10+ LONG HAUL FLIGHT ESSENTIALS AND USEFUL TIPS FOR A LONG FLIGHT AND CONNECTION
Long haul flightsare just inevitable, isn’t it? The first time I had to fly internationally was a long flight, it was between the Philippines to Denmark in 2013 for about 31 hours with connections and no one told me what to expect. I didn’t even try to “Google” how should I prepare. I mean, I’ve travelled on a bus for almost twenty hours – flying couldn’t be that worse. But it was.
Since that flight, I have taken dozens of long-haul flights with at least one stop over which sometimes up to twelve hours. I learned eventually and prepared myself all the travel essentials for long-haul flights.
Even your itinerary says your connection is just three hours, to be honest, no one can prepare you for what will happen. Airports are are magical but sometimes a hell of a place. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so here are the top long haul flight essentials to pack – especially on your cabin bag, long-haul flight tips and how to survive it.
TIP: Be a responsible traveller, pack eco-friendly travel accessories and products.
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TRAVEL ESSENTIALS FOR LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS & CONNECTIONS
Here are very useful few travel accessories for long flights. To be honest, they are very easy to pack and lightweight that even on my short flights, I bring them just in case.
These essentials are always on my personal bag which goes under the seat. It also mean I can access them without opening the overhead cabinet. You can also find out what’s inside my long-term backpack.
These are what I recommend on what to take on a long haul flights:
1. FOLDABLE WATER BOTTLE
They are lightweight, easy to pack and can definitely brought through the security as long as you empty it. You can fill this up in water fountains which are available in some airports to avoid buying expensive and unethical water bottles.
This alternative bottle doesn’t collapse as nicely, but looks more stylish.
2. WATER BOTTLE WITH FILTER
If you know that the airports you will go through doesn’t have any water stations, you should pack a water bottle with filter instead to avoid spending money and dehydrating yourself during your long flights and long layover.
Find the most suitable travel water bottle for you, Check this comparison table that I made can help you decide.
3. NECK PILLOW & EYE MASK
You can either get a inflatable neck pillow to save some space in your luggage plus it’s very lightweight or regular soft ones. It can also be used during your connections or bus rides. They come in different sizes, colours, and prices.
Also, don’t forget the eye mask. Invest on a good one, they are very useful not only during the flight but on the connections too. Block those bright lights and get your beauty sleep wherever airport and flight you are in.
4. SCARVES
I have two scarves, one for my head or neck when I get chilly and another that is big enough to be a skirt, towel or blanket. Both of the weigh almost nothing. Make sure to pack them, the big scarf will be great during your connection flight.
Some scarves even double as headrests.
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5. HEADSET/EARPHONE
Always pack a good one and can do the job to block the noise. Some airlines do provide headphones but let’s be honest, they are often awful.
6. JACKET WITH HIDDEN POCKETS
Now, the best idea is to have all these essentials in one place or an arm’s reach. Some airplanes do have a hook where you can hang your jacket. Take advantage of this and get a jacket with pockets. You can fit almost anything you need even a laptop. Find out which is the best travel jacket based on our comparison.
7. ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH
Make sure that you have your toothbrush during connection and long-flight especially if you cannot access your main bag. What’s best is to pack an electric toothbrush, it’s way more effective than a regular one and more cost effective in a long-run. If you are worried about bringing it in the cabin, the answer is you can.
Check out my article about the best travel electric toothbrush if you want to get one for yourself.
8. ORGANIC/TABLET MOUTHWASH
Don’t add more liquid on your carry on luggage, instead, get an organic tablet mouthwash which is also packed on a glass bottle instead of a plastic one.
OTHERS
9. CHEWING GUM
I didn’t know before that a chewing gum can help me sooth the pain in the ear because of the pressure during take off or landing. Since then, it has become one of the most essential for long flights for me.
10. NOSE SPRAY
If you are like me who get clogged nose during and even after the flight. A nose spray won’t take a lot of space, it can help you feel comfortable during your long trip and connections, definitely a worth it to pack as one of your travel essentials for the plane on long haul flights.
11. HAND and FACE CREAM and LIP BALM
Do you know that the air in the aeroplanes dry out your skin? Solve this by bringing these essentials.
Remember to place all these in your under the seat bag or on your jacket with hidden pockets. To avoid carrying a heavy backpack while waiting in the airport, why not get one of these best wheeled backpacks for travelling.
ENTERTAINMENT FOR LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS & CONNECTIONS
Save movies on your device
Some flights come with an entertainment package but during your connection or the smaller flights you need to take in between doesn’t have this luxury. Entertain yourself while waiting and travelling by getting the movies you have not seen yet.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
Books to save on your devices or buy
I honestly cannot travel without listening to any music. I use Spotify but I travel a lot and it kind of mess up once in a while and I feel like I waste my money. Therefore, I use the free Spotify but this only works with an internet connection. I also have offline music on my phone which takes up so little space. Check out these best books to read while travelling.
LONG HAUL FLIGHT OUTFIT
Apart from packing the right the long haul flight essentials, make sure you wear something comfortable, with fewer zippers or metals (to avoid unwanted security chaos). Also remember to bring extra underwear, t-shirt, and shorts/stockings especially if you have no access to your clothes during the connection for your flight.
Because you’ll never when you might end up sitting between two drunk passengers. Wear clothes that are warm enough in the aeroplane; wear snickers instead of pointed open sandals, make sure you have a comfortable walking shoes, wear socks or bring a pair, and a light jacket in case you get cold.
Don’t forget to bring a jacket with you, a jacket with lots of pockets or hidden pockets will be great to hold all your long flight essentials.
HOW TO SURVIVE LONG FLIGHTS & CONNECTIONS
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
During your flights
Your best friend during long flights are those travel accessories, an eye mask to block the light and hopefully sleep through the entire flight, noise cancelling headphones or earplugs to avoid loud crying babies and chatty seatmates, a blanket in case your airline is not that generous to provide one.
Some airline provides a hook/pin next to your foldable table where you can hang your jacket. It would be smart to hang it there, place your travel essentials inside the jacket so you can reach them easier. Like hand cream and face cream; aeroplanes have really dry cold air.
Don’t forget the noise spray, if you are like me who get clogged nose easily, It is an absolute travel essentials for long haul flights. It is very useful and one of the best thing to pack for a long haul travel essentials.
During your connection
Check out if there are sleeping pods in the airport. Some massive airports like Changi in Singapore have sleeping pods. Some are for free while other airports like in Heathrow where you can find long benches/sun pads . While some airports have padded long metal chairs aligned where you can lie down and have a shut eye for a few hours.
Your lightweight big scarf can work as your blanket, neck pillow as your usual pillow, an eye mask to block the light, and ear plugs of headphones to block the noise. If you only have an hour or two connection, I recommend not to sleep because you might miss your next flight.
Find the spot where you can charge your devices too while watching a film or simply browsing on your phone. The last thing you want to happen is to run out of power when you land in a foreign country.
Avoid spending money on the airport
There are times that you can’t avoid spending money in the aeroplane or airports, especially if you can’t access a clean drinking water. We all know how expensive a small bottle in these places. The best is to try to find first if there are any drinking fountains, if you can fine any, next is to look for a vending machine. 100% of the time, the price in a vending machine is better than the shops or stalls.
Some vending machine sells snacks too like crackers, sandwiches, crisps, and chocolates.
I hope this article about long haul travel essentials and long-haul flight and connection tips have been useful for you. If you have anything tips to add or any questions, let me know on the comment section below.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com