Flying isn’t the most enjoyable thing in the world. Most of the time, it’s just an uncomfortable inconvenience that stands in the way of you and your vacation.
When you’re flying for just a few hours, it’s not too bad because you can easily find ways to keep yourself occupied. You play a movie or read a few pages from a book and before you know it, the pilot is announcing that you need to put your seatbelts back on, ready for the plane to land.
The story is a little different when you’re on a long-haul flight. Sitting in the same spot for several hours can not only be extremely uncomfortable but also very boring. There are only so many movies you want to watch or pages you want to read.
If you’re one of the lucky people who can nap on a plane, you can pass the time by getting some sleep. However, many people find it almost impossible to drift off in the noisy, confined environment of an aircraft.
So, if you can’t sleep, how can you pass the time on a long-haul flight? Here are some top tips to make your journey more enjoyable.
Pack Your Noise-Cancelling Headphones
When you’re on a plane with hundreds of other passengers, all having their own conversations, the volume can quickly rise. After several hours of listening to the various noises inside a plane, you can end up with a headache.
That’s where the best Sony noise-cancelling headphones will be your best friend. Since headphones are lightweight and portable, you can easily squeeze a pair into your hand luggage.
Not only will they block all of the surrounding noise but they will also provide a form of entertainment. You can listen to all of your favorite tunes during the flight, you can watch a movie on your tablet with surround sound, or you can enjoy an educational or funny podcast.
Make sure to download the movies or podcasts to your device before setting off because you won’t be able to stream anything via the internet while you’re up in the air.
The noise-cancelling abilities of the Sony headphones will allow you to enter your own music-filled world. You can close your eyes and enjoy whatever is playing into your ears without worrying about what is going on around you.
Prepare Some Healthy Snacks
Boredom eating isn’t usually something people recommend but when you’re on a long-haul flight, it might be beneficial.
Traveling can be tedious and tiring, but eating healthy snacks along the way can boost your energy levels and keep you awake. When you’re flying for several hours, you’re bound to get hungry at some point and the last thing you want is to be hungry and bored at the same time!
Eating food also provides a temporary distraction and breaks up your flight. If you have time before setting off to the airport, prepare some healthy snacks to pack in your hand luggage.
Great healthy travel snacks for your flight include:
- Sandwiches
- Bread rolls
- Pasta salad
- Pre-made pastries
- Granola pots with yogurt
- Carrot and cucumber sticks with hummus
- Cheese sticks
- Rice cakes or crackers
- Dried fruit
Avoid taking anything too pungent with you onto the plane. The people around you probably won’t appreciate you pulling out a smelly tuna salad or spicy curry when they’re stuck in a confined space with no ventilation for several hours!
Some airlines offer the option to buy hot meals and drinks during their flights. Check to see if this is an option for your journey and book your meal if you think you’d prefer something hot while you travel. Usually, there are a couple of different options so you can choose a meal that appeals to you.
Bring a Variety of Books
You probably won’t want to read for hours while you’re on a long-haul flight. However, bringing at least two books with you in your hand luggage will give you some variety if you want to read on the plane.
Ideally, pack one easy-to-read book and one that’s more intense and detailed. This way, you can switch between the two. You can stimulate your brain in one reading session, then relax your mind with a lighter read shortly after.
Try to find lightweight books that won’t weigh your hand luggage down too much. Not only does this save your shoulders from a tough workout but it also ensures that you stay within the luggage weight restrictions that might have been set by your airlines.
A great way to give yourself an endless variety of books without adding extra weight to your luggage is by getting an Amazon Kindle or iPad Pro onto which you can download a range of audiobooks. This is also a great option if you prefer to listen to your books than read them.
Chat to Those Around You
If you’re traveling with your family, you will naturally spend some of your flight chatting with them. You might be planning what you’re going to do on vacation or you’re reminiscing on funny memories from the past.
Laughing and joking with your partner or children can make the flight feel much quicker. Even if you’re traveling alone, you can still use conversation to make the time pass.
Strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to you. Ask them where they’re heading and what they plan on doing. You might find that you end up chatting with them for a while, getting to know each other through friendly small talk.
If the person next to you doesn’t seem very talkative, there’s not much you can do, but it’s worth trying to chat to them just to see how they respond.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to call your friends or family back home while you’re up in the air. So, if those around you don’t want to chat, try some of the methods we’ve mentioned above to keep yourself occupied until you land.