The short flights don’t require strict preparation, but if you are faced to a long flight for the first time, there are some tips and tricks for the most important things. The very first thing you should do is to check the rules of the airline company you picked to fly with. Usually there are limits for the handbag – maximum 10 things in travel size and 100ml. For the suitcase, on other hand, there are no limits for the sizes – after checking it goes straight into the luggage grid of the airplane and you don’t have access to it during the flight.
Passport/ID. For flights out of EU (European union) you have to check where is possible to need a visa (ex. USA, Korea, Thailand). Keep in mind that a trip to USA requires a lot of efforts in preparations so you have to start planning early. You should make a copy for each document you bring with yourself – passport, ID, visa, tickets, etc – in case you lost something – and to hold them in a handbag.
Comfortable clothes/entertainment. Sometimes it may be a little cold in the plane, so provide a warm sweater and comfy shoes in case your legs swell up. Some airline companies offer free movies, but you can always bring a book, mobile phone, ipad/ipod or crosswords.
Moisturize. The air on the board is very dry and you may feel discomfort in your eyes, nose and skin at all. It is good to know that you may feel the skin oily and dehydrated at the same time, mostly in flights longer than 4 hours, so with providing a moisturizing cream, eye drops or even a lip balm you will feel relaxed and comfy. Drink more water.
Disinfection gel. Nevermind if you are in first class or it seems to be clean, the planes are full with bacterias. The airports are the places where people of all over the world are in contact and in order to keep yourself in safe as more as possible, take a disinfection gel to clean your hands before touching your face or eating.
Food. All airline companies offer food on board. It might be included in the ticket prize or you should order and pay separately. The second option is often expensive, so you can have breakfast/lunch/dinner at the airport and to buy some snacks and chocolate for the flight. Maybe you will want a coffee before the flight as it is widely known that the coffee on the board has strange taste. Why? Because of the water, used for the coffee preparation, is held in basin which often is full with bacterias. Moreover, as the plane flies high, the water boils faster on lower temperature; which means if the air hostess late with even 5 seconds, the coffee will burn. The pressure in the cabin, the dry air and the above sea level height affect our gustatory sensations.
Toothbrush and paste. After 4, 8 or more hours on board, with eating, sleeping for sure you will need some refreshness.
Author: Savina Danailova