to regulate the pressure inside and outside the bottle. You can then screw the lid back on, flip the straw, and drink normally.
Turtle travel pillow
Travel pillows are a very personal decision and there is a wide range available. I like the Turtle Pillow, as it is lightweight and doesn’t take up a lot of room in my hand luggage. It wraps around your neck a bit like a scarf. It has a structure inside designed to rest between your head and your shoulder for a nice nap. Aside from napping, I will also wear it while watching in-flight movies to give my neck a bit more support. I’ll also travel with a large scarf, which doubles as a blanket to keep me warm while I sleep.
Download movies you want to watch
The majority of long-haul flights now have inflight entertainment, including a wide range of movies and TV shows. But why rely on someone else to pick your entertainment for you. If you have subscriptions to Disney+ or Netflix, you can download content to your device to watch on the go. Some services, like BBC iPlayer will even let you download for free (assuming you have a TV licence). Download a few films you have been wanting to watch or even a TV show to binge. I downloaded Inventing Anna to watch on a recent flight and it made the whole thing go much faster. If you’re not into video, you might use apps, like Libby or BorrowBox, to download audiobooks, magazines, and e-books. Having a range of content available to you will help you find something to suit your mood.
Do some yoga
Okay, don’t be that girl, stretched out doing downward dog in the aisle. You can incorporate some gentle yoga into your flight, without even leaving your seat. This will help you get a stretch in, soothe your aching muscles, and start your holiday off on the right foot. Yoga With Adriene has a great Yoga on an Airplane video that takes around a minute and can be repeated a few times through the flight. It’s also subtle, so you’re not going to attract the attention of everyone around you.
There you have it! Those are my tips for a long flight. What are your favorites? Do you have any long flight tips? Let me know in the comments and make sure to follow me for upcoming articles!
