Much like society, your long-haul flight is going to try to impose a certain structure onto you. The lighting will tell you when you should open your eyes. The meals will tell you what nutrients you should eat. The fuzzy screen will tell you that you should watch such and such movies. The cramped space will tell you to move as little as possible.
Despite the fact that you are captive to this metal box for half a day or more, the good news is that you have agency. And you can, and will, exert this agency into your new living space. In a considerate manner. Let me show you how I do it.
A note: This guide is targeted towards economy passengers who are flying on a full-fledged carrier (as opposed to budget carriers e.g. Scoot, Ryanair). But even if you have the good fortune of enjoying a more premium service than economy, or bad fortune of needing to stick it out in budget, some of these points will remain useful.
1. Book your flight with the seat in mind.
The single largest factor of the quality of your flight depends on your seat (and as my good friend aptly put it, “the vibe the other passengers curate”). Don’t fly during the local school holiday season, to minimise risk of being surrounded by noisy children. Fly in the first half of the week (Sun-Wed) as opposed to the later half (Thu-Sat), as less people tend to prefer to start their holiday further from the weekend, so there’s a higher chance of it being an emptier flight.
Generally, a long-haul flight will probably be on a plane offering a 3-4-3 configuration (see left image below). Others have said this before, but the right answer of ‘which seat to pick’ will be the aisle seat in the middle section.
Aisle seat is undeniably the best seat for a long-haul. It gives you not only a wee bit more space (you can spill out a bit into the aisle), but it guarantees your access to freedom – the bathroom, galley, or the aisle itself for a stretch. On a long haul I think no one needs proximity to the window. As for the middle section, it might seem counter-intuitive, but only one person will jostle you to get out to the aisle (as opposed to two, if you sat in the aisle of the side section).
But I have one exception to the no-window rule. First, look for flights on an Airbus A380. If you can select your seat, choose a window seat on the top deck. The back of the top deck of an A380 is often in a 2-4-2 configuration (see above right image), and importantly, between the window and the seat there may be an extra storage bin/table surface. Slot your bag in there for maximal access to your belongings (this will be paramount to the rest of the guide) without cramping your legs. And if the seat next to you goes unclaimed, you will have the section to yourself, reaping the benefits of both window and aisle.
Image on left: 3-4-3 seating configuration; image on right: 2-4-2 seating configuration. Ideal seats indicated in red.
2. Stay clean.
Whether or not you consider yourself a hygienic person, there’s something dignifying about just the ritual and psychological comfort of feeling like you and your environment are *clean*.
Bring a pack of wet wipes. They’ll be used to wipe down the all the hard surfaces like the table, seat rest, screen, remote, et cetera. You will also use them to clean your hands before a meal (Japanese style – fancy) and freshen up your face when it inevitably feels either dry or oily. Remember that a 14 hour flight is like an 8am – 10pm full day out, your body will produce a day’s worth of oil and gunk, and it’s helpful to attend to that.
Bring a toothbrush, mini toothpaste if you wish, and brush before you sleep and after you wake up. Bring face wash if you wish to go the extra mile. These will make you feel amazing. If you’re a girl like me, wear a panty liner and change it out on board. Or just another set of underwear. There is really something about a fresh nether region that makes all the difference.
3. Stay hydrated.
A flight is going to wring out all the youthful moisture your body has, whether from the low humidity atmosphere, high sodium foods, or even the cheeky alcoholic bev you have. Keep the cheeky bev and eat the food, those are your birthright. But drink lots more water than you think. Board the plane with a full, large water bottle and refill it with the flight crew’s help. The best drink option at meal times (other than the cheeky bev) is water, or at most a juice – soft drinks are gassy and the wine always sucks. Honestly, the phenomenological feeling of being hydrated is hard to communicate, but it is the most important thing in making me feel like a functioning human.
4. Stay moisturised.
Similar to point 3, but for external hydration. Your skin will get dry, your lips will peel, and despite your best efforts and 1l water bottle, you may not actually be guzzling enough water for your bodily needs. Bring lip balm and apply it before your lips crack. I love to bring a face sheet mask – a simple one from the pharmacy that has a little scent – wash my face well, and when the lights go down, pat onto your face and zone out to a calming playlist (see point 5).
Face and body moisturiser are also important too. Rub into your hands, forearms and elbows, and ankles or feet or legs, especially if exposed. Don’t be surprised if you feel the need to re-apply multiple times on the flight.
