Plane travel can be miserable or therapeutic

I travel whenever I get the chance, whether it be by plane, train, car, horse, or boat—as long as it floats. I’m not Dr. Seuss here, but what I’m trying to say is I love traveling and I’ll do it by any means necessary. Each mode of transportation has its perks, but if you want to cover the most distance in the shortest amount of time, a plane is your best option—especially for international trips or long hauls across the United States.

Plane travel can be fun; when else do you get to kick back for a couple of hours with nowhere else to be? Not many places, I can tell you that. However, I can also tell you that if you come into a flight unprepared—especially a long flight—you’re not going to have the best time you could. Being in a confined space with minimal room to move for hours can be daunting, but if you come prepared and with the right mindset, you’re sure to have a pleasant journey. In fact, you’ll have the person next to you wishing they had read this article because you’ll be so ahead of the game.

Dress for Success

Before you even board the plane, plan out what you’re going to wear. I typically opt for sweats and a sweatshirt for maximum comfort on long flights. Comfort is key, so leave accessories behind or pack them in your bag since you’ll have to remove them at security. When you’re sitting on the plane, there’s no need to dress up unless you have plans immediately after landing. Wear comfortable shoes that can easily slide off, as they’ll need to come off during security checks. Make sure they’re comfortable for navigating large airports—walking to a terminal that’s 15 minutes away with uncomfortable shoes sounds like a nightmare.

Neck Pillow

This one is optional: the neck pillow and I have a love-hate relationship. On one hand, it is nice to have some neck support on the plane because you will fall asleep. It’s especially nice to have if you unfortunately end up in the middle seat because you don’t want to be that person leaning on the passenger next to you. This can put them in an awkward position where they either have to ask you to move or they might be cool with it, and you could make a new friend.

The only con to the pillow is having to carry it around. Sure, I can strap it to my backpack, but then I have to put it through the security belt. It may fall off a couple of times, it may fall on the plane floor, and all these things make it dirty. Putting all that next to my face and mouth? No way, José, is what I sometimes say. But sometimes I want comfort, so if you want to be comfortable, go for the neck pillow.

Earbuds + Headphones

Everything in your house may be connected to Bluetooth and the internet, but when you’re traveling, sometimes you’re going to have to give all that up. Airplanes are a little behind the curve when it comes to Bluetooth technology, even though the industry is over a century old. But that’s okay because you brought your own wired headphones.

Now, don’t get me wrong—you can still use your Bluetooth headphones with your phone and all your electronics. However, most long-haul airplanes have television screens or tablets on the back of each seat, and these typically require wired headphones for the best experience.

Don’t get me wrong—most airlines will give you free earbuds to plug in, but the thing is, they are cheap, the sound is terrible, and they get uncomfortable after hours of use. If you don’t care about watching the mini TV on the back of the chair, disregard this. But again, if you want comfort, I would recommend something like these Skullcandy earbuds (Amazon). I use them because they have a mic as well, but they are cheap and will be way more comfortable than the ones you will get on the flight.

Another good thing to have along the same lines is noise-canceling headphones. The ambient plane sounds may be relaxing white noise to some, or it could be nails on a chalkboard to others. If you lean toward the latter, I recommend you get something like Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones (Amazon) to keep the sound you don’t want out and the sound you do want, in.

Sleep Mask

Don’t get me wrong, if I’m in the window seat, I’m staring out of the window the whole flight. Off-topic a little bit, you know what really grinds my gears? People who have the window seat but don’t look outside at all. It feels like such a waste. On the other hand, there are those who keep their window cracked open and the sun peeks through, disrupting your internal clock when you just want to catch a nap. That’s where the eye mask comes in. I’ve gotten some of the best sleep of my life using an eye mask. Another perk is that you won’t be bothered if you truly want to relax. Some airlines provide eye masks, but it’s always nice to come prepared with your own, just in case.

Hygiene Kit

Traveling can get gross, so bring toiletry items for the plane. Here are some tips to stay fresh and clean during your flight. You’d be surprised how much a person can smell even though all they are doing is sitting on a plane.

• Brush Your Teeth: Plan to brush your teeth at the time you typically would at home.
• Deodorant: Keep deodorant in your carry-on bag.
• Disinfectant Wipes: Pack disinfectant wipes like Wet Ones or Lysol to wipe down tray tables, seat buckles, and anything else surrounding you. Most of these places have never been and will never be cleaned thoroughly anytime soon.
• TSA Compliance: Make sure anything you plan to bring on the plane is in compliance with TSA regulations. You can see what items are accepted and prohibited with an easy search on the TSA website(What Can I Bring?).

Carry On Luggage

I could spend a whole day on the subject of carryons but here I want to discuss it in the terms of a long haul or interternational flight.

Second Outfit: Pack a second outfit in case your main luggage does not arrive at its intended destination in time. At least then you have something to change into after that long flight if need be.

Sweater or Jacket: Make sure to pack a sweater or a jacket. For some reason, whenever I step into a plane or an airport, I get hit with that arctic blast. I truly don’t enjoy the cold. If you don’t have a problem with it, then you won’t need it.

Entertainment: Make sure to pack entertainment. Download your favorite shows, podcasts, and webpages before you leave the airport. Pack books if you like it old school, but just be prepared to entertain yourself for a long period of time.

Snacks: Make sure to bring snacks. Typically, international flights do provide meals, but sometimes they are not up to par with what you may prefer, or you just need something to munch on to make the time go by.

*Pro tip: Keep an eye out for an open overhead bin if you have a personal item like a backpack. Keeping it under your feet for hours can be super uncomfortable, especially in an aisle seat. Wait until everyone is seated and the space is unaccounted for. You can also ask a flight attendant politely for assistance.

Conclusion

This isn’t the definitive list of everything you should bring on a long flight. These are just some essentials I think are important and often overlooked. If you have a long journey ahead, I wish you good luck, and stay tuned for more travel-related articles. Thanks for reading, and until next time, Ahamed Saho.