17 Helpful Tips for a More Comfortable International Flight

Having flown to over 25 countries, I’ve picked up a few tips on long-haul flights that make all the difference!

Whether this is your first international journey or you’ve been on several, I’m confident these tips will help make your flight smoother and more comfortable.

Just last year, I practically learned how incredibly important hydration is. I usually drink plenty of water, but I doubled it on my flight and my jetlag was almost nonexistent.

International flights are always exciting. They often mean you’re off on an adventure, visiting a bucket-list destination, reuniting with loved ones, or maybe even embarking on your first solo trip.

Whatever the reason for your journey, my goal is to help make your flight as enjoyable as possible. Through trial and error, I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t, and I want to save you from the mistakes I’ve made.

As you read through, feel free to share your own travel tips. I’d love to know what’s worked for you too!

Let’s dive in, starting with something I recommend before you even leave for the airport.

1. Boost the immune system

Flying is amazing. It still blows my mind that technology is such that I can go from one side of the world to the other in just a day instead of weeks in a boat on a rough sea.

That being said, you’re then in this enclosed space with recycled air with a bunch of people. You don’t know them or their hygiene habits. It can be quite brutal to your immune system according to this article by Well Traveled.

One of the best things you can do to make sure you stay healthy for the trip is to load up on Vitamin C, D, and Zinc before you go.

Give yourself a boost of immunity. I am a huge fan of doing it naturally.

• Vitamin C – kiwi, kale, parsley, broccoli, and lemons are great resources for Vitamin C.
• Vitamin D – eating eggs, especially the yolks, as well as fish like salmon, sardines and canned tuna have great levels of Vitamin D.
• Zinc – legumes, seeds, nuts, dark chocolate, and eggs are all naturally higher in zinc than other foods.

2. Get there early

There is nothing worse than getting to the airport late and missing your flight or your luggage not making it in time.

For most airports, the recommendation is that you get to the airport 3 hours early. That can seem a bit excessive but I have needed it before because I accidentally over-packed my luggage. Oops.

Not only do you have to check your luggage and make your way through security, but you also have to go through passport control, and often for international flights, you have to make your way to a separate part of the airport.

After having rushed my way through enough times, I can tell you from experience that it is better to have plenty of time and be able to wander and go slowly than to rush through.

One time flying from Istanbul back to the States, I didn’t give myself a long enough layover.

I almost missed my connecting flight in Frankfurt. It didn’t help that the airport was massive and worked so incredibly differently than many.

Give yourself time and thus eliminate unnecessary stress.

3. Check for a lounge

The last one leads nicely into this tip. Join Priority Pass and get access to 1,600+ lounges around the world.

In the days gone by, people would get access to lounges with credit cards but that feature is getting cut back more and more. It is becoming only available with credit cards with an annual fee of $500+ a year.

Airport lounges are great for when you get there really early or have a long layover. You typically have access to free drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), delicious food, and free wifi.

It is quite the reprieve in the midst of a busy, chaotic airport.

If you’re new to international travel check it out! You may just fall in love with what a good lounge can offer.

If you fly internationally even just annually along with someone else, a Priority Pass can be a great option.

4. Hydrate

When you fly it is really important to drink enough water because being in flight notoriously dehydrates you. The recommended amount is 8 oz. or 250 ml of water for every hour that you’re in the air.

I know, I know. It seems like a lot! But flying will dehydrate you quite quickly. And if you plan to take advantage of any of those free alcoholic drinks on the plane, make sure you drink even more.

If you don’t drink enough water you will likely get a bit dehydrated and it will intensify the feeling of jet lag.

Obviously, if you’re sleeping you’re not going to wake up every hour to drink, just make sure that you drink before going to sleep and when you wake up.

When you can ask the flight attendants for water, it often comes in a small cup. So I recommend bringing your own water bottle. They gladly fill it up!

If you’re looking for a filtered water bottle, the one I use is Epic Water filters because they are specially made for tap/filtered water.

They are reasonably priced and have plastic, steel, and glass bottle options.

They also have great incentives to use and recycle as well as make sure your water is free from toxins often found in tap water.

Plus you’re helping the environment.

5. Clean everything

While the standard of cleanliness on planes has greatly improved in this pandemic era, it is still a great idea to make sure you wipe down your area.

I haven’t used every international airline out there, but in my experience,f they give you a fresh mask, alcohol wipe, and maybe something else in a small packet.

Make sure you use the wipe to clean the drop-down table and the armrests, buttons, and screens. Anywhere you’re going to touch really.

It is also a great idea to bring a small pack with you. I really like these wipes because they are individually wrapped and small.

