10 tricks for surviving a long haul flight

1. Check in online.

Most airlines offer check-in 24 hours before your flight departs. Not only can you choose your seat, but sometimes the earlier you check in, the higher your chances are of being upgraded.

2.When choosing your seat, avoid the first few rows of each seating section.

That’s usually where families with kids are seated, so there’s a higher chance of a (possibly screaming) baby being near you.

3.Try to get a seat near the wing.

During turbulence, the plane rocks like a see-saw. If you’re in the middle, it’ll feel a little less bumpy.

4.Go for a run or hit the gym before your flight.

Exercising helps reduce stress, and we all know how stressful airports can be. Also, hopefully you’ll tire yourself out and you’ll fall asleep more easily once you’re in the air.

5.Make the most of terminal shopping before you board.

You’re going to be sitting down for up to 15 hours without a chance to really move around. Rather than waiting at the gate to begin boarding, stretch your legs and go window shopping to get your blood flowing.

6.Bring an empty water bottle and fill it up once you pass through security.

This saves you spending on overpriced airport water. And you can ask flight attendants to refill it with drinking water mid-flight.

7.Change your watch or phone clock to your destination’s time zone as soon as you board.

To avoid jet lag, sync yourself as early as possible. If it’s 10pm at your destination when you board, try to sleep through the first half of the flight. That way you won’t be exhausted and sleepless when you arrive there in the morning.

8.Invest in a portable phone charger.

And load up your phone or tablet with movies, just in case the in-flight entertainment is rubbish. Also download a bunch of games that you don’t need internet to play.

9.Always bring a jumper or hoodie on board.

Even if you’re not cold enough to wear it, you can roll it up and use it as a pillow.

10.Bring lip balm and face moisturiser.

Reapply it once or twice throughout the flight. There’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination and feeling like a dried-up crispy monster.