Tips for surviving long haul flights, please

desthemoaner

Morning all

Just looking for tips to survive a long haul flight. The most time we've spent in the air up to now was a 3 hour flight to Malta, but we're off to Australia in a couple of months to visit rellies, and we're going from Manchester via Doha to Adelaide. The first leg is seven hours, then a 3 hour stop off at Doha and a 13 hour leg to Adelaide. Any constructive advice about how to get to our destination without turning into basket cases would be very welcome. We're travelling in Economy, but have purchased extra legroom on the 13 hour leg both ways.

Its quite possible that the flight will be cancelled due to the situation in the Middle East, but at present the FCDO advice remains in favour of non-essential travel through Qatar.

Glad

The extra legroom will make a bigger difference than you probably realise.

I'd also recommend getting up for a wander every couple of hours if you can, keep well hydrated, and don't drink any alcohol, tempting though it can be when you're on holiday.

Take a decent neck pillow, noise-cancelling headphones if you have them, and download plenty to watch or listen to in case the in-flight entertainment isn't to your taste.

Personally, I'd try to switch to Adelaide time as soon as you get on the second flight. Even if you don't sleep much, closing your eyes and resting when it's night there can help.

The three-hour stop in Doha will probably be welcome. Stretch your legs, have a proper walk around the terminal, and you'll feel much better getting back on for the second leg.

Have a fantastic trip. Australia is one place I'd love to go to one day 😊

Clive_Woody

Consider packing a change of clothes, sometimes planes can be a bit hot and sticky and being able to put on a fresh clean t-shirt before the second leg would help. Deodorant and a flannel for a quick freshen up might also help - when we went to NZ the guy next to us on the second leg could certainly have benefited from both.

I tend to pack an eye mask and ear plugs for flights where I plan on getting some sleep, this definitely helps.

Check your mobile plans to see what charges will be for both your stop off and final destination so you don't get any nasty surprises when you get home and get your bill. Turn off data roaming to be sure.

Cairnpapple

Compression socks! Do not do what I did, which was a long walk around the terminal on a layover when my feet were swollen (no compression socks). Got absolutely horrific blisters and could only wear adjustable open sandals for the next 2 weeks, which was not very useful in a rainstorm.

Extra legroom is extremely worth the money.

Take a giant bottle of water on board if you're able to buy or fill it after security, hydration is everything.

Don't do what my friend did, which was get very drunk before travel, sleep solidly for almost all of the way from NZ to UK, and end up with a DVT.

daveyjp

If you are able to sleep, or at least doze, it makes a huge difference.

Having dozens of podcasts or a spoken word book works well for me. Far better for me than watching TV or films which require more concentration and I get bored of films after about 45 minutes.

The flight back will generally be worse than the flight out. You know what to expect on the flight and you know you are going back to reality!

ButterCheese

Take an empty plastic bag and a pack of wet wipes to have a clean of your face and neck and hands. There are no tricks really; just mentally prepare for a very long flight and try to keep yourself comfortable and entertained. It really depends on what sort of person you are as well. I flew from London to Melbourne (via KL or LA, I can't remember) but I was 24 at the time. Being a quiet and reflective individual, I looked out the window most of the time, as this was before we had fancy phones and tablets so there was pretty much no entertainment.

Oh, and try to find out what the headphone situation is; they often have screens where you can watch films so finding some sort of adapter where you can use your own NC headphones will be handy

desthemoaner

Many thanks for the advice, folks, and I'm glad that the purchase of extra legroom has been endorsed as a good move. I'm tempted to purchase extra legroom for both of the shorter legs, but at over 100 quid a pop I'll probably opt to avoid any further spending and take our chances.

la531983

Not really money saving but maybe see if there is a lounge you can pay to get into at Doha. Get a shower etc. And a few drinks and food.

Cairnpapple

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82070283#Comment_82070283

I haven't flown long haul since the pandemic, but back in the day you could sometimes pick up a better deal on an upgrade in the few days before the flight. If I were you I'd maybe buy the upgrade for the way back when you'll already have done the longer leg before swapping to the shorter (but still long) leg.

Cairnpapple

This is probably obvious from previous short haul, but just in case you don't usually use hold luggage: everything essential (especially medication and chargers) in cabin baggage plus a lightweight change of clothes that you could wash and reuse if you had to. Ideally passport and essential medication in a zip pocket on your person for take off and landing in case of the incredibly unlikely event of having to evacuate.

We had a friend stay with us in the UK for a few days when he got stranded on his homeward leg from Eastern Europe to the US due to baggage handling strikes and he had NOTHING except for his phone, not fun.

tom192

Wet wipes to have a wipe around and freshen up.

Toothbrush and toothpaste

Change of clothes/underwear and socks change at the mid point.

USB A and USB C cable, lots of planes still have the older A style plug, you are not allowed to use power banks on the flight either charging or discharging. Any you are carrying must be in your carry on.

As others have said try to move about, I tend to use the loos at the back near the kitchen prep area as there is a bit more room to stand for a short time.

Colleague who does lots of long haul usually packs some treats for the flight crew too