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What to do when you have long haul flights

I have experienced the agony of long haul flights from Canada to India in economy seat  and especially if you haven’t planned earlier and this is the most tormenting thing you ever did if you are travelling alone. I did the same and I haven’t planned for anything i just packed my bag and got ready for the long haul flight and see what happened while waiting for the connecting flight after 11 hour of stoppage at London Heathrow airport…. huffffffff
Sick of waiting........................

About six hours into the 10-hours flight from Canada to London, I was feeling strong and confident. I clearly remember thinking, “Six hours down, four to go. No sweat, I got this.” But then eleven hour of stoppage to catch connecting flight from London to India and again 10 hours flight. Ah! I can’t bear this anymore. But window seat kept occupied me, Thankfully!
However, not all long-haul flights have to be miserable; on one direct flight from Tokyo to New York, It is nearing the end of a book and one can enjoy immensely, and remember distinctly thinking, “No, no, just a little more time!” when the pilot told us over the in-flight PA that we had started our final descent. Here are few tips for preventing boredom, dehydration, deep-vein thrombosis, sleep deprivation and more so you can confidently say “I got this” the next time you are imprisoned in a metal tube for an entire waking day of your life.

   1. Avoiding Jet Lag

Jet lag is the disruption of the body’s rhythms with travel across time zones, plus probably pre-travel sleep deprivation. You need to adopt the ‘rhythms’ of your destination to help adjust, so set your watch to the destination time as soon as you are on board. Flights east generally caused worse symptoms than those westbound. A general rule of thumb is that the number of days needed to recover is equal to two-thirds of the time zones crossed. With westbound flights, the number is half the time zones crossed.
sleeping-at-airport

2. Wear Shoes

Never, we repeat, NEVER, use plane toilets without wearing shoes. The flight attendants work hard to keep these areas clean but I’m sure you can guess what some of the splashes on the floor are and do you really want to walk in that – and then take it back to your seat? You need loose comfortable shoes as your feet can swell during the flight so I recommend traveling in lightweight sandals.

3. Two Drinks
Flight attendants say it’s OK to ask for two drinks at a time so you don’t need to call them back in 5 minutes. Remember to drink plenty of water and juice to keep you hydrated, and avoid caffeinated soft drinks, plus tea and coffee.
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 4. Basic Toiletries

Even with liquid security restrictions, we are allowed basic toiletries on board. (Do check before traveling in case the situation changes.) We’d advise taking a small toothpaste (under 100ml) and toothbrush, a small moisturizer, and deodorant. This should also stop people taking too long on the toilets! Remember you can freshen up in the airport toilets when you collect your luggage if you have friends coming to meet you and you’re worried about smelling!
packtoiletries

 5. Get Your Food Earlier

If you like to eat early, order a special meal. (You will need to book this when booking your ticket. Allow at least 24 hours.) But do note, your tray won’t be cleared away any earlier.

 6. Do Exercises

Get up and stretch on regular intervals if possible or at least circle your ankles once an hour. The in-flight magazine will have pictures of the recommended exercises.


7. Dry Air

Keep the air vent above you open. Dampen a facecloth, place it over your face, and aim the air vent at the cloth and this will help with the dryness.


























8. Chewing Gum
Chewing can help with the changes in air pressure, as can sucking on boiled sweets. Remember, your ears don’t always pop just at take-off and landing times, but during the flight too. Chewing gum can also help if you feel nervous as it gives you something to do.

 9. Use Cushions

To help ease lower back pain, place one of the pillows provided between your lower back (just below your ribs) and the seat. If you are trying to get some sleep do support your neck – you can use your own inflatable neck pillow or scrunch one provided by the airline.

















Share your ideas and experiences to make long haul flights more relaxed and enjoyable. Share in the comment section below. 🙂




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