Going on a Spring trip to see the blooming Sakura in Japan or Tulips in the Netherlands? Or just a trip close by, maybe. Anyways, long flights can be such a pain in the bum, topped with 

My typical vacation flights usually ranges from 50 minutes to 4 hours so when I had my first flight to Hungary, I did not know how to survive an 8-hour + 5-hour flight D: But I have compiled a few helpful tips I followed, let me know if you think they suit you!

1. Compression Socks

I was 20 years old when I first learned that flying long hours can take a toll on your blood circulation. If you have relatively long legs, you will be more familiar with the leg pain that usually occurs due to your leg's position in an airline seat. While in this position, your blood begins to pool in the veins in the lower part of your body, which increases the pressure in your legs and ankles, making it hard to sit comfortably.

According to the Mayo Clinic, "Compression stockings steadily squeeze your legs, helping your veins and leg muscles move blood more efficiently. They offer a safe, simple and inexpensive way to keep blood from stagnating."

Check out this video on Tiktok about compression socks!

The socks work by evenly distributing pressure between your legs and ankles, encouraging normal blood flow. This prevents your blood from pooling in the lower half of your body and discourages the formation of blood clots as the blood is still able to pass in and out of the heart efficiently. Not only do compression socks help with potential health issues, but they also help alleviate more minor issues, such as slight swelling or general aches and pains. This means you can enjoy your flight instead of focusing on your discomfort.

How to put them on:

2. (Compression) Packing Cubes

Sometimes all you need is one packing cube to organize your suitcase more efficiently and leave enough space for items like shoes or accessories. Compression packing cubes are an extremely useful travel hack to stay organized and maximize space. While traditional packing cubes are great for keeping items sorted, compression cubes can save even more precious room in a carry-on or checked bag. 

As for compression packing cubes, they are more suitable if you're traveling with a duffel bag or backpack:

3. Skincare Routine

According to Dr. Geeta Yadav, a board-certified dermatologist, airplanes have significantly lower levels of humidity which is the driving factor behind skin sensitivity. 

Before your flight:

- Take off all makeup. Since your skin will be exposed to harsh conditions during flight, adding makeup would make it worse. To avoid landing at your destination with clogged pores, try double cleansing (with cleansing balm + gentle water-based face wash).

- If you are flying during the day, studies show that UV radiation levels are twice as high at 30,000 feet. “Though you’re unlikely to get a sunburn on a plane, airplane windshields typically only block UVB and often allow a significant amount of UVA transmission through the glass,” Yadav notes.

During your flight:

- Get a biocellulose mask. These products have the best chance of pushing nourishing ingredients into your skin.

As for the rest of your skincare routine, look for serums and moisturizers that contain humectants (like hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, and sodium PCA) and emollients (like shea butter and squalane). “These will draw water from the air and seal it into the skin,”

If you have the opportunity, book an aisle seat so you can get up & walk around occasionally (while wearing compression socks!) to reduce puffiness.

After your flight:

“It’s always a good idea to immediately cleanse your skin (even if you can only manage a face wipe) after disembarking to help prevent breakouts.” If you have acne-prone skin or you find that air travel triggers breakouts, pack a face cleanser that contains salicylic acid in your carry-on so that you can cleanse right after landing.

4. Neck Pillow 

If you are going on a long-haul trip by air, land, or sea, the obvious answer is that you need a travel pillow more than you know. One of the main reasons that makes a travel pillow an essential is its capacity to correct sleeping patterns. For starters, people often have a hard time getting enough sleep during a trip due to tight spaces and upright sleeping positions.

Like any other types of pillows, travel bolsters are designed to provide a convenient and comfortable experience for you. But their levels of comfort may vary at some point. What's good about these bolsters is that they have a wide variety of options for sleepers.

Travel cushions can help relieve signs of migraines and motion sickness, as well as prevent slouching. They also add gentle pressure to specific points in your neck and shoulder, massaging muscles and tissues and promoting proper blood circulation.

5. Pro Tip: Move Around!

If you are lucky enough to get an aisle seat, do so because you're gonna need to get up and move your body every now and then. Moving helps blood circulation and can reduce overall puffiness. Also, from my experience, dividing your hours into time blocks help. So let's say you have an 8-hour flight. Usually the first hour is where you get comfy with your seat. The second hour onwards, the cabin crews will either hand out a meal or snacks with beverages.

Properly timing your sleep & meal time to adjust your body's circadian rhythm is very important especially when you are flying somewhere with huge timezone difference. My advice is to get as much entertainment you can from the flight, move around, or get tons of sleep (if it's suitable)!