Essential Tips for Surviving a Long Flight

Are you an exhausted frequent flyer – loving your job, but dreading the next, long overseas flight?  Or are you planning a vacation but looking forward to the many hour long flight with anxiety?  Here are some common sense tips to help you arrive refreshed and feeling great. 

It helps to minimize departure stress, first and foremost!  Several days before your flight, make sure you know your airline’s policies for carry-on luggage as well as additional payments for checked luggage.  This way, you will avoid any nasty surprises that can create stress.  If your airline allows online check-in, take advantage of this to avoid long, stressful lines at the airport.  Check the Web before going to the airport to make sure your flight is leaving on time. 

Be sure to put all liquids into a small plastic bag that conforms to airport security policies, and remove any objects that could be objectionable from your purse or carry-on.  It helps to pack all makeup in your checked luggage.  

If you are flying to a new time zone, set your watch to the correct time in your new time zone before take-off.  When it is time to sleep in the new time zone, take Melatonin to help reset your internal clock to your new destination.  Drink sparkling water instead of alcohol because alcohol dehydrates your body, and airplane air is quite dry already.  

Be sure to take along your ergonomic seat so that your back and neck have the utmost of care on your trip, and so that you sit properly instead of creating strain on your spine that can lead to back or neck pain.  Flight induced back or neck pain could certainly put a damper on an otherwise wonderful vacation! 

A scientifically-designed back support helps you maintain correct posture while sitting for so long, and should be considered a MUST during long flights.  It also limits support to muscles adjacent to the spine so that they are not weakened by sitting – this is key to preventing back pain and overall weakening.  

Last but not least, make sure to get up and walk through the cabin frequently during your flight to allow your muscles to stretch and move.  

Rachel Clarkson

Rachel Clarkson is the founder of the Back Pain Blog.