Long-haul flights could be amazing. To think that someone could wake up at home and arrive at the other end of the globe by evening is enough wonderment. Besides the beauty of getting into entirely new geographical locations, flying for 6+ hours can be dreary for many travelers.
If you have a long flight coming up, there’s nothing to worry about. Getting the right long-haul essentials can create a comfortable experience while flying economy. Whether or not you’re a master at preparing for trips, we’ve put together some helpful long flight essentials to make for an enjoyable flight.
Ready to dive into the top 13 long haul flight essentials to get along with you while traveling long distances in the air? Here you go.
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Top 13 Long Haul Flight Essentials You Need to Know in 2023
As you’ll find in this list, enjoying your long flight doesn’t depend only on what items you bring along with you – but also on what you wear. An intelligent combination of these two categories of necessities ultimately makes a great list of the long haul flight essentials right essentials for any long flight.
1. Ear Plugs
The ear plug comes closely behind the eye mask on the list of long haul flight essentials. These plugs are great for partially shutting out the environment around you during your flights. And there are many reasons why you need this. For instance, you don’t want to spend several hours sitting by a stranger engrossed in a piece of music you don’t find fascinating – or speaking a confusing language.
You might need help finding an ear plug that blocks out sounds completely. But getting this little addition to your luggage will help shield you from disturbance from ambient noise while you’re asleep on board the flight.
Fortunately, after a few long-haul travel experiences, you’d master how to survive long-haul flights by getting along with using earplugs for your trip. Also, earplugs aren’t heavy and can easily fit into your luggage, pocket, or purse.
Consider putting them up while you settle down to read. That way, they’ll be right in place when you drift asleep.
2. Eye Mask
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You’ll require essential protection for your eyes and ears during a long flight. Travelers sensitive to light when sleeping couldn’t afford to go on long hours at heights above sea level without an eye mask.
If you have yet to try an eye mask before your flight, feel free to test-run your eye mask before getting on your flight. You want to get used to having cloth-like protection over your eyes for long.
You’ll also want to ensure the elastic adjusts to your face and provides maximum comfort. Fortunately, you don’t need to break the bank. An eye mask is on sale for a few pounds at any online or physical store around you.
You may want something more luxurious: purchasing a space mask or a pack of space masks. Space masks are lightweight and heat up when you remove them from their boxes. They’re designed to soothe your weary eyes while smelling so nicely.
3. Travel Pillow
It would help if you had a travel pillow on your list of long-haul flight essentials to get onto my carriage. While some airlines give out a travel pillow to aid their passengers’ experience, their handouts could be low-quality and feeble. You could often find the popular squishy u-shaped pillow on your flight – but it doesn’t usually do the job we want.
For many younger long-distance travelers, getting a travel pillow might seem a burden as they might feel equipped to sleep on a plane without one. However, as you grow older, you’d need these cushions to avoid waking up during your flight with neck pains.
That’s why you’d want to get top-quality foam along with you during your long-haul flights. That way, whether or not the airline-provided souvenir proves helpful, you won’t be caught stranded seeking maximum relaxation for your neck and limbs aboard the flight. Of course, you couldn’t overstate the importance of getting a highly effective travel pillow for people with health issues around their shoulder or neck.
4. Leggings/Jogging Bottoms
Leggings or jogging bottoms are great comfort providers if you’re flying at night or don’t enjoy the feeling of tight jeans sapping out your blood supply after long hours. You want to combine your comfy leggings or jogging bottoms with a loose t-shirt. Similarly, it’s also great to prepare to change the loose Tee into pajamas in the toilet before you get some sleep.
And there are several reasons why this is the right thing to do. Doing so makes it feel like you’re putting on your pj’s. However, it’s in disguise – you also feel like it’s bedtime. Additionally, leggings or jogging bottoms help you break your journey into more manageable phases, which – if you asked me – provides excellent comfort for a long trip.
Fortunately, there are plenty of attractive designs to choose from. That way, you can treat yourself to maximum sleeper comfort and look forward to sleep moments during your next long flight.
5. E-Reader
This point is definitely for book lovers – taking a hard copy book with you could be inconvenient. Any journey that takes more than 6 hours is tagged a long-haul flight. Sitting for 6 hours or more in a tiny seat surrounded by total strangers can be uncomfortable. Of course, passengers sometimes have the first-class traveling option, with the most comfortable seats. But the understandably high traveling costs can be a challenge to most travelers.
That’s why we strongly recommend you get your e-reader along for your long haul flight. Of course, hard-copy book fans could praise how paperbacks give you the privilege of flipping the pages or how the smell of a new book feels great.
To me, and many others who have come to appreciate ebooks more, there’s no worthwhile difference between soft and hard copy materials – especially when you must carry them along in your luggage for a long-haul flight. Remember, you may have to take multiple heavy books along with you. So, subscribing to the e-reader idea would make a great fit.
Many travelers shifted to Kindle or other platforms that publish or convey soft copy materials. Kindle Paperwhite, for instance, does a great job with flexible light levels that help to reduce glare (for varying weather conditions). For more affordable Kindle experiences, download the Kindle app on your device and get some free reads before your flight.
6. Tote Bag
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A tote bag is helpful for many reasons. For instance, they’re great for storing duty-free bottles or dirty clothes. Even more, a tote bag is an excellent item to serve as a piece of hand luggage during your journey. You want them to keep your snacks, phone, passport, and wallet during the flight.
You want to store all items you might want during the flight into your tote bag and place them above your hand luggage. As you go through the final passport or luggage check, taking out your tote bag is full-time to save yourself the stress of getting up and down as other travelers jostle to reach their seats.
