Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Travel Talk: 10 Unglamorous Tips for the Best Flight Ever (Even in Economy)



Once, when John and I were doing the long-distance thing, he booked me a flight from Boston to London so I could spend my birthday weekend with him. It was romantic, exciting, and so very cool. I remember dressing up for the flight and wanting to look glamorous and chic when I landed. 

That's about the last time I thought about looking glamorous or chic on a long-haul flight. 

Instead, my years of jetting back and forth between the US and UK, plus a few added trips to far-flung places like Sri Lanka, Thailand and Singapore, have made me somewhat of an expert in unglamorous travel. 

This is how I rock it (#sorrynotsorry): 

1. Wear compression stockings for long-haul flights. 
Trust me - you'll thank me when you land. They're the unsexiest things EVER, but compression stockings keep your feet and ankles from swelling, plus help prevent DVT. I'm so paranoid about wearing them, I'll buy a pair at the airport like these if I've left mine at home. I usually put them on under whatever I'm wearing that day, or else slip them on before the flight takes off (when I say slip, I really mean pull and grunt and groan until the person next to me slowly edges away). I make my parents wear them because I'm so nervous about them developing DVT on long flights ... I yelled at my dad once for not taking me seriously and made sure he wore them before he flew to London. 

2. Mid-flight, spritz your face with Avene Thermale Spring Water Spray
Even John exclaimed, "This feels so good!" when I sprayed this over him mid-flight when we were en route to Sri Lanka last year. The cabin air makes my skin greasy and flaky all at once (SO attractive!) and my eyes feel like they're burning by the 5th hour. So, I usually mist this over my face every two hours or so and it keeps my skin hydrated, without adding an extra layer of grease.

3. Drink SO MUCH WATER.
I always take an aisle seat because I have to pee, like, 1,000 times during a flight and there's nothing worse than asking the stranger next to you to get up 1,000 times. Before I fly, I get a huge bottle of water and make sure I drink it ALL during a 8-hour or longer flight. I also accept ANY water or juice that's coming my way when the flight attendants pass them out. This is key to helping jet lag when I land, and - perhaps it's a coincidence - I'm less likely to catch a cold/other nasty bug on the flight if I'm well-hydrated.

4. Avoid coffee, tea or alcohol.
It's so hard to decline that cute, mini bottle of wine that comes with your meal on BA flights (my dad usually ends up with two, because he's so charming). But alcohol, coffee and tea are very dehydrating and, for me, personally, prevent me from getting a good rest on the plane. Instead, I chug water like there's no tomorrow and, if possible, ask for a cup of hot water I can stick a peppermint teabag into.

5. Make a pre-flight playlist.
I get nervous and anxious flying on my own, which I dont' really get, since I've been flying 6+ hour flights by myself since I was 17 and didn't seem to have a problem with it then. But for whatever reason, I kind of hate it now, but living in the UK and having family in the US means I have to do this at least once a year. So, I make a playlist that takes me from my journey to Heathrow to the minute I land. I like listening to calming music, especially as I like to have my headphones in when I drift off to sleep. Like navigating crowds in London, having my ears full of music on the plane is a great distraction from my worries.

6. Try to get some shut-eye once the food service is over.
I have a little ritual for long-haul flights. Whether I'm flying with John or by myself (he is less entertaining than I usually anticipate on the flights - he mostly sleeps or watches a movie or pokes me to get up so he can go to the bathroom. There are no travel-version games of Scrabble or funny anecdotes to trade), I typically board, read a magazine, clutch at John's hand (if it's available - if I'm alone, I clutch my handrest) as the plane takes off, start a movie, eat the food while watching the movie, finish watching the movie, make bathroom stop #5 out of 47, and then ... put my eyeshade on and snooze. If I'm lucky, I drop off to sleep relatively straightaway and can sleep for 4 hours or so. If not, I don't try to put too much pressure on myself to actually sleep but think of it as resting my eyes, which I can do for about an hour or so before getting way too bored and watching another movie.

