As of today, I've officially done the flight between America and Japan a grand total of nine times. I've gone non-stop, I've stopped off for a week-long vacation in the middle of the trip, and I've done all manner of layovers (one was only two hours from landing in SFO to taking off for Newark--that was scary!). I've done two overnights in San Francisco, one willingly, one less so. I know which airport has become my favorite to depart from (definitely Kansai Kuko in Osaka) and which airport I never want to go to again (sorry SFO, but staying overnight in your hallway just killed any chance of a good relationship for us). The longest I've spent on a plane was about sixteen hours, and the longest I've spent traveling from one side of the US to Japan was almost two whole days! In all of my time traveling, I've used various blogs, Pinterest posts, and YouTube videos to try and find the best way to pack and survive the trip. I've compiled some of my own tips and tricks to help you for your next long-haul flight!
1. Use the Smallest Suitcase Possible
Alright, confession time: this is definitely a "do as I say, not as I do" tip. I'm still learning how to minimalize my packing, so this is as much a tip for you, dear reader, as it is for me. There's a few things that are necessary for any trip, like underwear and a toothbrush, and then there's things that are less necessary and just nice to have, like extra sweaters and fuzzy socks. While I love traveling in comfort and style as much as the next person, I've found that bringing along something for every single day and night gets bulky quickly. Instead, pack enough for half of your trip and plan to do laundry. I know people who bring detergent with them in small packs and wash clothing in the tub or sink at their hotel! Also, always keep in mind what you have access to where you're going. Going home for the holidays is completely different from moving halfway across the world, and you'll have access to different things depending on where you go. If you'll have access to certain things on your trip, don't pack them! There's nothing worse than dragging your giant suitcase across a gravel lot to your hotel, or walking twenty minutes with two or more bags in tow.
2. Bring Chargers for Any and All Tech
I have a system: every time I pack something that needs a cord, I pack the cord at the same time, in the same bag. So if I'm bringing along my laptop, the charger gets packed with it. If I'm bringing my phone, it's chord goes in whatever bag will be on my person. I've gotten trapped at airports too many times without a cable because I packed it in my checked bag to do anything else. Plus, if you pack the cable when you pack the device, you're less likely to forget the cable! Also, for any international travelers, I highly recommend buying either pocket wifi or a sim card when you arrive at the airport. If you're in a group, only one person needs to do it, but there's nothing more stressful than being stuck in an unfamiliar place with spotty wifi and no working cell phone. Heck, even being stuck in a familiar place without internet can be stressful.
3. Bring an Empty Water Bottle
So, there's a lot of things you should prepare to bring on the plane with you. There's the basics: ID, phone, tickets, checked bag receipts. There's the embellishments: gaming systems, books, headphones, coloring books, pillows. But in my opinion, the most essential thing to bring through security is an empty water bottle. As soon as you get past security, find a water fountain and fill it up. If you have time, drink the entire bottle before you board, and then fill it up again. One of the worst things about flying is how easily you get dehydrated, and even though there is always some kind of drink service, it's also nice to have your own water. Especially if you're prone to sleeping on planes and missing drink services (hello), it helps to have something prepared. And please, please, don't order coffee or alcohol on the plane, unless you want to have a bad time when you land. Of course, drinking a lot of water will make you need to get up often, which leads me to my next point.
4. Book an Aisle Seat
If you're in a group, this is debatable, since you know who you're traveling with an it's less stressful to bother them when you need to get up. But trust me, there's nothing worse than being in a window seat on a long flight and not knowing the other people in your row. You feel like the biggest jerk every time you need to get up, even if you know that it doesn't bother them. I love looking out the window when I'm flying, but I love being able to get up and move whenever I want even more. The benefits of being able to just pop up and walk around greatly outweigh the downsides, in my opinion. Have I been bumped into by the flight attendants or other passengers? Yup. Have people used my seat as a prop to stretch? Yup. Have small children grabbed me while running up and down the aisle? Yup. But have I been able to get up whenever I want and walk around, staving off blood clots and being able to use the bathroom regularly? Absolutely. From now on, I will always grab an aisle seat when traveling. (And if you ever end up next to me, don't worry! I get up enough that it doesn't bother me if you need to get out often, too.)
5. Set Your Watch to Your Destination Time
Not going to lie, this is a challenge. I always try to set my watch to the time of my final destination and sleep based on that schedule, to fight off jet lag. However, most planes operate on the departure time zone, so meals and lights-out will follow that schedule. But, if you're able to fall asleep easily, or can bring some meds with you, it's so helpful to try to sleep within your arrival time zone. Even if it means breaking my rules and drinking coffee while flying, I always try to get myself into the right sleep schedule. Of course, your other option is to just not sleep, and use the exhaustion as a way to slip right into the correct time zone. But that's up to you.
6. Carry-on Some Small Essentials to Help in Any Situation
On my most recent flight, I got some food stuck in between my back molars (gross, I know). I hadn't packed floss in my carry-on, so I had to suffer with that small, painful annoyance for the entire, ten-hour flight. I couldn't stop thinking about it. My teeth hurt, my tongue kept going back to the spot, and when we had our next meal, I couldn't chew on that side of my mouth. I was miserable. If you have similar issues, I recommend packing some dental floss. Other small things that I think should always be in your carry-on include: a pen (for customs forms), some cold medicine or pain killers, toothpaste and a toothbrush, baby wipes, and headphones. You can add or take away whatever you want, but I think these things are essential, just like an empty water bottle. I've used my headphones as earplugs before. Baby wipes are great for cleaning hands before eating, and your neck, face, ears, and anywhere else that need to be refreshed. I would hope that meds and a toothbrush and toothpaste are self-explanatory. Comment below if there's any other small things you think should always be in your carry-on!
7. Chat with the Other People in Your Aisle
You don't have to become besties with the people you're sharing an aisle with, but it's nice to at least do a little small talk when you get on the plane. Ask them where they're headed, or where they're coming from. If you're in the aisle seat (you should be!), offer to get up whenever they need you to. Tell them the answer to their crossword if they're stuck. You're going to be spending the next eight-plus hours of your life together, you might as well be a decent person to them. I've flown with people who I've chatted with comfortably, and I've flown with people who I haven't exchanged more than five words with. I've always enjoyed the flights where I've been able to chat with the others more. Even if it's just making a few sarcastic comments about being at the back of the plane when the door's open and snow is swirling around your heads (yes, that has happened), exchanging a few words with someone makes for a better flight experience.
I know that my advice is pretty similar to what you've already heard, especially if you've been flying for a long time. When you get down to it, everyone does long-haul flights their own way. Hopefully, this will remind you of something you're forgetting as you're packing (like cables or toothpaste), or this'll let you laugh at some of the mistakes I've made on long trips. Either way, feel free to comment with any advice for me and other readers, or funny stories from your flying experience!
