How to Prepare to Enjoy Your Long Flight, Part 1

​The world is full of wonderful destinations, many of which require a substantial plane flight to get to! Those long haul flights can feel a bit daunting, but with the right planning they can be not just tolerated, but enjoyed. It's important to be prepared to be comfortable, healthy, entertained and rested. Today, I'll share with you my hints and tips for the first two categories, then finish up the list in part 2.

Prepare to be Comfortable

• Wear comfortable clothes. Try to avoid clothes that are too tight, that bunch or ride up in funny ways, are made of materials that irritate your skin or are otherwise bothersome in any other way.

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• Everyone has different things they find comfortable, but consider soft, breathable fabrics like cotton or linen and design features like elastic waist bands.
• Wear multiple thin layers so that you can add or remove clothing to help regulate your temperature in transit.
• Comfortable shoes are also a must, and vary from person to person. Don’t wear brand new shoes that may still be in that break-in period and could give you blisters. Wear shoes that you already know you can walk all day in without your feet screaming to be set free! Slip-on shoes that you can take off easily are a great idea too — for ease through security as well as comfort once you’re on the plane.
• Got long legs, or just like more leg room? Consider an aisle seat or exit row for more leg room, or upgrade to business or first class.
• Don’t carry on too much stuff. Even though you technically can stow a bag under your seat that doesn’t mean you want to. Think about how much leg room that extra large bag might eat up before you decide to carry it on. On the flip side, if you have short legs that don’t take up that much room to begin with, go ahead and stuff your bag under there!

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Prepare to be Healthy

• Pack plenty of food. You know what you like to eat and how much/often you need to eat. I recommend packing a little more than you think you will need in case of travel delays.
• Nutritionists advise smaller meals with a good balance of protein, complex carbohydrates, and plant-based foods to stay happy and healthy on long haul flights and to avoid jet leg.
• For business and first class travelers, most airlines provide you a menu of complimentary gourmet food, and in some cases, it's made to order — VERY different from the food served in economy.
• You can alert your flight attendant of food allergies and sensitivities and they will accommodate you.  
• When you eat can be just as important, or even more important than what you eat. Eating sends important cues to your body to help regulate your circadian rhythm. Careful planning of when you eat before, during and after a long-haul flight can help you sleep better and avoid jet lag.
• Stay hydrated. Air travel is dehydrating. That coffee you drink to stay awake is dehydrating. That wine you drink to relax is dehydrating. Dehydration exacerbates jet-lag, so in order to stay healthy you need to counteract all this with plenty of water. Make sure your water bottle never runs dry and sip on it during your entire flight.
• Pro Tip: peanuts and peanut butter are a great source of protein for many people, however if there is someone on your flight with a peanut allergy you may be asked not to bring these out — and why put someone at risk? I recommend choosing snacks without peanuts in them (don’t forget check your granola and energy bars too and choose flavors sans peanuts).

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Next time I'll share my tips on being prepared to be entertained and rested on your flight. In the meantime, keep dreaming of your next adventure, and please let me know how I may help you turn "someday" into "remember when".