Tips for Flying in 2023 – How To Make it Stress-Free!
Tips for flying on long haul flights to make the experience as enjoyable as possible.
Let’s face it: flying sucks. After many many long haul or shorter flights we have a few tips and tricks to make it less painful.
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Before the Flight
Booking –
Booking a better flight is the first way to ensure your flight will be comfortable. You should always compare flight times and prices on the website Skyscanner in order to find the best flights possible. Skyscanner has helped us see the best times to fly plus compare prices and airlines, we wouldn’t fly without checking Skyscanner first.
When booking you have to take into consideration if you want to have a layover in another country before your destination, what time you will be flying and if you have to transfer your own bags in between stops.Â
Choosing which is the right flight is hard but we usually opt for direct flights or as few stops as possible, with an absolute maximum of 2. Then we try to choose a nighttime flight in order to sleep and try to avoid jet lag when we arrive at our destination.
If you are trying to save money when booking flights then you can opt for more stops or less favourable flight times and try to pack as light as possible as extras such as baggage soon push the price of the ticket up.Â
Consider flying in quiet seasons or on weekdays in order to get the best possible prices.
Insurance -
A crucial step to avoiding disaster when flying is to have reliable travel cover.Â
SafetyWing is by far the best travel insurance for digital nomads or anyone travelling in a foreign country.Â
Having insurance means that if anything happens to disrupt your flight or travel plans you have protection.
For example SafetyWing pays up to $500 per item for all lost luggage if your bag doesn’t turn up when you arrive plus up to $100 a day for delays.Â
We would never travel without this insurance and you shouldn’t either – this is one of the most important tips for flying we can give.
If you would like to sign up for the best nomad insurance CLICK HERE!
The Best Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads
Airport -
At the airport to keep stress to a minimum you should ensure that you have everything you need prepared; like tickets, passports and insurance all in a safe and convenient place.Â
The price for extra baggage is always a lot more at the check-in counter so if you want to avoid extra fees pay for baggage when you book and make sure you have only packed the essentials to keep these costs down.
If you want an easy experience at the airport then make sure you leave plenty of time to get through every security point plus queues at check in desks. We stick to the rule of 3 hours for long haul flights and 2 hours for short haul. There is nothing worse than being stressed because you are rushing and running late for your flight.
During the flight
We hope that you have followed the above tips and now you are on the plane and on your way to your travel destination.
What to bring:
Anything to keep yourself amused is crucial to making flying; especially long haul flights, comfortable. Lots of flights have built in entertainment and you can watch many newly released movies which is a great way to waste time on a flight. We have also been on flights with free WiFi which was amazing! Some flights however do not have screens built in and most do not have access to the internet so you should always come prepared.
Our top picks for in-flight entertainment:
- Movies and TV shows – Download these in advance
- Books and Articles – A kindle is best as it takes up less space
- Music or Podcasts – Noise cancelling headphones are best for this
- Mobile Games – Make sure you can play them offline
- Offline Work – Video editing or writing blog posts
- Be creative – Whatever you enjoy as long as it can fit in your hand luggage and doesn’t need WiFi is a good idea
I am sure we do not need to tell you what you should and shouldn’t pack into your hand luggage for example: blades = bad, liquid under 100ml = good.Â
But we have some tips on some forgotten items great for making flying more comfortable:
- Warm clothes – The air conditioning on flights can be a little harsh so a jumper and trousers is a good idea
- Sleeping Mask, Travel Pillow and Ear Plugs – Flights are not the easiest place to sleepÂ
- Moisturiser and Lip Balm – The air is really drying for your skin and lips
- Toothpaste and Toothbrush – Especially if you are flying overnight
- Spare Clothes – If you are checking in your luggage, a set of spare clothes can come in handy if the airline loses your luggage
- Filling Snacks and Water – In-flight food; if offered on the flight, is not always that filling so prepare with some snacks and drinks
In Arrivals
After surviving the flight many people overlook the process of getting out of the airport which can sometimes be a long and multi-step process.
It is vital to be prepared with any documents or visas that you need before even arriving at the airport:
- Check your governments travel advice websites for all the entry requirements your destination has such as vaccines and visas and make sure you have followed all advice.
- Have at least 6 months validity left on your passport and space to print your visaÂ
- Copies of your travel insurance and any documents you may need to proveÂ
- Some countries require extra information such as proof of bank account balance or proof of onward travel so make sure you have prepared everything you may need, to avoid trouble
And now…relax!
Hopefully with all of these tips from two frequent flyers you will be more than prepared for a comfortable and hassle free flight.
Now you have arrived at your destination it is time to get exploring, check out our many destinations to get some inspiration of where to visit. CLICK ME!
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We always want to save money when booking flights so we use Skyscanner to compare prices and book. - > BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION
We stick to mainly to booking.com as it is the most widely used platform across the world. - > GET INSURANCE
To avoid any unexpected bills we never travel without insurance. Check out SafteyWing for the best travel insurance.
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