If I told you that I was excited for our 13 hour flight over to Southeast Asia I would be flat-out lying… I’m actually a little bit anxious as the longest flight we’ve taken was from Toronto to Copenhagen, and if I remember correctly that was around eight hours.
13 hours. Twice the time it takes to get to our beloved islands in the middle of the Pacific.
To prepare myself for this incredibly long flight I’ve read through tip after tip for long haul flights and have talked to a few friends to get their words of advice. And after many hours I’ve compiled a list of my favorite tips, which I’m sharing with you today.
- Disinfectant Wipes and Hand Sanitizer
Because, O.C.D… not to mention I’m a slight germaphobe. 😉 I try hard not to think about it because I might just cancel my flight, but taking a few packages of wipes and slathering on sanitizer helps my anxiety a little. - Compression socks:
I’ve read positive and negative reviews on compression socks for long flights, so I was a bit torn on if Cody and I really need them. However, as I started to think about our flights to Hawaii, I remembered that toward the end of those flights my feet feel like they begin to swell a little. With that thought in mind I purchased two pairs of socks (one for me and one for Cody) and am hoping that these babies will keep us comfortable.
- iPad and Macbook:
We are loading these up with good movies and some of our favorite games–and of course we’ll remember to pack our headphones and the headphone splitter so we can watch our shows together. - Books
Have you seen that movie called, the Beach, starring Leo DiCaprio? I haven’t either, and I haven’t read the award-winning book; however, when I found out that this book is based on one the locations we are traveling to, I knew that I’d have the perfect book to read to help pass the time.
I’m also packing two of my favorite travel guides to read on our flight home: Fiji and Tahiti. Can you guess where we’re headed for our five-year anniversary next year??? 🙂 Let’s not get me started on how excited I am for THAT trip!!
- Snacks:
I’ll pack some of our favorite snacks before we leave and when we get to the airport I’ll grab a few of our favorite drinks as well. I know it’s overpriced, but I’d rather have it and not drink it then really want a drink and not have it. - Eye Mask, Ear Plugs, Travel Pillow, and Zzquil
Because let’s face it… time passes quickest when we’re sleeping, and I’m really hoping to get some sleep at some point along the way…
Of course it goes without saying, but we’ll be packing our expensive camera gear, our scuba gear, cell phones, paperwork, passports, money, and all of the other important necessities in our carry on bags as well. I’ve learned that if you don’t want it lost or stolen, you should keep it with you at all times. 🙂
What did I miss? Share your long haul flight tips below!
Pictures and Plane Tickets 
The Beach is a such a good book! The movie is pretty good, but the book is awesome. I hope you enjoy it!
Hey Christian,
We watched the movie after I finished reading the book, and I agree that the book is awesome! I like the book a lot more than the movie, great story! 🙂
Have a great day.
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
Reblogged this on Dictator of Taste.
Thanks for the reblog! 🙂
My longest flights were from Hongkong to Canada, 18 hours I think. Not fun! One item I would definitely recommend is a pair of very comfortable slippers, those very light and soft winter slippers to keep ur feet comfortable and warm. They were my delight:)
Wow, that is a long flight. I like the idea of comfortable slippers. 🙂 My shoes that I wear when traveling are extremely light and comfortable as well. I think shoes are so important when it comes to traveling as it can make or break your day as you walk through all the different airports. Thanks for your suggestion! 🙂
That’s great. Yes, shoes are very important as you walk a lot when travelling. I only use the slippers on the plane for long flights like that. A lot of people just take off their shoes, but I don’t like that idea 🙂
Have an amazing trip 🙂
Thank you, Kristina 🙂
I always have EAR PLANES in my bag for DH who has a hard time with the descent. But honestly, 13 hours, no prob, we did 14 hours from Honolulu to Baltimore once a year when we lived in Hawaii… you guys can do it. Make sure you buy some bottled water once you get into the ‘secured area’ of your airport… I was SHOCKED when we were charged for water on our most recent flight.
Thanks auntie. I’m sure once it’s over with I will think it wasn’t that bad, and it’s definitely going to be worth it, I’m just ready to have it out of the way. 🙂
I can’t believe you were charged for water on your flight. That is INSANE! All the more reason to make sure we have an extra drink or two before we board. Thanks for the heads up. 🙂
I also take along water flavoring packettes for our water, especially for a long trip. 13 hours can go by faster with variety. Keep hydrated, for sure, that will help with the jet lag.
Great list! Compression socks really do help- they are a great thing to bring on a long flight.
Thank you 🙂 I’m hoping so, if anything at least the bright pink color will keep it interesting! 😉 haha…
Nearly all our flights are long haul so drink heaps of water, walk as much as possible and see if you can nap on the flight.
Great suggestions. I’m hoping to get a good long nap in, it won’t be the most comfortable, but it will at least pass the time. 🙂
I have a really long piece of boring, repetitive type classical music on my iPod. Hit play, doze off, wake up and the cd is done. Hit play, repeat – never fails to put me to sleep 🙂
Ugh I’m so jealous of your trip! We were going to go to the Maldives this year, and then after we filed our taxes, all that money went towards paying more taxes!! 😦 – I always bring fresh snacks on my flights, veggies, fruits, etc. There’s always so much to purchase in the airport, but those things can get quite pricey! I hope your trip is AMAZING!
Shauna, maybe you can go to the Maldives next year? 🙂 That’s somewhere that I have always wanted to go too! It looks incredible there.
I hear you on the taxes, they can get quite frustrating when you have to pay a lot. 😦
Our plan is to go next year for sure (granting our taxes aren’t crazy again)! It is pretty expensive, but I found a few trips for less then $3000USD each, for the huts that are over the water (my dream!!). So hopefully next year! Until then, I’ll live vicariously through your trips!
That is a REALLY good deal! 🙂 Good luck, I’ll be crossing my fingers for you. We are wanting to spend our five year anniversary in an overwater bungalow too… I’m thinking Tahiti next year, but the Maldives are definitely on the horizon. 🙂 I’m sure once I see all of your photos I’ll be hooked on going there sooner rather than later. 🙂
Well if we ever make it, I will let you know if the deal is worth it!!! 🙂