Qantas' new flight between Perth and London, scheduled to begin in March of 2018, will go 17 hours without the need for stopping - that's 9,000 miles total nonstop. So, how does one survive a 17-hour flight as a passenger in the airborne version of a submarine?
Sleep. Without sleep aids: A long-haul flight is definitely NOT the time to experiment with prescription sleep medicine, or even over-the-counter sleep meds. The body has its own natural body clock and at some point over 17 hours you're going to get naturally fatigued.
Hydrate: It actually needs to start the night before your flight. Lots of water and lots of electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade. You'll still need plenty of hydration during flight, but you really need to start beforehand.
Alcohol: A big no-no. A glass of wine or a beer is OK during flight, but in complete moderation. Drinking the night before is not a good idea. Also try to avoid coffee, tea, soda or anything with caffeine.
Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk: A long airline flight is a prescription for developing deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, which is the fancy name for blood clots that develop in the legs. They are, literally, life-threatening. That's why hydration is important, to help combat this, as well as getting up and walking around the aisles as best you can every couple of hours. An aisle seat will help. In addition, do some leg exercises and flexing of the legs as space permits, as well as stretching. Wearing compression socks that stretch over the calves is also helpful.
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Choose the right clothing: Nothing tight, especially clothing that could constrict your movement in the seat or prohibit you from sleeping or, worse, sweat pants that are tight around your ankles that could contribute to DVT.
Apps and music: You certainly don't have to be so meticulous as to map out your entire 17 hours of entertainment, but it's good to have plenty of music loaded up, download some new apps you might want to tinker with, maybe even an e-book. Of course, take advantage of any in-flight entertainment options, but don't do it for 17 consecutive hours. Your eyes will never forgive you.
Upgrade, anyone? If you can swing it, go for the upgrade and the bigger seat with more legroom.
Work: Yes, really. Work. In this day and age, it's hard to be disconnected for 17 hours on flights where phonecalls are not permitted, although you obviously can keep in touch via email. That said, you'll also feel productive if you feel like you can squeeze in an hour or two of work during such a lengthy flight.
Other tips: A pair of noise-cancelling headphones wouldn't hurt. Also, in your carry-on, pack a toothbrush and toothpaste, a brush, deodorant, maybe even an extra shirt. Re-freshing yourself midflight is a surprising help.
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