Being on an airplane is so much fun! The food is delicious, and I can’t believe we get unlimited water and coffee. I find the rumbling, constant hum of the engine and stale oxygen to be veryyy soothing. I just love that everyone smells like they haven’t showered in a week. And personally, my favourite thing to do is sleep in a cramped space, while watching movies for 20 hours straight. Please insert the biggest eye roll ever LOL.
Jokes aside, flying has always been very exciting for me – I’ve never been one to be scared or dread the travel portion of going on vacation. And I’ve done my fair share of flying, especially long haul flights to Europe and Asia (6 to 15 hours!). Two years ago, I ‘up-ed’ that and flew to Dubai. That flight was 18 hours, but I was fortunate to be in business class and was pampered by the airline, thankfully.
However, this time was different. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I recently visited Australia – that’s a 22-hour flight guys!! 22 HOURS. 😶 Yes, that’s basically an entire day in the airplane breathing in stale air. Am I going to need to prepare for this? Definitely. Am I going to share how I survived this long flight? Yes & you’re welcome.
However, this time was different. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I recently visited Australia – that’s a 22-hour flight guys!! 22 HOURS. 😶 Yes, that’s basically an entire day in the airplane breathing in stale air. Am I going to need to prepare for this? Definitely. Am I going to share how I survived this long flight? Yes & you’re welcome.
I’ve learned a number of things from that long flight to Dubai, which I’ve applied to all my flights since then. But today, I’ve partnered with Secret to share my ultimate guide on how to survive a long flight – including tips on what gadgets to bring and what products you need to ensure you feel & smell good.
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Hand Wipes & Plastic Bags
This is the first thing on my list because it should be the FIRST thing you do once you get on the airplane. Hand wipes are a new addition to my packing list & I cannot believe I never thought of packing this. When you get to your seat, wipe down the head rest, arm rest, the wall if you’re at the window seat, and the back of the chair in front of you. Don’t forget to also open the tray table and wipe that as well. Thank yourself later for at least trying to get rid of some germs lol. I’m not saying that this will decontaminate everything, but TBH, I feel way more comfortable in my seat when I know I’m not resting my head on a week’s old mound of bacteria. Yuck!
I actually learned this trick by watching someone else do it recently. This might be going overboard, but I thought this was GENIUS. Using a large plastic bag, place your purse/items you want to store under the seat in front of you. That way, you’re avoiding the dirty carpet and any spillage that may have occurred. Yeah. Mind-blown.
I actually learned this trick by watching someone else do it recently. This might be going overboard, but I thought this was GENIUS. Using a large plastic bag, place your purse/items you want to store under the seat in front of you. That way, you’re avoiding the dirty carpet and any spillage that may have occurred. Yeah. Mind-blown.
An Aluminium-Free Deodorant
A very important addition to this list might be surprising to you, but it is a good deodorant. I recently added Secret’s new Aluminum Free Deodorant to my daily routine and I feel like this would also be a perfect addition to a long flight. For one, I love Secret’s rosewater scent & I’m sure y’all know how gross airplanes can smell. The least you could do is make sure you smell like roses! Secondly, since this one is aluminum free (and also paraben and dye free), I don’t have to worry about white marks on my clothes! This is such a great bonus because we all know how dishevelled we look when we get off a plane! Also as someone who doesn’t sweat a lot, this deodorant is perfect because I’m able to limit some ingredients for my skin (like aluminum) while still smelling fresh AF! 😌 <-- my actual face depicted below haha.
Head to Toe
Starting from the top, bring a hat and an eye mask. I personally have lash extensions, so I’m not able to use an eye mask but they are LIFE. If you’re like me, a hat isn’t as good but it helps block out excess light when you sleep. Having your toothbrush and toothpaste is also key for a long flight. Don't forget your neck pillow! There are so many options these days, but I find that the inflatable ones are the best compromise. It's not as comfy, but it does the trick and basically doesn't take up any space at all! Also, pack yourself an extra set of clothes (think sweatpants and a comfy warm shirt, since airplanes tend to be chilly).
And another big tip – slippers. Wearing slippers on an airplane never crossed my mind, until I flew to Dubai. We were provided with slippers (think cushion-y disposable you get for free at hotels) to roam around the cabin. This might sound nasty, but I personally thought this was a great way for your feet to not be cramped up in a tight shoe + give it some space to breeeeath. On the contrary, if your feet swell up when flying (mine don’t), you should definitely look into getting a pair of compression flight socks.
Although this may sound like a list of very ‘obvious’ items, but HEY here’s your reminder to not forget them! Bring a phone charger, and a power bank in case you’re flying a ghetto aircraft and they don’t have chargers lol I’ve been in that situation before and it really sucked. Splurge a little and get those noise-cancelling headphones. And yes, I did say headphones, and not earphones. That’s because besides blocking outside noise while you’re listening to your own music/podcast/etc., you can still use the airplane earphones for their entertainment system WHILE wearing your headphones on top for extra noise cancelling! #winning. And, don’t forget to pack a pen for the forms you’ll need to fill out. Don’t be…No pen Nancy.
Lemon Balm
Speaking of products with great ingredients, I would highly recommend a natural sleeping aid. Lemon balm is traditionally used in herbal medicine as a sleep aid, in cases of restlessness or insomnia due to mental stress. A lot of people find it hard to sleep on planes, but sleeping on a long-haul flight is so, so important. Go to your natural foods store and ask them for supplements made with organic lemon balm!
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
I cannot stress this enough. Being in an airplane for so long sucks all the moisture from your body, so it’s very important to hydrate. Bring a reusable water bottle (empty it before security so you can bring it onto the plane) and ask the flight attendant to fill YOUR bottle instead of giving you water in a plastic cup. They’ll fill it up all the way, which is so much better that needing to constantly ask for more little cups.
Something people started doing on plane that I’ve seen are face masks. Although I’m not really someone that would do a face mask (I think they’re a little too messy to deal with on airplanes), I’m a huge fan of hydrating mists. I got a hydrating Aloe Leaf & Chamomile mist from Olay and loved using it to calm & hydrate my face every couple of hours during the flight.
You want to look like a snack, bring a snack.
Last but not least – I’m not sure if anyone has told you this, but no one likes it when you’re hangry ;) so bring SNACKS and bring a lot. I’m a huge fan of having a bit of everything – chocolate, candy, nuts, chips, oatmeal, you name it! Just don’t forget your snacks. Don’t say I didn’t help ya out!
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I hope these tips helped!! I put together a little packing list below that lists out what I just mentioned above. Feel free to save it, share it, pin it, whatever it! 😜 Happy travelling!! Xo.
