What You Need to Do Before Boarding a Long Flight?

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Flying for a long hour is like another new adventure. But preparing for a long flight is not the thing you are expecting.

From language to food, everything will be in your seat, which causes physical and mental fatigue. It means you can feel bored, feel dehydrated, experience sleep deprivation, and get sick.

To minimize it, you should know some travel tips for long flights. Otherwise, it’s not all that fun. So, what to do before a long flight?

Well, depending on how long you will be up there, pack essentials in your carry-on and prepare for comfort with the right clothing and travel accessories.

Want to know more in detail? Keep reading!

Preparing Your Documents and Travel Essentials

Having the right document in place, especially when traveling internationally, will ensure your trip is hassle-free.

Documents like visas, passports, flight tickets, and travel insurance copies can be sent back from your destination or transfer points by immigration authorities if they are incorrect.

Seems like a lot? Let’s break down how to make your documents organized and valid:

Ensure Your Passport and Visas Are Up-to-Date

First of all, check your passport and visa expiration dates. For a passport, make sure it has at least 6 months of validity (start preparing documents in advance) because many countries require this validity to enter their territory.

Also, your visa might have expired, and you didn’t know. In this case, make sure to check the date, along with your return time. Otherwise, you’ll get caught.

Moving on, check the destination visa process. You can have different types of visas, like travel visa, visa-free, eVisa, visa on arrival, free visa on arrival, eTA, tourist card, etc. Afterward, find which types of documents you need to get to your destination.

Print and Organize Important Documents

To keep activity hassle-free during the flight, including check-ins and checkpoints, arrange all of your documents, including boarding passes, in chronological order.

Start with the boarding passes. It saves both time and minimizes the chance of losing any documents in the meantime.

You can also use a travel organizer and label your documents, like for a flight, proof of booked accommodation (a hotel reservation copy) for the duration of your stay, etc.

Now, check the travel insurance copy (not mandatory for a few countries). Keep a black pen with your organized documents that are necessary to fill up or sign documents (customs forms) quickly when needed.

Related Post: What Does the Venice City Pass Include?

Make Copies of Important Documents

Make photocopies of your important documents, like passports and legal and identification documents, and keep them safe in your checked bags separately. It secures your identity when you lose the passport.

Electronic copies are also a good idea. Keep them in PDF format on your phone, email, or cloud drive like Google Drive, Dropbox, etc. So, it is possible to access your document from digital backups anytime from anywhere you need.

What to Pack and What to Leave

Your luggage is the only way in the flight to give a companion on a long-haul flight. When you feel bored, tired, hungry, irritated, cold, or dirty, this luggage is the source of the solution.

Here are a few considerations for you to pack your luggage efficiently:

Choose the Right Luggage

Luggage of the right type and size with proper security (zip lock) lets you ride on the plane or hit the road easily, with less stress!

Hence, based on necessity, pick the right types of luggage, like carry-on bags, checked bags, etc. Also, a carry-on bag can take the passenger with a flight that is stored in the cargo section.

Whereas a checked bag is larger than a carry-on and cannot be stored in the seating area. The approved dimension size of this bag is 14 inches by 21 inches by 27 inches or 35 centimeters by 53 centimeters by 68 centimeters.

Also, consider the capacity (30–50 liters, 50–75 liters, 75–100 liters) because of the baggage weight limitation for boarding based on baggage policies.

Pack a Well-Thought-Out Carry-On

An organized bag can make all the difference on a long-haul flight. You can carry lots of things with you. Hence, pack your crucial things smartly before you catch your flight. Here are some of the recommended items you must carry:

• Passport
• Wallet
• Phones and other gadgets
• Wool socks
• Comfortable clothes
• Eye mask
• Neck pillow
• Earplugs
• Snacks
• Reusable water bottle
• Face wipes
• Deodorant
• Lip balm
• Lotion
• Pen/paper
• Entertainment
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• A portable charger
• A blanket or scarf
• Noise-canceling headphones

Related Post: How to Pick the Best Seats on a Plane in Economy for Long-Haul Flights?

Organize Your Main Luggage Efficiently 

Before you start organizing your luggage, check the luggage size and weight restrictions (baggage policy). With a few general luggage packing rules, especially with clothes, you can organize luggage efficiently.

Fold your clothes with the basic method. Keep your flexible clothes at the bottom of your suitcase. On top, stack your longer clothing times, like pants and long-sleeved shirts.

