How To Prepare For A Long Flight And Not Be Bored

I love flying, but if I don’t prepare for a long flight, it can affect my first day and the initial vibe of my trip.

La La Land

The first thing I like to do to prepare for a long flight is to get as little sleep as possible the night before I fly. This way by the time I get on the plane I can hopefully fall asleep and wake up at my destination.

I only recommend trying this tip if you are able to perform any tasks you need to do before your flight. For example, if you need to drive three hours to get to the airport, by all means, get the rest you need. Instead, take a sleeping tablet once you get to the gate. That gives you enough time to get on the plane before you pass out. I’ve taken it too soon and had to have someone wake me up before I missed my flight. Learn from my mistakes, don’t drug up too soon!

Many opt to get drunk on a flight to help them get through a long flight. I’m all for the free drinks on international flights, but you’ll pay for it in dehydration or many trips to the bathroom. Drink responsibly.

Early Bird

My next tip is to get to the airport three hours in advance, which I know sucks, but there is a reason for this madness. By getting there so early I am usually one of, if not the first, to actually check in for my flight. This usually gets me a good seat, and I can hopefully avoid waiting in long lines. The other reason I like to arrive three hours in advance for long flights is if you check in early you can’t get bumped from the plane. However, the person who gets to the gate at the last minute sometimes hears the word, “overbooked,” which is something you don’t want to hear unless they are offering an amazing compensation.

Get Moving

Once at the gate, it is natural to want to sit down and wait for boarding to commence. Don’t do that! If you are about to be on a long flight, the last thing you want to do before boarding is to sit at the gate. Take this opportunity to walk around and stretch. Your body will thank you for it later.

Carry On

I am a ride or die team carry-on traveler. Whenever possible, I try to avoid checking a bag, but sometimes it is unavoidable. What you take with you on the plane can make a big difference between having an enjoyable long flight and being so unbelievably bored out of your mind you feel like you’re going mad.

I always make sure to bring a fully charged phone and laptop computer on the plane with me. Remember when I said earlier that I don’t like to sleep before my flights? Usually, I entertain myself with creating playlists for the flights and downloading television shows and movies. There is nothing worse than being on a long flight and you don’t like any of the movies or your phone is dead.

Downloading several playlists on Spotify prior to getting to the airport makes it so I have music at all times without the need for an Internet connection. This allows me to have music to fit my mood at any time. If I need to meditate, I have guided meditation. If I want to be turnt up, I have a playlist for that too.

Literature

There are times when a flight is so long that I either wake up early or simply can’t sleep. For these moments, I like to bring a book with me. I find that something light and entertaining is most helpful on long flights. When I bring a book that is heavy in content, I find I start overthinking and sleep is lost.

In addition to the book, I always buy two magazines at the airport for long flights. One magazine to read articles on topics that interest me, like Elle, Essence, or Marie Claire. For the second magazine, I typically purchase a tabloid magazine. These are good for two reasons. When I don’t want to read, I can simply look at the pictures and that keeps me from being bored. Tabloid magazines also help distract my mind during turbulence, as I have not mastered the art of not freaking out yet.

The last piece of advice to help prepare you for a long flight is to keep busy. You will be amazed at how fast the flight goes when you’re busy doing something. However, if you stare at the clock and focus on the plane’s progress it will feel like forever.

Safe Travels!