How to Effortlessly Survive Long-Haul Flights

I think it is very safe to say that nobody enjoys long-haul flights. Nobody.

Some flights passed by in a blink of an eye (how I wish this happens all the time but ... *wishful thinking*) and some, most of them, drag on forever. Long flights definitely are petrifying especially if you rarely do it; but after the 50th times, well, it's not as bad anymore.

I've also had my fair share of flying long-haul, even the rough route. The worst I've endured (so far) was a 13-hours flight from Tampa to Dusseldorf before hopping on 7-hours flight from Dusseldorf to Abu Dhabi to catch my last leg of 8-hours Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur flight.
Yes -- I should've flown over the Pacific but somehow *stupidly* did it the other way round.

So the advices below are for people like me -- y'know those who occasionally *not so cleverly* booked long journeys on economy class. If you're a frequent business class traveler, well, you might want to skip this entry with your glass of champagne ;)

Wear something comfortable -
The key word is "wear something comfortable but presentable. I'm opposed to looking like a total dummkopf when traveling. Because, my darlings, first impression matters and you never know who you will meet or end up sitting next to on board, right?

Credits to Road Warriorette

I usually opt for Option 2 -- a comfortable, loose long pants paired with non tight-fitting long sleeved tee (awesome to go to sleep in even without blanket) and flats. Still look very much presentable but uber comfortable.

Window or Aisle? -
A good seat is uppermost important especially on the long Europe or transatlantic journey(s). On these flights, trust me, you'd want to have aisle seat -- because there's no way one can avoid a bathroom break on a 13-hours flight.
If you're booked on a plane with 3-3-3 or 2-4-2 configurations; you should opt for (either one of) the aisle seat in the middle section.

Example of a 3-3-3 config. fleet

These seats in the middle have their own advantages, though maybe not in an obvious way. It gives you easy access to the, ahem, lavatories while giving the people seated in between two options to get to the aisles.

Alternatively, check out SeatGuru -- very informative website indeed! :)

Eat. Drink. Sleep. Repeat. -
Though some might suggest skipping the meal service altogether to avoid jet lags, this still depends on the individuals. I do skip the dinner service on board whenever taking the red-eyes.
But generally -- hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Flying long-hauls are exhausting and staying hydrated is a huge part of braving these journeys. You should be chugging water before, during and after your flight.

But, sorry to be a bummer.
Though alcohol and coffee are comfort drinks for some, try to avoid them while on board. Both disrupt your ability to sleep and booze, especially, dehydrates you.

Worse still, they do no good to your skin.

Try to get your "beauty" sleep -
Getting to actually sleep on board is hard to most people. And definitely a torture staring at the plane's current route in silence while others are fast asleep. Prior to the trip, I usually shorten my sleep by a few hours and, well, last-minute packing does wonders sometimes too.

The key is to tire yourself so you'll be able to catch a wink while on the plane.

In Malaysia, we aren't able to get sleeping pills off-the-counter without any prescriptions. Sometimes even clinics don't carry sleeping pills -- or maybe they just don't want to sell them.

So again, it depends on where in the world are you :)

Moving and Stretching -
Sitting in a cramped seat for hours is a pain. Really. It is important that you keep your blood flowing while at your seat.

Some airlines are quite good at demonstrating their in-flight exercise. But 'fret not -- you can find these simple exercises easily online.

Whenever you have to be seated, you can do light exercise like occasionally twisting your torso and looking behind each shoulders. You can also roll your head back and forth to soothe a stiff neck. And when the seat belt sign is off, I usually take this opportunity to stretch my legs by either taking a bathroom break or just by hanging at the galley for a few minutes.

Oh. You can always also walk down the aisle once or twice.

Credits to The Globe and Mail

Well the thing about these tips -- it might work on one person but might not work on another. Over time, and with loads of practice; you'll get use to flying long-haul.

Enjoy your flight!