Another way is the rolling cloth method, where you can save space, especially when you have a duffle bag or backpack. Roll your clothes, like denim, knits, or synthetic fabric, and stack them properly.

Besides, you can try packing cubes. It’s a soft plastic box with a zip lock that helps to organize various garments and identify the item.

Prepare Your Body for the Journey

It’s common for people to experience sickness or discomfort on a plane. From facing dry mouth to swollen ankles and aching limbs – the list goes on!

Plus, there’s not a lot you can do up there. But you can definitely minimize or eliminate these issues in a few ways, and here it is:

Stay Hydrated Before the Flight

Stick to drinking plenty of water because flying will dehydrate your body faster under lower humidity levels. Drink water as frequently as you can. The best is to bring a reusable water bottle and drink water from there. But balance it because you don’t want to pee every 5 minutes.

In your drinking list, try to include water-rich foods like fruits, electrolyte drinks, herbal tea, juice, sparkling water, etc. As a result, you can avoid dizziness, poor sleep, muscle cramping, dark-colored urine, chapped lips, tiredness, etc.

Also, stay away from drinking alcohol and caffeinated drinks. It will dehydrate your body more.

Eat a Balanced Meal Before Departure

It’s super important to eat a balanced meal at least 3-4 hours before a long flight. On the plane, you can take snacks and meals, but before the flight, take slow-release carbohydrates (whole grains, apples, legumes) will keep you full over the flight.

Besides, eat foods high in lean proteins (grilled fish, turkey, and tofu). All these foods will keep your muscles functional. Avoid eating rich, greasy, high-sugar, processed food before the flight. Also, avoid foods like fast food, onions, oily food, cabbages, baked beans, chickpeas, alcohol, etc.

Get Plenty of Rest 

Planning to sleep on a plane? Adequate sleep before leaving is a far better idea than a plan. You might face uncomfortable situations for sleeping up there.

When you are in a well-rested state, you can defend yourself from various circumstances on the plane, like people’s colds, flu, and other nasty things.

A good night’s sleep lets you feel strong and in good shape during the travel process and avoid jet lag, which also helps you overcome nerves, tears, and frustration.

So, sleep strategically and go with the local flow, move your body, do some exercise, take a warm shower, and take melatonin 2 hours before bedtime.

Keep Yourself Entertained and Productive

Make your time productive and do some creativity. It will make sure you are in the best comfort zone and make the flight fun for you. Here are some recommendations to make your flight fun and productive:

Load Up on Digital Content 

Entertainment is now in your hands! Spend your time with your entertainment method, like listening to a podcast or music from a fresh new playlist, the latest movies or TV shows (at least 5), or your favorite books (Kindle or hardcover), E-books, audiobooks, etc.

Make your phone, tablet, or laptop a hub where you can also play games. After making everything available offline, run them, especially the video player, to ensure everything is working smoothly.

Bring Offline Entertainment Options

Without Wi-Fi, you can do plenty of fun things on the flight. First of all, I preferred playing games like card games, pocket games (Backgammon Magnetic or Yahtzee, solitaire, rummy, chess, mini ludo), puzzle books, crosswords, word searches, etc.

Books can be a handy option for you. Bright some novels, comic books, a Kindle, or download the offline version to your phone or tablet to read them.

Plan for In-Flight Productivity 

Plan to avoid exhausting situations on a plane both physically and mentally. Make it productive. Plan your tasks for the flight. For example, a pen and paper is a decent option to try some creative writing to kill time.

Some airlines have Wi-Fi facilities. You can do some remote work if there is any Wi-Fi option available on your flight. So, you can do a limited amount of work like finishing a presentation, writing a report, or analyzing an income statement.

Learning the languages (a few words and sentences) of your visiting country is also an interesting way to spend time.

Mental Preparation to Manage Stress and Anxiety

Flight is a stressful part of a journey. Even it drives you to feel anxious. The entire buildup of a plane is a hub of anxiety-inducing to the extreme that set in your mind for a long time. Go for a final check for your things and do some relaxation exercises like deep breathing to minimize your anxiety and physical stress during the flight.

Below are some valuable tactics you can use to control your extreme stress on a long flight:

Practice Relaxation Techniques

Do some physical or mental relaxation acts to ease tension in your body. To keep your nervous system calm, breathing exercises are a particularly effective method.

So practice it a few times and follow the 4-7-8 method (inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7, and exhale for 8).

