Most people these days are very familiar with the experience of flying, and many have become seasoned long-haul frequent flyers with all the bonuses and advantages offered in the form of upgrades and other benefits. I moved from Hong Kong to the UK but with family in New Zealand; I discovered, over years of tedious long-haul travel, often in Economy and usually with only brief transit stops, there were a few tricks to help make the trip go smoother so that I could ‘Arrive in Better Shape’. (Still the best slogan for Cathay Pacific, by a long shot)! If you find yourself in that unenviable position of flying Economy (or even Premium Economy) on a long-haul flight, the following are a few ideas.
Buy No Jet Lag pills! (Also sold as Jet Ease in the UK)…..these homoeopathic pills come from New Zealand but are sold the world over, including Boots in the UK and via Amazon @£10 / US$17…they are perfectly safe and really work for children and adults. Chew one before take-off and every two hours inflight – or as often as you can remember unless you are sleeping. Take one upon landing or just after, which should help mitigate that sluggish feeling many people experience for a few days after arriving at their destination.
Compression socks are, in my opinion, mandatory inflight wear! Regardless of whether you have bad circulation (as many women travellers and I do), compression socks make a huge difference in keeping the circulation regular and prevent deep vein thrombosis mid-flight, which can cause serious problems. It also ensures that feet won’t swell up during the flight, so you can still slip on those pretty but totally impractical designer shoes upon arrival!
Travel bible Travel + Leisure magazine recently published their 2024 Guide to the Best Airplane Foot Rests. This is also well worth investing in, as keeping your feet as high off the floor as possible is essential. I have a ‘Flat Travel Foot Rest - Portable Adjustable Folding Hanging Foot Hammock’, which costs about £20 on Amazon. It’s a useful design as a previous purchase was curved and not flat, so my feet kept sliding over each other. The straps clip up over the open table and are adjustable to how high you want your feet to be off the floor. Ingenious and easy to carry on board.
Almost everyone travels with air pillows these days, and if travelling in Economy or Premium Economy, it’s also a relatively necessary bit of kit. But rather than wrestle with a three-sided fixed-shape pillow, the way to go is with a wrap-around ergonomic memory foam pillow like a ProGlobe. This has a Velcro grip for flexibility and can be moved around and adjusted for comfort. Even in an upright position, it’s surprising how relaxing this type of headrest can be.
Make sure you have your favourite pair of comfortable eye shades and ear plugs – neither needs to be state of the art, but using both will speed up the deep state of relaxation you will need to gain an extended sleep period. Before doing all this, apply moisturiser to your face, neck, hands and exposed arms and drink lots of water as the skin dehydrates terribly at a higher altitude. Try not to overeat on the flight as the feeling of bloating is more pronounced, although boredom can make it hard to resist finishing the tray!
Finally, when I’m ready to sleep, I swallow half a 7.5mg Zoplicone sleeping tablet (available on prescription only in the UK) – this is a tiny amount in reality. Still, I find it invaluable to tip me into a deep and extended sleep, usually for at least six hours. [NB. Do not use Zopiclone if you are easily addicted to narcotics, although I have not found it to have an addictive effect on me]. If you do not wish to take a chemical like Zoplicone, many swear by Melatonin, a natural hormone, Nytol or Rescue Night in the Rescue Remedy natural remedy series.
When awake, try moving around a bit to get the circulation going, even if this means getting up to go to the loo, shaking your legs and feet, and stretching your arms. Pilates practitioners will know how invaluable these exercises can be; some can be practised in the seat. Remember to take your No Jet Lag pill, buckle up while seated, and you will be off to a flying start on arrival!