If you’re planning to travel to the other side of the world to enjoy a lovely holiday in Europe or for a business trip in the U.S., don’t let panic get over you. There are a few simple moves you need to keep in mind in order to have a safe journey, with no stress and worries whatsoever. Here are a few tips on how to prepare for a long-haul flight in the best possible way.
Choose your airline carefully
The first steps for a perfect long-haul flight start from home. Choose the airline you want to fly with carefully and look at all it can offer: when it comes to long-haul flights, the choice becomes essential. Look online for info about comfort, food and entertainment. Depending on how many hours your flight is going to last, choose an airline with a more comfortable configuration of seats aboard, so that your legs will not suffer and you will be able to walk or stretch a little bit during the flight. Make sure you like the kind of food and entertainment the airline will provide you with, as the journey might seem even longer than it really is!
Be prepared
Before you start to pack and prepare for your trip, you should carefully check every detail so that you travel without stress and last-minute surprises. Don’t forget to check the validity of your travel documents, control your visas (necessary for travelling to a specific country), get vaccinations (if needed) and book your accommodation (at least for the first night) ahead. This way, you will be able to arrive after a long journey without stressful thoughts about finding a place to sleep as soon as possible. Also, booking online before departure can help you to find some good deals. So if you are actually planning a trip to an ultimate travellers’ destination like Paris, don’t forget to take a look at its accommodation possibilities on online booking platforms, you can try for example venere.com that has also a blog with useful information for destinations all over the world.
Entertain yourself
If the entertainment provided aboard does not meet your expectations, bring whatever you need with you! Books, tablets, smartphones, mp3 players, board games or game consoles are all welcome! Download new apps or games that you can play during the flight, look for movies or TV series that you so want to watch, but never find time to… well, now it’s the time!
Pack your suitcase wisely
We all know airlines have strict restrictions when it comes to baggage, so you’d better be prepared in order to avoid bad surprises at the airport. If you are taking a long-haul flight, you are more likely going to spend a few days or weeks (if not months) in your destination, so packing your suitcase wisely is a must. Check weather conditions in your destination and choose the most versatile items in your wardrobe, pick something lightweight and that doesn’t take too much space in your bag! For more tips on how to pack wisely, click here.
Sleep tight
12 hours travelling on a plane are not exactly the best for your beauty sleep and sleeping aboard isn’t always very comfortable – you never know who will sit next to you! Make sure you sleep well and tight before leaving, especially if you’re travelling with your kids. Be aware of the jet lag, so some extra sleep and rest before departure can do no harm!
Ferdz Decena is an award-winning travel photographer, writer and blogger. His works has found print in publications such as Singapore Airlines’s Silver Kris, Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay, Cebu Pacific’s Smile and Seair InFlight. He has also lent his expertise to various organizations like the Oceana Philippines, Lopez Group Foundation, Save the Children and World Vision, contributing quality images for their marketing materials.
