The day has arrived; your highly anticipated Italy (or wherever you're headed) trip starts in just 24 hours, except there's one little task you must get done before it's seaside views for days — that dreaded 10-hour flight, ugh. You say a little prayer, "PLEASE do NOT be seated behind the seat all-the-way reclined Karen or the crying baby," but there's only so much you can do to avoid the potential disturbances of other passengers. And realistically, how much can you avoid in that teeny-tiny sorry excuse they call a seat? Don't worry; we have you covered with a guide to maximizing comfort and minimizing hiccups on your journey. Yes, this includes tips on dealing with the kinds of fellow passengers you hope to avoid.
Preparing for the flight
If you have the option to choose your seats, you must, and we mean absolutely must, pick an aisle seat. Sure, the window seat provides a pretty view for the first twenty minutes of take-off, but after that, is looking at clouds really worth sacrificing your comfort over (speaking as a pro-aisle sitter, of course)? Aisle seats mean you can stretch your legs out to the side, but please proceed with caution and do not trip flight attendants. Accessibility to the aisle also means taking mini laps to get the blood flowing and easy access to the restrooms so you can keep drinking in-flight beverages without concern.
In other flight preparations, you will want to list everything you need for this trip, plus the goodies we mention later for comfort. You can start by doing yourself a favor and purchasing these packing cubes to fit everything in your suitcase nice and snug, with plenty of room to spare for returning with souvenirs.
Seating arrangements
As we mentioned before, aisle seats are paramount for longer trips, but if you are really anti-aisle or are unlucky in snagging one of those seats, there is no need to fret. We have all the hacks. The first travel accessory that will make both your legs happy and yourself more relaxed on the flight is one of these hanging footrests. It attaches around your little seat tray, allowing you to rest your feet and stretch your legs most of the flight.
For even more comfort, check out this TRTL pillow. Don’t worry about looking a little silly; the lack of a kinked neck and the ability to actually fall asleep will make this pillow well worth the investment.
Toiletries, supplies and apparel
This part is a doozy, but everything we list out or mention here is simply necessary if you want things to be smooth sailing, or rather, smooth flying ahead.
Supplements you will be needing with brief explanations:
- Melatonin, if you want to knock out and stay out.
- Baby aspirin, to keep the blood flowing.
- Tums, because the airplane belly is real.
- Airborne, to keep those germs away.
Now that that part's covered, you’ll want to invest in a clear, TSA-approved toiletry bag like this one from Amazon. For your toiletries, you’ll want a mini toothbrush, mini toothpaste, mini deodorant, tiny sample fragrances and a moisturizer because your skin will get dry. Deodorant and a clean pair of underwear are necessary; don’t make your neighbors suffer. If you want to be extra, bring some under-eye masks like these or a topical hydrating mask like this one from Summer Fridays to feel as refreshed as possible in-flight. Clothing-wise, you’ll also appreciate yourself later for dressing in layers because it may be hot in the airport. Still, it can get extremely cold in-flight, especially if you’re flying over the Arctic ice caps with only the thin, paper-like blanket they provide.
Media & entertainment
Here’s how you’ll stay entertained, especially if you can’t fall asleep on a plane: Downloading shows and movies off of Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime or wherever else you stream that has a downloading function. We all like to think we’ll finish that book we’ve been trying to get around to on board, but let’s be honest, nothing beats rewatching "Gossip Girl" for thirteen hours. Or, if you prefer the offered movies, do yourself a big favor and purchase one of these Bluetooth transmitters so you never have to worry about poor quality airline headphones again. Instead, you can now use your noise-canceling headphones to drown out the sound of screaming children. Score! If you choose to still watch from your phone, consider buying one of these phone holders to prop up your mini-screen and spare your neck.
Post-flight considerations
Flying is often a breeding ground for catching viruses. Germy air, more than the usual amount of stress and readjusting to a new climate are frequently the trifecta needed to gift you a nasty little cold. Luckily, this can be prevented by taking Airborne or the best-kept secret: zinc.
To minimize jet lag and post-flight discomforts, keep yourself awake until a reasonable time in your new time zone. While it can be grueling, fighting through the tiredness to go to sleep in your new time zone will lead you to waking up the next day feeling refreshed and on schedule to avoid further jet lag. Better yet, adjust yourself to the new time zone before leaving.
