How to Survive a Long Transcontinental Flight

While it’s no secret that long-haul flights might not be the most comfortable way to spend an evening, with a bit of preparation and the right mindset, surviving a lengthy flight doesn’t have to be that difficult. Your favorite travel blogger walks you through a few easy tips that’ll make your flight as comfortable as possible.

Wondering How to Survive Your Long Transcontinental Flight?

While the glory days of real cutlery, glassware, and fancily dressed passengers are a thing of the past for most of us, international flights have opened the world to extensive tourism in a way that would have been impossible to fathom 100 years ago. I can leave one part of the world after dinner and arrive in another part in time for a freshly baked breakfast treat, at fairly accessible prices.

But to achieve this miraculous, modern-day travel feat, I do have to “survive” a long-haul flight in economy class. And while I do announce loftily while planning every international trip that “this is the trip where I’m finally going to shell out for first-class seats,” I have yet to pull the trigger. Lie-flat seats, bedding, and beautiful wines brought to me out of an ice bucket may be in my future, but they aren’t, alas, in my present.

A bit of good news for those of us “stuck” in economy!

Economy seating on international flights is significantly more comfortable than on domestic ones. I should note that I speak only of the mainstream airlines, which are the only ones I’ve used internationally, personally. The cheapest seats on an international flight offer about as much space as “Economy Plus” seating on a domestic flight. So while it’s not exactly luxurious, it’s not too painful either. The service is better (you get multiple meals and free wine!), the passengers tend to be happier, the planes are nicer and cleaner, and the excitement of a transcontinental flight is undeniable.

So let’s dive in – how do you survive a transcontinental flight in economy? You prepare! And you’ve already started that process. Never fear – I’ll get you all the information you need to be as comfortable as possible on your flight.

Pick the Right Seat

First things first, the million-dollar question: should I book an aisle or window seat for an international flight?

Personally, I am very much team aisle seat. Even if I don’t need to get up much during the flight, I like knowing that I can stand up, walk around, or have easy access to use the restroom whenever I need to. No seat is perfect, obviously. One very clear downside to the aisle seat is being more frequently bumped by flight attendants as they go about their business in the cabin and your fellow travelers en route to the restroom. That aspect does make it slightly harder to sleep in the aisle seat, but not to the point that I change my position.

Conversely, team window seat will tell you that they get the best sleeping situation, as you can rest your head on the window and you aren’t getting bumped. That said, you have to crawl over people, people who are potentially sleeping, to use the restroom, and the floor area near the window gets shockingly chilly over the ocean at night.

Tips for picking the best seat on a transcontinental flight:
– Avoid a middle seat if you can (though, we’ve all been there!).
– Try to sit as close to the front of the plane as possible. The back of the plane has the bulk of the flight attendants’ facilities, so it can be louder both from the engine noise and the noise of the staff.
– Do not sit near the bathroom. People will be using the restroom throughout the flight, and a small line will often form.
– If there are any small upgrades available, even for purchase, take advantage and upgrade yourself to the best seats available, such as the exit row. You won’t regret a good seat.

Try to Sleep

Ideally, you will sleep for as much of the flight as possible. After the meal service ends, the crew will dim all of the cabin lights, and almost everyone will try to sleep. As tempting as it may be to watch one more show or just scroll through your phone, the best way to combat the inevitable jet lag is to get some shut-eye. Seriously try. Even if you think you’ll never be able to sleep on a plane with hundreds of strangers. You’ll almost certainly surprise yourself.

I generally bring an eye mask and a neck pillow (some airlines give you a cheap eye mask) to try to maximize my comfort to the extent possible.

The one non-negotiable item for an overnight flight is a pair of high-quality, noise-canceling headphones.

True travel horror story: I was once on a flight with a baby who clearly thought the world was ending. The poor little baby screamed hysterically the entire night, with impressive stamina. If you don’t have noise cancellers, get some. Trust me.

