Making the Best of a Long-Haul Flight - Our Top Tips 2024
/Before we moved to Italy in 2019, we used to fly from the USA to Europe 5-6 times a year, every year. Over the course of that time, we developed a system and a set of habits that helped make long-haul flights overseas as tolerable as possible, especially since we were always flying in economy class.
Cramped spaces, terrible food, dry air, we did our best to find ways to mitigate all those issues. We don’t fly as often as we used to, but we are still on long-haul flights a few times each year.
Here are our best tips to make your flight as easy as possible, so your trip is a success.
Bring Your Own Food
Plane food is brutal. In general, it is not worth eating, and it might even make you sick. We think it is best just to skip it altogether, but if you want to take advantage of the free food, consider requesting a special meal in advance. There are a few options that are mildly interesting: Hindu meals, vegan meals, Asian vegetarian, and similar options might net you a meal with some elements worth eating. Avoid meats, which have the highest likelihood of contamination (and anyway, Gordon Ramsay is not in the galley cooking your steak to perfection).
Our best advice is to pack meals for yourself of nuts, cheese, hummus, flatbreads, dried fruit, etc, all of which are easy to find in single serve options, can get past security, and will satisfy your hunger while keeping you feeling healthy.
Wear A Ton of Clothing
Wear more clothes than you think you need, especially in summer. It may be hot outside, but the airport and the plane will likely be quite chilled, and you will want a light sweater and/or a jacket. Many travelers pack a travel pillow - those work for some folks, but we have found them to be pretty useless. They only serve one purpose, and we prefer to pack light so we don’t bring items that can’t be used several times. We tried inflatable pillows but those were less than successful. Instead, we wear and sweater and/or jacket that can be bunched up to be used as a pillow, made from a material that won’t wrinkle. Obviously we can use the sweater and jacket while we are on vacation as well. I also pack a small knit blanket, that I can use as a pillow, or a shawl, and I also often use it in the B&Bs we stay in. Having a significant amount of clothes to bunch up around us on the flight creates a little padded space that makes sleeping as easy as possible.
Bring Wipes and Masks
Planes are gross. While the plane is cleaned in between each flight, they are not going over every surface. People change their babies’ diapers on the tray tables, they spill sauces and sugary drinks, they blow their nose, pretty much anything you can imagine, they’ve done it. When you sit down, first thing you should do is take out a bleach or cleaning wipe and wipe down every surface you will touch. Arm rest, screen, window, window frame. I usually use two wipes for each seat area. It is also a good idea to wear a face mask while flying. Post pandemic, this attracts much less attention, so you won’t feel singled out. Wearing a mask and wiping down your area reduces your chance of getting sick on the flight, in addition to just generally making you feel more comfortable.
Bring Magazines
People count on free entertainment (TV, movies, music) on long-haul flights these days, and in general, it is provided. That said, if the screen is broken or inoperable, you will not be offered another seat, and if the flight is full, you will be stuck! You’ll be grateful to have your own magazines with you if you find yourself in this situation. It’s a good idea to have a few magazines with you on your trip as well, in case the wifi in your B&B if not working. It used to be common for people to travel with books and magazines, but as we have all gotten more accustomed to reading on our phones or devices, it is easy to forget to bring paper materials. Magazines are a good option for travel because as you finish reading them, you can recycle them, thereby lightening your bags as you go. Some B&Bs are happy to have magazines in good condition, so before your recycle them, ask the owner if they might like them!
Bring Some Lightweight Comfort Items
Plane air is extremely dry. After about an hour I always feel like I can feel my skin and lips cracking. I always pack a travel size container of lotion for my hands and face, and a tube of lip balm as well. Two other light, easy to pack items that can make a flight more enjoyable are earplugs, and a eye mask. You’ll be grateful you have earplugs if there is a crying baby nearby! And the eye mask can keep the light out so you can get some shuteye. Earplugs and eye masks can be quite useful in your B&B’s, too.
Get Global Entry
Global Entry is not too expensive (about $20/year), and it comes with TSA Precheck. You have to give the government more information about yourself for Global Entry than you do for a simple passport, but you’re dreaming if you think they don’t have access to that info anyway. On the road from USA to Europe you can use TSA Precheck to get through security faster. Returning back to the USA, Global Entry gets you past customs and security much faster. After a long flight, it is a huge benefit to not have to stand in line for customs, which can sometimes take upwards of an hour.
Schedule A Very Long Layover
Be aware of the fact that the airlines will sometimes sell you a ticket that has a layover that is not possible to make. We often assist our clients in choosing their flights, and it is not unusual for them to find a flight they want to purchase that has a 1 hour layover, and then we have to suggest they choose a different option. Delta will sell you, for example, a flight that arrives in Chicago at 4pm, then departs from Chicago to Rome at 5pm. That is not a flight that it is very likely you are going to make, and then you will be stranded in Chicago for a day.
A great alternative is to take a much earlier flight to Chicago, perhaps arriving at 8am. Then leave the airport, and head in to downtown Chicago for a day of sightseeing and a nice lunch. Return to the airport 2-3 hours before your flight. You will have to go through security again, but if you have TSA Precheck that will help cut the time.
Be aware that this is easier to do if you have checked bags. If you are flying with only carry-on bags (like we do), then you will need to find a place to store luggage (like luggage storage at the train station).
Another option is to rent a car for a few hours. We have done this in Philly, Miami, and Detroit, on long layovers. We rented a car for 8 hours or so, then went to the beach, or the Liberty Bell, or just take a nice long walk with some sightseeing.
