In a blog post for Business Insider, former flight attendant Tiffany Hawk listed 11 critical mistakes passengers make during long-haul flights. The main warnings have to do with hygiene and health: don’t walk barefoot (because of dirty floors and restrooms) and limit carbonated drinks and alcohol, since low pressure can make bloating and intoxication worse. The expert also says to avoid strong sleeping pills, drink more water, dress in layers, and not rely solely on in-flight outlets or entertainment systems. Instead, charge your devices in advance and download content. Finally, she suggests bringing travel essentials like a sleep mask, earplugs, and moisturizer.
Long-haul flights are always a major source of stress for passengers—both physical and emotional. But if you prepare for the trip responsibly, you can minimize the risks. Tiffany Hawk, a former flight attendant, listed 11 deadly mistakes on her blog for Business Insider that mess up passengers’ experiences on long-haul flights.
She says a lot of travelers make these mistakes on purpose or by accident, and it ends up affecting their comfort.
At the same time, she assures us that this is entirely avoidable.
1. Walking Barefoot on the Plane
Tiffany says that the floors and carpets on planes aren’t deep-cleaned very often. And since the cabin can shake during turbulence, the liquid on the bathroom floor might not be water. If you still want to walk barefoot in the cabin, she says to bring slippers so you don’t have to touch the floor directly.
2. Not checking neck pillows before the flight
The expert says passengers should check their neck pillows at home before departure to avoid this problem on the flight.
3. Sleeping pills and planes: not a good mix
Tiffany says that sleeping pills make it hard to wake up quickly and stay alert in case of an emergency. That’s why she tells travelers not to take too strong of meds to improve their sleep.
4. Not looking at the screen the whole flight
A flight attendant says that watching TV, movies, or playing video games on the plane all the time can mess with your sleep when you get there, especially when you’re crossing time zones. So, she suggests trying out different activities to help you relax during a long flight.
5. Not drinking enough water on the flight
Some travelers try to hold out on drinking water during the flight so they don’t have to stop and use the restroom. But watch out! Dry air and high altitude can make dehydration worse, which can make jet lag symptoms worse or even lead to other health problems, Tiffany says.
“Flight attendants are supposed to offer water a lot during flights, but if they don’t, just ask them for more. To stay on top of things, consider bringing your own empty water bottle to fill up after going through security,” she advises.
6. Underestimating layered clothing
“It’s hard to please everyone, especially when it comes to the temperature inside an airplane flying thousands of feet above the ground. There’s a pretty good chance that at some point the cabin will become too hot or too cold for your comfort. You can try asking a flight attendant to adjust the temperature, but keep in mind that another passenger may have just asked to change it the other way,” the expert notes.
That’s why she suggests playing it safe and dressing in layers so clothes are easy to put on or take off.
7. Don’t miss your chance to charge up your gadgets!
An experienced flight attendant strongly advises passengers to fully charge their smartphones, tablets, and other portable devices before boarding, since not all planes have power outlets (especially when it comes to low-cost carriers—ed.). Also, more and more airlines are banning power banks on planes.
It’s also a good idea to download movies, TV shows, and e-books to your devices ahead of time, and bring a book or download a few podcasts. This won’t drain your battery and will keep you entertained throughout the flight.
8. Relying too much on in-flight entertainment systems
“A long flight is a great opportunity to watch a new movie or TV show on a channel you don’t subscribe to at home. But the TVs in the seatbacks can be temperamental, so there’s a chance the one in front of you might not work. Tiffany says that if you’re the type who can’t sleep on a plane, it’s a good idea to bring your own entertainment.
9. Drinking too much before or during the flight
The expert says that drinking alcohol in the air can have a stronger effect because of the lower cabin pressure and the dehydration from the lower humidity.
“I’ve seen drunk passengers embarrass themselves, start fights, and get sick after bragging about how much they can drink. I’m not saying you can’t have a glass of wine with dinner—I rarely pass up that opportunity—but please keep in mind that even if you don’t go overboard, too much alcohol and dehydration can lead to a terrible case of jet lag,” she notes.
10. Not remembering to bring the important stuff on the plane
Tiffany says that little things like earplugs, an eye mask, and moisturizer can make your flight way better.
Moisturizer and lip balm will protect your skin in the airplane cabin, where humidity is usually low. Noise-canceling headphones, earplugs, and an eye mask will help block out noise and light if you want to sleep during the flight.
“After a long night of eating airport food and drinking wine, followed by breakfast and coffee, you’ll probably be glad to have travel-size toothpaste and a toothbrush. At the very least, you can bring some gum to freshen your breath,” says the former flight attendant.
11. Drinking lots of fizzy drinks on the plane
Tiffany suggests that travelers steer clear of anything that might cause bloating before and during the flight, including fizzy drinks.
“When the air pressure is low and you’re flying at a certain altitude, it makes the gases expand. That’s why your bag of chips puffs up like a balloon, and it explains why you might have to loosen your seatbelt to deal with the bloating during the flight,” she explained.