As much as I love to travel, there’s no escaping the fact that long haul flights can be a real drag. From dehydration to leg cramps, battling the inflight air conditioning to sitting through some of the worst movies and TV shows ever made. Finally you step off the plane free at last…and then the jetlag kicks in.
But along the way I’ve picked up some tips on my travels that have genuinely helped me cope better with flying long haul. These handy hints can help fend off jetlag, or ease it at least, and they’ll all help to make your flight more comfortable too.
Pre-flight
There are some things you can do to improve your long haul trip before you’ve even bought the tickets. Believe it or not the direction you travel in can make a big difference to the severity of your jetlag. Jetlag will affect you more severely when you travel west to east, so if you’re planning a round-the-world trip, bear this in mind when booking flights.
Now, flying in first class luxury is something most of us can only dream of. Personally I’d rather spend my hard earned dough at my destination than on my plane ticket. That said, when you’re travelling long haul, particularly if you’re on the taller side, some extra legroom can make a world of difference.
Before booking, you can compare seat dimensions of a range of airline’s planes at handy little sites like SeatGuru to figure out how much legroom you’re getting for your buck. And if you can’t stretch to the jaw-to-the-floor prices of business class, check with DialAFlight who have a wide selection of the latest discount fares whether you want cheap flights to Bangkok or Honolulu. And look out too for the laughably monikered ‘Premium Economy’ seats – they’re still cheap, you’re still packed in like cattle, but you do get that little bit extra legroom that can make all the difference.
Onboard
As soon as you get onboard, set your watch to the current time of your destination. This will help you mentally adjust to your new time schedule. With your watch reset, try to fall asleep only when it’s bedtime at your destination. I know this is easier said than done! But you can help keep yourself awake for a few extra hours by sticking on an inflight movie or two, doing a bit of sudoku, or getting up for walks around the plane.
Keeping things moving is important too. Remember to get up regularly to stretch your legs. It’ll help you avoid bloating and leg cramps, and it’ll generally make you feel more comfortable once you’re back in your seat, making sleeping easier.
Lastly, make sure you stay hydrated. Inflight air conditioning and free booze onboard can all dehydrate the body, making you feel bloated, tired and uncomfortable. Drink plenty of water, and try to stay off the sauce!
This is a guest post with consideration provided by the folks at DialAFlight
Oman 