FAQ: Should I take a sleeping pill on a long-haul journey?

Many people advise taking sleep aids, such as Tylenol PM, on an overnight flight. Obviously, it’s up to you, but I would personally advise against it. I only did it once and, given the patchy quality of sleep on the plane, wasn’t able to really “sleep it off” enough to get it out of my system by the time we landed. So, I arrived at my destination after a jumbled night of sleep with a Benadryl hangover. Not ideal. Your travel day isn’t over when you land. You’ve still got to get to your hotel, which could involve navigating unfamiliar languages and public transit.

Dress Properly

As I mentioned, it gets surprisingly cold high in the air over the long hours above the ocean. You’ll want comfortable clothes that’ll have you at the right temperature for the entire flight. Packing for a trip is my great passion, so here are the highlights for packing for a long-haul flight in economy:

– Wear comfortable, close-toed shoes, or your feet will be freezing. I generally wear my heaviest shoes, so they don’t take up room in my suitcase.
– Do not wear much, if any, eye makeup. It will smear and get in your eyes when you try to sleep. If you need to look nice upon landing, pack some in your purse.
– Wear your hair down. A ponytail is the worst possible option for a long flight. If you think you’ll need to get your hair off of you, bring a big clip.
– Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing that doesn’t wrinkle easily. No linen. No tight jeans.
– Bring a wrap, cardigan, or popover for evening. It gets a little chilly. They give you a small blanket, but it’s basically useless.
– Do not wear pajamas or athleisure. Wear something appropriate for when you land.
– Pack your personal items in a collapsible tote bag that you can jam under the seat in front of you.

Have a Drink…but Not Too Many

Do not be overwhelmed by the temptations of free booze on a long-haul flight. Have a glass of wine or two with dinner and then cut yourself off and be sure to hydrate. There will be time to enjoy all the alcohol you like once you land. There’s plenty of free water on the plane. Flight attendants will pass through the cabin more than on a domestic flight, passing it out. After getting enough sleep, being sure to drink enough water is the best way to prevent jet lag. Too much alcohol will disrupt your already-jumbled sleep, and you won’t be able to sleep off the booze you do drink.

That said, on the return flight, it’ll be daytime throughout your trip, and you will likely arrive back still during the day. Having a few drinks during this flight is a better option, as long as you have a responsible way to get home from the airport!

Pack the Right Items to Accompany You on the Flight

There are a few items you’ll want to make sure you have access to in your personal item/tote bag that you bring with you on the plane. I generally avoid putting anything I might want access to during the flight in my roller carry-on bag, because it’s nearly impossible to open during the flight. The items you’ll want to bring include:

– Empty water bottle
– Portable charger (the planes have USB ports/power outlets, so a normal phone charger with that detachable plug will work great)
– Noise-canceling headphones
– Neck pillow
– Eye mask (some airlines hand these out)
– Additional entertainment, if needed

Entertain Yourself

Alright, as we’ve discussed, on the flight, you’ll actually have fairly limited time for ‘entertainment.’ Between meals, drinks, trying to sleep, and then preparing for landing, what downtime you have really should be dedicated to sleep. On the return flight, you’ll have more time for entertainment, so it’s worth discussing.

The in-flight entertainment system on a long-haul flight is significantly different than on a domestic one. Each seat has its own in-seat TV, which you control. You can watch a range of free entertainment on there or stream it on your phone. They offer enough recent movies and TV shows to keep you entertained for the long trip. I tend to binge a TV series on the return flight – for whatever reason, time goes by more quickly for me with the rhythm of show after show, rather than slogging my way through an entire film.

While I’m never opposed to bringing a good book on a travel day, remember that your reading of the book will be fairly limited during the flight. With the cabin lights turned off for the vast majority of the flight, you will surely incur the ire of your seatmates if you turn on the overhead light to read your book. But for the airport, taxi, and the return flight, load