Just like the entire travel industry has changed in the wake of the pandemic, flying, in particular, had its share of changes. To many travellers, the whole process at the airport feels like a daunting task. So, after all the new covid precautions and regulations, it’s even harder. And if you have a long-haul flight, it’s a completely different story. That’s why we’ve compiled some tips for long-haul flights to help you survive the whole thing. 

What is a long-haul flight?

But first, let’s agree on what counts as a long-haul flight and what doesn’t. Disclaimer: don’t feel ashamed if you don’t already know!

In simple words, a long-haul flight is one that takes from 6-12 hours, while an ultra-long-haul flight is anything that’s 12 hours or more. So, does that mean there are other terms for shorter flights? Yes, a short-haul flight takes up to 3 hours, and a medium-haul flight usually takes from 3-6 hours.

So, why are long-haul flights now more daunting than ever? Because now you don’t just get to worry about jet lag or spending an entire day (or more) on board or at airports. You now get to experience all of this while being extra cautious, you’ll add more time for extra steps, and you’ll do it wearing a mask. Not complaining here, but we bet you don’t enjoy spending all that time wearing a mask, especially if you wear glasses. Foggy glasses just makes it all worse.

6 Tips for Long-Haul Flights After the Pandemic

Choose the right mask

Like we just said, masks can be very irritating to be worn for such a long time. That’s why it’s very important to choose one that you can breathe in comfortably and one that doesn’t irritate your skin. Yes, a lot of people have complained of rashes and breakouts due to certain masks’ materials. 

And if you wear glasses, make sure to get a mask that has adjustable straps and fits perfectly on your nose. These usually help prevent the fog the most. After all, you want to be able to see!

Prepare your required documents in advance

We’d always advise you have both a soft and hard copy of all your documents in hand. This way, in case your phone dies or anything, you’d have a hard copy, and vice versa. However, in this case, rely on handing the hard copies if you don’t want too many hands touching your phone. And the soft copies would then be the backup. After all, you’ll be using your phone more often and it's easier to get your hands disinfected after touching the documents instead.

Here are the documents you’ll most likely need:

• Passport

• Flight ticket

• Visa

• PCR or antigen test (if requested)

• Vaccination card (if available)

• Health declaration forms requested by some countries (if not already handed to you at the airport).
  

Choose the right carry-on

Another one of the best tips for long-haul flights, in general, is to choose the right carry-on. If you’ll be spending a long day at the airport, or switching even switching terminals, you don’t want to be carrying a heavy backpack or duffle bag. We’d highly recommend you’d invest in a quality 4-wheel carry-on as it’s easier to move around with.

But what things to add in mind given the covid situation? Well, you also want a carry-on where you can easily access your belongings, especially since you’ll have more documents in hand. That’s where we’d suggest you’d also choose your accessory item wisely. A tote bag and a fanny pack with several pockets are great complementary choices. 

Don’t forget to pack your sanitiser

This one, of course, goes without saying – the new travel (and every day) essential! If your TSA limit allows, bring a 70% alcohol gel-based sanitiser, as well as the spray one. 

Not sure of the TSA rules? Simply put, each passenger is allowed one clear zip-lock bag holding 100 millilitres bottles – you’re allowed as many of these as you can fit. So, choose your liquids wisely.

Bring your own … 

A little bit of an extra precaution would be for you to bring your own from basically anything, especially if you’d like to keep your waste consumption to the minimum. Due to the pandemic, as an attempt to minimise contact, almost everything handed to you would be disposable. So, the cutlery set and cup given to you during your in-flight meal, will most likely be made of single-use plastic. If you’re keen on protecting the environment, you can bring your own reusable cutlery set, small cup, straws, you name it – whatever you know you’ll be needing.

Pack entertainment

For low contact purposes as well, you don’t have to rely on in-flight entertainment. You can always bring along a book or Kindle. If you’re not a reader, you can download Netflix and Spotify on your phone or iPad. There’s an offline downloads feature on both apps. So, for example, if you’d like to watch films or binge watch series, you can download them on the app (not your device) when you have WiFi access before boarding. 

The same goes for Spotify, you can download your favourite playlists or podcast episodes in advance. This way, you’ll have access to your very own in-flight entertainment. 

General Tips for Long-Haul Flights

Get enough sleep

Since this will be a long, tiring day, it’s important to get enough sleep the night before. Pack in advance, and don’t wait to the last minute so you’d be able to go to bed early.

Dress comfortably

It’s also important to choose your travel attire wisely, be it your choice of clothing or shoes. Opt for comfy clothing with breathable material. Sportswear is generally a great option, whether you’re a sweatpants or yoga pants girl. Also, choosing to wear a sports bra instead of a regular one is a gamechanger. 

As for the shoes, you’ll want to wear the bulkiest one to save space in your luggage, but you also want to wear one that’s comfy and easy to take off. So, stray away from combat boots and go for your running shoes instead. 

Pick your own seat

Investing in this feature is totally worth it when it comes to long-haul flights. You don’t want to be stuck in the middle seat with zero legroom on a 6-hour flight, right?

Pack your long-haul flight essentials

Write a packing list in advance and make sure to add a few important items to your carry-on that’ll make your flight easier. Here’s a list of long-haul essentials to bring along:

• Travel neck pillow

• Ear plugs

• Eye mask

• Hoodie or scarf

• Noise cancelling headphones/earphones

• Tooth paste and tooth brush

We hope these tips for long-haul flights will come in handy. Don’t forget to save for your next trip and let us know in the comments where you’re travelling to next.