5. Sort out your entertainment.
The movies and TV shows on your in-flight entertainment are fine, but you can do more. There are two things to bear in mind: (a) prep media that is unique to you, and (b) prep both ears-only and eyes-only media.
You could make and download a playlist of a couple favourite albums or genres. I find the solitude of a long flight a good time to dig into albums that I found interesting but not gotten to listen to. Podcasts and audio books are all good too – prep a variety in case your mood changes on the flight. These auditory delights will help you to rest the eyes as they inevitably dry out from being on the plane.
But your ears too will tire at some point, and your eyes may then yearn for some stimulation. Personally I find reading books a bit difficult in these flights – suddenly the font size seems too small and the cabin is often quite dim – so more pictoral-based activities might be better. Try a puzzle or sudoku book, or maybe even get doodling or colouring. And for those with portable gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch, well, you already know what to do.
6. Bring life-giving treats.
The airplane will probably cover the basics of nutrition, true, but there is something immensely satisfying about having the little treat you have on the ground, but in the air. Things that only require the addition of hot water work marvellously for this – hot foods/drinks are always going to bring more comfort than cold ones. Cup noodles are superior, and make sure you bring some disposable chopsticks if doing this. An instant matcha, coffee, Milo or hot chocolate are also a real treat, a much better alternatives to the black coffee or tea they serve on board. Even a specialty tea bag works.
You could bring a small packet of your favourite spread to put on those dry buns they serve with your dinner. At Changi Airport, I saw a Killiney Kopitiam stall selling small squeezy sachets of kaya – instant buy. You could bring on a nice chocolate as a morale booster. Or a nice bit of food from the airport terminal – a piece of fried chicken, a slice of cake. Once my mother and I bought on the plane a whole barbecue set meal from our stopover in Dallas. These will lift your spirits and make you feel like the most special person on board.
7. Tend to your physical body.
It’s easy to get lost in the potatoing, but eventually your body will complain for being compressed in the seat. A human body is most comfortable not in any particular position, but when it can move. You might develop a creeping ache in your shoulders or neck, or indeed even the feeling of ‘stiffness’ can make one feel a little anxious.
Of course, a few things you can do. Regular trips to the toilet, and indeed just standing up whenever you feel so inspired. This is the basic tier of ways to serve the body.
Then you can indulge in some very yummy stretches. Don’t give a damn about whether or not you look like a fool – the blood circulation will be worth it. See image below for some examples of stretches you can do in your seat. There are many more possible types of stretches, of course, and I encourage you to experiment or draw from your own experiences with sport and fitness.
Lastly, a bit of a massage. Give your feet and hands, neck, really anywhere that needs a bit of attention, a nice little rub to get the blood moving. You have all the time in the world – there’s no need to rush it through.
8. Follow a schedule.
In the air it can feel like you’re in a liminal space – well, that’s because you are – and devoid of a defined clock or rhythm of life. Impose time.
Take reference from the time zone of the destination and set your clocks the moment you board. Eat at the appropriate meal times for your time zone, and try not to sleep until a reasonable hour there, e.g. 9pm at the earliest. You can use the meals to adjust your body clock too – I usually only sleep around three hours after a meal, so you can adjust this as is normal to you. Reinforce your bedtime and morning routines of brushing your teeth and visiting the toilet.
Don’t use a screen when you want to sleep – the blue light will make things worse and you know it. Be disciplined about your caffeine intake; don’t let their coffee and tea service entice you to making a decision you regret as you toss and turn in your seat. Use earplugs and an eye mask when you want to sleep, get as snuggly as you can (I like bringing a comfy sweater for this), and let nothing get in the way. Soon enough, you will find yourself at your destination, already familiar with the new time zone.
Lastly as a summary, here’s what I might have in my carry-on for a long-haul flight. Let not the long list deter you, these items are small and can fit in a regular tote bag.
- For hygiene – wet wipes, dry tissues, toothbrush and mini toothpaste, travel-sized face wash, panty liners / underwear
- For moisturising – lip balm, face sheet mask, travel-sized face and body moisturiser
- For hydration – 1 litre water bottle (full!)
- For entertainment – phone (containing downloaded Spotify playlists and podcast episodes), power bank, phone charger, small journal, pencil and pen
- For treats – instant matcha or drip coffee sachet, a savoury snack (e.g. curry puff)
- For maintaining the schedule – eye mask and ear plug, comfy sweater for maximum comfort
GO FORTH, EXERT YOUR AGENCY. In a considerate manner.
joy wang 
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