There are things I am willing to spend a pretty penny on… but having a little extra space for 8 hours isn’t one of them. Which means making the best of economy seats even for long haul flights. But having done it countless time I have found all the tricks and ways to make it more enjoyable!!
I’m not claiming you can make economy seats feel like first class BUT you can make it a perfectly enjoyable part of getting to your exciting destination.
So let’s get into it because we have a lot to chat about-
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How To Make Economy Long Haul Flights More Enjoyable!
Tips for making economy flights less annoying-
Tip 1: Choose your seat very wisely
Seat selection matters so much when making economy feel more comfortable.
Here are my favorite tips for this selection-
- Look for rows of how many are in your group. A lot of economy sections on planes have sections of 2, 3 and 4. So if your group falls into any of those increments then prioritize that! Nothing makes economy better than not sitting by strangers.
- Be cautious of the traffic near you- bathrooms, gallery, flight attendant areas etc. those areas get a lot of foot traffic near them and often lined up by them. Which makes it so much harder to sleep and relax.
- Don’t be afraid of aisle seats! Window seats are everyone’s default but if you are traveling solo do you really want to climb over 2 strangers every time you want to get up?
- Take a gamble- check the flight an hour or so before it takes off. If you see an option to sit next to an empty seat I say take that chance! This worked out once for us and it was awesome we ended up with a row of 3 for just my husband and I. However, it’s not worked out before and someone moved or was added from standby. Yep it’s a risk but when it pays off it’s so worth the chance.
But also don’t stress out if you don’t get your dream spot in economy (does that really exist?! lol) there are so many other factors that contribute to your flight being enjoyable. And can counter less than ideal seat selections but it’s worth trying to prioritize it!
Tip 2: Be prepared!
Preparation is key!!!
If you are not prepared you are not setting yourself up for success. Having an efficiently packed personal bag is so helpful and making sure that you know you have everything you need to make the trip enjoyable puts you immediately in a calmer mental state.
- Battery packs- if your flight doesn’t have outlets OR they are broken (ugh) you won’t be left without charging ability.
- Neck pillow- no awkward kinks for you that will throw your neck out for your whole trip!
- Compression socks- keep the swelling away!
- A versatile scarf- one you can use as a blanket and on your trip too if you get chilly for extra layers.
- Hand sanitizer- don’t start your trip sick. Sanitize often and also use the sanitizer to clean your tray table, plane seat screen, and armrests.
We will chat more about cancelling noise and light as well as entertainment later don’t worry!!
But another element of being prepared is knowledge. Knowing your seat number, your flight info, your travel plans for when you arrive etc. relieves your mind of stress which allows you to relax and make the most of your flight. Even in economy 😉 Overall the more prepared you are the better the experience is going to be.
Tip 3: Move often
Getting out of the small, limiting space you are assigned is going to make the flight feel less claustrophobic. And (arguably more important) it is good for your body. Moving around keeps your circulation running as it should and helps you avoid muscle cramps that we all do (or should) fear when flying.
It also just makes you feel less trapped in your space which may sound silly but seriously it will make the flight feel more enjoyable and less limiting. So get up and move around at least every 2 hours but ideally more especially when you aren’t sleeping or trying to sleep.
Tip 4: Romanticize everything
Romanticizing everything is my own secret key to enjoying travel days.
Let’s be totally honest with each other- the days of your trip that are actually traveling between locations are the worst of the days. They are boring, tend to be filled with unpredictable problems, and are simply a means to an end. They are to get you to your destination or back home.
But you don’t have to let them stay as that in your mind. You can romanticize it. Think about it this way- 100 years ago the people your age could have never dreamed of the exciting life you are living. Traveling the world, choosing your own adventures, witnessing people from all over the world while you are simply sitting on a plane (crazy by itself, I personally choose not to understand how they fly and focus on the magic of it).
Take it all as opportunities to gain funny stories and to experience even more of the world!
Tip 5: Block out the world
Okay as fun as it is to witness crazy things during travel days it’s also necessary to try and sleep which means you need to block out the world.
There are 2 important tools for this-
1) Noise cancelling headphones! Technology is crazy now and you don’t have to spend $300 to get quality ones now- these are under $75 and work perfectly.
2) Eye covers- a traditional sleeping mask in my opinion doesn’t work the best. Way too much light is still let in but a fuller one is life changing. I got this one for my last few long flights and it was amazing!! For my fellow women reading this, it’s adjustable which is amazing for different hair styles.
Pretending the inevitable chaos isn’t happening around you is going to make it easier to relax and arrive to your destination refreshed and ready for your next adventure!
Tip 6: Have entertainment prepped you’re excited for
Being excited to read a book, watch the next season of a show, or get to some movies you have been dying to see is going to make you not only entertained during your travel days but also gives you some to look forward to. Mentally associating the flight with getting to read or watch something you are excited for is going to create a positive association and help you dread the flight less.
But make sure you take on the responsibility of purchasing or downloading the entertainment in advance. Never depend on in-flight entertainment. They might not have the movie anymore, your screen could be broken, or some other crazy thing that I can’t even predict.
I also recommend over preparing entertainment. Don’t assume that you will actually be able to sleep. That assumption is how you end up next to someone who gets up to go to the bathroom every 20 minutes. Have enough entertainment prepared for the whole flight duration plus any unexpected layover time.
Tip 7: Dress for success
Dressing for success means a lot of different things in a different scenarios. But when it comes to surviving a long flight in economy it means one important thing- LAYERS!
Wearing layers allows you to have some level of control of your comfort in a situation where you don’t really get a lot of control.
I recommend fully committing to a tank top with a lighter long sleeve or tshirt over it with a sweatshirt over those. During winter season add on a winter jacket but chances are you won’t be using it much on the actual plane. That being said- a puffy jacket can really get in the way and be annoying. So my best advice during chilly months is to bring a jacket that can squish down into your bag or a foldable one. Which is one that can therefore also work as a pillow for you.
Tip 8: Bring snacks and drinks you adore
Economy plane food is well… a punchline for comedians for a reason!
It’s far from cuisine we would seek out in our day to day but being hangry isn’t going to make the flight any better. So brining plenty of snacks with for the flight is going to transform the flight food experience.
Same goes for drinks- who wants to wait for them to come around for a 8 ounce pour of Diet Coke? Not me! So take a lap around the shops at the airport and grab a drink or two that you are actually excited about and will have plenty of on your flight.
Tip 9: Knock yourself out if needed
Alright this final tip is gonna be just straight to the point- sometimes the best way to survive a flight is just to knock yourself out.
Personally it takes one melatonin and I am out for a solid 5 hours. This is NOT medical advice but if you know you need sleep and the noises and lights of the flight are going to keep you up then well consider talking to your doctor about a safe way to knock yourself out 😉
And that is all for now my friends! I really and truly hope this helps you make the best of your long haul flight in economy. I know it may not seem fun but with the right preparation and attitude you can make the best of it!! And remember- travel days are just a step to get to your amazing destination 🙂
I have been sharing more and more about my travels and travel tips on here. So keep reading for additional articles that will hopefully help you out with your trip planning next!
Korra-Shay
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