Blowing through time zones while confined to a tiny sliver of a seat can really wreck a body. And just when you recover fully, it's time to fly home and do it all over again. Not much you can do about the crappy seats, though there's plenty you can do while you're in them to make you feel less like garbage once you arrive.
Below are a few items you can stock up on to make your time onboard a little more comfortable.
1. Nature Made Melatonin Tablets
The absolute best thing to do for you body on a long haul? Get plenty of sleep. Melatonin supplements are often taken to help ease jetlag and regulate sleep/wake cycles. If you find it difficult to sleep on long flights, taking melatonin could help you relax, and adjust your sleep patterns once you arrive. You'll also find melatonin in foods such as walnuts, tomatoes, olives, strawberries, and cow's milk. Melatonin supplements may interact with certain medications, so do consult your doctor prior to taking.
Price: $8.01
Star Rating: 4.5
2. Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) Noise Canceling Headphones
These don't come cheap, but once you're at 30,000 feet and the infant behind you won't stop crying, you'll surely wish you'd spent the money. You can find the Bose QuietComfort 25 going for $279 on Amazon or, if you're feeling extra fancy, splurge on the Bose QuietComfort 35 for $349, with Bluetooth and microphone to access Siri or Google Assistant.
Price: $349.00
Star Rating: 4
3. Bedtime Bliss Contoured & Comfortable Black Sleep Mask
Even with the shades down and cabin lights dimmed, there's always the possibility of your seat mate's reading light shining in your face. Slip on a sleep mask and get some rest! The Bedtime Bliss sleep mask is a popular choice with Amazon shoppers, and doesn't press down on eyes or cause any makeup smudging. Comes with a set of Moldex ear plugs!
Price: $12.90
Star Rating: 4
Humidity levels in most aircraft cabins tend to hover around 20% and sometimes even lower. To put that in perspective, the ideal humidity should be around 40 to 50%. Long hauls can really dry out your skin, as well as your eyes, and cause major discomfort. Be sure to slather on a good moisturizer before and during your flight. And be considerate of your fellow passengers by choosing something with a light scent or even unscented. Weleda's Skin Food goes on thick without feeling greasy. Made with pansy extract, sunflower seed oil, and rosemary oil.
Price: $11.51
Star Rating: 4.5
5. Cabeau Memory Foam Travel Pillow
As is the case with choosing a pillow for bed, the right neck pillow may vary depending on personal tastes. And there are endless options. The Cabeau Evolution Memory Foam Pillow is a hit with Amazon shoppers. Made of memory foam and soft velour, the Cabeau comes in 10 colorways, and collapses for easy storage. For those who prefer resting their head to the side of a pillow, the inflatable Travelrest fits both across the torso or down the side, and offers more space to prop up your head while sleeping. When deflated, the Travelrest rolls up and snaps closed.
Price: $39.99
Star Rating: 4.5
What's worse than struggling to put your swollen sausage cankles back into your shoes after a long flight? Deep vein thrombosis! Avoid both by wearing compression socks on your next long flight. These help improve blood flow and prevent swelling.
Price: Ranges from $14.95 to $17.95, depending on size and color
Star Rating: 4.5
If the gymnastics of washing your face over a tiny elfin lavatory sink are just too much for you, here, try a face wipe instead. And after a 13 hour flight, you will definitely want to wipe your face clean of any potentially pore-clogging airplane gunk. Yes, you can probably buy a more bourgie brand of face wipe, but Cetaphil will suffice.
Price: $14.61
Star Rating: 4.5
8. RXBar Whole Food Protien Bar, Variety Pack
This one may not go over well, but here it goes. Don't eat on the airplane. The idea behind this is that your digestive system doesn't operate at full steam in high altitudes and can cause you to feel sluggish and worsen jet lag. Apparently, flight attendants swear by this. And let's be honest. Airplane food is rarely great. Chances are you're eating it out of boredom and not because you're all that hungry. Still, if going 13-hours without food strikes you as totally bonkers, pack some light snacks. As far as protein bars go, RXBARs are made with egg whites, dates, nuts and other natural ingredients, with 20 flavors to choose from. If protein bars aren't your thing, take along a trail mix.
Price: $21.95
Star Rating: 4
That dry cabin air will do a number on your lips, so pack a moisturizing lip balm. Weleda's Everon Lip Balm contains shea butter, rose flower wax, and jojoaba oil and is highly rated by Amazon shoppers.
Price: $6.60
Star Rating: 4
10. Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle
Like anything else bought at the airport, bottles of water don't come cheap. And on a long haul flight, you'll need a lot of it to stay sufficiently hydrated. So rather than spend a lot at the airport, pick up a collapsible water bottle and refill before and during your flight, and even once you've arrived. The Nomader is made of silicon, not plastic, and rolls up for easy packing.
Price: $21.95
Star Rating: 4.5
11. Dermal Korea Facial Mask Sheets
If you're looking to signal to your seatmate that you aren't here to make friends, try wearing one of these Jason Voorhees-esque paper facial masks. And as an added bonus, it'll moisturize and soothe dry skin. The Dermal Korea Collagen Mask set comes in a variety pack of 16 masks, each with different ingredients to suit a variety of skin types.
Price: $9.92
Star Rating: 4.5
12. Travelrest 4-in-1 Premier Plus Travel Blanket
Ok, yes, you will look like a huge dork wearing this in public. But! If all goes as planned, you'll be dozing off to sleep and blissfully unaware that your seat mate is giving you major side eye. The Travelrest is made of a plush material and is worn like a poncho to prevent it from slipping off during sleep. And, if you're the type who tends to lose things to the cracks between the seats, the Travelrest has a handy little zippered pouch to store your book or iPad.
Price: $29.95
Star Rating: 4.5
