✈️ How to Survive a Long-Haul Flight
Beat jet lag and arrive fresh — simple, proven tips for flights over 6 hours.
Before you fly
A comfortable long-haul flight starts on the ground. Choose your seat in advance (a window for sleeping, an aisle for legroom and movement), wear loose layers, and start shifting your sleep schedule a day or two toward your destination's time zone.
Stay comfortable in the air
- Drink plenty of water and go easy on alcohol and caffeine — cabin air is very dry.
- Get up and walk or stretch every couple of hours to keep circulation moving.
- Use a neck pillow, eye mask and earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.
- Set your watch to the destination time and sleep accordingly.
Beating jet lag
Get natural daylight at your destination as soon as you can — it is the fastest way to reset your body clock. Try to stay awake until a normal local bedtime on arrival day, and keep the first day's plans light.
Handy extras
- Compression socks for very long flights.
- Lip balm and moisturizer for dry cabin air.
- Your own snacks, and a downloaded playlist or shows.
Do these and you will step off the plane far closer to ready than wrecked.
✈️ Before you go
Sort the practical stuff that saves money and stress:
Frequently asked questions
What about stay comfortable in the air?
Drink plenty of water and go easy on alcohol and caffeine — cabin air is very dry. Get up and walk or stretch every couple of hours to keep circulation moving. Use a neck pillow, eye mask and earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones. Set your watch to the destination time and sleep accordingly.
What about beating jet lag?
Get natural daylight at your destination as soon as you can — it is the fastest way to reset your body clock. Try to stay awake until a normal local bedtime on arrival day, and keep the first day's plans light.
What about handy extras?
Compression socks for very long flights. Lip balm and moisturizer for dry cabin air. Your own snacks, and a downloaded playlist or shows. Do these and you will step off the plane far closer to ready than wrecked.