Fortunately, a tote bag is soft, unlike typical handbags or rucksacks. That means you can squish one to the size you need to fit beneath the seat. Of course, your tote bag will likely reduce in size as you munch the snacks you got along, so you have more legroom space with time. The versatility of tote bags, which let you use them in various ways and for various reasons, makes them long haul flight essentials for every lengthy journey aboard a plane.
7. Slip Off Shoes with Comfy Socks
Anyone experienced with long flights understands that they’ve gone past the ‘dress up’ occasion it used to be decades ago. Although, some folks still advise others to dress nicely for the loftiest chance of getting an upgrade – especially for frequent flyers. However, comfort is a top priority for many people.
Being barefoot on a plane doesn’t feel healthy, especially as you’re unsure who or what has been on that carpet. Even more disturbing is that the folks around you in the plane wouldn’t want you displaying your bare feet in public (I mean, it’s not a pool or the beach!).
But you could still put on socks instead to maintain your comfort level. That’s why we recommend putting on shoes you can readily slip off, plus some comfortable socks. That could mean wearing some tennis shoes or other comfy slip-on foot wears.
You’ll need your footwear when taking off, landing, and visiting the restroom. But when you sit back to watch your favorite movie series, going socks-only is excellent to enjoy some freedom.
P.S.: Remember to ensure your shoes don’t stick and your socks are fresh so you don’t disturb others.
8. A Watch Set to the New Daytime
Here’s one of the most popular tricks long-distance flyers are told. A watch set for the new daytime is crucial for a better travel experience. First, setting your clock to the new daytime lets you start thinking about your new time once aboard the flight.
Of course, you’d want to simultaneously change the time on your phone and any watches or other devices as well. That way, you can mentally adjust to the eventual shift in the time zone. By the time you’re on land, your brain must have acclimatized itself (to an extent) to what time it is.
Even without consciously directing it to do so, your brain is likely to start thinking in the new time zone subconsciously. So, suppose your home (or body’s) time clock says it’s 6 pm, but it’s 1 am in your destination’s time. You want to tell yourself it’s time to sleep because it’s now in the middle of the night.
9. Antibacterial Sanitizer and Wipes
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For various reasons, getting antibacterial sanitizer and wipes for your long-haul journey makes excellent sense. Wet wipes are great for cleaning and disinfecting the seats. You want to wipe down the entire rear and hard reset and clean the tray table armrests, touch screen, seat back pocket, and seat buckles.
You can also use wipes to remove makeup before settling down to sleep. It helps to inform your body it’s bedtime. Remember, so many people are coughing, sneezing, or breathing in a contained space for an extended time. You want to stay germ-free all through your journey by using sanitizers appropriately.
10. Disposable Toothbrushes
Keeping your mouth and teeth clean throughout your plane flight is surprisingly one of long haul flight essentials. However, avoid getting your toothbrush and toothpaste into a germ-filled bathroom. The solution, in these cases, is using a disposable toothbrush.
A disposable toothbrush is designed for one-time use – without using water. Suppose you want your mouth to feel fresh throughout the journey. In that case, taking several disposable toothbrushes with you might be excellent (right after meals, before and after sleeping, and before disembarking).
Remember to add flossers alongside your toothbrush to clean your teeth better.
11. Mini First Aid Kit
We all hope for a healthy journey at all times. However, the need to take a small medical kit for long-haul flights still needs to be removed. You want to include anti-diarrheal, pain relievers, and other band-aids.
Besides that, your body system could react weirdly to the long flight; these items are basic to have with you. Other essential tips to place in your first aid kit include tissues, eye drops, and nasal saline.
If you take any essential medication, you always want to keep them in your carry-on. You don’t want your prescription lost in your luggage and must recover them only after a few days. If you’re somewhat ill, with essentials like paracetamol or aspirin, you can always combat sudden changes in your body physiology as soon as they arise.
12. Collapsible Water Bottle
Keeping yourself hydrated is a great way to make your long plane trips much more comfy – during and after the flight.
While the airline would provide drinking water to passengers throughout the flight (with some budget airlines charging for it); you still want to bring your personal water bottle along.
Keeping a closed container with water inside beats the minuscule cups of water many airlines offer. Perhaps you need some tips on the best water bottle to get along with you; think of a collapsible water bottle.
Once you’ve passed the security post, you want to fill the bottle before boarding the flight. Of course, you could always ask the attendant for refills, too, all through your journey.
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13. Noise-Canceling Headphones
Again, similarly to food, airlines sometimes give headphones to passengers. However, their handouts often need to be of better quality. You can get onto some long flights and discover your airline isn’t providing any headphones for the flight.
You’ll not only need these headphones to cancel out the noise from your environment. They’re great for helping you maximize your action movies for your entertainment. Listening to your favorite music with quality headphones you purchased and verified for effectiveness before embarking on your flight is often plentiful.
Bonus item: Snacks
One thing many travelers – including passengers traveling by other transportation means other than an aircraft – might find challenging is selecting the perfect travel items. And you couldn’t blame them too much anyway. People have varying personalities – and that categorization includes those who have trouble putting pack bags together.
While the airline will give you some food, it’s usually at specific meal times, including dinner or breakfast – or both – depending on the flight’s time and length. However, the food is often not so fantastic or abundant. You’ll likely get hungry in between meals. It’s certainly important to pack some snacks, say cereal bars or nuts, with you to keep you going aboard the plane.
Conclusion
However, flying over the long haul is relatively easy if you have the appropriate essentials for your journey on board with you. Having the right long haul flight essentials can turn the typically boring long flight into a pleasant or fun-filled experience. Each essential eases your traveling uniquely and helps you cope with sitting in a possibly minuscule plane seat or with a total stranger by your side while in the air for several hours. The goal is dressing comfortably, remaining health-conscious, and getting some entertaining items to keep you company throughout the journey.
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