You can just grab a handful and they won’t take up a lot of space or easily dry out. You can even throw a few extra in your emergency pack. Plus as you use them your pack keeps getting lighter.

6. Pack a few good snacks

Every airline is different in what they offer and the offerings are typically better the farther you’re going. They understand that it is a long flight.

On most long-haul flights you get free alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages as well as a couple of meals during the flight. On Turkish Airlines, sometimes they will even have some snacks available in between meals though it isn’t guaranteed.

But sometimes it is a long time in between meals. Some healthy snacks are a great thing to have with you just in case. They are also helpful during your layover or if your flight gets delayed.

While you’re limited on the liquids you can bring with you, there aren’t any restrictions on the food you will eat during your flight.

Make sure you are conscientious of others around you. (i.e. don’t bring hard-boiled eggs or tuna salad sandwiches for your flight.)

Bring things that don’t have a lot of smell to them, fruits, nuts, seeds, and crackers. A good trail mix is often a good option because the fat and protein will help keep you full longer.

I am a dark chocolate fan so I always make sure I have some of that with me as well.

7. compression socks

For years I flew internationally without using these and didn’t see the big deal. But when I moved to Turkey, I got stuck in the window seat with two very large men beside me.

I only got up a couple of times during the flight which was not good for circulation. That is when I discovered the beauty of compression socks.

They are a great investment in your health and well-being.

Compression socks help prevent clots and swelling from sitting for long periods of time as well as promote blood circulation.

This unisex compression sock has a variety of sizes and prints and comes in a pack of 4.

If you’re new to the concept of compression socks, you read more about them in this comprehensive article from Healthline.com.

8. Do a few exercises

Another thing to help your legs from swelling and feeling all around better during the flight is to do a few simple exercises.

If you’re trapped in a window seat, these will especially be helpful for you.

This is a great video put together by Physitrack, The University of Melbourne, and Sports Medicine Australia. Do these exercises as often as you can for a much better flight.

While these exercises will be very helpful for you, it is also recommended that you get up as much as you can, even every hour, so as to help keep your blood flowing well.

9. Make your luggage unique

One of the worst things after your long flight is when you go to grab your chic black luggage only to realize that it looks the same as every other black one out there.

Next thing you know, you’re pulling the wrong luggage and can’t find your own.

To make it easier and less stressful for yourself, make your luggage unique and easily distinguishable from all the others.

Tie a ribbon on tightly or draw a pattern on the hard shell. Whatever it is so you will know it is yours. Have some fun with it!

10. Take photos of your luggage

While I talked about the potential for lost luggage in the last tip, this is important enough to mention all on its own.

After you’re packed and before you give your luggage at the check-in counter, or perhaps even at home, snap a photo of all your luggage.

If it gets delayed/lost, having a photo will be helpful and make filling out the report much quicker. Plus it helps prove that it is yours.

It’s happened often enough that they have gotten pretty good at quickly getting the luggage to you but having photos makes it even easier.

11. Dress nice but comfortable

While you don’t want to wear a three-piece suit on the flight, sweats and grungy shirts aren’t a great option either. There are a few reasons why not.

Firstly, if by some happy chance, you have the opportunity to be bumped to first class, you will never get there if you’re not in a nice-looking outfit. Doesn’t matter how much money you have!

Secondly, things happen. Flights get delayed.

If you look nice and all of a sudden find yourself with 12 extra hours in Rome, you’re more likely gonna feel much more comfortable adventuring out if you have a nice outfit on instead of something that more resembles pajamas.

You don’t have to sacrifice comfort to look nice! There are so many options out there these days for comfy, nice-looking outfits.

12. Make sure you have some USD

I am a huge fan of simply pulling money from the ATM as opposed to carrying a lot of cash. Firstly it is much safer in my opinion, especially when it is an ATM attached to a bank.

If I lose cash, it is gone. But if I somehow lose my card, I can cancel it and use another one. I also don’t have any fees on mine because I am part of a great credit union.

Obviously, find out what the fees are for you as you travel internationally. Also, don’t forget to set a travel alert with your card so it doesn’t get turned off.

If you do need to bring larger amounts of cash, know that there are limits as to what can be carried. For US Customs it is $10K in cash.

Other countries may have different limits. But who wants to carry that much?

Regardless of how much it is, make sure it is in a money belt secured to your person so it isn’t as easy to be forgotten, lost, or stolen.

Regardless of where you go, it is a good idea to have a small amount on your person in USD or Euro as they are internationally recognized and accepted currencies.

If you run into problems, you will be able to take care of yourself. If you’re curious about Turkey’s currency and best practices you can read this article.

13. Entertainment

The longer the flights, the more options you have. If you’re like me and love to watch movies, you may have seen all the ones on the flight. But luckily, they update what’s available every few months.

