Long-haul flights are generally considered eight hours and more, while any that exceed a grueling 16 hours are called “ultra long-haul.” The longest nonstop commercial flights currently available include New York to Singapore (18 hours and 50 minutes; 9,530 miles) and Perth, Australia, to London (17 hours and 45 minutes; 9,010 miles). Qantas Airways, Australia’s national airline, plans to operate two more longer direct flights by 2025: Sydney to London and Sydney to New York — routes that will take up to 20 hours.
For travelers, flying at 35,000 feet for an extended period comes with its own set of challenges, including little room for movement, dry cabin air and time zone changes.
While the grind of long-haul air travel never gets any easier, there are a few things you can do — before, during and after your flight — to make it less terrifying.
Jennifer Bagnall, 40, a communications executive who frequently flies between her home in Los Angeles and Sydney, believes that reframing the experience in your mind is an important first step.
“Instead of approaching it as a long stretch of time in a confined space with no escape, I think about how it’s a long stretch of uninterrupted time with no responsibilities and where I can’t be contacted,” she said. “It’s very rare that you get that.”
Pack your carry-on wisely and strategize ahead of time
You will likely be checking your luggage, so your carry-on bag needs to be well equipped. As with any items you use for recreation, think ahead about what will help you feel most comfortable. Packing a change of clothes (if there’s a stopover, you can find a shower at the airport) as well as a toothbrush and toothpaste will help you feel fresher on your trip. Make sure you wear comfortable clothing and a pair of compression socks to combat swollen feet from too much time with little physical activity.
“Wear a hoodie,” recommends Nikki Greenberg, 40, a futurist and innovation strategist from Sydney who often travels abroad for work. “It’s cozy, warm, covers the ears (less noise) and eyes (less light for sleep), and creates a private cocoon environment.”
Find a way to get as much sleep as possible
Do anything and everything you can to make sure you spend a good chunk of time sleeping. Some travelers consider sleeping pills or melatonin supplements essential, while eye shades and noise-cancelling headphones can dim the cabin lights and help drown out the plane’s roar. A travel pillow like the Trtl Pillow, which supports your neck, can help when trying to sleep in an upright position.
Mapping out your sleep schedule in advance can also be helpful, depending on when your flight or flights depart. Vanessa Quincey, 33, an advertising director from Melbourne, Australia, who has lived in New York for the past decade, stays awake for the shorter part of her trip — New York to Los Angeles — to make sure she’s super tired. for the long second leg to Melbourne.
“Buy a ‘Do Not Disturb’ eye mask if you plan to sleep through a meal,” she says. “The mask will block the overhead lights, and ‘do not disturb’ will let the cabin crew know not to wake you.”
Save the entertainment
Plan how you’ll fill the remaining time onboard: A 10-episode narrative arc of a TV series will stretch much longer than a movie. You can look ahead on the airline’s website to see what in-flight entertainment will be available on your flight. Be sure to download TV shows, movies, podcasts and music to your devices before you get to the airport and have to rely on spotty Wi-Fi. Bring a good book that you like to read. Have some offline games you can play on your phone or iPad. And don’t forget a backup portable charger.
Patrick Quade, a 52-year-old tech founder from New South Wales in Australia, has traveled between the United States and Australia more than two dozen times. He recommends setting a goal that takes longer than 20 hours: “Learn Adobe Premiere well enough to make a three-minute short with edits and a sound track.”
Don’t stop hydrating
The air on the ship is very dry. Pack a decent moisturizer, lip balm, lubricating eye drops and a little nasal spray. Try to avoid alcohol and drink as much water as possible throughout the flight: Bringing your own empty water bottle to fill at the airport after customs will help with this goal. Powdered vitamins or electrolytes can be added to your water to maximize hydration.
Move if you can
Many people prefer the aisle seat so they often get up without disturbing their neighbor. Before booking, research the layout and model of the planes on websites like SeatGuru to find the most legroom. Stretch while you wait in line for the bathroom and walk a few laps in the terminal during a layover to get your blood moving.
Think ahead to your final destination
Without a doubt, the most important thing is to never, ever take a nap if you are stranded in the sun, as tempting as it is after a tiring flight. “It’s really hard to fly to Australia because you usually arrive early in the morning,” said Nathan Weinrich, who has been traveling home to Australia from New Jersey for eight years. “But it makes a big difference in how quickly you adjust to the new time zone.”
