Dress Comfortably
& Simple
When flying, especially on longer flights, comfort is something that you should definitely prioritize. Some comfortable clothing items included tracksuits, leggings, cotton t-shirts, hoodies, and light weight sweaters. It would also be a good idea to wear shoes that are well broken in to ensure the most comfort. It's even okay to take your shoes off on long flights, as long as you remain in your seat. If you need to leave your seat for any reason, your shoes must be put back on. Shoes as simple as slippers can even be worn! You should also dress simple to make it easier to pass through TSA.
Charge Your Electronics Beforehand
Making sure all of your electronics are fully charged before a flight is be a good idea. Although airports have outlets that you can use while you are waiting to board, you never know if TSA will take longer than you thought. Thus, leaving you with less time to charge your devices. It may also be a good idea to pack a couple portable chargers in your carry-on, just in case you forget to charge your devices.
Always Bring Entertainment
It is a must to bring entertainment on your flights, especially long ones. Some flights offer wifi but it is often times expensive and slow. If you enjoy watching movies or shows, be sure to download them to ensure that you can watch them without any issues. Another great thing to download beforehand would be podcasts. If you often travel with company, you should consider bringing a dual headphone adapter, so you can better enjoy what you watch or listen to. Flights can make for a great time to catch up on some reading, so bringing a book or a kindle can be a great source of entertainment as well.
Bring A Reusable Water Bottle
Flights can cause dehydration because of the added elevation and recycled air, so it is important to drink plenty of water before and while in the air. When passing through the security checkpoint, you aren't allowed to bring water but you can bring an empty water bottle as most airports have water fill up stations post-security. While on flights, you can even ask flight attendants to refill your water for you. Also, reusable water bottles can save you money your whole trip, as it keeps you from having to buy plastic bottles over and over again.
Don't Wear Contacts
For my glasses and contacts wearers, one of the best ways to remain comfortable your whole flight would be to wear your glasses instead of contacts. The air within the cabin is so dry and it will dry out your contacts, causing them to stick to your eyes. It can be a super uncomfortable feeling, especially when you remove them afterwards. If you have to wear your contacts, though, it would be a great idea to bring some eye drops to keep your eyes from getting too dry.
Bring or Purchase Snacks
To avoid arriving at your destinations starving, it would be a good idea to pack some snacks. You are able to bring some small snacks on flights that won't cause you any trouble when passing through the security checkpoint. Snacks that are solid and not liquid or gel are allowed, such as apples, nuts, dried fruit, carrot slices, and protein bars. Snacks in the airport and on the planes can be pretty pricey, but if you don't mind spending some money, they can sometimes offer some great snack options to hold you over until the end of your flight.
Bring Sleeping Essentials
Whether you have a quick or long flight, bringing a sleep kit can be very beneficial. Investing in a good neck pillow can make sleeping on a plane more comfortable, no matter if you are sitting in the window, middle, or aisle seat. A couple more great items you could bring would be an eye mask and earbuds/ headphones, and they are easy to pack since they are both small.
Board Early On Full Flight
You will want to get to the airport as early as possible to make sure you can make it through security and arrive at your flight in time to board early. It is smart to board your flight early if you are bringing a carry-on, especially if the flight is full. You should also get there early enough to make sure your carry-on bag will fit in the overhead bin. If you happen to board later than you planned and find that the overhead bins at your seat are already full, try to find an available bin in front of your seat. That way when you get off the plane, it will be easier to grab your bag.
Organize Your Carry-on Beforehand
Before you leave your house, make sure to organize your backpack, purse, or other carry-on, so that you aren't scrambling for things that you need at the airport. It would be smart to put everything you will need, such as your ID and boarding pass, in an easily accessible compartment of your bag for when you get in the TSA line. Fanny packs can be a great option for airport travel as they free your hands up and they are hard to lose if secured around you.
