Essential Pre-Flight Checklist
Let us see what we require to have a good long flight. The first thing is to make sure that we have adequate power. I have packed the travel adapter, the portable smart phone charger, the cables, my passport (check the validity before leaving), my flight is confirmed, and I have entered all preflight information into British Air. For more long flight tips, consider additional preparations to enhance your travel experience.
Rest and Recharge Before You Fly
Take a nap if you can. Get some rest in a comfortable place, as you do not know what kind of sleeping arrangements will be on the aircraft or potential delays when you are transiting between planes. I have a tough time sleeping on aircraft so I catch my rest when I can. I cannot sleep in a terminal, though I want to.
Choosing the Best Airline Seats
I really love British Air. They take care of me even in economy. So friendly and accommodating. I always want an exit row, so I am getting a little more room. I also get economy plus why wouldn’t you? You get a larger seat, more room, better menu, AND you get two checked bags. The only drawback to British Air has a tiered system. So, the levels are Blue, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. If you are Silver or Gold, you do not have to pay to pick a seat and pay.
I only travel twice a year now, so I am usually Blue now. So, I need to pay to pick where I want to sit. Its fine, but I think the days of getting any free upgrade are gone. I think the biggest benefit to economy plus is the free checked bags. This time, I will be taking the Washington D.C. to London flight on the A-380 which is a newer much bigger aircraft.
I will do a post report where I will document my experience and I will of course report on any British Air staff that are good, bad, or went out of their way so that I have a great flight experience. I do not think I have had an unpleasant experience with British Air staff yet.
Navigating Airports and Security Smoothly
Now London Heathrow Airport is another story. It is first big. I do not know why in the United States; US airports will post their gates hours before a flight. But if you go to Europe (I am not saying every airport but many) you will only post the gates for flights around 2 hours prior to departure. But I usually have a layover of five hours at Heathrow.
I first must get off my flight from Washington D.C. to London and navigate through floors and levels of security. Not a huge fan of walking through the maze after a seven-hour flight when I just went through the same security in Washington D.C. prior to getting on the plane and I am only transiting London on my next flight to Larnaca, but whatever. I think 9/11 changed everything.
Food, Shopping, and Layover Perks
Security will usually take around 45 minutes, so if you are booking, make sure you build up in time to make your connecting flights. After navigating security, you are in the main terminal with a wide selection of shopping, food, and souvenirs and small shops with medicine and other items for sale. I know its cheesy, but I usually camp out near the sushi restaurant as its now lunchtime and I do not want another meal like on the aircraft. I caught COVID in Cyprus two trips ago and just thought I had a cold.
So having the stores with medicine was very helpful as I got some cold medicine which knocked me out on the way home, I felt terrible when I woke up and got off the aircraft and went to the urgent care where I was diagnosed with COVID AND STREP! What a trip. No one’s fault but not fun. Incredibly surprised to see that the pharmacy in Kyrenia is selling day quill and NyQuil. Sad news is it is a liquid, and I had to through it away before boarding the plane from Larnaca to London.
If you want a fancier lunch, I recommend Fortnum and Mason. It is pricey but worth it! They have a great breakfast and some nice cocktails. It is across the hall from Tiffanys so there is some high-end shopping. I got my wife a Tiffanys necklace and had it engraved while waiting for a flight. All in the airport. Cool! There are some high-end liqueur duty free shops where you can get good whiskey, and scotch. If you time it right, you can get some free samples.
Snacks and Hydration Tips for Long Flights
Get some snacks or the flight. Liquids you are stuck with airport drinks. Try and get Gatorade sugar free. Those will keep you hydrated during a long dry air flight. It is diabetes friendly, so you do not have to worry about sugar spikes. Also, I like beef jerky instead of candy. They last longer and do not have many side effects like candy except for salt. Get some Altoids for your breath as no one wants bad breath before, during or after a flight and it does not have that much sugar.
Comfort Essentials for Long-Haul Travel
I do not really like the travel pillows that they sell to keep your neck from moving. I would rather stuff the pillow that British Air gives you between the seats and use that as a stabilizer and I like the thicker British Air blankets as well. They will keep you warm if you plan to wear summer clothing. I like to wear comfortable clothing on flights and do not see the reason to dress up during a flight and being uncomfortable and potentially wrinkling my clothes.
Wear some easy on and off shoes. You are sitting for a long time and need to have circulation to your feet. So, invest in some comfortable sneakers. Take clothes on your trip that you will reuse like one pair of shoes for walking and one pair of shoes for a nice night out. Bring a set of nice clothes as you do not know if you will need them.
Pack Smart for Activities at Your Destination
I plan to do some scuba diving so my other bag will be my dive gear. Make sure you bring a bathing suit and a sun guard shirt if you burn easily. Sunscreen or lotion if needed.
Conclusion
A little planning goes a long way toward making long flights more comfortable and stress-free. By packing smart, getting proper rest, and knowing how to navigate airports and layovers, you will be ready to enjoy your trip from takeoff to landing. What’s your go-to long-flight tip?
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