What Long-Haul Travel Has Taught Me About Traveling Well

The reality of a long-haul trip can feel daunting, especially if traveling alone. My bi-annual journey between Koh Lanta, Thailand and Ottawa, Canada has two very long flights, with shorter ones at the beginning and end. In total, it’s usually close to 40 hours door-to-door if the connections are good. That means multiple airports, recycled air, little sleep, and eventually arriving feeling slightly disoriented.

Most people hear about the trip and immediately say, “No way.” But strangely, it has become easier over time. It isn’t because the flights are shorter or more comfortable, but because experience has taught me what actually matters. I’m 72 and have been traveling between my homes for over 20 years.

I no longer approach long-haul travel the way I once did. Years ago, I focused mostly on getting there. Now I focus on managing the experience well.

The Preparation Begins Before the Airport

Once I book my ticket (always economy, as that’s all my budget can handle), and understand the flights, I start preparing mentally for the trip. My goal is simple: comfort. Not style, not fashion, and certainly not looking polished after so many hours in transit.

I plan carefully for what I’ll wear long before I pack my suitcase. Layers matter because airports and airplanes are never the same temperature. Comfortable pull-on clothes are far more practical than anything with too many buttons or zippers, especially when trying to maneuver inside a tiny airplane bathroom. Socks are essential, and I always bring extra pairs. And yes, on long flights, I take my shoes off.

A few days after booking, I check the airline website for meal selections and seat assignments. I used to prefer a window seat, but now I always try for an aisle, preferably one with an empty seat beside me. The freedom to get up easily matters far more than the view outside the plane.

I also organize my medications carefully and make sure anything important is easy to reach in my carry-on bags. Toothbrush, moisturizer, tissues, wet wipes, extra hair scrunchies, chargers, and snacks, all become surprisingly important after enough hours in the air.

And snacks really do matter. Long-haul flights never seem to provide quite enough food, especially during awkward overnight stretches when nothing is being served. I usually bring fruit, nuts, and cookies, and gum for takeoff and landing. Yawning doesn’t always solve ear pressure problems.

Experience teaches these things quickly. Forget something important once, and you rarely forget it again.

Learning to Settle into the Flight

The first half hour after takeoff is always busy for me, and intentionally so. It keeps my mind occupied while the plane climbs, but more importantly, it helps me mentally organize the long hours ahead.

I check the entertainment system, browse the movies, look at the flight map, and usually see if there’s a wing-cam available. I decide what I may want to watch while I’m still fresh and awake enough to enjoy it. I also think about the other things I brought with me, like my e-reader, Sudoku book, or current crochet project.

I come up with a tentative plan for what I’ll do as the flight progresses. Oddly enough, this small ritual changes the entire tone of the flight.

Long-haul travel feels much easier when I stop thinking about the destination for a while and simply settle into the experience itself. Once I mentally divide the trip into manageable pieces, time seems to move more naturally. Otherwise, it’s easy to fall into the habit of checking the clock every few minutes and wondering how it’s possible that only 20 minutes have passed.

Over time, I’ve also learned that movement matters. I try to get up regularly, walk around a little, stretch near the galley area, drink water often, and avoid sitting frozen in one position for hours at a time. Small habits make a tremendous difference later.

Preparing to Arrive

About 30 minutes before landing, I shift gears mentally again.

I use the bathroom before the rush begins and carefully check my seat area for anything that may have disappeared during the flight. Shoes slide around under seats. E-readers slip into side pockets. Crochet hooks seem to develop a life of their own.

I make sure my passport, boarding pass, and any transit paperwork are easy to access before the plane lands. After a very long flight, even small disorganization can suddenly feel overwhelming.

If I don’t have a window seat, I often watch the wing-cam during landing. There’s something calming about seeing the city slowly appear below after so many hours suspended somewhere between countries and time zones.

And then suddenly, it’s over.

Small Things Matter More Than We Think

One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that attitude changes the emotional tone of long-haul travel more than almost anything else. I smile at people. I thank the flight attendants when they bring meals or drinks. I try to stay patient when airports are crowded or flights are delayed. Everyone around me is tired too.

Long-haul travel will probably never become easy, not exactly. Forty hours is still forty hours. But experience changes how we move through it.

I no longer try to fight the trip or rush through it mentally. I work with it instead. Preparation reduces stress. Familiar routines create comfort. Small habits help the hours pass more smoothly.

And after enough trips, even a journey across the world begins to feel manageable.

Click for free access to my Substack, Retired Way Out There, where I publish a bi-monthly newsletter and provide handouts.

Let’s Chat:

What is your experience with long-haul flights? What’s the longest flight you’ve been on? Do you have particular habits you’ve developed for longer flights?