How to Stay Comfortable on an International Flight
A short hop between states is one thing, anyone can stay comfy in an airplane for an hour or two. If you are doing taking an overseas flight you’ll want to be prepared so you can have the most comfortable experience possible.
Get noise canceling headphones. The roar of the airplane’s engines can become unbearable after 6 or 7 hours. If you are on a 10-12 hour flight it can cause a pretty nasty migraine. When you put on a proper pair of noise-canceling headphones you are in your own world of quite comfort. You can use them to listen to music, or to a movie that’s on, or you can tap into the airplane’s sound system where you’ll find classical music as well as other stations.
Get a neck pillow. The pillow that will be supplied by the airline won’t be very comfortable. Get a nice neck pillow to be sure that your head and neck stay in place during the flight. You can use the pillow that the airline gives you to support your back or elbows.
Drink alcohol. On an international flight you’ll be able to drink free if you’re of age. Have a glass of wine or a beer to help you calm down and relax.
Drink water. It’s important to stay hydrated on your flight so don’t be shy about hitting the button for the flight attendant and asking for a cup of water. If you ask enough, they’ll probably end up giving you your own little bottle.
Walk around. It’s perfectly OK to stand up and walk around designated areas on the airplane. Every 2-3 hours you should get up and stretch your legs to get the circulation going.
Watch Movies. Watching a movie is a great way to pass the time and keep your mind off of how long you’re in the air for. On international flights you’ll probably have your own video screen on the chair head in front of you. You’ll have a menu and be able to play movies on demand. This is much better than in previous times when they would play just one movie on a bigger screen that everyone had to watch. You can even select TV shows and music videos, and watch a GPS display of where the plane is and how far you’ve traveled. On fancier airlines you might even be equipped with a video game controller and be able to play video games.
Sleep. Nothing makes the time go by better than a good nap. Some airlines will encourage the entire plane to sleep and wake up at certain times to help you adjust to the new time difference in an attempt to beat jet lag.