I’m a Type A, Latin dromomaniac aka an insatiable traveler. I can’t stay still but, as every girl knows, the joys of travelling also come with their problems.
The ups and downs of flying are enough to put some people off taking a long-haul trip altogether. But don’t despair, over the years I’ve found that a little extra preparation makes all the difference. It’s all about packing smart, after all. So, after numerous learning curve and ‘wish I had’ moments, I’ve built up a list of ‘must have’ essentials for flying that I have to share with you, so that you can concentrate on the destination, not the journey.
1. First, we have the must-have electricals. Get yourself a pair for Bose, noise-cancelling headphones. These are a God-send for sleeping, effectively drowning out the screaming kids, nattering conversations and announcements going on around you and giving you some well-deserved peace. Then, make sure you’ve got all of your chargers with you on the flight in your hand luggage – you never know when you might get stuck on the tarmac or in the airport and need to recharge. You might even want to pre-plan your entertainment; download your own movies in case you don’t like those on the plane or you have a problem with the monitor. Or try downloading a good non-fiction podcast or e-book – make it something pertaining to your industry or a hobby to really use that travel time wisely.
2. Then, of course, there’s the food. Plane food is sometimes disgusting and almost always unhealthy, so it’s best to bring your own if you can. Pack something salty and something sweet to satisfy both types of craving. My favourite is Whole Foods’ own concoction of tofu, quinoa, carrots and beets and I love dried apples rings as my dessert. Popcorn is also an amazing plane snack, as a meal substitute or the perfect munchy whilst watching a movie, reading a book or even updating your agenda.
3. Without sounding like your mother, the next thing on my list and probably the most important thing is a water bottle. Staying hydrated (and stretching) is absolutely key and will get you ahead of the crowd on long-haul flights. I seldom suffer from jet lag and I put most of this down to drinking plenty of water on the flight. Of course, tactics like popping a sleeping pill with wine on the longest flights also helps.
4. Don’t forget the personal comforts in all this. Be sure to bring a blanket and a sweater or pashmina on any flight. Aeroplanes are very surprising and most of the time the temperature is set far too low, making even the shortest 45 minute flight unbearable without warm layers. Some of our favourites here are Net-A-Porter.
5. Then there’s compression socks, an absolute must-have in my books. It may seem a bit ‘grandmotherish’ of me but they really do work, and we all know that sitting for many hours at a time isn’t what our bodies were built for.
6. And why not be super prepared and get ahead of your business meeting or conference on the plane? Bring a pen and paper in case of any inspiration or note making that you might need to do before you forget and take the time on the plane to work on your agenda. Clean up your calendar, to do lists and all essential action items, either personal or professional, and you’ll thank yourself for it at the other end.
I know most people wouldn’t even consider bringing half of these things on a flight, but I promise that if you do, your flying experience will be revolutionised into a super productive, restful breeze, making you the envy of all the other travellers on your flight. The key is preparation and the packing list is here, so now you’ve got everything you need to make your next trip the most pleasant flying experience yet.
Any Questions or Tips to add?