Long Haul Flight Tips

1. Find comfortable clothes to wear on long flights, and bring a change of clothes in your carry-on

Think of an outfit that you'll be happy to wear while mostly sitting for two days in airports and on planes. It will be approximately 36 hours from the time you arrive at Wellington Airport until we reach our accommodation in London. Make sure you are prepared.

Remember, sitting still and being blasted by a powerful aircon system can get chilly, so wearing several loose layers are ideal to adjust your temperature as you fly. It is not unusual to see people in pyjamas on long haul flights.

2. Prepare yourself for sleep

You'll be on a plane for the equivalent of more than a whole day and night, so it's worth bringing a few long haul flight essentials. A travel pillow is recommended to make sleeping less of a neckache. A good sleep mask and a pair of ear plugs also help. Finally, slip in some basic toiletries, such as a hand luggage sized toothbrush and toothpaste, and you'll feel that bit fresher when you land. Just make sure any liquids are 100mls or less and are placed in a clear bag for airport security.

3. Don't pack too much in your cabin luggage

While a few little extras definitely help, keep things travel-sized and to a minimum. There's nothing more stressful than lugging a great carry-on bag around the boarding area and trying unsuccessfully to stuff it into the overhead lockers, while everyone else looks on, tutting. Ideally, take one cabin bag and once on board keep smaller essentials like water bottle, ear plugs and your phone within easy reach in your seat pocket so you do not have to get up and repeatedly open lockers to access things in your bag.

4. Take your own snacks

You'll get fed on a long-haul flight but it may not be when or even what you're expecting - travelling through time zones often means you end up with breakfast at dinner time and noodles or curry first thing in the 'morning'. To stave off any bouts of hunger while you're waiting for the rattle of the food trolley, stow a few slow-energy release snacks like cereal bars, nuts or dried fruit in your carry on luggage. Make sure you finish them before you exit the plan or place them in bins before you go through customs after disembarking.

5. Move around the plane

Stretching your legs is not only necessary for your own sanity on a long-haul flight, but to avoid the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Keep the circulation flowing in your legs by doing gentle exercises at your seat, and get up every two hours. There may not be anywhere in particular to walk apart from up and down the aisles but moving about the plane once in a while is much more conducive to getting some healthy rest than popping a sleeping pill.

6. Stay hydrated

Aircraft cabins are often very dry places and the chances of becoming dehydrated are high. Drink plenty of water slowly and regularly and avoid too much tea or coffee. Bring an empty bottle for water on-board if you can (it may need to be purchased at the airport and stay sealed until you're on the plane because of liquid restrictions). Long haul flights usually have water filters and/or taps you can use to fill up your water bottle.

You may find your skin's affected too - bring a small tube of moisturizer and take some eyedrops if you're prone to dry eyes.

7. Relax!

There is nothing you can do to make the flight go faster, so try to relax. Use the time to catch up on that book you haven't had the chance to get stuck into, watch a few movies or get excited about your destination by leafing through a guidebook. Ignore any myths about flying you may have heard. Flying is the safest form of transport available. And the risk of catches cold, flu or other diseases are actually lower than your average day at school. As all aircraft air is pumped through air conditioners, it is filtered. The most common reason people feel unwell after a flight is simple jetlag and the body's lowered ability to deal with normal bacteria due to not being properly rested.