Whether you are a traveling pro or novice, we all know that long haul flights or red-eye flights can be the most daunting experiences. After my recent trip to Amsterdam which culminated in a nine-hour long haul flight from AMS to SLC and then a red-eye flight from SLC to NYC, I have a few tips for you.

Set yourself up for success.

I have gotten a lot of recommendations from people on how to time your sleep when you are traveling for the best outcome. What I’ve discovered is getting as much sleep as you can while flying is the best course of action. You never know if the next flight you take will be super bumpy or if your seatmate will be in your space, so just take advantage of any rest time. Be sure to bring a sleeping mask and earbuds and/or earplugs. I really want to try out this sleep mask from Slip. The best purchase I made for my flights this time was a recommendation from Grace Atwood and I am in LOVE with the neck pillow. Normally I can’t stand neck pillows, but this one has exceeded my expectations.

Stay hydrated while traveling.

It can be easy to forget about drinking water when you only have a couple of opportunities, but ask for extra water and always have a full bottle nearby. I tanked water on this trip and as a result, my skin was a little better and I survived the two weeks of travel without getting sick. I even used a few face masks on the flight. 

If you can, dress the part.

By putting on PJs and taking off all my makeup, I am putting myself in the mindset that it is bedtime which helps so much! If you can’t fully change into PJs, then I recommend wearing leggings or joggers and a comfy sweater to get the same cozy feel. Loving the ones pictured below.

Turn off the TV!

I know, I know it can be so tempting to watch all the movies, but you can watch them anytime. Make sleep your top priority and after a good ol’ college try, if you still can’t sleep then turn on the TV.

Pick your seat.

If you can pick your seat, I recommend a window seat for these longer flights. I am normally a big proponent of the aisle, but being able to rest my head on the wall and tuck my feet in makes it much easier to sleep.

I hope these tips make your next long haul flight a little bit more pleasant. Let me know if you have any recommendations in the comments below. I am always trying to make long flights a little less painful.