What'd I Do Differently for a Long Flight
Next time I travel abroad, I would do a few things differently.
Moving across the country is a tough process. I did not prepare as efficiently as I could have for a 12+ hour travel day. I flew directly from Seattle to Indianapolis and then onto London, with a 4 hour layover in New York City. By the time I boarded my plane, I knew I could have made my flying experience better with a few tweaks.
Bring sleeping medicine for overnight flight.
Although I flew overnight, I struggled to sleep for longer than 2 hours. I was filled with too much emotion accepting that I was given this opportunity. Plus I chatted with the person next to me for almost half of the time. I was exhausted by the time I landed in London. A Tylenol PM or melatonin supplement would have been very helpful to ensure rest.
Conduct a skin treatment before heading to the airport.
The air blowing from above the airline seats can be very drying for the skin. Since I traveled for half a day, I did not have time to do my nighttime skin routine. Before flying, I would do an intense moisture face mask to have extended nourishment underneath the mask. During the flight, I would also wear eye patch gels to support the under eye area.
Pack snacks and refillable water bottle.
The plane provides food and drinks but having some of the favorites on hand is key. The pasta dinner provided by the airline crew was fine but the breakfast - not so much. An empty water bottle is great for keeping H20 on hand and staying hydrated throughout the entire route.
Bring the wipes!
Covid is still present and being cautious can limit chances of exposure. There are wipes provided by the airline crew but they are limited and cannot fully capture all of the seating area. A quick stop at Target for travel wipes would have been beneficial.
Be aware of the prolonged jetlag.
I arrived in London before 7 am. I had only slept on the flight for about 2 hours. I was faced with an 8 hour difference from Seattle. I was encouraged by others to stay awake for the day and save the rest for an earlier bedtime. I ultimately fell asleep and took a 3-4 hour nap and then slept overnight. For the next week, my body felt a bit groggy during some of the daytime hours. Taking the time to adjust is highly needed and cannot be rushed.
Hope these tips helped for your next trip. Don’t forget to snap an #airplaneselfie!