Must have items for long-haul flights

 

If you’re one of the readers checking out this post at 8 AM central time then I’m probably in bed because it is 6 AM in California where I currently a.m. I’m getting ready to fly out of town to Thailand but before I did that I wanted to share a few of my must-have items for long-haul flights with you guys.

 

Compression socks – If you don’t remember anything else in this post, remember this: compression socks (and even compression leggings if you can get them) are your best friend.  Wearing them on flights that are 4+ hours help reduce your chance of deep vein thrombosis, and also reduces swelling in the legs.  Take my word on this, the last thing you want to do is come back home off of a 16+ flight and realize you have swollen legs. Not a great feeling and neither is developing a blood clot in your legs because you were trying to be cute and rock a sundress and wedges on your flight.

 

Noise canceling headphones – I prefer wireless ones, but get what works best for you.  Not only can you use them to listen to music or watch videos on your devices, but they’ll even block out a rowdy passenger if you need some sleep.

 

 

Eye mask & neck pillows – They tend to turn the cabin lights off for a bit so passengers can get some sleep, but if you’re like me you’ll probably get sleepy before that happens.  That’s where eye masks come in handy. Those coupled with a neck pillow that works for you (there are so many different types available) will help you get more comfortable and help you rest better.

 

In-Flight entertainment – A lot of planes now have screens in the seat rests for this, so you can watch movies, television shows, play games and even track your flight from the comfort of your seat and often times free.  I watched quite a few movies on the international flights I’ve taken and was grateful that most had free in-flight entertainment, but in case that’s not offered on every flight, you can always provide your own.  I typically bring my iPad mini 4 on every trip and thanks to Netflix’s offline mode I can download shows and movies and watch them even when I’m flying.  I also have my Kindle app and Spotify for those times when I want to read or catch up on my podcasts.  Noise cancellation headphones are a god-send and I make sure that I have mine for every flight, as well as an AUX cord for when I want to connect them to the plane’s in-flight entertainment system.  I’ve yet to come across one that lets me connect via Bluetooth.

 

 

Water – The recycled air in the cabin can be drying and drinking water will help counteract that.  Ask your flight attendants for water instead of the soda they’re offering at meals, or bring a refillable water bottle if you’re flying a budget airline and try to stay hydrated.

 

I hope you guys include a few of these items, if not all of them on your next long-haul flight.  Feel free to send me any other suggestions you can think of in the comment section below or tweet me!