How to survive a long haul flight in economy class: The long haul flight tips that will make flying much more bearable

Long haul flights lead to exciting, exotic destinations, but sitting on a plane for hours on end can be a trying experience. To have a bearable - and possibly even pleasurable - flight, you need a solid strategy. These are the best long haul flight tips, according to the experts...

If going long haul, get an early morning flight

It’s easy to want a lie in on your days off work, but getting up early for a holiday is worth it. Flight attendant Stella Connolly, who owns the blog Fly With Stella, has revealed that early morning flights are the best option for travellers. “As the day goes by, if one flight is late it’s a snowball effect and there’s a higher chance flights will be delayed” she explained.

Early flights are also a great option if you’re a clean freak, because the most efficient clean happens first thing in the morning due to the fact there’s no passengers on board.

Sit at the back for best service

If you sit at the back during your flight, you’re closer to the flight attendants section making it easier to talk to them if you need anything. It’s also been revealed that attendants avoid responding to call bells from the front, as it can deviate from their service schedule.

Flight attendant Annie Kingston said, “We like to avoid responding to call bells from the front of the plane because answering one means potentially flaunting whatever item the passenger has requested to everyone else along the way.

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“This can cause a problem since planes often don’t have enough extra vodka, pillows, earplugs, and toothbrushes, or the time on shorter flights to deviate from the service schedule. For passengers sitting near the back of the plane, however, it’s much easier to slip in that second mini bottle of wine.”

Book busy flights to get a free upgrade

It may sound far-fetched, but if you book onto an oversold flight, the airline will start offering first class seats to travellers. They do this to try and win back your favour and ensure you can still fly at the time you booked in for.

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For some of us, first class is a rare treat, so this is a great way to make use of a bit of luxury if you’re flying long-haul. It doesn’t always work, of course, but it’s worth a shot.

Pack your long haul flight kit wisely

Everyone has their own comfort needs when it comes to flying, but packing some clever essentials is bound to improve your experience.

Here are few recommendations for making your long haul flight more comfortable:

• Cosy flight socks
• Noise-cancelling ear plugs
• iPad/laptop/iPhone for watching some movies if the inflight entertainment isn’t to your taste
• Ear phones
• Neck pillow to prevent cricks and cramps
• Silky eye mask
• Jumper
• Travel toothbrush and paste
• Facial mist
• Aromatherapy roll-on
• Hand cream
• Snacks and water

Plan your holiday destination right

If you’re jetting off somewhere for the first time, it’s good to do your research before booking that flight. Not everywhere is sunny all the time, and sometimes very popular tourist seasons can cause countries to be overcrowded and prices for hotels becoming higher.

For example, if considering where’s hot in October and November, you definitely don’t want to go to Bali as it will be rainy season, as we get enough of that in England! Always remember to look up everything you need to know about the country before you decide to book.