How to Survive a Long Haul Flight
Any flight by plane is always a stress for our body. A long flight, knocking down the usual rhythm of our life, often becomes a real test. Of course, if you can afford flying business class or even with a private jet company, you can make a long haul flight an enjoyable experience. Still, it is difficult to deceive your biological clock, but it is quite possible to make a long stay on board more comfortable. To do this, focus on useful pastime. A good long flight is a flight that is fully planned in advance.
Meal before flight
At least a day before departure, it is necessary to slightly change the usual diet. An overloaded stomach in combination with a tired vestibular apparatus can lead to very unexpected consequences. In this regard, it will be correct to exclude from the menu fat, spices and salt. Give preference to light meals, as well as nutritious drinks. At a high altitude, the human body requires more fluid, in addition, the air in the cabin is quite dry due to the operation of air conditioners, which also contributes to dehydration.
Comfortably sit in a chair
For a comfortable trip, you should remove all unnecessary items. Leave only what you want to use in flight.
Take some warm clothes with you.
Even if it’s been summer already on the street, take some warm things with you. Firstly, in the cabin of an airplane (at an altitude of several thousand kilometers) the temperature is always a few degrees lower, and, secondly, the air is constantly conditioned and sometimes the cooling becomes significant. In such cases, a compact plaid, a knitted sweatshirt or a warm scarf will be very useful.
Comfortable clothes and shoes
Clothes and shoes should be as comfortable and free as possible. No squeezing rubber bands, belts or corsets. Give preference to natural materials and things that will not constrain your movements. Women during the flight are strongly encouraged not to wear the heels.
Pawns ears
This unpleasant phenomenon is a consequence of the pressure drop in the eardrum cavity and in the cabin when plane goes up. The auditory membrane flexes, which is accompanied by a feeling of congestion, which causes serious discomfort. There is an easy way to deal with this: yawn, open your mouth wide, or make a few swallowing / chewing movements. A similar effect can be achieved by sucking candies. They are traditionally offered on board the aircraft, but it’s better to grab your favorite ones to combine the useful with the pleasant. If this does not help, then you can try to blow your ears. To do this, you need to close your mouth, clamp your nose in your hands and try to breathe air through it. Well, the most modern and, moreover, a preventive method is to use special earplugs, which “smooth” the pressure difference. These can often be purchased through major online pharmacies.
Motion sickness
According to statistics, more than half of people are affected by motion sickness in flight. The main reason is the discrepancy between what the eyes see and what the vestibular apparatus is experiencing (the plane is moving, and the person in it is only watching a static picture of the cabin, not noticing any movement). Here are some tips for those who feel motion sickness on the plane:
- In the chair, adhere to a comfortable semi-reclining position;
- Do not concentrate on your feelings when the plane is gaining height;
- Do not read to increase the strain on the eyes;
- Refrain from alcohol and tobacco (they increase nausea and headache);
- Drink water exceptionally without gases;
- when registering at the airport, ask for a seat closer to the middle or the beginning of the cabin (there is less vibration and pitching amplitude).
- If all this does not help, then you have to rely only on modern medications. Before using them, consult with your doctor.
Dehydration
Dehydration is one of the main problems of a long flight. It occurs because of the excessively dry air on board the aircraft and the increased need of the organism in the liquid at high altitude. To avoid dehydration, do not hesitate to call the flight attendant every time you feel thirsty. If you want to have your own bottle of water, you need to buy it ahead of time in the Duty-Free store.
In addition, it is recommended to take care of the hydration of the skin and nasal mucosa. With this, a small bottle with special drops and a hydrating (day cream) cope well. Dry air on the airplane of many causes and irritation of the eyes. Therefore it is better to change the contact lenses for glasses during the flight.
Alcohol in the airplane
Alcohol not only amuses and relaxes, but also promotes dehydration, although during the flight the body’s need for water is already significantly increased. Before you decide to drink some alcohol, think carefully, because the state of alcoholic intoxication quickly disappears, and the hangover remains for a long time.
Eat fruits and vegetables
By giving preference to vegetables and fruits, protein-rich nuts and easily digestible dried fruits, you will significantly improve your health. It is very useful to take bananas or pineapple – they contain melatonin, which is a natural antioxidant and biological regulator of sleep.
Get entertained
To ensure that passengers are not bored during the flight, all modern airliners have screens with a variety of digital content. Also, think of taking your own entertainment – a laptop or tablet, a player with audiobooks or favorite songs, magazines, a Rubik’s cube or some hobby that it is allowed to fly aboard. The main thing – check before flying the level of charging of digital gadgets, in order to avoid unpleasant surprises.
