How to Stay Comfortable on a Solo Long-Haul Flight in Economy

Bell | 11 September 24

I love exploring the world, however international long-haul flights are unfortunately part of that deal. Here is exactly how I prepare for a long solo flight in Economy, what to pack and how to stay comfortable.

Economy class on a long-haul flight isn’t luxurious, and no matter who claims it, it will never feel like business class. There is limited space and a lot of people in that space, which is something you can’t work around in Economy.

That being said, there are several things you can do to prepare for a long-haul flight in Economy and feel as comfortable as possible. Ideally, you will even be able to get some sleep.

So, after countless flights into every corner of the world, here are my top tips to survive a long flight in Economy:

How to pack for a long flight in Economy?

The first, and possibly most important step for being as comfortable as possible on a long flight in economy is making sure you pack the right things in your hand luggage. That way, you can access it throughout the flight and be prepared for almost anything. Most long flights have at least some portion that goes during the night, so a lot of these are to help you get some sleep. Here are the items I always pack when flying long-haul in Economy:

Noise-cancelling headphones

These are what will make sure you have your peace and quiet. The ones they hand out on the airplane are awful, so these are lifesavers. If you plan to watch movies with them, you would need a cord as most Economy TVs only connect via a cord. I use my in-ear noise-cancelling buds for music and sleeping, and then the headphones they give you for watching inflight entertainment, as they are fine for that.

Portable Charger

Long flights without your phone to play with, listen to music to and just have as emotional support? Unimagineable. Make sure to bring a strong portable charger!

Eye mask

This is one of the things I ALWAYS have to have on long flights. Yes, they turn down the lights at night but there is always someone with their screen still on or randomly shoving their phone flashlight in your face. An eye mask means you get more uninterrupted sleep.

Moisturiser & Lip Balm

Airplane air is extremely dry, so make sure to pack your favourite moisturiser and lip balm. You don’t need a fancy routine as you may see many influencers do on the airplane, just something to return moisture to your skin.

Toothbrush, toothpaste and a comb

Brushing your teeth and combing your hair are those routine steps that help your body keep some semblance of normalcy. This is key to making it through long flights!

Extra Layers

Even with the blankets they give out, I often get cold on long flights. I always make sure to wear lots of layers so I am prepared for any change in temperature and feel comfortable enough to fall asleep.

Neck Pillow

This is one I would highly recommend if you have the extra space, but can also be forgone if not as even economy has small pillows. They aren’t great though so a good neck pillow will help you sleep much more comfortably in the awkward Economy upright position.

Empty Water Bottle

A lot of times, you only get drinks during meal service in Economy. For long flights, you will need much more hydration than that, especially with how dry airplane air is. Bring an empty water bottle and fill it up before going on the plane. This is the one I always use.

Compression Socks

I recently wore compression socks on a long flight for the first time, and they are honestly worth it. My legs were less swollen after the flight and didn’t constantly fall asleep due to lack of circulation during the flight. I like these ones.

Disinfectant wipes

Whether you wipe the often sticky tray table before dinner or your hands every now and then, disinfectant wipes are great to avoid catching everyone else’s bacteria.

How to prepare for a long flight in ecomony?

Before you even step foot on the plane, there are a couple of things you can do to ensure a better in-flight experience. This is especially important in Economy, where you won’t have too much space to walk and move around once on board.

If you can choose between a flight overnight and one during the day, I would always choose the night one. Sleep is the best way to pass the many hours in an Economy seat. That being said, as you often cross time zones on long flights, lights are usually dimmed at some point as it is nighttime where you are headed or where you’re coming from.

Choose a good seat

I once had to do a 13-hour flight in the middle seat and let me tell you, it is not great. If you can, choose your seat as early as possible. I often even pay extra to make sure I definitely have an aisle seat. If you don’t pay, make sure to check in as early as possible for the best chance of still getting an aisle or window seat.

As for whether the aisle or window is better, it depends on you. I prefer the aisle as I can go to the toilet or move around whenever I want, but you may be woken up by your seat neighbours for the same thing or just people bumping you while walking past. The window seat is great if you know you don’t go to the toilet as much and would like as much peace as possible while sleeping (and obviously the views!).

Wear comfortable clothes

No one looks good leaving Economy after a long flight, so just dress in the comfiest clothes you own. I often layer leggings with some comfortable pants, as well as wearing a T-shirt and Hoodie. Layering is key so you can adjust to temperature changes on the flight.

Stay away from caffeine and alcohol

Even if you don’t plan to sleep on the flight, which is rare, I’d recommend staying away from any drinks with caffeine and alcohol. Alcohol is very dehydrating which can make your body feel worse in the already very dry inflight air. Coffee will make you overly alert and exacerbate any anxieties you may have.

Pre-download movies, music and books

Make sure you have enough entertainment downloaded on your phone or tablet to last you the entire flight. If you have a day flight, this would need to be even more as you might not want to sleep.

E-books are also a great way to pass the time, or just bring your favourite physical book. You may even download some work you need to do and do whatever is possible without WiFi on the flight.

Other helpful tips for a long flight in Economy

Remember it is only temporary

Even if you end up in the dreaded middle seat, remember that it is only temporary. In half a day or so you will arrive at another incredible destination or arrive back home to your own bed, so look forward to that. Sometimes, you can have the most horrible seatmates and there is nothing much you can do, so just keep thinking about how you will never have to see them again after the plane lands.

Try moving around regularly

Getting up every now and then or just moving lightly in your seat can really help so your body doesn’t feel as terrible and stuck in place. It’s also good to prevent any blood clots that may potentially form on long flights. Exercises like neck rolls, shoulder rolls, calf raises and even squats in the bathroom are easy and not really noticeable.

Turbulence is normal

As someone with flight anxiety myself, turbulence is one of those things I always struggle with. One good thing about longer flights is that the usually bigger airplanes don’t bump up and down as easily so you may not even notice turbulence. Check out my blog post on dealing with flight anxiety and turbulence here:

My Proven Strategies to Conquer Flight Anxiety and Overcome Fear of Flying

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Sleeping is the best way to pass the time

If you manage to get a few hours of sleep on your flight, not only will it not feel as long and boring, but you will also be much more refreshed when arriving at your destination. Don’t panic if you can’t sleep though – you can still allow your body and mind to just rest and listen to music.

Final Thoughts on staying comfortable on a long flight in Economy

With all of the tips and preparations we’ve discussed above, you can go into your Economy flight knowing you are ready. Especially for solo travellers, preparation is key when it comes to feeling comfortable and save on a long-haul flight.

If you have any more questions or your own tips and tricks for long flights, please leave a comment below. I always love to hear from you!