The thought of travelling back home to India brings lots of excitement – seeing all your friends and family, visiting all your favourite places and of course eating lots of tasty, home-cooked food! However, for some, the idea of sitting on a long flight for over 10 hours can be difficult – that’s why we’ve prepared a handy guide on how to stay comfortable during your flight home. Follow our tips and tricks on how to keep you and your family relaxed and content during your long trip and keep you energized for the adventures to come back home!
Nutrition
Throughout your entire trip, it’s highly advised to stay hydrated – even before you board the plane! Experts recommend drinking 1-2 litres of water the day before, or even better, the morning of your flight. This can be a tall order for some – but studies have shown that increasing your water intake by even just a glass a day leading up to your flight can lead to better hydration and a more comfortable experience. While flying, be sure to keep your water intake up, and try to drink 2-3 litres of water over the duration of your flight. This might lead to a lot of bathroom breaks, sure, but being sufficiently hydrated can help combat common flight-induced ailments such as headaches, dizziness and lethargy.
It’s also highly recommended to eat as many fresh fruit and vegetables as you can in the days leading up to your trip as these can be limited during your flight, and will add a much-needed boost to your immune system, ensuring that you stay healthy on your journey. Bringing your own snacks along for the flight is a great idea – just stay away from fruits, vegetables and other organic matter as these will be confiscated at customs. Protein bars and mixed nuts are a great option, providing you with nutrients that can strengthen your immune system even more. Taking vitamin C supplements is also a great idea to give your immune system another boost!
Exercise and Comfort
Exercise is vital for a healthy lifestyle – not only is it great for your body on land, but in the air too! It’s highly recommended to get in some light workouts before your flight, even just stretching at the boarding gate can make a huge difference in combatting stiffness and discomfort. During your flight, be sure to move around the cabin when you can, stretching your arms and legs and walking around can help combat swelling and discomfort. Wearing comfortable and stretchy, breathable clothes is also a must – temperatures can sometimes fluctuate during air travel, so bringing a cozy sweater that is easy to take off is highly recommended. In addition, packing every-day toiletries and a change of clothes in your carry on makes all the difference and ensures you’ll stay feeling fresh and clean. For night flights, it’s a great idea to bring a neck pillow, noise cancelling headphones and an eye mask to help keep yourself as comfortable as possible for a restful sleep.
Tips for travelling with kids
For those of you travelling with little ones, it’s best to be fully prepared for any little hiccups that may happen along the way. While booking your trip, try to secure seats near the toilets and window seats – the latter being great for keeping kids soothed and calm by the passing view. For those travelling with infants, front row seats are recommended to ensure space for a bassinet, which can be requested in advance with your airline. The timing of your flight is also essential to keep in mind – for kids who are easy sleepers, night flights are a must to ensure your little ones stay rested and comfortable. For the fussier and lighter sleepers, a day flight will ensure that your fellow passengers aren’t kept awake. Making sure to bring enough supplies, such as medicine, food, spare clothing, entertainment and comfort items is essential. It can be difficult for children to stay entertained during a flight, so a great tip is to bring along something small and exciting for them, such as a new toy or activity book, that you can bring out to surprise and delight them and most importantly, distract them from any possible impending tantrums. Additionally, headphones provided by airlines are often too large for children, so if possible, bring along your own pair of kid-sized headphones, preferably volume-limiting, to ensure your child can safely enjoy any provided in-flight entertainment or games.
Keeping healthy
Airplane carriages can often become a breeding ground for bacteria – so it’s highly recommended to bring a set of anti-bacterial wipes and give anything you may frequently use or touch a thorough wiping to minimize the chances of getting sick. Additionally, it is recommended that you wear a mask and maintain distance with other passengers whenever you can, and stay up to date with any recommended vaccines before your trip.
Now that you know all the tips and tricks about flying comfortably, how about booking a flight home to India this Festival season? Our Mix and Match flights give you the customizability you need to ensure both you and your family are as comfortable as possible on your journey. Choose your airline, time of flight, luggage requirements and more and make your next journey home a smooth one.
As there are no quarantine or travel restrictions required in place, plan your journey to reunite with your family and friends with Gaura Travel this year. Click here and find all available flight options with us.
Visit us now and let us provide you with your best way home!
Sources
Things You Should Do Before, During and After Flying to Stay Healthy
Tips for Staying Comfortable During a Long Flight
Everything you need to know about food and drink on flights (and what you’re allowed to carry on)
These Tips Make Flying With Kids a Breeze
Flight attendant reveals the best plane seats for kids – and why parents with babies should never fly at night