There are a couple of things you can do beforehand to make sure you get the most out of your in-flight entertainment.

First, check the airlines you’re flying with. They will likely have a list somewhere of their current movie, music, and game options that will be available in flight.

Maybe even check out one of these series on Netflix to get ready for your Turkey adventure before you even land.

Second, make sure you have some non-digital options. I don’t know about you but I can’t sleep on planes.

I try but I just can’t get comfortable enough and I wake up in so much more pain than it is worth. But staring at a screen for 15 hours will make you want to go batty.

So if you love sudokus or puzzles, make sure you bring a small paper book of them that you can use while on flights. It will save your eyes and your sanity.

Finally, you can load your phone/tablet/computer with your own options.

This is a great phone holder that works in multiple ways and with different phones. Plus it rotates 360 degrees. Keeps you from having to hold it the whole time!

Maybe there is a show on Netflix that you have been dying to binge watch and now you will have the time. You might need a VPN when you travel and this is a great one.

Plus with the smart download turned on it will let you download them and then delete them as you watch them! But make sure you have your charging cable with you so you can plug into the seat for unlimited power.

All international flights I have made in the last decade have had charging ports but there is a chance it won’t work or maybe you need two (BT headphones die too).

This is my favorite external battery because it will charge my phone 2.5 times and is a great price point.

14. use the time well

I am all for a good Netflix binge session, but sometimes I just feel so blah afterward. It wasn’t what I really needed at the time. And so often, it is hard to find a long chunk of time without interruption or distraction.

One of my favorite things to do on the plane is use it productively, especially if I am leaving in the morning and am wide awake. I will write or journal or read instead of just watching movies.

By the time I land, even though I am exhausted, I feel so incredibly ready to take on the day/evening having accomplished something.

Maybe for you, it is reading that book that has been on your list for ages or knitting that scarf or putting together that business plan for your dream business.

Whatever it is, use the (mostly) quiet time you have and knock out some todos!

15. eye mask/earplugs

There are always going to be those people who are awake through the whole flight. Watching movies or playing games or whatever it is they do.

There will be sounds and snoring. I recommend having a good set of earplugs and a nice eye mask to make it the best sleeping environment possible.

I am a huge fan of this 3D mask it gives my eyeballs a little bit of space as well as my mascara doesn’t smudge. But if a cheap flat one works for you, use it!!

Ear plugs can be tricky. For me, my right ear hole is bigger than my left. So always sound comes through regardless….that is until I found out about silicone earplugs or these loom knockoffs.

These bad boys are amazing! You can mold them to your ear shape. What’s even better, you can even swim with them and keep the water from getting in your ears!

If you are a naturally cold person, I would also recommend you make sure to have an extra sweater or something.

The airlines typically have a small pillow and blanket per seat but for some, it isn’t enough. Some flights can get quite chilly.

16. Sleeping aid

The first time I left America, I went to Uganda. I was so excited. But I also knew I wasn’t a great sleeper.

So a friend recommended to me that I go to the doctor and ask for a few sleeping pills that I could take on the way to and back home to help me sleep. The process was easy and the doctor totally was willing to help in providing these.

If you also have a hard time sleeping it might be a great option for you.

A more natural option is melatonin. You can also now find it in Turkey in case you forget it. It will be good to use even as you’re adjusting to jet lag as well.

This is one of those supplements that more is not better. I would encourage you to start small and build up until you get to a dose that works well.

I have a high medicine tolerance typically but if I take a 10mg capsule it gives me a headache when I wake up…kinda feeling like a hangover.

I typically start with 3mg and if I take it too late (only 8 hours before I have to wake up) I will just take half of a pill.

17. well packed Carry-on

Last but not least, packing your carry-on well is a lifesaver.

Sometimes airlines don’t get it right. Sometimes, despite the best planning, things go wrong. Sometimes that means you find yourself in a foreign country without your luggage.

One of the best things you can do before this happens is a well-packed carry-on.

By that, I mean having all the things you will need with you but light enough that you can actually carry it around as you transfer and get your other luggage.

Check out this blog post that explains all the things you should definitely pack for the most peace of mind. Suffice it to say, it will help you have a better international flight if it is packed well!

Final Thoughts on International Travel

These tips will really help ensure that you have the best international flight possible. Some of them seem like a no-brainer but sometimes we forget the simplest of things in the midst of the last-minute rush.

Traveling is an exciting adventure. Sometimes it can be stressful or long depending on your flights. Hopefully, these tips will make your trip go more smoothly and enjoyably.

Have any idea of where you’ll go when you get here? You can check out this post to figure out a basic itinerary to get you started! Or here is a workbook to help you figure out how to make the trip everything you hope it will be!