Your legs are cramped. Your armrest is already taken. You feel as if you’re crammed in a box with barely enough room to breathe. Yep, you’re stuck on a long flight in economy and about ready to lose your mind – and the plane hasn’t even taken off yet!
Don’t fret; Swift has got your back. Here comes a handy list that outlines how to survive long flights in economy.
Keep Your Legs Happy
Frequent walks around the cabin always sound like a good idea at the start, but then you may find yourself hesitant to disturb those around you by getting up. Even if you have to crawl over someone who is asleep, get up and move.
Even a brief walk every few hours gives you a chance to stretch your legs and boost circulation. Make your legs even happier by regularly stretching them while seated and wearing compression socks to help prevent clotting while keeping blood flow strong.
Keep Your Mind Occupied
Time flies when you’re having fun, or at least not dwelling on how long and arduous your flight is. Pack plenty of in-flight entertainment options, which can include mind games and crossword puzzles, your favorite movies to play on your laptop, audio books, meditation music and a noise-canceling headset.
Keep Your Body Comfy
Staying comfortable ranks as a crucial tip on how to survive long flights in economy. Making yourself comfortable on a long economy flight involves:
- Dressing in layers so you can add and remove clothing as needed
- Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water
- Staving off hunger with your own batch of healthy snacks and meals
- Investing in a quality neck pillow
Escape to Sleep
Sleep is one of the best ways to make time pass quickly, especially on a long flight where you’re pretty much stuck in an idle position anyway. The neck pillow and noise-canceling headphones or earplugs are helpful sleep items, as are soothing music and eye mask.
Don’t eat a large meal and try to sleep. Eat a smaller snack, if anything, before your snooze instead. Take a pre-sleep trip to the bathroom, both to use the facilities and brush your teeth. More than one frequent flyer has sworn by the practice of brushing their teeth to help prompt sleeping.
Sleep aids may be helpful if you have trouble sleeping on planes. Melatonin is a hormone that tells your body it’s time to rest, and melatonin supplements are available in liquid, pill and chewable forms.
With happy legs, an occupied mind, a comfy body, and the ability to sleep, your long economy flight may be landing before you know it. You may now even be able to write the book on how to survive a long economy flight. Two more quick tips are to make sure the items you need on the plane are easily accessible and to renew your passport if needed. Otherwise, you’re good to go.
Feel free to contact Swift with any questions. We’re always happy to help!
