If we utter the words ‘long haul flight’ do your legs immediately seize up at the thought of sitting still for 4 to 10+ hours?
Well for some popular gap year destinations, journey lengths can be long. Places like Australia, New Zealand, South America and Asia can be 10+ hours from European destinations.
But don’t stress, when you choose the right airline, you’ll feel like absolute royalty (champagne on arrival pur-lease).
From one global explorer to another, here’s our survival guide on how to have an experience just as good as the adventure you’re about to embark on.
1. Put Your Comfy Underwear On
Everyone’s got at least one pair of comfy pants that should have been chucked in the bin a long time ago, but for some strange reason you cling onto them. This is their moment to shine.
2. Red Red Wine
Struggle to sleep on planes? There’s nothing a glass or two of the good stuff can’t cure. You’ll be snoozing in no time. Hiccup.
3. Nab The Window Seat
The window seat not only means epic views on take-off and landing it’s also the perfect head rest. AND most importantly you won’t be disturbed by peeing Paul who needs the loo every 2 minutes. Those sideglance evils are for you Paul.
Also if you have the option when booking your seat, go for the emergency row. As long as you’re capable of removing a door on the infinitesimally small (but possible) chance you crash, you’ll get yourself an extra foot of space or so.
Who needs first class when you can be sitting in the comfort of the economy emergency row, in solidarity with your fellow thrifty travelers?
4. Wiggle Wiggle
If you have a fear of flying, we’ve got a trick that will keep you calm when turbulence occurs. Shake it like Beyonce! It sounds weird, we know. But jiggling your body replicates the aircraft movements so you won’t feel it so much. It works, trust us.
5. Pillow Talk
Invest in a neck pillow! Sure, they’re not the hottest fashion accessory but your neck will thank you for it!
6. Beans, Beans The Wonderful Fruit…
No eating baked beans at least 24 hours before your flight. Don’t become the phantom farter of the flight, that guy doesn’t deserve friends to travel with.
7. I’ve Got The Power!
Make sure your phone battery is fully charged before you take off. There will come a time during the flight after watching your fourth film when you’ll want nothing more than a game of Candy Crush. We can’t help you with level 47 though, sorry.
8. Don’t Clock Watch
Don’t ever check what time it is. It’s not going to make the flight go by any faster!
9. Aaaaand Stretch
Move around and get that blood flowing. Sitting in one position for 14 hours can be dangerous, as you’re at a heightened risk for Deep Vein Thrombosis.
We’re not asking you to start doing yoga in the aisles, just make sure you get up every now and again and stretch your legs to help boost your circulation.
Every hour or two, do laps around the plane (walking of course).
10. Take A Toothbrush
The person next to you will thank you for it.
11. Get a neck pillow
If your head is small your neck will still get tired of supporting it after about 4 hours. The alternative to an inexpensive yet comfortable neck pillow is attempting to sleep on the rounded plane wall if you have a window seat or resting your head on your own shoulder and waking up with a neck pain the size of China.
12. Make friends with the person sitting next to you
If the person is friendly…
13. Avoid coffee
If you have a weak system or are sensitive to caffeine, stay away from coffee. If you want to argue about the diuretic effects of coffee, do it with someone else – as far as we’re concerned, coffee usually makes you go to the bathroom and keeps you awake, two negatives when it comes to flying. Simple alternative – stick with the water.
14. Wear a sweatshirt
Ah, the good old layering rule. I’m going to say the temperature in the plane changed every half hour, and when it changed, so did I (i.e. put on or took of my sweatshirt). If you get warm, you can always take it off, but if you didn’t bring one to begin with and you get cold, you’ll be depending on those thin blue blankets that are provided on the plane, which are made mostly of mesh therefore defeating their purpose of keeping the heat in.
15. Bring snacks
The reasons are pretty much the same as bringing a water bottle. If you’re only offered food every 5 hours and/or you don’t like it, you’ll be glad you packed peanut butter chocolate chip granola bars.
16. Choose the Right Airline
There are lots of highly rated airlines, view reviews before booking. If you want to fly to Australia, Qantas are regularly awarded Best Airline in Australia/Pacific at the Skytrax Awards (well done guys!) so you know you’re in for a treat.
Fun fact: Qantas A380 is quieter than any other large aircraft with a reduction in take-off noise by half and a quieter cabin experience in flight so sleeping will be a breeze!
Browse cheap gap year flights and book your next trip today.