Tips to make a long-haul flight more enjoyable

There are a few things that passengers can do, in order to be able to feel more comfortable during a long-haul flight.

First of all, they need to be armed with a lot of patience.

Seriously, when packing their luggage, passengers should not forget to throw some patience in there, because they will definitely need it on-board during the long hours of the flight.

If a passenger is a naturally impatient person, they should think twice before getting on board a long-haul flight, otherwise this experience can turn into a nightmare for them and other passengers.

Minor problems should be left aside and a passenger who is going to fly on a long flight should be psychologically prepared for this experience.

Having a light lunch before the flight could certainly help, as well as having a relaxing bath.

It would be better for a long-haul passenger not to leave things for the last moment, like preparing the luggage and making any last moment arrangements to be taken care of on the day just before the flight.

A clear and relaxed mind is essential to enjoy a relaxing long flight.

A few people would suggest that having a couple of alcoholic drinks before flying would help reduce stress.

However, this could have the opposite effect and increase flight discomfort.

Thus, it wouldn’t be a good idea to take any form of chemical substances, whether strong or mild, in order to relax, and even sleep during the flight.

The reason is that, in this way, a passenger could lose contact with reality, as well as self-control, causing them to act strangely.

It is not wise to exaggerate.

Assuming that everything has gone according to plan, you are on the plane, on the way to your destination.

Depending on the number of passengers on the plane, you might be lucky enough to have an empty seat next to you, which might make things easier. In this case, both you and your fellow passengers will have more room available.

On the other hand, if you are on a packed airplane, you may have to be seated next to any kind of person that you can imagine. It could be an old lady, suffering from a health problem, or a restless child along with overprotective parents who cannot say no to their only offspring. In either case, acting in a normal way and not losing your patience would be the best policy.

Moving around the plane whenever this is possible, even just to go to the toilet or have a little chat with that friendly person you met at the back rows of the plane would have a positive effect, which would make time go faster. After all, you won’t stay on board forever; just try to spend your time in an enjoyable and relaxing way.

If you feel tired, you can always get some sleep.

If you feel cold, you can ask a flight attendant to give you a blanket.

If, on the other hand, it is hot in the plane and you need some air, there is a button above your head, by which you can turn the air-conditioning on.

Flight attendants are there to offer any kind of help that is requested from them. They can even anticipate passengers’ needs, since they have a great amount of air traveling experience and customer service. Don’t hesitate to ask them to help you, whatever the problem might be.

On-flight entertainment is an issue of great importance, especially during a long-haul flight, and airlines try to do their best to offer a decent entertainment program, usually based on watching comedy films, listening to classical music etc. Making most of the available entertainment options can help a lot in making the flight an enjoyable and relaxing experience.

Further reading:

12 ways to be comfortable on a long flight

23 ways to make long flights less miserable

How to survive long-haul flights in economy

33 Tips for Making a Long-haul Flight More Comfortable

The Products That Make Long-Haul Flights More Comfortable, According to Frequent Travelers