7. Wear an eyeshade. Preferably one shaped like a mini-bra.
This helps block out light (obvs), but combined with earphones, is a great way to help you focus on snoozing. I love the type that look like a mini-bra and doesn't touch your eyelids. So cool. NOT.

8. BRING SNACKS. BRING ALL THE SNACKS.
Unless you're flying business or first, you'll get hungry. BRING SNACKS. OMG, I cannot emphasize this one enough - BRING SNACKS. Chips (crisps, for you UK readers, not an actual, greasy, vinegar-drizzled, bag of hot chips). Granola bars (Bounce bars are great). Dried fruit. SOMETHING. ANYTHING.

9. Wet Wipes are your friend. 
Germs. Germy-germ-germs. I'm a frequent hand-washer, but Wet Wipes are great for: a) wiping between visits to the gross plane toilet; b) cleaning up spillages; c) wiping your hands after eating all those delicious snacks you brought.

10. Bring tissues and nasal spray

Need I remind you that the title of this post is "10 UNGLAMOROUS TIPS ...". Unglamorous. Do you get insanely sneezy on planes or is it just me? Once again, the dry cabin air wreaks havoc on my poor sinuses and I've got a blocked nose by the third or fourth hour. I make sure to pack extra pocket tissues and a saline spray to keep my nasal passages hydrated. I cannot believe I just wrote "nasal passages" in a post. 

Writing this post has been so cringe, I'm slinking off now to redeem my glamour points by ... I don't know, throwing a cashmere wrap around myself (which is one of my essential travel items, btw, so it ain't all about the dry nasal passages).
 
What's your most unglamorous travel tip? 
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29 comments

  1. I have these big fluffy pink socks I wear on every flight .... they are so cozy and keep my feet warm but not sweaty...not posh at all! !but probably the most unglamorous thing I do on a plane is snort/ laugh out loud Or cry at romcoms I save for the flight... usually my emotions are heightened from the tiny wines... can't wait to fly with you!! :snort

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    1. I really need to calm down about this flight. I keep hyperventilating trying to think of all the funny things that could possibly happen, while trying to plan all the things we could possibly do: 1) watch the same movie together at the same time? 2) talk about all our woes at x number of feet in the sky? 3) laugh about heaven sent? 4) rehash all the hilarious memories that have happened in the past week? 5) laugh about whatever is obviously going to have happened in the lounge? 6) read magazines together? 7) take broken ankle photos? The possibilities are endless.

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    2. John: "you need to get some sleep on this flight"
      😬😳😬

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  2. I was about to add woolly socks but someone beat me to it! Love this list x

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    1. Haha, thanks, Laurie! I just might bring my fluffy socks to wear OVER my compression stockings. Won't that be a pretty sight! :D x

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  3. Great list! I always make sure my e-reader is stocked with fast reads (like best seller murder mysteries) that keep me occupied. I love that we don't have to turn off e-readers during takeoff anymore! I also bring my own empty water bottle through security and fill it up when I get to my gate. (I bring a travel mug too to use at my final destination.)

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    1. I always forget about my Kindle, Alix! Thanks for reminding me. Plane time is my time to catch up on embarrasingly trashy books and movies.

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  4. Legging and long comfy shirt!! No make up but hair somewhat done, I wash it with shampoo twice and use little to no condition but I do a nice blowout and also straight it, and add dry shampoo before and after the flight but this is because my hair is very oily!

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    1. I love the idea of a long comfy shirt! Might try this for this trip.

