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Travel Hacks for Long Flights

Woman walking in airport with luggage being pulled behind her in front of a glass wall with airplane in the background before a long flight.


Survive, Thrive, and Maybe Even Enjoy the 12-Hour Sky Adventure…

Let’s face it, long flights are a necessary evil for seeing the world (unless you’ve figured out teleportation, in which case, please DM us immediately). Whether you’re solo, traveling with your boo, or wrangling a tiny soccer team of children, we’ve gathered our favorite travel hacks to make long flights a little less painful and maybe even… enjoyable?


General Travel Hacks for Long Flights

No matter who you’re flying with, or how many hours you’ve got ahead of you, these hacks are clutch:


1. Dress Like a Soft, Cozy Onion:Layers are your best friend. Planes are unpredictable: sometimes they’re flying freezers, other times you’re stuck in a sauna at 30,000 feet. Dress like a stylish yet sleepy onion, layers you can peel off or pile on, preferably wrinkle-resistant and comfort-forward.


2. Hydration Nation:Bring an empty water bottle through security and fill it before boarding. The air on planes is drier than your coworker's jokes. Hydrate like you're prepping for a desert marathon.


3. BYOE: Bring Your Own Entertainment:Download shows, podcasts, playlists, and audiobooks. Never rely on in-flight entertainment, unless you enjoy watching episodes of Friends you’ve already seen 27 times.


4. Snacks = Sanity:Pack snacks like a squirrel before winter. Trail mix, granola bars, or that oddly satisfying pack of Ritz crackers, anything to prevent you from paying $14 for sad airplane hummus.


5. Stretch Without Shame Get Up:

Walk the aisle. Pretend you're stretching for a half-marathon. Your body will thank you, and you’ll look like a seasoned travel pro instead of someone slowly fusing into their seat.


Two images. First image is a solo traveler sitting on a long flight looking out the airplane window with device in her hand. Image on the right is of white corded headphones sitting on a table.

Hacks for Solo Travelers

AKA: You're in charge of your own destiny and elbow space.


1. Choose the Window or Aisle Strategically:Window = uninterrupted nap. Aisle = easy bathroom access. Middle = a questionable life choice. Choose wisely.


2. Use Headphones as a Social Force Field:Noise-canceling headphones = Do Not Disturb sign for your face. Even if they’re not plugged in, they’re a polite way to avoid chatty seatmates trying to tell you about their rare coin collection.


3. Pack a Mini Self-Care Kit:Face mist, hand lotion, lip balm, and maybe a little peppermint essential oil, you’ll feel like a spa-on-the-go while others are crusting over at cruising altitude.


Hacks for Couples

Ah, love in a pressurized metal tube.


1. Sync Your Screens:Download the same movie or show and hit play at the same time. Boom, instant inflight date night. Bonus points for whisper-commentary and shared snacks.


2. Divide and Conquer the Carry-Ons:You bring the tech and snacks, they bring the toiletries and snacks. Yes, snacks are so important they deserve two mentions. Pack smart together to avoid overstuffed chaos.


3. Be Strategic with Seating:On airlines with three-seat rows, book the aisle and window. If the flight isn’t full, you might get lucky and score the whole row. If someone does get the middle seat, offer to switch so you can sit together. Win-win.

Two pictures. First image on left is of a little girl sitting on flight with a nice seat and phone in her hand watching something. Image on right is of two kids at the airport looking out the glass wall at an airplane landing.

Hacks for Families and Groups

It takes a village, especially when flying.


1. Choose Seats Wisely (aka, Blockade Formation):Try to book rows together to keep the crew contained. If you're traveling with kids, zone defense works better than man-to-man, adults on the edges, kids in the middle.


2. Surprise Toy/Game Kits for Kids: Low-tech wins here: sticker books, coloring pads, fidget toys, or a new app downloaded just before takeoff. Keep something new on hand for the “Are we there yet?” moment.


3. Stagger Screen Time:

Don't unleash the iPad in hour one, unless you're ready for six more hours of meltdowns. Stretch it out with snacks, games, and naps first, then deploy screens like a digital treat.


4. Group Playlist for Shared Sanity:Everyone wears their own headphones, but a shared playlist ahead of time can give the whole crew something to bop to while soaring over the ocean.


Embrace the Chaos

No long flight is perfect. Someone will snore, babies will cry (sometimes you), and the food might be vaguely mysterious. But with the right prep, the right attitude, and maybe a neck pillow that actually works, you’ll arrive feeling like a functioning human. And when you land? That beach, city, or magical new place is waiting, and suddenly, it was all worth it.


Beach Bums Vacations has your back (and your boarding pass). Let’s make your dream destination worth every mile.





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