Your Guide to Surviving Long Haul Flights: Smart Tips for Comfort, Rest and Feeling Fresh
Long‑haul flights can mark the start of an adventure, and we do love the idea of someone bringing us food and drinks right to our seat while we watch TV. But no matter how excited you are, it’s important to fly smart – otherwise, you’ll find yourself tired and stiff when you land!
2.2min read
Published 29 September 2025
Guest Blogger
Long‑haul flights can mark the start of an adventure, and we do love the idea of someone bringing us food and drinks right to our seat while we watch TV. But no matter how excited you are, it’s important to fly smart – otherwise, you’ll find yourself tired and stiff when you land!
Whether you're heading off on leisure or business trip, small choices during the flight make a big difference. Here’s how to stay comfortable and refreshed on flights over six hours long, so you can hit the ground running when you arrive.
Prep Before you Fly
Start by packing light layers. You’ll want to prioritize comfort over style for long-haul flights - but thankfully, sweatpants and baggy hoodies are cool again!
Loose, breathable clothing helps you feel comfortable from take‑off to touchdown, while extra layers like a cardigan or scarf are perfect for chilly cabins. If you’re flying to or from somewhere warm, it’s always a good idea to pack a pair of shorts or similar in your hand luggage. The airport on departure or arrival might be boiling, but the plane is usually chilly – so make sure you plan for both!
Lucky for you, if you book at any Flight Centre store you can get rewarded with our Frequent Flightie Rewards programme, where you get discount codes for clothing outlets such as Old Khaki, Cape Union Mart and Poetry for comfortable travel friendly clothing. Compression socks also go a long way in easing circulation and swelling in your ankles and calves, especially during overnight flights.
If your flight crosses multiple time zones, set your watch to your destination’s time before boarding. It’s a simple trick that helps your mind (and body clock) start to adjust in the air.
Hydration, Stretching and Cabin Comfort
Cabin air is dry, so staying hydrated is key. Bring a reusable water bottle and ask crew to refill it throughout the flight. Limit alcohol and caffeine, if possible, as they add to dehydration.
Get up and stretch whenever you can. Walk the aisle, do calf raises or ankle circles. These small movements reduce stiffness and lower the risk of blood clots on those long-haul flights.
Pack a small moisturiser, lip balm and micellar wipes in your carry-on. They’re easy to slip through security, and if you’re fighting dehydration, best believe your skin will be begging for moisture! Plus, it gives you the chance to freshen up mid-flight to stay comfortable from departure to arrival.
Sleeping Well in the Sky
A travel pillow, eye mask and noise-cancelling headphones (or ear plugs) are game-changers. They help block out distractions so you can relax or sleep better during your flight, especially if it’s an overnight leg.
Try bringing part of your bedtime routine aboard too. Brush your teeth, watch a few calming minutes of a show, read, or meditate. It signals to your body that it’s time to wind down even at altitude. While some travellers consider sleeping pills, it’s worth talking to your doctor first. For most, comfort-focused sleep gear and routines do the trick.
Pack Smart in Your Carry‑On
For most flights, you’re allowed to bring on 100 ml containers of liquids, in a transparent 1-litre bag. Usually, you’ll be allowed one ‘personal item’ like a small handbag or laptop bag, and one piece of carry-on luggage.
And remember that you should try and use a carry on which you’ll use again during your travels; whether that’s a nice tote bag, a backpack, or something else.
Some things you might want to add to your carry on bag:
- Basic toiletries (toothbrush, moisturiser, lip balm)
- Snacks like nuts, trail mix or protein bars
- A pair of quality headphones or ear buds
- A portable charger, to keep your devices powered
- Medications and eye drops (don’t forget your prescription note if taking in carry-on)
- Tissues or wet wipes
One of our favourite tips is to put all the stuff you’ll need to access regularly during the flight (like your lip balm, earphones, and a book) into a separate little pouch or your personal item/bag. Why? That way, you can keep it all together and get the rest of your luggage into the overhead cabins without having to hunt for all your bits and pieces before you sit down.
For all your luggage needs – After every booking Flight Centre customers get 20% discount at Destinations by Frasers for Delsey, Travelite, and Busby brands
Fighting the Boredom
In-flight entertainment systems these days are pretty spectacular, with a whole host of movies and TV shows. But we all have our guilty pleasures and sometimes, you just want to carry on binging your latest Netflix show. So yes, you can bring your own entertainment.
Try to download movies, podcasts, music or e‑books before your trip so you’re not scrambling to find something while you’re boarding, hoping that your connection lasts long enough to get everything downloaded.
You can also turn to magazines, crosswords or sudoku, or even mobile phone games. If you’re travelling with kids, load up on fun activities to keep them occupied during the flight. This is one of those cases where screen time might be just the thing you need!
Tackling Jet Lag Like a Pro
To ease jet lag, drink plenty of water, adjust your sleep schedule before departure and aim for daylight exposure after landing. While it’s tempting to dive into dinner or sleep as soon as you land, syncing with local schedules helps your body adapt faster. There are even jet lag apps which you can download to help determine when you should sleep and when you should stay awake, which is especially helpful if you’re crossing multiple time zones.
And wherever possible, try to avoid heavy meals, caffeine or alcohol close to bedtime. Though it’s tempting to load up pre-flight bubbles to celebrate, or to down some coffee to stay awake, they can disrupt sleep and make it even harder to adjust to your new time zone.
Let Flight Centre Take the Stress Out
Want to book a flight with better seats, stopovers or inflight comfort, or maybe upgrade to a premium cabin? Flight Centre’s flights page has expert advice and big deals to help. When you’re ready to hit the sky, chat with a Flight Centre travel expert today and get peace-of-mind for your next long-haul flight. We’ll help you pick the best options, so you arrive ready for whatever your adventure throws at you.