Travel tips – long haul flights.
This is not going to be the all-too-obvious tips. Any parent worth calling a parent knows they need things to keep the children quiet and all humans realize that loose clothing is best. These are tips, which may or may not suit you.
This is what I do
– Wear shoes that are easy to take off and put on again for when you go through airport security
– Never have with you anything that may cause your bag to be searched or the bleeper to go off. Take this really seriously. You cannot imagine the delays caused – and people miss their flights because of it – by people not thinking to take a belt off, or leaving toothpaste in their carry-on bag
– Once through security get out of the way of others behind you as quickly as you can
– Instead of just sitting and waiting, walk up and down as much as possible. This helps your system to chug around better, will help you sleep on the flight and puts the waiting time to good use
– Unless you know that you will sleep well regardless, have with you some sleeping tablets (homeopathic ones work fine) and a neck-cushion. Do not eat or drink the sort of thing that can keep you awake – coffee, citrus etc.
– Have easily available any other item that could help you feel comfortable during the flight. I always have my toothbrush. Because of security I cannot bring the toothpaste, but I put a bit on the toothbrush in advance and wrap cling-film round it.
– I keep clothes folded in to bags in the suitcases. This keeps them clean, of course, but also helps to stop them becoming too creased. If you are going from place to place, ie unable to unpack and stop in one place, put your clothes in to “outfits” within the bags. Use see-thru’ bags. That saves the rummaging and also saves creasing and spoiling during the rummaging – especially if you are a man or have a man with you ! Another advantage to this is that if something in your case spills or if your case is left out in the rain, your clothes remain dry
– Depending on the length of time you will be away, take almost-empty or half-empty shampoo, body lotion etc with you. That way it is not painful to throw the rest in to the bin when you pack to leave
– If you know in advance there will be an easily accessible shop on arrival, then buy shampoo etc. there. It is crazy to risk it leaking on your clothes if you don’t have to
– Be tidy! Untidy and messy people invariably leave things behind. Even squashed in to your aeroplane seat, notice where you are putting things, make a mental note so that you know where it is
– Children yelling on the seat behind you – I have no hesitation in asking the parent to do something about it if the child is being naughty (and have often picked up babies myself to give the fraught parent a break) but it is otherwise just par for the course – put ear plugs in and don’t get stressy!
– Last but not least do not set off hoping for a lovely time on that flight. You know in advance, and must accept in advance, that it will be a long tedious haul.
– Bon voyage!
(The picture shows the Australian outback as we flew over it – such gorgeous colours.)
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Catherine Broughton is a novelist, a poet and an artist. She is widely travelled and writes regularly for magazines and blog sites. Her sketches are on her web site http://turquoisemoon.co.uk . Her books are available from Amazon and on Kindle, or can be ordered from several leading book stores.
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Catherine Broughton is a novelist, a poet and an artist. Her books are available as e-books on this site:-
https://payhip.com/b/tEva “A Call from France”
https://payhip.com/b/OTiQ “French Sand”
https://payhip.com/b/BLkF ”The Man with Green Fingers”
https://payhip.com/b/1Ghq “Saying Nothing”
They are also available on Amazon & Kindle, or can be ordered as paperbacks from most leading book stores and libraries.
