Statistically, flying is the safest way to travel, and these days, it has become just as mundane as driving a car or riding a bike. However, we all know a long flight can get quite boring pretty fast if you don’t have anything to distract yourself with. You also need the most basic set of things, which I like to call my own “flight pack”, which will make those stretched-out hours in midair, well, fly by. Flights across the ocean can get quite placid, so here’s a must-have list for Trans-Atlantic flights.
Bottle of water
International flights can often last for what seems like an eternity, so you need to prepare for the long haul. Hydration is the first thing that should be checked off the list. Now, flight attendants will be glad to bring you tasty beverages or even some alcoholic refreshment, but you don’t really want to be high on sugar or alcohol during a long flight. If you didn’t bring your own bottle of water, ask if they can get you one and take a short sip every now and then. Try reusable ones, they are a great option since you can empty them before the security check and then fill them later when you pass passport control.
Pillow
Here’s another thing you can get on the plane. However, more often than not, airplane pillows are a synthetic mess. They can be so uncomfortable you’d be better off without them, so it’s always a safe bet to bring your own pillow. Of course, some people go as far as to bring more than essentials on their long-haul flight, but I am pretty content with the things on this list and my own, nice, soft pillow.
Toiletry bag
Your toiletry bag should be light and equipped according to the TSA regulations. Trust me, when it comes to liquids in toiletry bags, I had to learn it the hard way. All liquids, creams, gels and pastes have to be kept under 3.4 ounces per container and placed in a transparent plastic zip-top bag. Apart from that, you just need the essentials – your toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, deodorant, shampoo, sunscreen, moisturizer cream, feminine hygiene products and some makeup.
Phone full of music
The choices of movies on international flights are limited and they can be hit-or-miss. As far as entertainment is concerned, a music-filled phone is the best possible solution. Today, technology enables us to have hours upon hours of our favorite music albums and genres on such a small nugget of equipment. In today’s world of Spotify and Deezer all you have to do is to click sync or download for whole playlists already made to your taste. I love that! My phone is filled with music. Don’t forget your headphones though, because a music player is pretty useless on a flight without them.
Headphones
We all know airplanes are loud, and it can get quite cacophonous with the sound of people chatting and other background noise. In order to circumvent this problem, it’d be amazing if you had a solid pair of “earplug” headphones that can cancel out all the distracting sounds. Since my husband is an audio engineer, he’s always up to date with latest devices and trinkets so he recommended AKG headphones to me. They’re really comfortable and perfect for long flights. They can cancel out external sounds and the performance is cutting-edge high-res. I think I really got spoiled by them.
Pen and notebook
A pen and notebook are faithful companions of every experienced traveler. It was recommended to me by a friend and in the beginning, I laughed it off. I am not exactly the greatest artist out there, but after a few flights, I tried it out. It can actually be surprisingly calming to fill up the pages with scribbles and drawings. And the best thing about it – there is no pressure of expectation, you can freestyle as much as you like and the time just flies by.
Flying around has become a sort of lifestyle for many people. They spend hours upon hours every week shuffling between flights and spending a great deal of time up in the air. Every experienced “flyer” will learn, sooner or later, that there are a few essential things that can help make the flight more entertaining. After all, time is a precious commodity, so you should always try to find a way to make good use of it.
Author Bio:
Roxana is a Sydney based travel enthusiast with a passion for writing. She loves fashion and has an eye for anything visually appealing and aesthetical. She is all about the healthy lifestyle, loves to run with her husband and dogs and has fun cooking exotic meals for her family. You can find her articles on HighStyleLife.