As travelers, we have a love-hate relationship with long-haul flights. On the one hand, long-haul flights can get us halfway around the world as fast and efficient as possible. But long-haul flights can be grueling, and they leave us exhausted and jet-lagged. So I’ve compiled the best long-haul flight hacks to beat jet lag and enjoy your flight.

How To Have a Better Flying Experience

This guide includes things you can do before, during, and after your flight. While these tips and tricks are specifically for long-haul flights, they can also help you have better flights of any length.

Ready to rock your next flight? Here are the best long-haul flight hacks!

Before Your Flight

Take an immune supplement starting a few days before your flight to help your body fight off germs. I also recommend doubling your vitamin intake for a couple of days leading up to your flight.

Double your water intake starting a couple of days before your flight.

If possible, gradually adjust your sleep/wake schedule in preparation for where you’re going starting a couple of days before your flight.

Wear your most comfortable travel clothes, and bring layers in case you’re cold on the plane.

If you’re flying with another person, choose an aisle and window seat. This way, as long as the flight isn’t full, there’s a good chance no one will be between you. And if someone is in the middle seat, you can always ask them to switch with one of you.

Bring your own snacks to ensure you always have something to eat when you need food.

Chew gum during takeoff and landing to help your ears pop and adjust to the altitude changes.

Drink water instead of coffee, soda, and alcohol. The more hydrated you are on a flight, the better you’re going to feel on and after your plane ride.

Have deodorant, lotion, chapstick face wipes, a hairbrush, and any other grooming essentials easily accessible to “freshen up” throughout the flight.

Download movies, music, and ebooks before your flight in case you get bored with the in-flight entertainment.

Have a fully-charged portable charger with you. Most planes have outlets now, but you don’t want to risk your seat’s outlet not working.

Stretch your legs by walking around the plane for a few minutes every couple of hours.

If you’re flying during what is normally your night, sleep as much as you can.

Anytime you get sleepy on the plane, try to get some zzz’s in right then. Don’t wait until the end of your movie because your drowsiness might have passed.

Bring your own pillow, headphones, eye mask, etc. to maximize your chances of sleeping.

If You Have a Fear of Flying

Travel with a friend or family member who is an experienced flyer. And make sure your companion understands your fears and knows what you need. For example, if you don’t like to be touched, they should be told they shouldn’t try to hold your hand because this could increase your anxiety.

Avoid alcohol, which can alter how your brain reacts and may increase your travel anxiety.

Book an aisle seat towards the front of the plane so you don’t feel as claustrophobic or like you’re in a tunnel. 

Exercise before you fly. The endorphins from exercise are calming and can help dissipate your nervous energy. Even just walking around your terminal until it’s time to board (instead of just sitting at your gate) can help distract yourself and keep your muscles loose, which helps reduce travel anxiety.

Use the SOAR fear of flying app, which has reassuring features like a built-in G-force meter that reads your plane’s current turbulence so you’ll know the jet can sustain it. This app also lets you download videos that walk you through each step of the flight process so you know what’s happening in the cockpit and on the plane.

After Your Flight

Once you’ve arrived at your destination, get outside in the sun to naturally “tell” your brain that it should be awake.

Eat on the local schedule beginning as soon as you arrive in a new place.

Continue doubling your water intake for the first couple of days in your destination.

Only sleep during your destination’s nighttime. If you’re tired during the day and have to have a nap, only take a 20-minute nap sitting up. If it’s night and you’re not tired, take a Tylenol PM to help you get on a regular sleep schedule for your new destination.

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This list of long-haul flight hacks is not a sponsored post, and, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this list of long-haul flight hacks are entirely my own. Some of the links in this list of long-haul flight hacks are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission.