A LONG haul holiday to somewhere hot and sunny might be tempting – until you have to sit on a plane in economy for 20 hours.
Yet with so many ‘hacks’ and tricks to surviving a long flight, which of them actually work?
So on a recent flight to Australia, I decided to try them all out to see which ones were actually worth it.
While mentally prepared to be uncomfortable for the duration, I was surprised by some that really made the difference.
Of course, some where absolutely no help at all either.
Here’s my verdict on 13 item hacks I’d heard about and whether they are actually worth it.
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Scarf hack
You’ve probably seen the famous scarf hack lingering around on social media – where you tie it to your head rest to make, well, a head rest.
Now, when I saw it, I was skeptical. To me it looked more like something that would hurt my neck, rather than aid it.
You essentially tuck it in behind your seat head rest and then tie it in front of your neck, you then untuck one side and it creates a hammock for your head.
I hated this hack and sacked it off within a couple of minutes.
My scarf slipped too much, turbulence mean I kept getting choked and I felt overwhelmingly like I would be suffocated.
My verdict: Bin this off – you look stupid and it hurts your neck and ear.
Cheap vs high-tech airport neck pillows
Neck pillows seem to be the number one travel item to take on a plane.
But I’ve never used one.
Yes, you heard that right – I travel on dozens of flights each year and have never purchased a neck pillow.
On my 20-hour flight I decided to try out two – one from the airport that cost me an arm and a leg and another high-tech one I bought online.
I used neither on my flight, scrapping them both after about 10 minutes.
I find that they make my neck, head and ears hurt instead of feel comfortable, as well as getting too warm and feeling like I have something suffocating me.
Instead, I just opted for the pillow (which admittedly isn’t given out with all airlines) and was far more comfortable.
My verdict: If you like a neck pillow, obviously take one. But don’t feel like it is a tragedy if you don’t have one, you can often sleep much better with a bundled-up fluffy jumper or a pillow given onboard your flight.
Nasal strips
When you think of nasal strips, you probably either think of elite runners or people snoring.
Nasal strips help with getting more air through your nose when you breath in.
And let’s be honest, with all that stagnant air on a plane bunging you up you want to be able to get as much air as possible.
I tried out SleepyDeepy’s nasal strips and out of all items on this list, this is the one I now swear by.
You simply stick it onto your nose and you will feel the relief with the amount of air you can now breath in through your nose.
And it isn’t just good for getting better sleep.
For those of us who do snore or are worried about snoring on a plane, it helps to stop this.
My verdict: I was so impressed with how much more air I could breathe in when wearing the strip and it is definitely something I’d use on all my long-haul flights going forward.
Mouth tape
Mouth tape is another product I have always been skeptical of, but after getting a sore throat after every flight, on this flight I wanted to try something that would stop that.
SleepyDeepy’s mouth tape looks like a black cloud and you just stick it over you mouth.
It has a small air/vapour hole in the middle.
I slept like a baby with it on and it stopped me snoring or drooling on the plane.
Even better, I got off my flight without a sore throat for once.
My verdict: This is not something I ever thought I would like but it definitely made me feel like I wasn’t snoring or drooling… and that of course, is an instant win.
Ear plugs
A lot of people will skip earplugs when it comes to their flights but they are wrong.
Planes are loud, and while that constant droning fades into the background after a while, all that loud noise is not good for our ears.
I swear by Loop Earplugs and for the times on the flight when you don’t want to listen to music, but also don’t want to hear the plane they are ideal.
They are super comfortable and come in a load of different colours.
I then swapped to SleepyDeepy’s regular foam earplugs when I wanted to sleep as I found that these don’t stick out, making resting your head more comfortable.
My verdict: I love Loop Earplugs and think they are super practical – but they are great for sleeping. I would deffo opt for both and switch between them for when you are reading or having a snooze.
A good eye mask
For 20 hours I wanted to do everything I could to get good sleep, so I opted to take a SleepyDeepy silk eye mask on board.
The soft eye mask wraps around your head with a Velcro close, no tight strap and soft cushioning around the eyes to stop getting marks around your eyes.
It was so comfortable and cosy, I slept like a baby for my flight.
My verdict: This is a lovely eyemask that doubles up as a little bit of a cushion. But if like me and you don’t struggle sleeping with the lights on, then make just opt out of this one.
Silicone suction phone mount
If one item has changed my life (no exaggeration) for the better, it is a silicone suction phone mount.
These little items cost a few quid on Amazon and stick to the back of your phone or phone case and then the other side will suction on to smooth surfaces, such as a window or screen.
This means if you have downloaded films or TV shows onto your phone then you can watch them without having to hold your phone in your hand.
My verdict: A cheap must have item that will help you watch things on your phone but also take pictures without the need for a phone tripod.
AirFly
An AirFly is a brilliant piece of tech and means you can use your own headphones and ditch the annoying, cheap inflight headphones given out.
The Airfly gets plugged into your headphone socket and it connects to your own headphones or earphones wirelessly.
This means you don’t have to battle with an annoying cable or have poor sound quality.
My verdict: An absolute must travel item which means no more dodgy airplane earphones and input holes.
Electrolytes
Electrolytes aren’t just for marathon runners as they can help to counteract the harsh environment of a plane cabin and also help the impacts of jet lag.
I love Good Flyte electrolytes which come in a handy tube, you can snap them in half if you wish and all you need to do is drop it into your water and it will dissolve.
The taste is a nice orange flavour so it is enjoyable to drink as well.
My verdict: I love electrolytes and really do think they help me stay energised after a flight. If anything, they make your drink taste nice. Just make sure you don’t overdo it.
A small bottle of your fave fragrance
I love a Lavender pillow spray and genuinely think it helps to calm me down and get a good night sleep.
Taking one on a plane didn’t occur to me before this flight.
But spraying the pillows given to you on the flight and the blanket allowed me to feel at ease with 20 hours of travelling ahead of me.
My verdict: There is nothing quite like something that makes you think of home and a small bottle of fragrance is the ideal way of doing that – perhaps just spraying before your flight or subtly to not annoy other passengers.
Backpack footrest
If you are short like me (5’1 for reference), your feet often don’t comfortably reach the floor of the plane cabin.
For me, this makes me fidget and leaves me unable to get comfortable so now, I am strategic with not only which under seat bag I use but how I pack it.
I will use a large duffle bag and place a couple of jumpers or items of clothing at the top to bulk it up a bit but also make it squishy – this think makes the idea footrest and stops me from getting uncomfortable.
My verdict: This is the easiest way to ensure you have a comfortable foot rest without splurging the cash – it is an easy fix.
Compression socks
For long haul flights, you should always wear compression socks.
Compression socks help to improve blood circulation and prevent fluid from pooling in your lower legs while you are sat for long periods of time.
I picked up a pair from Boots a while back for around a tenner, and while they are not anything glamourous they definitely do the job. The added benefit is they help to keep your legs warm!
My verdict: These are a must to help blood circulation and prevent nasty blood clots – they might not be the sexiest, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
Slippers
Don’t be that person wonder around the cabin or plane bathroom with just socks on, so I was told to take a pair of slippers with me onboard.
These are easy to slip on and off for when you do get up and wonder around the cabin or head to the toilet (and keep your feet warm when they ramp up the air con).
If you forget a pair of slippers, don’t stress – nick them from the hotel you are staying at (they always throw them away anyways).
My verdict: Slippers are great if you want to get comfy and if they have rubber bottoms even better as it means you aren’t stepping in anything suspicious when you nip to the loo onboard.