Besides, some guided meditation, doing some stretching, or mindfulness apps (Pacifica, Calm, Headspace, Breathe2Relax, and Mindfulness Daily) can help you to control your anxiety like a master.

Prepare a Calming Playlist or Podcast

With the right podcast app (offline listening capabilities), user-friendly interface, and compatibility with devices, downloading episodes for offline listening helps you to distract your mind.

From an extensive range of topics and genres (true crime, personal development, comedy, science & technology, news, and current affairs), identify your favorite one.

Set Realistic Expectations

Expecting anything special or unrealistic can make you unhappy with the plan. Hence, set your goal wisely and keep it within your limits.

Always be respectful and patient about upcoming actions (like switching seats, losing your phone, getting sick, jet lag, insect bites, sunburn, food poisoning, not speaking the language, loneliness, baggage not arriving, running out of money) during the flight.

Hence, a piece of advice:  be grateful for the flight, focus on the destination, and make the journey as comfortable as possible.

Making the Most of Technology as a Tech-Savy Traveler

Devices like phones, tablets, or laptops are accessible and easy to transform your mood instantly. From booking to enjoying journeys, they are like a true savior.

Hence, to keep your tech fully functioning during the flight, make a few things count, like:

Charge All Your Devices Fully 

Keep your devices, like phones, tablets, laptops, and power banks, powered up. Besides capturing moments, staying connected, or navigating on the map, you need to turn them on for security check-in and clearance.

Also, to watch movies, play songs or videos, and listen to podcasts to minimize your boredom and make your travel less stressful, your fully charged devices will support you.

It’s true, you can charge devices on the plane but need to wait until they are fully charged before you use them.

Download Useful Travel Apps 

Always download essential apps on your devices that work both offline and online. You need to put your phone and other devices in offline mode. That’s why you cannot get internet up there.

But you can get various offline apps of different categories (travel planning, accommodation, navigation) and games on your device that work flawlessly in airplane mode.

For example, Google Maps is here to give you directions with an extremely accurate statistic. Besides, there are other apps, including:

• Pinterest
• Culture Trip
• Booking.com
• Flixbus
• Rail Europe
• Currency
• VPN
• Whatsapp
• Google Translate

Enable Offline Mode for Essential Apps

Most of the travel-related apps offer offline mode. Meaning, you can use them without any internet connection.

Apps like Google Maps, Google Translate, Netflix, Pocket, Triposo, XE Currency, and Podcatchers have offline modes. You can easily download the data from these apps and use them later. Besides, get a few entertainment apps like Spotify, Netflix, Audible, etc.

Final Check as Last Minute Preparation

A last-minute trip can make you puzzle with all your necessary things. Hence, don’t rush and go through the last-minute travel checklist in order. So, you can remember things that you need on your vacation. It will help you to stay organized.

Recheck Your Itinerary and Confirm Bookings

Double-check your travel plans, including the routes. Check the flight details (flight time) and transportation agreement you’ve made.

Also, verify the location, time, and date. It must be accurate. Try to book your hotel and car in advance and ensure you have booked a comfortable place for you. Confirm the hotel check-in times to get there comfortably.

It will not only save you money but also save you time as well. So, research, compare, and make your reservation.

Secure Your Home Before Leaving

You are leaving your house for some time. Before you leave, take time, check your house, and secure them unless you are satisfied.

So, you have a bunch of work to do before, such as, at first, checking the windows and doors and locking them properly. Turn off all of your appliances, lights, and thermostats (energy-saving setting).

Besides, make an arrangement for plant care. If possible, set a time for light to keep outsiders away from home. Plus, consider forwarding mail as well. This, in return, will ensure peace of mind when you are away from home.

Inform Loved Ones About Your Travel Plans 

Inform your beloved person, like a family member or friend, in detail about your tour. All information must be related to “What, How, When, and Where.”

That is, let them know about your schedule, itinerary, tracking your progress, travel companions, health updates, backup documents, and how to contact you in case of emergency.

Finally, share with them how much you love them and don’t need to worry about your journey because you have a perfect setup for traveling.

Concluding Words

Preparing for a long flight doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Instead, by following these above-mentioned tips, you’ll not only ease the stress but also set yourself up for a smooth and enjoyable journey.

However, as always, a little preparation goes a long way in ensuring that your adventure starts off on the right foot. So, pack smart, stay hydrated, and get ready to make the most of your time in the sky. Bon voyage!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)