The following tips will help you arrive at your destination feeling your best ready for a great trip.

1. Sleep in comfortable clothes - take a separate set of clothes to change into especially for night flights, a tracksuit would be ideal and will keep you warm instead of wrestling to with a blanket all night trying to keep your limbs tucked in.

2. Keep properly hydrated - before and during the flight. This is the most important of all the tips, staying hydrated will keep you feeling fresh. Aircraft are very dry places, humidly levels are typically 5-15% compared to normal levels on the ground of 40%. This is because the air in the cabin comes from the outside and at 33,000ft there is very little water in the air. Drink lots of water and in case you need it, carry some form of electrolyte like rehydrate salts or a sports drink. Avoid tea, coffee and soft drinks that contain caffeine which will keep you awake. Carry a large bottle of water on board, ideally a 2 litre bottle per person for flights over 8 hours, you will rarely get sufficient water from the onboard service to keep you properly hydrated.

3. Drink alcohol in moderation - although it’s tempting to have a few drinks ( you are going on holiday after all!) try and resist alcohol, combined with the dry air you will dehydrate very quickly. It’s also worth noting that the effects of alcohol are amplified at altitude.

4. Wear an eye mask and earplugs - it might be a little uncomfortable if you are not used to it but there is a lot of noise on board an aircraft which will disturb your sleep. Light will also wake you up quickly and it is best to block these out so that you can sink into your own world and drift off.

5. Take a neck cushion - a nodding head is not a pleasant way to sleep, invest in a U shaped pillow that will give you good support and help you to get some rest.

6. Shower as late as possible before you board, if your flight is not until the evening take a shower just before you leave for the airport, this way you will feel cleaner for longer.

7. Walk around and stretch often, take the opportunity to have a wander around the cabin from time to time, it’s best not to do this during the drinks and meal service to alow the cabin crew do their thing. Many airlines have advice and routines for this on the in-flight entertainment system.

8. Take a shower on stopovers - most international airports these days have showers available (some may charge, but if they do they should be a high standard), if you are taking a particularly long flight which has a stop over its worth having a shower.

9. Remove your contact lenses early in the flight - your eyes will dry up quickly in the dry air its far better to wear glasses for the duration of the flight.

10. Take some moisturiser - your skin will feel drier than normal when you’re flying. To save space, take a moisturiser that is suitable for your face, hands and body.

Labels: comfort when flying, long haul flights, travel, travel tips