“Why fly? Simple. I’m not happy unless there’s some room between me and the ground.” ~Richard Bach

If only we had that same spirit every time we fly. Not too many people are psyched and excited when flying. Some would rather dread for the worse than enjoy the fact that they are soaring above ground. But then, there are also the flights that probably get the better of us, such as long–haul flights.

How can we survive 12–hr or 13–hr flights, taking flight on one date and then finding out we have arrived at another destination on the same date? Now, flying on business class might be convenient, but then, not everyone among us are privileged enough to fly in business class, so to the majority of us who fly in economy, how do we survive?

To guide you on your journey, here’s a list of some long haul travel essentials:

  1. Plan for your seating arrangement. As with any travels, choosing where you are seated is vital. When you book your flight ahead of schedule, you get to have the advantage of choosing the best seats because most likely, they are not yet taken. Choose an aisle seat. This makes it easier for you to go to the bathroom when you need to. Plus, it gives you extra space for movement as opposed to being seated in the middle. When you are in the window seats, you might find it difficult to navigate your way out from your row just to go to the bathroom, a destination you might not be able to avoid as you wait to arrive at your real destination.
  2. Stretch and move. You’d think it would be best to just sleep through the whole flight, but chances are you might just have aching muscles due to the prolonged time of being stationary. So, taking those bathroom breaks is your opportunity to stretch those legs and to move that neck (just so you can also avoid having stiffed necks from a poor sleeping position).
  3. Eat light. Before you embark on a long-haul flight, it is best practice to avoid foods that are hard to digest. I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t want to have a sick stomach aboard an airplane through a long flight and with perhaps only one or two bathrooms that you share with hundreds of other passengers, right? It would be best to just eat the stomach-friendly foods, light but enough to satisfy your hunger and sustain your strength.
  4. Sleep. Sleep and get some rest. Wander in your dreams. But then, before you doze off, see to it that your position is more comfortable to avoid any strains after. Sleeping when seated is definitely not a friendly and comfortable to our muscles.
  5. Bring your own entertainment. What better way to kill the time and enjoy along the way than to watch your favourite movies and read your favourite books. Bring them with you and you’ll never even notice that 12-hrs have already passed.
  6. Wander. You’re up in the air. Enjoy the ride, just like Richard Bach sees the joy in flying.

http://filipinaroses.com/long-haul-travel-essentials/ | Long Haul Travel Essentials