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  5. I ALWAYS ask for a seat next to the aisle as well - it's the most awkward thing ever to have to ask people to move when you go and then AGAIN when you come back! I don't fly long haul that often, so a lot of these tips were pretty new for me - I'm gonna be coming back to this post when I go to America next year! x

    Laura // Middle of Adventure

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    1. SO glad to know I'm not the only one. I always have a fear of not being able to easily access a bathroom - so having an aisle seat means I can chug water to my heart's content! When are you going to the US and where are you going? That's so exciting! x

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  6. Completely agree with most of these! I recently bought a face mist and used it on the plane and it changed my life, so good! I've also had a 'Plane' Playlist on my iPod for years now and it's especially good for night flights when i don't want to be surprised with some Metallica or Queens while I'm trying to sleep haha. I never thought of buying a nasal spray but I may just do so now! :)

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    1. The face mist is SO refreshing. Back in the day, I would have scoffed at something like that, but now I'm totally into it. It really works!

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  7. Vag wipes! Ha. I wrote a post with an exhaustive list of all the things I take in my carry on and in the process I discovered vag wipes. Long story. Not something a lot of people want to talk about but they're kind of a game changer for any medium to long haul flight in my opinion! And now your post doesn't feel quite so cringe, does it?!

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    1. OMG, I totally have to Google those, haha! Thanks for upping the cringe ... :D :D :D

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  8. Over the years I learned make-up is a big no-no, and because my skin is so oily I also bring a toner to refresh at the end of the flight. I found that wearing comfortable clothes is also paramount. I like leggings and long loose cotton top. Oh, and deodorant!

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    1. That is SUCH a good tip about bringing a toner to refresh at the end of the flight, Nano! Do you have a favorite?

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    2. I've been using Clinique for years, it works well with my super sensitive skin.

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  9. Eye masks are such an essential on a long flight!

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    1. They are a godsend! Do you have a favorite pair, Angie?

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  10. I love compression socks too! If you want some that are a bit more fun look for a website that sells items for nurses, they have them in all sorts of fun colors and patterns and varying lengths!

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    1. GOOD TIP - off to Google that now! Thanks, Bailie!

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  11. Oh my goodness I LOVE your blog! You write in such a funny and relatable way. I have to say, I've been toying with the idea of compression socks for a long time (like you, American in London = multiple yearly long-haul flights to the US) but have yet to bite the bullet and get some. Will now do with your recommendation! Let's be real, like I could get any less glamorous on a flight.... :-P

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    1. Thanks so much, Eire! Compression socks are probably the #1 improvement I've made to my flights. They are so uncool, but I love not having to deal with swollen, puffy feet and ankles on the other side and also not being paranoid about DVT! You should totally go for it (warning: they are such a rip-off - ugh).

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  12. Number 3 is my actual life! All I do on long haul flights is drink and pee. I can never sleep so just drinking and going to the loo takes up the whole 24 hours usually. My absolute nightmare is not an aisle seat. Funnily enough I just went to the docs today to talk about compression stockings and I'm definitely going to use them. I also recommend a useful prescription to keep you calm on the plane... another need from the doctor today!!

    Jasmin Charlotte

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    1. I actually get self-conscious about how many times I get up to go to the bathroom. Not that it should even matter! I hate planes with the 3-seat arrangement because John always wants the window and I always want the aisle - the window (as pretty and fun as it may be) is like my worst nightmare. I'd rather sacrifice the fun, coziness of the window seat and the ability to lean my head on something to sleep for the knowledge that I can get up and pee ANY TIME I WANT.

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  13. Love this post! I always have a difficult time avoiding coffee. I usually try to ask for both coffee and water.. but it's still probably not enough. As for compression socks, I have never worn them during a flight. I had no idea how important they were!

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  14. Loved reading this post. I would prob never wear the stockings though. I never drink enough water as I hate using the toilets on the plane. I make sure I have videos on my tablet and books too. I always have wet wipes, tissues and toothbrush and past or at least mouthwash or mouth spray.

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  15. Planning a trip these days can turn downright confusing and truly overwhelming. With so many travel and hotel booking options available in sight, the situation for trippers becomes no less than perplexing. Klia limo

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