Don’t get me wrong. I love traveling. There’s something wonderful about being able to be on the other side of the world in less than a day. However, the wheel breaking off of my suitcase? Not wonderful. Where on earth is my boarding pass? Did I really just spill orange juice on my sweatpants? As much as I love to travel, I won’t deny that it can be a stressful experience. Here are a few tips that made my long-haul flights a little bit better.
1. Bring a sheet mask.
I cannot tell you how much this changed my life. Every time my life devolves into a mess, I put on a sheet mask. Sheet masks make everything better, including 15 hours of sitting in a cramped economy seat. You’ve been eating airplane food. Cabin air is super dry. Chances of your sleep schedule being off? Probably about 99%. Sheet masks barely take up any space and can be tossed in the trash after use. It brings me joy that I can walk off the plane with moisturized and dewy skin. It covers up the fact that I spent the entire 15 hours chugging diet soda and watching Princess Diaries.
2. Check the status of your flight
This is especially important for those of you with connecting flights. Flights are delayed at the last minute all the time. Sometimes they’re even early. I don’t know which one is more stressful. I use an app called TripCase so that I can check from my phone, but there are a bunch of apps out there. Most long-haul flights only have a few flights going out per day. That means if you missed the last flight, you’re going to have to wait until tomorrow. Also, you’ll have to reschedule all of your connecting flights. Just trust me on this.
3. Bring your own headphones
Remember to bring your headphones in your carry on! This is a long-haul flight. The complimentary headphones are complimentary for a reason. You can buy expensive brand name headphones from the in-flight magazine for a reason. It’s because they’re not comfortable. You do not want to be watching Princess Diaries in moderate discomfort for 15 hours. Mia Thermopolis and Clarisse Marie Grimaldi Renaldo deserve your full, undivided attention.
4. Look up a map of the airport
Here’s another tip that will help those of you with connecting flights. International flights are always in a different section of the airport than domestic flights. These sections are often very far apart. If you’re on a time crunch, you don’t have time to be lost. Sometimes signs are confusing. Sometimes airports are under construction. Sometimes, you’re just sleep deprived. Having a good idea of where you need to go will be helpful.
5. Have fun
Sure, you paid thousands of dollars to sit in a tiny seat for 15 hours. You also paid to see the Eiffel Tower. You paid to be in the busy streets of Amsterdam. Maybe you paid to see family and friends. You get to explore this big, big world. Don’t let the process bring you down and ruin your experience. Good luck out there!
Photo Source: https://78.media.tumblr.com/3d45213e569da493c8ea1587eb583952/tumblr_ojqfhnG1K11seo1apo1_500.jpg
https://78.media.tumblr.com/2443a99ca11f95f948ee1f3909aae9be/tumblr_np09n1abwH1uvsxmko1_500.png https://cdn2.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/980×551/public/images/methode/2016/02/26/df7bc21e-dac5-11e5-ba33-b7a5a5ded6db_1280x720.jpg?itok=sP2DfogU